THE ROLE AND IMPORTANCE OF ECONOMIC COOPERATION OF THE VISEGRAD GROUP COUNTRIES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

The purpose of the article is to characterize the genesis, role, significance, conditions, and effects of economic cooperation of the Visegrad Group states in the European Union, with particular emphasis on their development after 2015. It presents the distinguishing features and specificity of the Group before the accession to NATO and to the EU in the context of the then situation of Central Europe and other European post-communist countries, as well as characterizes the most important aspects of the economic potential of the V4 states against the background of the EU and of some selected Member States. The strengths and weaknesses of economic cooperation in the region are discussed, as well as structural restrictions on the role of the Visegrad countries in the European Union and the controversy surrounding their cooperation. The last part contains conclusions referring the activity of the Visegrad Group to the main axes of post-crisis political and economic divisions in the EU, with particular emphasis on their economic dimensions