China, cooperation, European Union, New Silk Road, Visegrad Group, politics

This paper is devoted to an analysis of Visegrad Group (V4) countries‘ positions on China’s New Silk Road project. Reflection on the EU and V4 perceptions of PRC on the background of discourse about One Belt and One Road (OBOR) follows. The aim of the paper is to give insights into the degree of engagement of the EU and V4 countries. Since the New Silk Road initiative emerged in China’s strategic communication with the EU in 2013, there has been a general shift towards China in Eurasian and world affairs. Perhaps not many results of OBOR are currently visible in the whole EU, however China’s low-key but gradual progress in OBOR implementation in different Eurasian regions shapes the future of EU. Will it bring economic cooperation, understanding or diplomatic repercussions and security questions? This paper argues for multifactorial engagement EU strategy to OBOR, and for a more active approach the Visegrad Group toward China, bridging EU-China communication.

This paper is devoted to an analysis of Visegrad Group (V4) countries‘ positions on China’s New Silk Road project. Reflection on the EU and V4 perceptions of PRC on the background of discourse about One Belt and One Road (OBOR) follows. The aim of the paper is to give insights into the degree of engagement of the EU and V4 countries. Since the New Silk Road initiative emerged in China’s strategic communication with the EU in 2013, there has been a general shift towards China in Eurasian and world affairs. Perhaps not many results of OBOR are currently visible in the whole EU, however China’s low-key but gradual progress in OBOR implementation in different Eurasian regions shapes the future of EU. Will it bring economic cooperation, understanding or diplomatic repercussions and security questions? This paper argues for multifactorial engagement EU strategy to OBOR, and for a more active approach the Visegrad Group toward China, bridging EU-China communication.