The Visegrad Countries and Visa Liberalisation in the Eastern Neighbourhood: A Pan Tadeusz Syndrome?

Abstract

The four Visegrad states (V4) of Central Europe play an important role in facilitating closer relationship between the European Union (EU) and its eastern neighbours. In particular, they seek to achieve this through increased cross-border mobility as a means of supporting institutional reforms, sharing know-how, and promoting cross-border economic development. Such approach is of particular interest in highlighting the V4’s different response to preventing uncontrolled migration from the southern neighbourhood, in contrast to managing legal migration across the Union’s eastern border. Previous studies of the Visegrad states’ role in the eastern neighbourhood often point to the historical discourse, or simply assume unspecified existing “interests.” However, an assessment lacks into the extent to which the V4’s increasing role in the neighbourhood is based on a historical discourse seeking to revive past connections, or an interest (security)-based approach shrouded in normative agenda. The article argues that while the V4 states might pursue visa liberalisation with the eastern neighbours for diverse reasons (ends), the four states employ a shared normative agenda (means), which includes (1) a shift from the “exclusive” impact of Fortress Europe towards “politics of inclusion” and (2) recognition of the transformational impact of cross-border mobility in areas as diverse as minority rights, promotion of democratic governance, and economic cooperation.