11 May Connecting V4 and other regional expert networks & researching potential for future EU coalitions: V4 & Nordics

The Visegrad Group (V4) belongs to the coalitions of states that have a close relationship with each other. However, extending cooperation with other regional groupings and creating new alliances would certainly serve the group well. This paper therefore addresses the potential of the partnership between the V4 countries and the Nordic EU members.

The policy paper opens with a look into the background of the V4 and its cooperation with Nordic countries which serves as a starting point for further exploration of the topic. The paper then outlines potential platforms for cooperation between the groups and provides conclusions and recommendations on how to enhance the partnership. These areas include the Eastern Partnership and Russia, security and defence, energy security, nuclear energy, renewables, climate change, forestry, transportation and infrastructure, Frontex and migration, economy, small and medium-sized enterprises, research and developlment and the future of European integration.

Both Nordic and V4 groupings share similar principles of cohesion, EU cooperation and to a certain extent similar threat perception. Energy security, democracy assistance in EaP countries and defence cooperation remain viable platforms of cooperation in the critical areas.

The authors of this briefing paper are Wojciech Przybylski, Kamil Jarończyk and Edit Zgut from Res Publica Foundation / Visegrad Insight.

The paper can be accesses and/or downloaded from here.

The project is supported by the International Visegrad Fund.