V4 postage stamp by Slovak Post

The Slovak Post is issuing a stamp commemorating 20 years of the activity of V4 (Visegrad Group).

V4 is an informal grouping of four central European countries - the Czech Republic, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Poland and the Slovak Republic. The organization was created in 1989 by three central European countries with the aim of "returning" to Europe. On 15 February 1991, Czechoslovakia's President Vaclav Havel, Poland's President Lech Walesa and Hungary's Prime Minister Jozsef Antall signed the Visegrad Declaration. After the split of Czechoslovakia and the creation of independent Slovak and Czech Republics in 1993, the trilateral Visegrad cooperation was transformed to a V4 format.

The key objectives pursued by the V4 countries were accomplished with their successful socio-economic transformation, the deepening of regional cooperation and with their EU and NATO integration. For 20 years, regional cooperation of the V4 has successfully developed in the intersectoral field, coordination of foreign policy positions and pursuance of common interests within the EU and vis-a-vis third countries/regions. The activities of the V4 are based on presidency programs adopted by the Prime Ministers at Visegrad Group summits. The current presidency is held by Slovakia (1 July 2010 - 30 June 2011).