Old Burdens, New Opportunities
Germany and the Visegrád States
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
Germany and the four Eastern-Central European states have built up strong relations since the end of the East-West conflict. However, these relations are not free of tensions. As in the past, the burden of history’s legacy still makes itself felt. Differing concepts of the tasks and goals of the EU and the transatlantic relationship repeatedly lead to irritation. Often the Visegrád states fail to take up a common position and instead gamble on acting as individual states. German policy also tends to be bilateral than oriented towards the group as a whole.
(Osteuropa 10/2006, pp. 77–88)