Чеська і Словацька республіки в системі відносин країн Вишеградської четвірки "V4"

Abstract

In the article the author studies the historical aspects of the «Visegrad» forming and the main points of its activity, regional cooperation of the Central and Eastern European countries, in particular the modern issues and problems of interaction between the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic in the framework of regional cooperation, cross-border cooperation, common foreign policy interests and mutually beneficial foreign economic policy, which was aimed at reviving an open market economy, accession to the EU and NATO.

The article also shows that the system of interstate cooperation between the Czech Republic and Slovakia has proved its effectiveness and stability for many years, and the countries’ common interests in the post-integration period after acceding to the North Atlantic Alliance and the European Community have had significant historical traditions. These remarkable events in the life of the young states were preceded by radical reforms in the political, economic and legal spheres. At the same time, there were solved the complicated tasks of state building, consolidation of the political community and the whole society around the idea of the country`s return to Europe.

The author maintains that despite the activity of the Visegrad countries towards integration, both in central- and in common European direction, each of these states follows its own course while pursuing its national interests. Sometimes even the rivalry can be felt between them, which was reflected in the first stages of their accession process into European and Euro-Atlantic structures.

It should be noted that, in the context of implementing the primary – European – choice of Ukraine, studying the experience of priority foreign relations of the Czech Republic and Slovakia is topical and extremely significant from the scientific-theoretical and practical point of view.

At the present stage of development, the Czech-Slovak regional collaboration within the framework of the Visegrad Four in the context of intergovernmental cooperation has turned into a significant integral part of the new architecture of cooperation in the region of Central Europe and the European continent as a whole. On the international scene, the Czech Republic and Slovakia implement their common foreign and security policy of the EU. It agreeably integrates into the common internal market, trade and customs union of the EU. That is, the co-ordinated Czech-Slovak intergovernmental cooperation in realizing their integration interests and tasks comes to the forefront.