Visegrád Group
Encyclopedia
The Visegrád Group, also called the Visegrád Four or V4, is an alliance of four Central European
states – Czech Republic
, Hungary
, Poland
and Slovakia
– for the purposes of cooperation and furthering their European integration
. The Group's name in the languages of the four countries is Visegrádská čtyřka or Visegrádská skupina (Czech
); Visegrádi Együttműködés or Visegrádi négyek (Hungarian
); Grupa Wyszehradzka (Polish
); and Vyšehradská skupina or Vyšehradská štvorka (Slovak
). It is also sometimes referred to as the Visegrád Triangle, since it was an alliance of three states at the beginning – the term is not valid now, but appears sometimes even after all the years since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia
in 1993.
The Group originated in a summit meeting of the heads of state or government of Czechoslovakia
, Hungary
and Poland
held in the Hungarian castle town of Visegrád
on 15 February 1991 (not to be mistaken with Vyšehrad
, a castle in Prague
, the capital city of Czechia, or with the town of Višegrad
in Bosnia and Herzegovina
).
The Czech Republic and Slovakia
became members after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia
in 1993. All four members of the Visegrád Group became part of the European Union
on 1 May 2004.
The name of the Group is derived, and the place of meeting selected, from a meeting
of the Bohemian, Polish and Hungarian rulers in Visegrád
in 1335. Charles I of Hungary
, Casimir III of Poland
and John of Bohemia agreed to create new commercial routes to bypass the staple port Vienna
and obtain easier access to other European markets. A second meeting
took place in 1339, where the new king of Poland was decided upon.
and have enjoyed more or less steady economic growth
since the revolutions of 1989
. In 2009, Slovakia
adopted the euro
as its official currency.
If counted as a single nation state, the Visegrad Group is the seventh largest economy in Europe and the 15th in the world.
Based on Gross Domestic Product (PPP) figures for the year 2011, the most developed country in the grouping is the Czech Republic
(USD 25,933 per capita), followed by Slovakia
(USD 23,384 per capita), Poland
(USD 20,136 per capita) and Hungary
(USD 19,647 per capita). The average GDP (PPP) in 2011 for the entire group was USD 21,197.
The largest economy in the region is Poland (GDP PPP total of USD 766,675 with a ranking of 19th in the world). According to the UN and the World Bank
, it is a high income country with a very high human development index.The largest component of its economy is the service sector (67,3%), followed by the industry sector (28,1%) and the agriculture sector (4,6%). Today, the main obstacle to growth is the country's notoriously poor infrastructure. However, with the increase of private investment and funding assistance from the EU, infrastructure in Poland is rapidly improving.
The main industries are mining, machinery (cars, buses, ships), metallurgy, chemical, electrical, textile and food processing. The high technology and IT sectors are also growing with the help of investors like Google
, Toshiba
, Dell
, GE
, LG
and Sharp
. The result is that today Poland is a producer of many electronic devices and components.
Minerals extracted include black and brown coal, copper, lead, zinc, salt, sulfur, magnesite, kaolin and small amounts of oil and natural gas. The recently made available US Department of Energy report revealed that the largest reserves of shale gas
in Europe are in Poland and it is expected that its production will play an important role in the Polish economy in the near future.
Poland has been called the bread basket of Europe due to it's highly developed agriculture sector. Arable lands make up nearly half of the country, meadows and pastures only 13% and forests 30%. Wheat, rye, barley, flax, oats, potatoes, sugar beets, canola, hops, fruit and vegetables are all grown for both the home and export markets. Meanwhile, Poland's production of rye, flax, potatoes and sugar beet is the second largest in Europe after Russia. Pigs, cattle, sheep, horses and poultry are all commonly bred livestock. The country also has a substantial fishing industry located on the Baltic coast and near the lakes of the Mazury region.
The second largest economy in the group is the Czech Republic (GDP of USD 273.070 billion total, 42nd in world ranking). Before the Second World War, the Czech Republic was one of the most advanced countries in the world. However, the subsequent 41 years of communism greatly damaged the economy. Since the velvet revolution, the Czech Republic has successfully transformed itself into a free market economy. Today the Czech Republic
is a highly industrialized country and belongs to the 30 most developed countries (according to the world bank
). The main problems are corruption, and inequality between regions.
The main industries in the Czech Republic
are chemicals, machinery, food processing, metallurgy
and smelting. Other major industry sectors are energy, construction and consumer. Less important are the arms industry and glass, but these have a long tradition in Bohemia
. Industry accounts for 35% of the Czech economy. The Czech Republic
produces per capita the most cars in the world and about the same amount as in Great Britain. Main producers are Škoda auto
, Peugeot-Citroen, Toyota and Hyundai.
Other major companies are ČEZ
(biggest company in central and eastern Europe), Škoda works (manufacturer of rail vehicles), Panasonic
(electronics), Tatra (Heavy truck manufacturer), Acelor Mittal (Metallurgy), Avast (Software), PPF
(largest Central European investment group) and many others.
The key minerals mined are black and brown coal, clay, graphite, limestone and other building materials. Uranium deposits are found near the village of Lower. In South Moravia, oil and natural gas are extracted, but larger amounts are imported from Russia. Since one third of the country is covered with forest, wood is also an important export.
Cereals (wheat, barley, maize), potatoes, sugar beets, other flax crops, and canola are grown. Hops, fruit growing and viticulture are also important. The basis of livestock is cattle, pigs and poultry, as well as beekeeping or freshwater fish (especially carp).
The third economy is Hungary (total GDP of USD 196.196 billion, 52nd in the world). Hungary was one of the more developed economies of the Eastern bloc. Now it is an industrial agricultural state. The main problem is generally declining economic performance and high debt.
The main industries are engineering, mechanical engineering (cars, buses), chemical, electrical, textile and food industries.
Wheat, rye, barley, flax, oats, potatoes, sugar beets, canola, hops, fruit and vegetables are grown. Livestock bred include pigs, cattle, sheep, horses and poultry. Wool, honey and fish products are produced.
The smallest V4 economy is Slovakia (GDP of USD 127.111 billion total, 60th in the world). Along with the Czech Republic, Slovakia was the most developed country of the Eastern Bloc. The first years after the revolution in 1989 saw stagnation. At the end of the 1990s, the economy grew and attracted much investment. Today Slovakia is an advanced industrial nation.
The automotive industry is important to the Slovak economy. Cars produced are Volkswagen, Peugeot, Citroen and Kia. Another important industry is electronics. Near the city of Nitra is Sony's Japanese factory. The Korean company Samsung also has a factory in Slovakia. The metals, mining and quarrying and food-processing industries are important. Slovak industry has good prospects and is expected to grow rapidly.
Slovakia has a developed agriculture. Mostly grown is corn, but also wine, especially in Bratislava and the surrounding Tokaj region. In the Tatra Mountains and other high land there is breeding of domestic animals - sheep and cattle. Peppers and potatoes are grown.
Most people live in Poland (38 million), followed by Czechia (nearly 11 million), Hungary (nearly 10 million) and Slovakia (5.5 million).
The only institution of the Visegrád co-operation is the International Visegrad Fund, established in 1999, with its seat in Bratislava
. According to a decision of the prime ministers, the Fund has an annual budget of EUR 5 million since 2007 onwards. In 11 annual deadlines the Fund awards grants, scholarships and artist residencies.
On 27 April 2006, the V4 WG on Energy met in Prague
with the aim of discussing recommendations for V4 energy ministers concerning topics negotiated at ministerial level meetings. The WG elaborated recommendations concerning four groups of problems:
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
states – Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
– for the purposes of cooperation and furthering their European integration
European integration
European integration is the process of industrial, political, legal, economic integration of states wholly or partially in Europe...
. The Group's name in the languages of the four countries is Visegrádská čtyřka or Visegrádská skupina (Czech
Czech language
Czech is a West Slavic language with about 12 million native speakers; it is the majority language in the Czech Republic and spoken by Czechs worldwide. The language was known as Bohemian in English until the late 19th century...
); Visegrádi Együttműködés or Visegrádi négyek (Hungarian
Hungarian language
Hungarian is a Uralic language, part of the Ugric group. With some 14 million speakers, it is one of the most widely spoken non-Indo-European languages in Europe....
); Grupa Wyszehradzka (Polish
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
); and Vyšehradská skupina or Vyšehradská štvorka (Slovak
Slovak language
Slovak , is an Indo-European language that belongs to the West Slavic languages .Slovak is the official language of Slovakia, where it is spoken by 5 million people...
). It is also sometimes referred to as the Visegrád Triangle, since it was an alliance of three states at the beginning – the term is not valid now, but appears sometimes even after all the years since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
in 1993.
The Group originated in a summit meeting of the heads of state or government of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
and Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
held in the Hungarian castle town of Visegrád
Visegrád
Visegrád is a small castle town in Pest County, Hungary.Situated north of Budapest on the right bank of the Danube in the Danube Bend, Visegrád has a population 1,654 as of 2001...
on 15 February 1991 (not to be mistaken with Vyšehrad
Vyšehrad
Vyšehrad is a castle located in the city of Prague, Czech Republic. It was probably built in the 10th century, on a hill over the Vltava River...
, a castle in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, the capital city of Czechia, or with the town of Višegrad
Višegrad
Višegrad is a town and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is part of the Republika Srpska entity. It is on the river Drina, located on the road from Goražde and Ustiprača towards Užice, Serbia.-History:...
in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
).
The Czech Republic and Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
became members after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia
Dissolution of Czechoslovakia
The dissolution of Czechoslovakia, which took effect on 1 January 1993, was an event that saw the self-determined separation of the federal state of Czechoslovakia. The Czech Republic and Slovakia, entities which had arisen in 1969 within the framework of Czechoslovak federalisation, became...
in 1993. All four members of the Visegrád Group became part of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
on 1 May 2004.
Historical inspiration
Congress of Visegrád (1335)
The first Congress of Visegrád was a 1335 summit in Visegrád in which Casimir III of Poland, Charles I of Hungary, and John I of Bohemia formed an anti-Habsburg alliance...
of the Bohemian, Polish and Hungarian rulers in Visegrád
Visegrád
Visegrád is a small castle town in Pest County, Hungary.Situated north of Budapest on the right bank of the Danube in the Danube Bend, Visegrád has a population 1,654 as of 2001...
in 1335. Charles I of Hungary
Charles I of Hungary
Charles I , also known as Charles Robert , was the first King of Hungary and Croatia of the House of Anjou. He was also descended from the old Hungarian Árpád dynasty. His claim to the throne of Hungary was contested by several pretenders...
, Casimir III of Poland
Casimir III of Poland
Casimir III the Great , last King of Poland from the Piast dynasty , was the son of King Władysław I the Elbow-high and Hedwig of Kalisz.-Biography:...
and John of Bohemia agreed to create new commercial routes to bypass the staple port Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and obtain easier access to other European markets. A second meeting
Congress of Visegrád (1339)
The second Congress of Visegrád was a 1339 summit in Visegrád where it was decided that after the death of Casimir III of Poland, the son of Charles I of Hungary, Louis I of Hungary, would become King of Poland provided that Kazimierz does not have a son....
took place in 1339, where the new king of Poland was decided upon.
Economies
All four nations in the Visegrád Group have relatively developed free market economiesMarket economy
A market economy is an economy in which the prices of goods and services are determined in a free price system. This is often contrasted with a state-directed or planned economy. Market economies can range from hypothetically pure laissez-faire variants to an assortment of real-world mixed...
and have enjoyed more or less steady economic growth
Economic growth
In economics, economic growth is defined as the increasing capacity of the economy to satisfy the wants of goods and services of the members of society. Economic growth is enabled by increases in productivity, which lowers the inputs for a given amount of output. Lowered costs increase demand...
since the revolutions of 1989
Revolutions of 1989
The Revolutions of 1989 were the revolutions which overthrew the communist regimes in various Central and Eastern European countries.The events began in Poland in 1989, and continued in Hungary, East Germany, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia and...
. In 2009, Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
adopted the euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
as its official currency.
If counted as a single nation state, the Visegrad Group is the seventh largest economy in Europe and the 15th in the world.
Based on Gross Domestic Product (PPP) figures for the year 2011, the most developed country in the grouping is the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
(USD 25,933 per capita), followed by Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
(USD 23,384 per capita), Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
(USD 20,136 per capita) and Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
(USD 19,647 per capita). The average GDP (PPP) in 2011 for the entire group was USD 21,197.
The largest economy in the region is Poland (GDP PPP total of USD 766,675 with a ranking of 19th in the world). According to the UN and the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
, it is a high income country with a very high human development index.The largest component of its economy is the service sector (67,3%), followed by the industry sector (28,1%) and the agriculture sector (4,6%). Today, the main obstacle to growth is the country's notoriously poor infrastructure. However, with the increase of private investment and funding assistance from the EU, infrastructure in Poland is rapidly improving.
The main industries are mining, machinery (cars, buses, ships), metallurgy, chemical, electrical, textile and food processing. The high technology and IT sectors are also growing with the help of investors like Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
, Toshiba
Toshiba
is a multinational electronics and electrical equipment corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It is a diversified manufacturer and marketer of electrical products, spanning information & communications equipment and systems, Internet-based solutions and services, electronic components and...
, Dell
Dell
Dell, Inc. is an American multinational information technology corporation based in 1 Dell Way, Round Rock, Texas, United States, that develops, sells and supports computers and related products and services. Bearing the name of its founder, Michael Dell, the company is one of the largest...
, GE
Gê
Gê are the people who spoke Ge languages of the northern South American Caribbean coast and Brazil. In Brazil the Gê were found in Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Bahia, Piaui, Mato Grosso, Goias, Tocantins, Maranhão, and as far south as Paraguay....
, LG
LG
LG may refer to:*LG Corp., a South Korean electronics and petrochemicals conglomerate*LG Electronics, an affiliate of the South Korean LG Group which produces electronic products* Lawrence Graham, a London headquartered firm of business lawyers...
and Sharp
Sharp Corporation
is a Japanese multinational corporation that designs and manufactures electronic products. Headquartered in Abeno-ku, Osaka, Japan, Sharp employs more than 55,580 people worldwide as of June 2011. The company was founded in September 1912 and takes its name from one of its founder's first...
. The result is that today Poland is a producer of many electronic devices and components.
Minerals extracted include black and brown coal, copper, lead, zinc, salt, sulfur, magnesite, kaolin and small amounts of oil and natural gas. The recently made available US Department of Energy report revealed that the largest reserves of shale gas
Shale gas
Shale gas is natural gas produced from shale. Shale gas has become an increasingly important source of natural gas in the United States over the past decade, and interest has spread to potential gas shales in the rest of the world...
in Europe are in Poland and it is expected that its production will play an important role in the Polish economy in the near future.
Poland has been called the bread basket of Europe due to it's highly developed agriculture sector. Arable lands make up nearly half of the country, meadows and pastures only 13% and forests 30%. Wheat, rye, barley, flax, oats, potatoes, sugar beets, canola, hops, fruit and vegetables are all grown for both the home and export markets. Meanwhile, Poland's production of rye, flax, potatoes and sugar beet is the second largest in Europe after Russia. Pigs, cattle, sheep, horses and poultry are all commonly bred livestock. The country also has a substantial fishing industry located on the Baltic coast and near the lakes of the Mazury region.
The second largest economy in the group is the Czech Republic (GDP of USD 273.070 billion total, 42nd in world ranking). Before the Second World War, the Czech Republic was one of the most advanced countries in the world. However, the subsequent 41 years of communism greatly damaged the economy. Since the velvet revolution, the Czech Republic has successfully transformed itself into a free market economy. Today the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
is a highly industrialized country and belongs to the 30 most developed countries (according to the world bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
). The main problems are corruption, and inequality between regions.
The main industries in the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
are chemicals, machinery, food processing, metallurgy
Metallurgy
Metallurgy is a domain of materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called alloys. It is also the technology of metals: the way in which science is applied to their practical use...
and smelting. Other major industry sectors are energy, construction and consumer. Less important are the arms industry and glass, but these have a long tradition in Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
. Industry accounts for 35% of the Czech economy. The Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
produces per capita the most cars in the world and about the same amount as in Great Britain. Main producers are Škoda auto
Škoda Auto
Škoda Auto , more commonly known as Škoda, is an automobile manufacturer based in the Czech Republic. Škoda became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group in 2000, positioned as the entry brand to the group...
, Peugeot-Citroen, Toyota and Hyundai.
Other major companies are ČEZ
CEZ
CEZ stands for:* one of Falconbridge Ltd.'s refineries* a Czech news channel* IATA airport code for Cortez Municipal Airport* CEZ Group, a Czech energy company...
(biggest company in central and eastern Europe), Škoda works (manufacturer of rail vehicles), Panasonic
Panasonic
Panasonic is an international brand name for Japanese electric products manufacturer Panasonic Corporation, which was formerly known as Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd...
(electronics), Tatra (Heavy truck manufacturer), Acelor Mittal (Metallurgy), Avast (Software), PPF
PPF (company)
PPF is a privately held international financial group. It operates in the area of consumer financing, retail banking and insurance. It develops its activities in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Cyprus, Belarus, Vietnam and China. Its headquarters is located in the...
(largest Central European investment group) and many others.
The key minerals mined are black and brown coal, clay, graphite, limestone and other building materials. Uranium deposits are found near the village of Lower. In South Moravia, oil and natural gas are extracted, but larger amounts are imported from Russia. Since one third of the country is covered with forest, wood is also an important export.
Cereals (wheat, barley, maize), potatoes, sugar beets, other flax crops, and canola are grown. Hops, fruit growing and viticulture are also important. The basis of livestock is cattle, pigs and poultry, as well as beekeeping or freshwater fish (especially carp).
The third economy is Hungary (total GDP of USD 196.196 billion, 52nd in the world). Hungary was one of the more developed economies of the Eastern bloc. Now it is an industrial agricultural state. The main problem is generally declining economic performance and high debt.
The main industries are engineering, mechanical engineering (cars, buses), chemical, electrical, textile and food industries.
Wheat, rye, barley, flax, oats, potatoes, sugar beets, canola, hops, fruit and vegetables are grown. Livestock bred include pigs, cattle, sheep, horses and poultry. Wool, honey and fish products are produced.
The smallest V4 economy is Slovakia (GDP of USD 127.111 billion total, 60th in the world). Along with the Czech Republic, Slovakia was the most developed country of the Eastern Bloc. The first years after the revolution in 1989 saw stagnation. At the end of the 1990s, the economy grew and attracted much investment. Today Slovakia is an advanced industrial nation.
The automotive industry is important to the Slovak economy. Cars produced are Volkswagen, Peugeot, Citroen and Kia. Another important industry is electronics. Near the city of Nitra is Sony's Japanese factory. The Korean company Samsung also has a factory in Slovakia. The metals, mining and quarrying and food-processing industries are important. Slovak industry has good prospects and is expected to grow rapidly.
Slovakia has a developed agriculture. Mostly grown is corn, but also wine, especially in Bratislava and the surrounding Tokaj region. In the Tatra Mountains and other high land there is breeding of domestic animals - sheep and cattle. Peppers and potatoes are grown.
Demography
The population is 64,301,710 inhabitants, which would rank 22nd largest in the world and 4th in Europe if V4 was a single country.Most people live in Poland (38 million), followed by Czechia (nearly 11 million), Hungary (nearly 10 million) and Slovakia (5.5 million).
Rotating presidency
The country holding the Group's presidency changes each year, in June:International Visegrád Fund
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
. According to a decision of the prime ministers, the Fund has an annual budget of EUR 5 million since 2007 onwards. In 11 annual deadlines the Fund awards grants, scholarships and artist residencies.
Visegrád Battlegroup
On 12 May 2011, Polish Defence Minister Bogdan Klich said that Poland will lead a new battlegroup of the Visegrad Group. The decision was made at the V4 defense ministers' meeting in Levoca, Slovakia, and the battlegroup would become operational and be placed on standby in the first half of 2016. The ministers also agreed that the V4 militaries should hold regular exercises under the auspices of the NATO Response Force, with the first such exercise to be held in Poland in 2013.Visegrád Scholarship Program
The continually expanding Visegrád Scholarship Program awards grants from the International Visegrád Fund for students of Master's or postgraduate levels. Students from the following countries are eligible for the scholarships: the Visegrád Group countries (Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia), also Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Russia and Ukraine.Expert Working Group on Energy
In 2002, Hungary initiated establishment of an Expert Working Group on Energy. This expert group meets once or twice a year in V4 capitals on a rotation basis, and the head of the host country delegation always chairs the meeting.On 27 April 2006, the V4 WG on Energy met in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
with the aim of discussing recommendations for V4 energy ministers concerning topics negotiated at ministerial level meetings. The WG elaborated recommendations concerning four groups of problems:
- Recommendations of general nature in the sphere of energy policyEnergy policyEnergy policy is the manner in which a given entity has decided to address issues of energy development including energy production, distribution and consumption...
, including energy research and development. - Recommendation to consider development of emergency natural gasNatural gasNatural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
storage. - Recommendation to consider construction of new gas and oil pipelinesPipeline transportPipeline transport is the transportation of goods through a pipe. Most commonly, liquids and gases are sent, but pneumatic tubes that transport solid capsules using compressed air are also used....
and of new naval LNG terminals. - Recommendations in the field of interconnecting power transmissionPower transmissionPower transmission is the movement of energy from its place of generation to a location where it is applied to performing useful work.Power is defined formally as units of energy per unit time...
grids.