GMF Breakfast Briefing: Central Europe and the World. Trends of Visegrad Foreign Policy 2019

Presentation

• Pavlina Janebova, Deputy Research Director, Association for International Affairs (AMO), Czech Republic
• Zsuzsanna Vegh, Researcher, European University Viadrina, and Rethink.CEE Fellow, German Marshall Fund of the United States

Moderation

• Joerg Forbrig, Director for Central and Eastern Europe, German Marshall Fund of the United States

Fifteen years have passed since the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia joined the European Union. The Visegrad Group has since developed into a recognized player on the European stage, and into a platform with ambitions to influence EU policy-making. Its initially positive reputation, however, has suffered in recent years as Visegrad action was rarely conducive to facilitating European cooperation. Beyond the unified image, differences in priorities and preferences are increasingly visible. They warrant a closer look to understand both the future potential of the Visegrad cooperation and Central Europe’s role in the future of the European Union.

What do stakeholders who create and influence Visegrad foreign policy think of the group’s role in the European Union? How do they perceive relations with key partners, like Germany, the UK or France? What policies do they expect to matter on European and national (foreign) policy agendas? Would they prioritize EU enlargement? Would they drop sanctions against Russia? Do they perceive China as a threat? In what areas do they share the same views? Where could they be constructive partners?

The Trends of Visegrad Foreign Policy survey, conducted by the Association for International Affairs in cooperation with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, the Slovak Foreign Policy Association and Visegrad Insight in August and September 2019, sought answers to these and many more questions. It provides unique insights into the thinking of foreign policy stakeholders, decision-makers and influencers about the role Central Europe can play on the European and world stage.

To register for the event, please contact Corinna Blutguth at [email protected].