Madam, - In 1335 the Castle of Visegrád was the scene of the royal summit of the Kings of Poland, Bohemia and Hungary. They agreed to cooperate closely in the field of politics and commerce, inspiring our countries to launch a successful Central European initiative more than 650 years later - a co-operation that has become known as the Visegrád Group. Today we wish to celebrate the 15th anniversary of our co-operation, continuing to work together as we share the same values, traditions and aspirations.
The Visegrád Group is an unofficial name given to the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and the Slovak Republic. The name was chosen during a meeting between the president of the then Czechoslovakia, Václav Havel, the prime minister of Hungary, József Antall, and the president of Poland, Lech Walesa, at an event held in Visegrád on February 15th, 1991. The leaders signed a declaration on close co-operation of the three countries on their way to European integration.
After the collapse of the communist regimes in Central Europe such co-operation was especially important for the transition from a totalitarian regime to a free, plural and democratic society and from a planned economy to a market one.
The Visegrád Group reflects the countries' efforts to work together in a number of fields of common interest within the framework of pan-European integration. We have always been part of the same Western civilisation, sharing cultural and intellectual values and common roots of religious traditions that we wish to preserve and further strengthen.
We aspired to become members of the EU, perceiving integration into the Union as another step forward in the process of overcoming the artificial dividing lines in Europe through mutual support. We reached this aim on May 1st, 2004 during the Irish presidency, which had a symbolic message, as Ireland had always been a true advocate of the enlargement of the EU.
Co-operation within the Visegrád Group has enhanced the imparting of values in the fields of culture, education, science and information exchange. All of the group's activities are aimed at strengthening stability in the Central European region. In our co-operation within the EU we concentrate on a wide range of current issues of common interest from active contribution to the development of the Common Foreign and Security Policy via consultations, co-operation and exchange of experience in the area of justice and home affairs to creating new forms of economic co-operation within the European Economic Area. We strive to improve employment and environmental conditions in order to provide a solid foundation for sustainable, competitive and dynamic economic development with increasing social inclusion and cohesion. The results of such endeavours benefit not only the Visegrád Group but the whole EU.
Visegrád co-operation also provides an excellent possibility for us to speak with one voice to achieve common goals. One recent example was the joint declaration of the employment ministers on January 27th this year. We proposed a more intensive exchange of information on labour movements among the so-called old and new member-states of the EU.
Instead of restriction of access to labour markets through work permit regimes, we recommended that workers should move freely, but that their movements should be monitored to make illegal employment far less attractive.
Besides our shared objectives, there is another element that unites us - it is our admiration for Ireland's success. Ireland is a role model for success as members of the European Union. We are grateful to the Irish Government for its support for our membership of the EU, as well as for the decision to open Ireland's borders for the citizens of our countries, who contribute to the wealth of Irish society.
We appreciate the positive, friendly, and hospitable attitude of the Irish towards our compatriots. We hope to strengthen and intensify, in all spheres, our already excellent relations with Ireland. As we have a lot in common, together we can achieve even more for our mutual good. - Yours, etc,
Dr JANOS BALASSA, Ambassador of Hungary; JAN GABOR, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic; JOSEF HAVLAS, Ambassador of the Czech Republic; WITOLD SOBKÓW, Ambassador of Poland, Dublin.