Essay

• Marek Madej :
  Brief history of V4 defense cooperation until 20141-29en [470.95 kB - PDF]EPA-02475-00012-0010

  Abstract: Visegrad cooperation was established in February 1991, on the meeting of leaders of Poland, - international organization, but loosely institutionalized structure of cooperation with very few permanent elements. Nevertheless, security interests has been at the heart of it from the very beginning, since it was intended first and foremost to facilitate development of ties and gradual integration with Western structures - NATO and European Union2. However, defense and military cooperation did not develop within the Group at the same pace and to the same level as political or economic contacts.

• Jakub Charvát :
  The V4 Countries Representation in the European Parliament30-47en [517.43 kB - PDF]EPA-02475-00012-0020

  Abstract: Modern democratic political systems are hardly conceivable without political representation. This also applies to the European Union (hereinafter “EU”), a unique economic and political union of twenty-eight Member States with a directly elected and fully-fledged assembly, the European Parliament, representing EU citizens. And because the European Parliament is the first transnational representative body based on the Member States representation, the issue of its composition, and especially the apportionment of seats among the EU Member States appears to be a relevant issue. Therefore, the chapter addresses the issue of territorial representation in the European Parliament.

  Keywords: European Union, V4 cooperation, national interest assertion

• Tamás Péter Baranyi :
  Political System and Political Identity in Central-Eastern Europe48-62en [457.07 kB - PDF]EPA-02475-00012-0030

  Abstract: The political transitions of the early 1990s are still highly debated issues of our present societies in Europe—in and outside the narrower region. Many different opinions, viewpoints, and analysis have regularly been published during the past decades and this process of self-evaluation accelerates in the vicinity of major anniversaries. The 30th jubilee of the “regime changes” provide just an apt vantage point. This study tries to find connections between the major systemic changes of the political system, their interpretations, and their impact on the self-identification of the states and citizens of the region.

  Keywords: Central Europe, regime change, communism, Visegrad cooperation