Past Events Visegrád Group: Driving Force or Stumbling Block for the EU? 26.04.2026 The power shift in Hungary and other recent political developments have reshaped dynamics within the Visegrád Group. On 3 June, our roundtable explores the shift and its impact on EU policymaking. Image: Creator: picture alliance / NurPhoto | Mateusz Wlodarczyk The Visegrád Group (V4) – comprising Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia – stands at a crossroads. Recent political developments across the region, including a remarkable power shift in Hungary, are reshaping the group’s internal dynamics and its role within the European Union. As the four countries navigate their own domestic transformations, their collective stance on key EU issues like energy security, migration, rule of law, and EU enlargement is evolving. At the same time, the EU itself faces unprecedented challenges, from the war in Ukraine and energy transitions to debates on democratic values and institutional reforms. Roundtable on 3 June 2026 Against this backdrop, our roundtable will explore whether the V4 can become a driving force for the EU, or whether they are more of a stumbling block to deeper integration? Together with experts from Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Brussels we will discuss:What is the current domestic political situation in each country?Which impact had the elections in recent years on the political landscape in the four countries?Where do the four countries align or diverge on critical EU policies?What does the future hold for the V4’s role in shaping Europe’s agenda?Date: 3 June 2026, 09:30 - 13:00 CEST Venue: FES EU Office, Rue du Taciturne 38, 1000 Brussels As we have reached the maximum number of participants, the event registration is closed. For more information, please contact Marco.Schwarz(at)fes.de. Register now Programme overview Programme 09:00 Registration 09:30 The current political situation in the V4 countriesOndřej Lánský, Researcher, Czech Academy of Sciences, PragueGábor Harangozó, Policy Officer, FES BudapestKatarzyna Ueberhan, Member of the Polish Parliament Aneta Világi, Professor at Comenius University, BratislavaModerated by Max Brändle, Director FES Poland. More speakers to be confirmed. 11:00 Coffee Break 11:30 The Visegrád Group & the EU: Balancing cooperation and divergencePavlína Janebová, Research Director, Association for International Affairs (AMO), Prague Gábor Győri, Senior Analyst, think tank Policy Solutions, BudapestRobert Smolén, Editor-in-Chief, Res Humana bimonthly, WarsawTomáš Strážay, Research Director, Slovak Foreign Policy Association, BratislavaModerated by Marco Schwarz, Policy Officer, FES EU Office. More speakers to be confirmed. 13:00 End of the event and light lunch Related articles Image: Creator: Azra Kadić Thursday, 23.04.2026 Publication Western Balkans & the EU: Keeping the Promise, Finishing the Job Geopolitical tensions have put enlargement back on the EU agenda. But is Brussels ready for new members? And where do the Western Balkan candidate countries stand in the accession process? Our briefing series finds answers. Sunday, 15.06.2025 News Publication Policy Brief: Between ‘Balkan Route’ and ‘European Path’ EU rhetoric often distances 'Europe' from the so-called 'Western Balkans'. In our policy brief, Frauke Seebass offers recommendations to bridge this apparent divide by involving larger groups of society in the integration process. Image: Creator: © VanderWolf-Images | Getty Images via canva.com Thursday, 19.02.2026 News Publication Policy Brief: Time to connect the dots - how (not) to defend European democracy The EU' Democracy Shield is supposed to strengthen and sustain democratic resilience across Europe. In reality, however, it fails to do what its name suggests, analyses Alice Stollmeyer in our newest Brussels Democracy Paper.
