ABSTRACT
This chapter aims at a critical presentation of interregionalism in the context of European Union (EU)-Africa relations with the special emphasis on the Visegrad (V4) countries’ role. It critically analyses these relations from global and Central European perspectives. Migratory crisis forced coordinated actions between Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs), which are reflected among other initiatives in the Visegrad Group. The most commonly used rationalisation for the CEECs entering African markets is that the colonial legacy is absent and they maintained relatively good trade and political relations with African states during the Cold War. From the 1960s, tens of thousands of African students graduated from Central European universities. Some of these individuals are playing key roles in African politics. In addition to bilateral engagements, there has also been cooperation within the group related to the relationship with African countries. For example, in the context of relations with South Africa, V4 countries opened Visegrad House in Cape Town in 2010.
