An Analysis Of The Interactive Relationship Between The Visegrad Group And The European Union

The Visegrad Group celebrates its 30th anniversary in February,2021.During this period the intensity of cooperation between the four member state(Czech Republic,Hungary,Poland and Slovakia)was sometimes variable,but since the most important mutual goal of integration into the EU and NATO was realized the Visegrad Group has been eager to increase the competitiveness of the EU and the V4 itself.In 2004,after the successful accession to the EU and NATO,the Visegrad Group member countries could have embarked on their separate roads and they could have formed their own new coalitions within the EU,but they did not do that.Contrary to some expectations.the Visegrad Group has remained to be an active platform for cooperation focusing on the mutual interests.The Visegrad Group also functions as a complementary platform for maintaining bilateral relations among the four member states.As for the interaction between the Visegrad Group and the European Union,the Visegrad Group interacts with the European Union on the different levels of the EU institutions.The analysis of this article is divided into four parts.The first chapter introduces the historical background of the Visegrad Group’s development,the characteristics of the structure and the operations of the Visegrad Group and the process of the Visegrad Group’s accession to the European Union.The second chapter analyses the different phases of development in the interactive relationship between the European Union and the Visegrad Group:the new dynamic phase,the phase of constructive cooperation and the phase of multi-level crisis.The third chapter examines the position and influence of the Visegrad Group in the European Union,the role and influence of the Visegrad Group within the European Council and the European Parliament and also the Visegrad Group members presidencies of the European Council.The fourth chapter focuses on the challenges influencing the interactive relationship between the European Union and the Visegrad Group countries by examining the question of the refugee and migration crisis,the energy and climate policy issues and the issues in connection with the enlargement policy of the EU.