The Visegrad Group (V4) is an informal regional form of cooperation of four Central European countries - Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary, which are linked not only by the neighborhood and similar geopolitical conditions, but above all by a common history, tradition, culture and values. The idea behind the establishment of the Group was to intensify cooperation in building democratic state structures and free market economy, and in the long run to participate in the process of European integration. The date of its establishment is 15 February 1991, when the presidents of Poland Lech Wałęsa and Czechoslovakia Václav Havel and Hungarian Prime Minister József Antall signed a joint declaration in the Hungarian town of Visegrad, defining the objectives and conditions of mutual cooperation. Since 2004, all V4 countries have been members of the European Union, and the Visegrad Group constitutes a forum for exchanging experiences and working out common positions on matters important for the future of the region and the EU.

Apart from European issues, cooperation within the V4 is primarily focused on strengthening stability in Central Europe, information exchange, promotion of cultural community, as well as cooperation in the fields of culture, science, education and youth exchange. Priority areas of cooperation include the development of transport infrastructure and strengthening energy security in the region. There is also a mechanism for cooperation with third countries in the "V4+" formula.

Numerous and diverse entities are involved in the Visegrad cooperation: presidents, prime ministers, ministers, parliaments, government institutions, NGOs, research centers, universities and cultural institutions. The only fully institutionalized form of cooperation in V4 is the International Visegrad Fund (IVF). The chairmanship of the Group is held on a rotating basis and lasts for one year, and its program is adopted by the prime ministers of the Visegrad countries. Poland holds the presidency of the Group from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017.

Additional information about the Visegrad Group is available on the official website of the Group: http://www.visegradgroup.eu/

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