How to restart regional cooperation. V4 and beyond
PCTR Policy Paper
Following the debate CENTRAL EUROPE: A NEW OPENING IN REGIONAL POLITICS we present a PCTR’s policy paper on HOW TO RESTART THE REGIONAL COOPERATION.
V4 is the oldest and most successful regional cooperation format in Central and Eastern Europe, and thus remains a template for other initiatives. At the same time, all regional formats of cooperation in CEE emerged as instruments designed to address a particular challenge and strengthen individual countries’ positions vis-à-vis other institutions, primarily the EU and NATO, rather than being ‘ends in themselves’.
This ‘reactive’ nature of regional cooperation is reflected in the highly de-institutionalised character of these formats, which, on the one hand, may make their activity less intense and consequential; yet, at the same time, this flexibility helps them survive periods of a worse political climate.
The challenges posed today by international developments, mainly a) the shifting geopolitical situation in relation to Russian neo-imperial politics and US–EU tensions, b) pressure on the sovereign status of member states from EU bodies, and c) deep crisis of the German economic model, which has been a major force in organising the region’s economic ecosystem for the last 35 years, highlight the importance of creating bilateral and multilateral regional cooperation platforms and define their main objectives.
It remains debatable whether the V4 format is the best way to respond to these challenges this time. Prioritising security and infrastructure issues suggests that wider formats, such as the B9 within NATO and the 3 Seas Initiative within the EU, would be more effective. V4 as such lacks a potential of blocking minority in the EU Council voting procedures and is torn by internal divisions on the crucial issues of international politics.
At the same time, in terms of EU internal politics, the Visegrad Group seems to demonstrate the necessary balance of assertiveness towards European institutions and ideological autonomy from mainstream European politics, in order to address the issues arising from the ideologization and centralising tendencies of EU institutions in recent years. Thus it may contribute to a positive turn in the search for a new balance in European politics.
The reactivation of cooperation depends on the four countries’ ability to sustain a basic level of trust and to find a common ground on security issues (including energy security). In this respect, the new Czech government has a considerable role to play developing bilateral ties with Warsaw to prevent Poland from becoming further alienated from the rest of the Group; and thus avoiding the trap of the mere ‘Danube alliance’ (Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic). The active involvement of Poland, as the region’s largest economy and a pillar of regional security, is essential for any kind of regional restart.
Any format of regional cooperation in CEE should seek backing from the US, make use of Washington’s overall positive attitude towards the region (as expressed in the new NSS) and aim to attract American investment. It should also seek American assistance in solving crucial regional dilemmas such as energy security.
How to restart regional cooperation. V4 and beyond
This policy paper was prepared by PCTR as a follow-up to the discussion ‘Central Europe: A New Opening in Regional Politics’, held at CEVRO University in Prague on 8 December 2025. The event featured Alexandr Vondra (MEP, ECR), Jozef Majchrák (Postoj.sk), Jan Sechter (Czech Chamber of Commerce), Péter Szitás (Danube Institute), and Przemysław Żurawski vel Grajewski (University of Łódź). It was supported by the ECR Group.