After four years of recession, there is evidence of revitalisation of regional co-operation among states of the so-called Visegrad group. When this group was created by the end of 1991, its initiators believed that latest by 1996 the former Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Poland would become members of the European Union. The reality is, however, different, and it is no more important whether it has been a consequence of complexity of the integration process in Europe, or of ill competitive efforts inside the Visegrad four itself. Similarly, it is not interesting to seek the biggest guilty party slowing down the regional co-operation in the middle Europe. Its level is as it is, being a logical reflection of different quality of thinking and responsibility of the top political leaders of the participating states towards the mutual future of the middle Europe. Therefore, it is very important from the viewpoint of the Visegrad revitalisation, if after the Bratislava negotiations of the V-4 prime ministers the underestimated spirit of the economic co-operation of equal partners will be the sprinkling water, or if the spirit of political snobbery and superiority of the bigger over the smaller will prevail. This magazine, that you are going to read, wants to help to put through ideas of regional economic co-operation, that will not be marked by political or historical fictions, complexes and barriers.

Slovak Trade FORUM