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Begin New Search Topic International Affairs Political Geography Global Focus Content Type Policy Brief Publishing Institution Europeum Institute for European Policy

1. Visegrad in the Western Balkans: Losing ground?

Author:
Jana Juzová
Publication Date:
01-2019
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Europeum Institute for European Policy
Abstract:
The Visegrad countries have since their own accession to the EU been one of the most active European actors advocating for further EU enlargement towards South- Eastern Europe. On the joint Visegrad-level as well as in their own foreign policies, the Western Balkans have a special position; the V4 countries provided them support on their path of European integration with transfer of know-how based on the V4’s own successful experience with economic and political transformation, regional cooperation and Euro-Atlantic integration. However, the Visegrad approach towards the Western Balkans is now being undermined and is losing its legitimacy due to several factors outlined in this paper. In spite of the positive impact of the Visegrad policy towards Western Balkans1, recent trends, such as worsening state of democracy in Hungary, Hungarian PM Orbán’s connections to autocratic leaders in the region (recently granting the asylum to former Macedonian PM Gruevski who escaped to Hungary from a jail sentence at home) are weakening not only Visegrad’s legitimacy as advocate for transformation of the region and its integration into the Euro-Atlantic structures, but also the normative power of the EU. Other V4 countries’ indifference towards this trend coupled with Poland’s new involvement in the Berlin Process framework, another EU member states’ initiative focused on the Western Balkans, only contribute to raising doubts about the commitment and legitimacy of Visegrad’s Western Balkan policy.
Topic:
International Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Focus

2. Czechia between V4 and the EU: the impact of migration on Visegrad cohesion

Author:
Vladislav Strnad
Publication Date:
09-2018
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Europeum Institute for European Policy
Abstract:
The Visegrad Group (V4) has responded to the migration crisis by an unexpectedly unified and consistent position , which was symptomatic of its identity shift. The long-term confrontation with the European Migration and Asylum Policy, the political changes in Poland and Hungary, the illiberal rhetoric of Visegrad politicians as well as the conflict with the European Commission have significantly influenced the position of V4 and the Czech Republic in Europe.
Topic:
International Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Focus

3. New Security Challenges from a Visegrad 4 Perspective

Author:
Martin Michelot
Publication Date:
09-2018
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Europeum Institute for European Policy
Abstract:
Martin Michelot and Martin Macq wrote an introductory chapter for the new IFAT's (The Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade) publication on the security challenges for the V4 countries. The chapter wrote by our researchers focuses on the military security and military cooperation of Visegrad Four countries. The main topic for discussion is especially the dual membership of both countries in NATO and in the EU - which is trying to build-up its own military structures notably in the recent years.
Topic:
International Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Focus

4. Labour market reform and Visegrad countries: Deep rooted concerns and how to address them

Author:
Alena Kudzko
Publication Date:
01-2018
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Europeum Institute for European Policy
Abstract:
Issues of labour mobility and labour markets have been among the most contentious discussions on the crowded EU agenda of the past couple years. Proposals calling for reform of the regulations on posted workers and for the enhancement of social rights, advocated primarily by Western countries - including most notably France - and the EU Commission, have been accompanied by both domestic and EU-wide squabbling. Visegrad countries (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia) have often found themselves on the defensive, seeking at once to both fend off accusations of “social dumping” and foil the undesired reforms. They fear that some of the proposals on labour reform fail to coincide with their economic interests and the principle of the free market, or perceive them as an encroachment of the EU Commission on national competencies
Topic:
International Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Focus

5. Preparations for the EU Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 – chances and challenges for Central Europe

Author:
Andrzej Sadecki
Publication Date:
02-2018
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Europeum Institute for European Policy
Abstract:
At first glance, reaching an agreement on the next MFF could seem easier than for its previous iterations. The MFF 2014-2020 was negotiated against the backdrop of a financial crisis which put significant strains on the member states, particularly those in the the Eurozone. Currently, economic growth has returned to the European Union and the economic sentiments have reached their highest levels since 2000s . Nevertheless, some key political developments will affect and complicate the process of finding a consensus on the next MFF. Firstly, the negotiations on the post 2020- MFF will coincide with two major processes underpinning the future of European integration: the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union and the debate on the reform of the Eurozone. Secondly, some stakeholders see Brexit as an opportunity to substantially reform the MFF and the EU budget, which in turn widened the debate to the future of main EU policies, and could breach the fragile balance between the various interests of the member states that functioned in this sphere until now.
Topic:
International Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Focus