A new Visegrad Group in the new European Union - possibilities and opportunities for development

Today, just as Europe is about to expand through the accession of new members such as Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and six other countries, it is clearer than ever that the Visegrad Four's mission has not come to an end but is gaining new dimensions. The Visegrad Group has fulfilled the tasks that it set itself when it was established. It is advisable to lay out new tasks, suitable for the group's operation in the new European reality - following the EU accession of Visegrad countries in May 2004. The tasks faced by the Visegrad countries in the EU will require co-operation, exchange of information and openness between partners. Preparations for facing these tasks must begin now - open discussions regarding the Visegrad Group's future must be held within the region, priorities clearly defined, long- and short-term goals indicated and included in the new Visegrad Declaration. If we fail to do this, the Visegrad will almost certainly limit itself to meetings of politicians in central European castles, as Czech President Vaclav Klaus sees it. It is in the best interest of the central European region not to let this happen.