Over the years, Visegrad Cooperation has become a globally-known brand, thanks also to joint activities of the embassies and consulates of the V4 countries around the world. The Hungarian Presidency will continue to organise events promoting the V4 both as an attractive touristic and business destination, and as a regional cooperation ready to build partnerships with interested countries. V4 cooperation in cultural diplomacy will also continue, to present the V4 region’s diversity and cultural values worldwide.
Browse this section for recent V4 presidency events from around the world
27 June 2022
Luxembourg / Luxembourg
Hungarian Ambassador H.E. Dr. Tamás Iván Kovács handed over the baton to the incoming Slovak V4 Presidency at a closing dinner in Luxembourg, also reporting on the successful events of the Hungarian V4 Presidency in Luxembourg. The closing dinner was attended by the Czech and Polish ambassadors, the Slovak chargé d'affaires and Sylvie Lucas, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.
24 June 2022
Düsseldorf / Germany
The opening of the "Natural Treasures of the V4 Countries" photo exhibition took place on 24 June at the Gerhart-Hauptmann-Haus, in Düsseldorf. The event was opened by H.E. Gergő Szilágyi, Consul General of Hungary, H.E. Kristina Larischová, Consul General of the Czech Republic, Jacek Biegała, Deputy Consul General of Poland and Imrich Donath, Honorary Consul of Slovakia.
21 June 2022
Cairo / Egypt
The Embassy of Hungary in Cairo, in cooperation with the V4 embassies, organised a live jazz concert and reception, marking the symbolic handover of the presidency from Hungary to Slovakia. Following the speeches by H.E. András Kovács, Ambassador of Hungary, H.E. Lenka Miháliková, Ambassador of Slovakia and H.E. Jan Fulík, Ambassador of the Czech Republic, the V4 Quartet led by Tamás Zsári gave a concert for the audience of 100 people.
18 June 2022
Krakow / Poland
As the closing event of the Hungarian V4 Presidency in Southern Poland, a jazz concert took place at the Oskar Kolberg Philharmonic in Kielce on 18 June 2022. In addition to the internationally renowned Hungarian cimbalom player Jenő Lisztes, the concert featured the Radek Blahuš Quartet from the Czech Republic, bassist Robert Jr. Ragan from Slovakia, and accordionist Konrad Ligas, clarinetist Janusz Witko and drummer Grzegorz Masłowski from Poland. The artists performed the Patriotic Jazz Suite by Konrad Ligas, as well as jazz and ethno pieces from the folklore of the V4 countries.
18 June 2022
Beja / Portugal
As the final event of the 2021/22 Hungarian V4 Presidency in Portugal, a highly successful piano concert was held in Beja, southern Portugal, in the framework of the 18th edition of the Terras Sem Sombra Festival, performed by pianist Valentin Magyar. The sold-out concert (around 200 people) was preceded by speeches of the Mayor of Beja, Paulo Arsénio, the President of the Festival Organising Committee and H.E Ambassador of Hungary, dr. Miklós Halmai.
15 June 2022
Stockholm / Sweden
On 15 June, the Hungarian Embassy in Stockholm hosted the closing event of the Hungarian V4 Presidency with a charity concert, where guests could send donations to the Ukrainian population through Swedish Television and Radio's aid programme: Radiohjälpen. The musical programme of the evening included works by Czech, Polish, Slovak, Ukrainian and Hungarian composers (Chopin, Burlas, Kapustin, Smetana and Liszt). As an introduction to the concert, Hungarian Ambassador Adrien Müller and the Chargé d'Affaires of the Slovak Embassy in Stockholm, along with the Ukrainian Ambassador in Stockholm held opening speeches.
14 June 2022
Ljubljana / Slovenia
On 14 June 2022, H. E. Hungarian Ambassador Andor Dávid handed over the Presidency of the Visegrád Group in Slovenia to Slovakian Ambassador Peter Zeleňák. The event, held at the Slovenian Philharmonic and organized by the Liszt Institute in cooperation with the V4 Embassies in Ljubljana featured a concert titled “Roots & Wings” by the Irén Lovász V4 Groove & Voice Band. At the event, the Ambassador gave a speech presenting the achievements of the Hungarian V4 Presidency and wishing a lot of success to the next presiding country, Slovakia.
13 June 2022
Riga / Latvia
On 13 June, the Hungarian Embassy in Riga hosted the closing event of the Hungarian V4 Presidency, during which the Antal Gábor Jazz Trio gave a concert at the Jāzeps Vītols Music Academy. The trio performed their own compositions, including "Walking on the planet", a song written especially for the occasion. The event was attended by all four V4 ambassadors.
9-16 June 2022
Kuwait / Kuwait
The "Natural Treasures of the Visegrad Group" photo exhibiton was on display between 9 and 16 June in Kuwait city. The exhibition was hosted by 'The Avenues', the largest shopping centre in the Gulf Area. Thanks to the central, high-traffic exhibition venue, the eight-day exhibition attracted around 6,000 visitors.
8 June 2022
Stockholm / Sweden
The Hungarian Embassy in Stockholm has launched the "Read and Discover V4 Literature" programme to promote literary works from the Visegrad countries translated into Swedish, in close cooperation with the V4 embassies in Stockholm and with the involvement of libraries in Sweden. Under the programme, libraries will present a selection of literature from the four countries on thematic shelves for two months in the popular Kulturhuset's library (Kulturbiblioteket) in central Stockholm.
8 June 2022
Tokyo / Japan
On 8 June, the Hungarian Cultural Institute in Tokyo organized the closing concert of the 2021/2022 Hungarian V4 Presidency. The program took place at the Keio University Concert Hall with the participation of more than 200 guests, including dignitaries and ambassadors. Following the welcoming speech of H. E. Hungarian Ambassador, Norbert Palanovics, a concert was given by composers from the V4 countries.
8 June 2022
Klaipeda / Lithuania
In cooperation with the University of Klaipeda, the opening of the PoszTerra Travelling Poster Exhibition was held in Klaipeda, which also served as the closing event of the cultural programmes of the V4 Hungarian Presidency in Lithuania. The event included speeches by Ambassador Gábor Diczházi, Rector Arturas Razbadauskas, Mayor Vytautas Grubliauskas and Ladislav Babcan, Slovak Ambassador to Riga, who formally took over the presidency.
7 June 2022
Hongkong
The Consulate General of Hungary in Hong Kong, in cooperation with the Hong Kong University of Science Technology (HKUST), organised the Natural Treasures of the Visegrád Group photo exhibition. Senior officials from the Hong Kong government and representatives from more than 30 consulates general in Hong Kong were present. After the welcoming speeches and ribbon cutting, the guests were treated to a piano piece by Dvorzak and a performance by the Hungarian folk dance group, Knack Cordial. The exhibition will be on display until 13 July.
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30 May 2022
Luxembourg / Luxembourg
V4 ambassadors accredited to Luxembourg visited the headquarters of Luxinnovation where the R&D and Innovation Director, Mr.Benjamin Questier, his colleagues and the international director of the University of Luxembourg received the delegation.
26 May 2022
Nur Sultan / Kazakhstan
Nearly 50 participants took part in the roundtable discussion, entitled “The experience of the Visegrad Group in the regional cooperation, what lessons could be learnt for Central Asia” organised by the Embassy of Hungary in Nur-Sultan in cooperation with the Foreign Policy Research Institute under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan presenting the results achieved by the Visegrad Group and the best practices for Central Asia.
Brussels / Belgium
25 May 2022
H.E. Hungarian Ambassador, Tamás Iván Kovács received at his residence the CEO of Flanders' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VOKA) Hans Maertens, and eleven regional representatives of organisation. The aim of the event was to present the economies of the V4 countries and to explore potential cooperation opportunities with VOKA.
Oslo / Norway
20-21 May 2022
In cooperation with the Polish, Czech and Slovak embassies, the Hungarian Embassy in Oslo organised a concert with artists Bea Palya and Jenő Lisztes as part of the V4 Presidency programme. With the help of items donated by the embassies, Caritas Norge organised a silent auction and a charitable contribution for refugees from Ukraine. On the morning of 21 May, the artists also gave an interactive children's concert at the Hungarian School in Oslo.
Nancy / France
20 May 2022
Organized by the City of Nancy and the European University Centre, V4 Ambassadors accredited to Paris participated in the traditional V4 Round Table in Nancy for the 6th time this year. The event, which was also open to the public and attracted around 60 people, focused on EU developments and the war in Ukraine. The rountable was originally initiated in 2016 by Jean-Pierre Prudhon, Honorary Consul of Hungary .
20 May 2022
Hanoi / Vietnam
A V4 Agricultural Innovation Forum was held on 20 May at the Hungarian Embassy in Hanoi, attended by several experts from the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, as well as representatives from leading universities, agricultural research institutes and companies, including 12 companies and four leading institutions in the field of agricultural innovation from the V4 countries. The programme consisted of two parts: (1) presentations by leading V4 institutions in the field of agricultural innovation and (2) presentations by 2 companies from each country. From the Hungarian side, Prof. Dr. Katalin Posta, Vice Rector for Science and Quality Assurance presented the activities of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, followed by the presentation of the Agrofeed Ltd. and BioFil Microbiological, Gene-Technological and Biochemical Ltd.
Brussels /Belgium
16 May 2022
In the framework of the Hungarian V4 Presidency, a scientific conference was held on the two minilateral formats - the Visegrad Cooperation and the Benelux Union - at the prestigious Egmont Palace. After the opening speeches of Mr. François Roux, senior advisor of Egmont Institute and Ambassador Tamás Iván Kovács, the panel discussion focused on why these two formats are successful, what potential challenges they face in the new European balance of power and how the members of these groups can enhance cooperation with other Member States.
Zagreb / Croatia
13 May 2022
The Hungarian Embassy to Zagreb, in cooperation with the Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, organised an international conference entitled "The European path of the Western Balkan countries in the changing European security environment" on 13 May 2022 at the Liszt Institute in Zagreb. Experts from all V4 countries and Croatia, as well as from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Serbia were invited to the conference. The event also served as the opening of the 'V4 PoszTerra' poster exhibition.
Wellington / New Zealand
13 May 2022
On the occasion of the Hungarian V4 Presidency, the Natural Treasures of the Visegrad Group photo exhibition presented 11-11 nature photos per country, altogether 44 photos at the Renouf Center, also hosting the V4 Diplomatic Tennis Cup, the first ever such tournament organized in Wellington. The events were co-organized with the Polish Embassy, the other V4 member with Embassy in Wellington, and supported by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). The exhibition was presented to the 60+ participants (including seven ambassadors, members of the diplomatic corps, MFAT, the Institute of Foreign Affairs and the Mayors of Wellington and Palmerston North), by Ambassador Zsolt Hetesy, who also spoke about the V4 role in Europe. The Polish Ambassador and the Slovak Honorary Consul also gave short speeches. In his closing remarks, the US Ambassador also praised the role of the V4 within the EU.
12-13 May 2022
Rabat / Morocco
Two V4-related cultural events took place in the Kingdom of Morocco in early May, featuring the V4 Jazz Quartet. The first concert took place on 12 May at the V. Mohammed National Theatre in Rabat, where a sold-out audience of 800 people enjoyed the performance. The following day, the quartet gave a concert at the Hungarian Embassy in Rabat for members of the diplomatic corps and contacts (including the Moroccan Minister of Social Affairs and Family), followed by a standing reception. An audience of 60 people attended the high quality performance.
Mexico City / Mexico
12 May 2022
Organised by the Embassy of Hungary to Mexico, a classical music concert was held in Mexico City on the occassion of the Hungarian V4 Presidency. Adrián Justus, a Mexican violinist of Hungarian origin, and Jozef Olechowski, a Polish pianist living in Mexico performed pieces by composers from the Visegrad countries (Bartók, Hubay, Hummel, Chopin, Wieniawski, Smetana, Dvorak).
Brussels / Belgium
10 May 2022
H.E. Hungarian Ambassador Tamás Iván Kovács hosted at his Residence the Secretary-General of the Benelux Union, Alain de Muyser and the V4 Ambassadors accredited to Belgium. Parties discussed minilateralism, energy and the cooperation between the Visegrad Group and the Benelux Union within the EU.
Brussels / Belgium
2 May 2022
A working dinner was hosted by the Hungarian Embassy in Brussels on 2 May 2022 in the framework of the Hungarian V4 Presidency, with the participation of the honorary guests H.E Oliver Paasch, Minister-President of the German-speaking Community of Belgium, H.E. Karl-Heinz Lambertz, President of the BNK Parliament and Mr Yves Kreins, Head of Mission of the BNK Representation in Brussels.
Manchester / United Kingdom
30 April 2022
A V4 Day was organised at the University of Manchester by the Consulate General of Hungary in Manchester in cooperation with the Hungarian, Czech, Slovak and Polish student societies of the University and the non-profit organisation "V4SDG - Visegrad for Sustainability". The event was opened by the Consul General Krisztina Kátai-Nagy. More than 70 students attended the event, including the Visegrad countries and students from the UK, Bulgaria, Romania, Singapore and Ireland. The day ended with a networking event where students from the V4 countries presented their national dishes.
Ho Chi Minh City / Vietnam
27 April 2022
Organised by the Consulate General of Hungary, a V4 Jazz Quartet concert and gala dinner was held in Vietnam. Among the 75 participants, high-level officials and representatives of cultural institutions of Ho Chi Minh city were present at the event. The highlight of the evening was a performance of contemporary Central European jazz by the V4 Jazz Quartet, consisting of four musicians from each of the V4 countries playing saxophone, double bass, drums and piano. The largest ever V4 cultural and gastronomic event of the city was organised in close cooperation with the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations (HUFO).
Brussels / Belgium
25 April 2022
V4 Ambassadors accredited to Belgium and the V4 Permanent Representatives to NATO paid a visit to the Melsbroek Air Base, where they were received by Colonel Tanguy Flamant, Commander of the 15th Regiment, who also provided them with a detailed briefing on the operation of the base, aircraft maintenance and future strategic visions.
Chongqing/ China
8 April 2022
The opening ceremony of the "Natural Treasures of the Visegrad Group" nature photography exhibition took place at the Eling Park Art Gallery in Chongqing, on 8 April. Co-organised by the Consulates General of Poland and the Czech Republic in Chengdu, the exhibition of 60 nature photographs will be on display in Chongqing until 13 May and will be followed by a second exhibition in Chengdu in June. The opening ceremony was addressed by Consul General of Hungary, Gergely Kádár and Mr Li Mingquan, Deputy Head of the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Chongqing City. Due to the epidemic restrictions, the Czech Consul General in Tsingkou, Ms Katerina Vovkova and the Polish Consul General in Tsingkou, Mr Grzegorz Morawski welcomed the audience by video message.
São Caetano do Sul / Brazil
8 April 2022
Following the patronage of the Hebraica Club in Sao Paulo (November-December 2021) and the Adamastor Cultural Centre in Guarulhos (February-April 2022), the CECAPE Zilda Arns Adult Education Centre in São Caetano do Sul hosts the highly successful exhibition of nature photography from the Visegrad countries until 6 May. The city boasts the highest human development index and per capita income in Brazil. The opening ceremony of the exhibition included speeches by Dr Carlos Humberto Serafim, Deputy Mayor, Erike Bussoni, Secretary of State for Culture, and Zsuzsanna László, Consul General of Hungary.
London / United Kingdom
29 March 2022
H. E. Ambassador Ferenc Kumin hosted Kevin Foster, British Under-Secretary of State for Safe and Legal Migration and the V4 Heads of Mission at a working lunch on 29 March 2022 in the framework of the Hungarian V4 Presidency. In the context of the war between Russia and Ukraine, statesmen agreed that aid must be delivered to Ukrainian refugees fleeing the country. They also discussed the situation of V4 citizens living in the UK.
Luxembourg / Luxembourg
24 March 2022
V4 Ambassadors accredited to Luxembourg held a working lunch together with Thelen Carlo, Director General and leaders of the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce. The group discussed the economic impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the economic outlook of their respective economies. Further topics were the goals and achievements of the Hungarian V4 Presidency.
Lisbon / Portugal
17 March 2022
Within the framework of the Hungarian V4 Presidency, H. E. Hungarian Ambassador Miklós Halmai hosted the European Director of the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Helena Malcata and the V4 Heads of Mission at the Hungarian Embassy in Lisbon. The main topic of the discussion was the war between Russia and Ukraine and its impact on Portugal. In addition to the activities and current situation of the V4, EU dossiers were also discussed.
Bucharest / Romania
14 March 2022
A concert entitled "Early Music in the V4" was held at the Liszt Institute in Bucharest to showcase the cooperation, cultural and musical interaction between the V4 countries in the early days of written music. The artists performed works from the 16th and 17th centuries by Polish, Czech, Slovak and Hungarian composers, recorded in Transylvanian codices, on period instruments in a style typical of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
Houston / United States
22-23 February 2022
With the participation of the V4 Heads of Mission in Washington, D.C., economic and political programmes were held in Houston, Texas, on 22-23 February, where V4 Heads of Mission presented the main economic achievements of the V4-region and our positions on current economic and political issues to nearly 250 participants representing the main economic and political organisations of the city. In the discussions, which took place in the days preceding the attack on Ukraine, both the V4 partners and the audience paid particular attention to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with speakers stressing the importance of transatlantic unity.
Ottawa / Canada
22 February 2022
On 22 February the Embassy of Hungary to Canada, under the current Hungarian V4 Presidency, organized an event with the objective of fostering cooperation between Canada and the Visegrád Group in Artificial Intelligence. The Seminar was aimed at identifying synergies in digital technology, in particular AI, establishing a knowledge-sharing platform that will be mutually fruitful for all participating entities and stakeholders of the sector by strengthening their international competitiveness. Following the introductory remarks of the V4 ambassadors the Canadian AI sector was introduced by Professor Rafik Goubran, the Vice President of Carleton University and Allison O’Beirne, the Acting Director of Artificial Intelligence Hub of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.
Guarulhos / Brazil
19 February 2022
Organised by the Consulate General of Hungary in São Paulo in cooperation with the Consulate General of the Czech Republic, the exhibition entitled "Natural Treasures of the Visegrád Group" was opened on 19 February at the Adamastor Educational Centre in Guarulhuos, the second most populous city in Sao Paulo state and will be on display until 3 April. The exhibition showcases the natural beauty of the Visegrad Group through sixty award-winning photographs. In addition to the Consul General of Hungary Zsuzsanna László, the event was attended by the Mayor and local government officials, the First Officer of the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in São Paulo, as well as local Hungarian and Brazilian visitors.
Brussels / Belgium
15 February 2022
In the framework of the Hungarian V4 Presidency, H. E. Hungarian Ambassador Tamás Iván Kovács hosted Annelies Verlinden, Minister of the Interior, Institutional Reforms and Democratic Renewal of Belgium for a working lunch at the Ambassador's Residence in Brussels with the participation of V4 ambassadors to discuss the goals of the Hungarian Presidency, Belgian politics and home affairs.
Toronto / Canada
10 February 2022
The Consulate General of Hungary in Toronto organized an economic webinar entitled V4 Recharge Europe + LCBA on 10 February 2022. The aim of the event was to provide companies from the Visegrad countries with a comprehensive overview of the opportunities offered by the Canadian green technology industry and the EU-funded Low Carbon Business Action (LCBA) project. The webinar was attended by about 50 managers and owners of Hungarian, Czech, Polish and Slovak companies.
Shanghai / China
27 January 2022
On the occasion of the Hungarian V4 Presidency, the Consulate General of Hungary in Shanghai organised a photo exhibition on the Jewish culture of the region at the Shanghai Jewish Refugee Museum. The exhibition featured 40 photographs, 10-10 per country, taken by renowned photographers and members of the V4 Jewish community. The opening ceremony took place on 27 January, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, and attracted considerable media attention.
Washington / United States
19 January 2022
H.E. Ambassador Szabolcs Takács hosted the ambassadors of the V4 countries in Washington, D.C. for a working lunch on 19 January 2022. The ambassadors discussed political developments, current security challenges and ways to further improve the visibility of Central Europe in the US. The Hungarian ambassador also outlined the programmes planned in Washington for the remainder of the Hungarian V4 Presidency.
11 January 2022
Rabat / Morocco
From 29 November 2021 to 11 January 2022, the V4 embassies in Rabat organised a country image-building virtual sports competition via an online application, through which participants could record their sports activities in the app and their avatar advanced on a V4 map according to the kilometres covered, while a pop-up window showed a short video presenting the cultural, historical, sports and tourist attractions of the region. Almost 7,000 registered competitors from Morocco, France, Canada, Hungary, Poland, the USA and the United Arab Emirates took part in the game.
Tokyo / Japan
6 January 2022
On the occasion of the Hungarian V4 Presidency, the Hungarian Cultural Institute in Tokyo compiled a 12-page manga booklet on the Visegrad Group, which gives an overview of the history of the V4, their cooperation and common goals in a comprehensible and entertaining format. The booklet is in Japanese and can be used digitally and in print. The manga booklet is distributed to primary schools, libraries and V4 event venues to promote the "V4 brand" in Japan.
Riga / Latvia
4 January 2022
The first cultural event of the new year took place on 4 January, organised by the Embassy of Hungary in Riga. Following the successful presentations in Riga and Jelgava, the V4 'PoszTerra' travelling poster exhibition was opened in the Latvian countryside, in the town of Jēkabpils,150 km from the capital. The temporary exhibition at the Jēkabpils History Museum in Krustpils Castle will be open until 20 January 2022.
23 December 2021
Stockholm / Sweden
The Hungarian Embassy in Stockholm - in cooperation with the Polish, Czech and Slovakian Cultural Institutes - organised an interactive street exhibition around the Embassy buliding, open to the public from 23 December 2021. The compilation presents ideas and ars poetics from four famous composers from the Visegrad countries, and visitors will also be able to listen to famous pieces of music through QR codes attached to the panels.
16 December 2021
Moscow / Russia
On the occasion of its 15th anniversary, the Visegrad Centre of the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences organised a scientific conference in a hybrid format with the participation of Ambassadors of the V4 countries, a representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a number of researchers from the four countries. The main directions of the V4 Hungarian Presidency's activities and the dynamic development of Hungarian-Russian relations were presented.
13 December 2021
Madrid / Spain
H.E. Hungarian Ambassador Katalin Tóth hosted Juan González Barba, State Secretary for the European Union, and the Heads of Missions of the V4 countries in Madrid at a working lunch. In the framework of the Hungarian V4 Presidency they reviewed the relevant issues in the V4+Spain and Hungarian-Spanish bilateral relations, the Presidency's achievements and future plans, as well as the current priorities of Spanish foreign policy.
8 December 2021
Singapore / Singapore
A large-scale online forum entitled "V4 Innovation & Technology - focusing on smart cities and e-governmental solutions" was organised by the Hungarian Embassy in Singapore in cooperation with the V4 Embassies in Singapore and Jakarta and the Ministry of Innovation and Technology of Hungary on 8 December 2021. On behalf of the Singaporean government, Chng Kai Fong, Permanent Secretary for Smart City Development gave an overview of Singapore's innovation ecosystem and the smart city concept, which is considered a model for many countries around the world. The V4 countries were also represented on the level of state secretaries.
25 November 2021
Paris / France
In the framework of the Hungarian V4 Presidency, the Embassy of Hungary in Paris organised an inter-parliamentary colloquium on the future of Europe, with the participation of national Members of Parliament from the V4 countries and France. At this face-to-face event, the Hungarian Parliament was represented by dr. Hajnalka Juhász, member of the Committee on European Affairs, and dr. László Szakács, member of the Committee on Economics.
19 November 2021
Mexico City / Mexico
The Embassy of Hungary in Mexico, in cooperation with the Matías Romero Institute (diplomatic training and research institute of the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs - IMR) organized a roundtable discussion on the Visegrad Group's vision on the future of Europe in Mexico City. In the course of the discussion, the audience asked the V4 ambassadors about the foreign policy orientations of the V4, the functioning of the V4+ format and the possible strenghtening of the V4+ Mexico and V4+ Pacific dialogue, but a number of current issues, such as the Polish-Belarusian border crisis were also discussed.
16 November 2021
Sofia / Bulgaria
On the occasion of the Hungarian V4 Presidency the Liszt Institute in Sofia organized a series of events focusing on sustainable fashion and design in the V4 countries. The first element was an exhibition with 24 designers from Hungary, Czechia, Poland and Slovakia. As a second step, a debate on "Sustainable Practices in Design" was organised as part of the Melba Design Festival.
10 November 2021
Ljubljana / Slovenia
On 10 November 2021, Dr. Balázs Orbán, Deputy Minister of the Prime Minister's Office of Hungary, Igor Senčar, State Secretary and Senior Adviser to the Slovenian Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, and prominent think tank leaders from the V4 countries participated in a roundtable discussion at the Hungarian Embassy in Ljubljana, as part of the Conference on the future of Europe. The participants of the round table reviewed the historical perception of Europe and European integration in the Central European region, the importance of the constitutional heritage of the EU Member States and the possibilities for strategic autonomy of the EU.
10 November 2021
Lisbon / Portugal
An open-air exhibition entitled 'Natural Treasures of the Visegrad Group' was opened by the Embassy of Hungary in Lisbon on 10 November 2021 with the support of the Polish, Czech and Slovak Embassies. The 16 nature photographs exhibited on the street front wall of the Hungarian Embassy aim to showcase the unique natural beauty of the Visegrad countries.
4 November 2021
Prague / Czech Republic
In the framework of the Hungarian V4 Presidency and in line with the Day of Hungarian Science, a highly successful seminar on Artificial Intelligence took place on 4 November 2021, organised by the Embassy of Hungary in Prague. Participants were selected to represent the broadest possible spectrum of the V4 AI world: from national umbrella organisations to researchers, major companies, start-ups and industry-academia collaborators could exchange ideas. All participants agreed that it is essential to accelerate V4 cooperation in the field of AI.
27 October 2021
Brussels / Belgium
On the occassion of Hungary's V4 Presidency, the V4 Jazz Quartet performed in Luxemburg and Brussels on 26-27 October. The quartet was founded in 2017 by Tamás Zsári, a Hungarian saxophonist living in Belgium, during the previous Hungarian V4 Presidency. The Quartet has since toured the world, performing in many European countries, as well as in Azerbaijan, Morocco and South Africa. H.E. Hungarian ambassador Tamás Iván Kovács emphasized in his opening speech that the Quartet is a fine example of cooperation between the Visegrad countries in the fields of culture, economy, trade, politics and diplomacy.
26 October 2021
Izmir / Turkey
On 26 October 2021 the 5th Visegrad Cultural Festival opened in Izmir, the third largest city in Turkey. The one-week long event showcases the most successful V4 films of recent years, including films by Ferenc Török and Kornél Mundruczó from the Hungarian side. In addition to the film festival, the opening ceremony featured the exhibition of two contemporary Hungarian artists entitled "Passenger" and the V4-themed, visual dance theater performance of the Budapest theater group Bandart, under the title of "Dancing Graffiti".
18 October 2021
Bucharest / Romania
The Association of Hungarian Architects has been organizing the V4 Family Houses competition every year since 2008. The Liszt Institute - Hungarian Cultural Centre Bucharest regularly organizes a travelling exhibition as a result of the competition to present the current state of family house architecture in the Visegrad region. Following the opening of the exhibition -attended by 150 people- an expert conference on family house architecture was held in the framework of the Hungarian V4 Presidency.
16 October 2021
Paris / France
In the framework of the Hungarian V4 Presidency, the Embassy of Hungary in Paris organised a V4 Jazz Marathon in cooperation with the Slovak, Czech and Polish cultural institutes at the Liszt Institute. The aim of the event was to raise awareness of the fact that jazz is an integral part of the musical tradition in our region, cultivated and promoted by generations of young musicians. The V4 countries were represented by four young jazz groups, showcasing their talents in front of an audience of around 250 people.
14 October 2021
Sarajevo / Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Embassy of Hungary in Sarajevo in cooperation with the Embassies of Poland, Czechia and Slovakia hosted a V4 handover ceremony at the Dom Armije building in Sarajevo during which the works of artists from the V4 countries were also presented as part of the PoszTerra poster exhibiton. A lengthy article has also been published in one of the most widely read daily newspapers in Bosnia, jointly written by the V4 ambassadors.
11 October - 5 November 2021
Sofia / Bulgaria
H.E. Hungarian Ambassador Tekla Harangozó opened the V4 sustainable fashion and design exhibition in Sofia on 11 October 2021. In the framework of the joint exhibition 24 sustainable fashion and design brands from the V4 Countries were introduced to the Bulgarian audience. They have dedicated their work to good design and to create products in accordance with the ethos of sustainability: use natural materials, recycle or/and upcycle, search for eco-friendly and innovative alternatives, stick to local resources, commit to zero waste manufacturing, and focus on social impact.
6 October 2021
Munich / Germany
On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Hungarian-language broadcast of Radio Free Europe, the Consulate General of Hungary in Munich organised a German-language panel discussion with Bavarian and Hungarian researchers and former radio staff members on the topic "Munich's role in the provision of news to the Visegrád countries during the Cold War". One of the important conclusions of the panel discussion was that Radio Free Europe, used as a tool of psychological warfare during the Cold War, actively contributed to the dismantling of communist regimes in Central and Eastern Europe and to the change of regime.
1 October 2021
Munich /Germany
On 1 October 2021 the Consulate General of Hungary in Munich organized its traditional garden party, the main attraction of which was the "Natural treasures of the Visegrad Group" photography exhibition on the occassion of our V4 Presidency. In addition to the Consul Generals of the V4, the event was also attended by Government Commissioner István Joó and Tobias Gotthardt, Chairman of the Committee on Federal and European Affairs of the Bavarian Parliament.
23 September 2021
Istanbul / Turkey
The Hungarian V4 Presidency was launched in Istanbul with the exhibition "Passenger" by János Korodi and András Szigeti on 23 September 2021. The opening was also the kick-off of a season-long series of programmes bringing the latest cultural selections from the Visegrad countries to three of Turkey's largest cities. A series of events in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir with a Central European Film Festival, contemporary exhibitions and other accompanying cultural programmes will bring the culture of the Visegrad countries to the Turkish audiences.
21 September 2021
Riga / Latvia
On 21 September 2021, H.E. Hungarian Ambassador Ferenc Bányai opened a V4 poster exhibition at the House of Europe in Riga, Latvia. In addition to the V4 countries, the event was attended by the ambassadors of the United States, France, Israel, Spain, Switzerland, Ireland, Denmark, South Korea and Moldova. The most prominent guest of the exhibition was the President of the Constitutional Court of Latvia, Sanita Osipova. The exhibition is open until the 10th of October.
20 September 2021
Luxembourg / Luxembourg
On 20 September 2021, H.E. Hungarian Ambassador Iván Tamás Kovács hosted an informal working lunch with the V4 Ambassadors accredited to Luxembourg. The main topics of the meeting were the objectives and programme of the Hungarian V4 Presidency, especially the programmes planned for Luxembourg and further opportunities for local V4 cooperation.
17 September 2021
Paris / France
The Embassy of Hungary in Paris organized a press breakfast on 17 September to present the programme and priorities of the Hungarian V4 Presidency and the results of the Visegrad Cooperation. The event attracted considerable press interest; several prominent French media outlets were present at the breakfast, including France Télévisions, CNews, Les Echos, l'Opinion and Le Point.
16-19 September 2021
Tirana / Albania
The 10th International Jazz in Albania Festival took place in Tirana from 16-19 September 2021 with performers from France, Israel, Turkey, Germany, Greece, Montenegro, Serbia, Sweden, Northern Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro and Hungary (representing the Visegrad Four). The V4 Quartet's sold-out performance was the opening event of the cultural programmes linked to Hungary's V4 Presidency on 18 September 2021 at the University of Arts in Tirana.
16 September 2021
Baku / Azerbaijan
The V4 Quartet performed at the Baku International Jazz Festival - a prestigious musical festival of the Caucasus region- on 16 September at the first event of the 2021-2022 Hungarian Presidency of the Visegrad Group organized in Azerbaijan. The concert was attended by H. E. Hungarian Ambassador Viktor Szemerkényi and representatives from the Czech, Polish and Slovak embassies.
16 September 2021
Bern / Switzerland
The opening event of the 2021-22 Hungarian Presidency of the Visegrad Group took place on 16 September 2021 at the Casino Bern Cultural Centre with the participation of 250 guests. The highlight of the event was the highly succesful concert of guitarist and composer Ferenc Snétberger whose repertoire was inspired by Roma traditions, Brazilian music and flamenco, as well as classical guitar and jazz.
15 September 2021
London / United Kingdom
On 15 September 2021, H. E. Hungarian Ambassador Ferenc Kumin hosted Jacob Rees-Mogg, Conservative Leader of the House of Commons at a working lunch with the Heads of Mission of the Visegrad Group. In addition to the V4+UK parliamentary cooperation, the discussion also covered defence and security issues and had a strong focus on V4 citizens living in the UK. The Leader of the House of Commons is an influential Tory MP who knows and sympathises with our region and will remain in his position after the major cabinet reshuffle.
14 September 2021
Bern / Switzerland
On 14 September 2021, H.E. Hungarian Ambassador József Czukor paid a visit to Ms Livia Leu, State Secretary for European Affairs at the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs (EDA). where they discussed issues related to the future of the IFA and EU-Swiss relations in general. The State Secretary emphasized that Switzerland has a positive view of the Visegrad countries with significant presence of the Swiss economy and lacking any bilateral tensions.
10-12 September 2021
Leidschendam-Voorburg / Netherlands
The annual classical music festival, known as the Huygens Festival, had a V4 representation for the fourth time this year. On 11 September the widely known Dutch-Hungarian pianist Valentina Tóth presented a special programme: on the occasion of the Hungarian Presidency of the Visegrád Group, she played pieces related to the Visegrád countries, including pieces by Dohnányi, Janáček and Chopin. The Huygens Festival took place from 10-12 September 2021 in Leidschendam-Voorburg near The Hague.
30 August 2021
Düsseldorf / Germany
On 30 August 2021, H. E. Consul General Dr. Hanna Hittner hosted a wine tasting at the Consulate General of Hungary in Düsseldorf on the occasion of the handover of the V4 Presidency. The event was attended by André Kuper (CDU), President of the North Rhine-Westphalian Regional Parliament (Landtag), H. E. Jakub Wawrzyniak, Consul General of Poland, and other German partners.
16 July 2021
UK / London
On 16 July 2021, as the opening event of the Hungarian V4 Presidency in the United Kingdom, the Hungarian Embassy organized a working breakfast with the Heads of Mission of the Visegrad countries in London, and UK Minister of State Lord Frost. At the meeting, H. E. Hungarian Ambassador Ferenc Kumin outlined the priorities of the Hungarian V4 Presidency including V4+UK cooperation.
15 July 2021
Japan / Tokyo
On July 15, 2021, the presidency of the Visegrad Four was formally handed over in Japan as part of a ceremony at the embassy. At an event attended by the four Visegrad Ambassadors and the V4 Ambassador and Deputy Director General of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both H. E. Hungarian Ambassador Norbert Palanovics and Deputy Director General Kawazu emphasized the need to give new impetus to V4-Japan cooperation.
Germany / Stuttgart
15 July 2021
To celebrate the launching of the Hungarian presidency H. E. Consul General Dr. András Izsák in cooperation with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stuftung e.V office in Stuttgart and the Hungarian Cultural Institute of Stuttgart organized a panel discussion. Hungarian V4 Ministerial Commissioner Krisztina Varju took part in the debate along with Rainer Wieland, Vice-President of the European Parliament, and others.
13 July 2021
France / Paris
H. E. György Habsburg took part in a V4 work breakfast at the residence of the Polish Ambassador, where the invited guest was Clément Beaune, French Secretary of State for EU Affairs. At the meeting, he outlined the priorities of the Hungarian V4 presidency, its EU agenda in particular.
13 July 2021
Croatia / Zagreb
The official opening of the Hungarian V4 Presidency took place in Zagreb with the participation of Zsolt Németh, Hungarian Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliament, and Foreign Minister Gordan Grlic Radman from Croatia. The regional charge of the event and the symbolism of bilateral relations were raised by the Croatian Foreign Minister's speech given in Hungarian.
13 July 2021
Belgium / Brussels
H.E. Ambassador Tamás Iván Kovács hosted the first V4 brunch at his residence with the highest legislative representatives of the people of Belgium, Ms. Éliane Tilleux, the President of the Chamber of Representatives and Ms. Stephanie D’Hose, the President of the Senate. During the event the priorities and objectives of the current Hungarian V4 Presidency were discussed.
12 July 2021
Latvia / Riga
H. E. Ambassador Ferenc Bányai held a V4 lunch to celebrate the launching of the Hungarian Presidency. The event was attended by Ilgvars Kļava, Deputy State Secretary for Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Far East and North America at the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
7 July 2021
France / Paris
H. E. Ambassador György Habsburg organized the opening event of the Hungarian V4 presidency, together with the Hungarian Institute in Paris, in the form of a cocktail reception with an exhibition. In addition to ambassadors and diplomats from EU Member States, the event was attended by French senators, journalists and representatives of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
5-11 July 2021
Munich / Germany
Under the auspices of the Hungarian V4 Presidency, the fifth edition of the Mittel Punkt Europa Filmfest was held in Munich from 5-11 July 2021. The aim of the festival, which presents recent, award-winning films from the V4 countries, is to give Bavarian audiences the opportunity to discover the Hungarian, Polish, Slovakian and Czech cinematics, especially documentaries and feature films. This year's guest country at the film festival was Belarus, which presented their film "Courage".
5 July 2021
Luxembourg
H. E. Ambassador Tamás Iván Kovács launched the Hungarian Presidency of the Visegrad Group in Luxembourg during a lunch graciously hosted by the Embassy of Austria in Luxembourg, and attended by Olivier Maes, political director at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Luxembourg.
2 July 2021
China / Shanghai
As a result of H. E. Consul General Szillárd Bolla’s initiative, from 2021 the V4 countries of Shanghai welcomed a wandering trophy symbolizing the convergence of Visegrád group. The unique art piece created by Zoltán Viczán was presented to the public on the 2nd of July on the occasion of the newly started Hungarian Visegrád presidency.
1 July 2021
Turkey / Istanbul
On the 1st of June H. E. Consul General László Keller took over the Visegrad Group presidency from H. E. Witold Leśniak Polish Ambassador at the Hungarian Cultural Institute of Istanbul. The private ceremony was also attended by Istanbul’ Deputy Provincial Governor as well as its President of the Chamber of Commerce.
1 July 2021
Poland / Krakow
Within the framework of a four day picnic, promoting V4 related art showcasing the Visegrad countries’ culture, H. E. Consul General Tibor Gerencsér took over the presidency of the Visegrad Group by hosting the opening d
