The founding of the International Visegrad Fund is a story of vision, trust, and cooperation between the countries of Central Europe. It began in May 1999, when the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, the Prime Minister of Hungary, the Prime Minister of Poland, and the Prime Minister of Slovakia met at the Visegrad Summit in Bratislava. There, they agreed thattherewas a need to have a joint mechanism that would fundconcrete projects enabling regional closeness—among people, cities, universities, and cultural institutions.
Just one year after, on 9 June 2000, V4 leaders signed the Agreement on the Establishment of the International Visegrad Fund in Štiřín, near Prague (Czech Republic). The Fund's headquarters were in Bratislava, in the very heart of Central Europe with a common mission from the beginning. The Fund was conceived to promotecooperationbetweenthe V4 countries and enhance trust and durable relationsamongthe region's citizens.The Fund was created as anon-political and independent international organization, based on long-term sustainability, professionalism, and openness—bothtowardsthe V4 countries, aswellas their neighbours, in particular, so called the Eastern Partnership and the Western Balkans countries.The Visegrad Fund functionsonthe principles of equal representation and shared responsibilities. Tenexecutivedirectorsandsixdeputydirectorshave led theFundsinceits establishment, with each V4 country taking turnsin the position.What wasa modest start has evolvedinto a well-respected international grant institution. Over the past 25 years, the Fund has supported morethan 6,700 projects, enabled more than 3,000 scholarships, hosted morethan 600 artist residencies, and distributed over€140 million in funds.
Just one year after, on 9 June 2000, V4 leaders signed the Agreement on the Establishment of the International Visegrad Fund in Štiřín, near Prague (Czech Republic). The Fund's headquarters were in Bratislava, in the very heart of Central Europe with a common mission from the beginning. The Fund was conceived to promotecooperationbetweenthe V4 countries and enhance trust and durable relationsamongthe region's citizens.The Fund was created as anon-political and independent international organization, based on long-term sustainability, professionalism, and openness—bothtowardsthe V4 countries, aswellas their neighbours, in particular, so called the Eastern Partnership and the Western Balkans countries.The Visegrad Fund functionsonthe principles of equal representation and shared responsibilities. Tenexecutivedirectorsandsixdeputydirectorshave led theFundsinceits establishment, with each V4 country taking turnsin the position.What wasa modest start has evolvedinto a well-respected international grant institution. Over the past 25 years, the Fund has supported morethan 6,700 projects, enabled more than 3,000 scholarships, hosted morethan 600 artist residencies, and distributed over€140 million in funds.
