International Visegrad Fund Visegrad Groups Tool for Regional

International Visegrad Fund: Visegrad Group’s Tool for Regional Cooperation [place], December 15, 2021

Visegrad Fund: Basic Characteristics • preceded by the foundation of the Visegrad Group (CS+HU+PL) in 1991 → CZ+HU+PL+SK as of 1993 • created as a counterpart to gov’t cooperation • key principle: gov’t funds → non-gov’t recipients • key aims: development of civil society, fostering the region’s internal cohesion • focus on non-EU neighborhood (since 2004): – Western Balkans (grant and scholarship funding) – Eastern Partnership countries (grant and scholarship funding, capacity building of civil servants)

Visegrad Fund: Basic Characteristics • V 4’s only (solid) organization to date • international organization accredited with SK MFA • equal rights of member states: – annual rotating presidency (January–December) (presidencies in the group: July–June) – rotating management (3 -year missions) – consensus in decision-making • equal contributions of member states (€ 2 M p. a. ) • external funding (CA, DE, NL, KR, SE, CH, KR, US…) • 2 -member management + 14 -member staff (+ interns)

The fund’s budget (2000– 2014) Visegrad Group countries € 60, 800, 000 The Netherlands € 3, 500, 000 South Korea Sweden The United Germany Canada Switzerland € 336, 000 States € 273, 489 € 198, 005 € 60, 000 56, 000 € 55, 000 100% = € 65, 278, 494 (total allocations)

Visegrad Fund: Main Aims • support of movement of people and ideas (“soft power”) • strengthening the internal cohesion of the region, (weakening of historical animosities, awareness-building) • instrument of joint V 4 foreign policy (since 2004) – Western Balkans + Eastern Partnership – cooperation with EU/non-EU partners • key leverages: grant programs + “mobilities” (scholarships, fellowships, artist residencies) • other projects: NEE 100, Visegrad Insight/V 4 Revue, CSMP

Program Overview (2015/2016) Academic and Mobility Programs Grant Programs Visegrad Scholarship Program: Small Grants • Intra-Visegrad, In-Coming, Out-Going Standard Grants Visegrad Artist Residency Program (VARP): Visegrad Strategic Grants • VARP—Visual & Sound Arts Visegrad Strategic Conferences • VARP—Performing Arts Visegrad+ (Western Balkans) • Visegrad Literary Residency Program Visegrad 4 Eastern Partnership Program: • VARP in New York • Flagship Projects Visegrad University Studies Grants • V 4 Ea. P (Extended) Standard Grants Visegrad–Taiwan Scholarships • V 4 Ea. P Visegrad University Studies Grants Visegrad Scholarships at OSA IVF–NSC Taiwan Joint Research Projects Civil Servant Mobility Program (UA, GE, MD) Visegrad Insight/V 4 Revue/New Europe 100

Project Topics: Grant Programs 2000– 2014 • culture and arts— 2, 056 (29%) • education and trainings— 1, 745 (24%) • science and research— 542 (8%) • public policy— 326 (5%) • networking/partnerships— 312 (4%) • media/ICT— 295 (4%) • common identity— 277 (4%) • social inclusion— 220 (3%) • … 100% = 4, 581 grant projects approved in 2000– 2014

Grant projects— all categories (2000– 2014) € 61, 942, 850 4, 583 grant projects 578 cities

Basic Grant Programs Project budget Small Grants Standard Grants Strategic Grants < € 6, 000 > € 6, 001 € 40, 000 (ca. € 13, 000 on average) (on average) 80% 70% Timeframe 6 months 12– 36 months Cash limit 50% 30% 20% Overheads 15% 15% Evaluation 50 working days 60 working days 50 working days Deadlines March 1, June 1, Sept. 1, Dec. 1 March 15, Sept. 15 April 15 Max. IVF share (+ 7% tangible/intangible assets)

Key Grant Principles • projects must have “Visegrad added value” • projects involve entities from at least 3 V 4 countries* • grants cover up to 80% project costs (70% w/in Strategic Grants, 100% w/in Strategic Conferences) • reimbursements in tranches with advance payments (up to 80% of project costs) • 15% overhead costs • costs documented through copies of invoices and bills • only a single project per applicant* (multiple project-partnerships possible) * Strategic Grants, Visegrad+ projects and the V 4 Ea. P chapter are exceptions

Who Can Apply? • • • majority of applicants are CSOs and other NGOs primary/secondary schools, colleges + universities municipalities, regional governments other public institutions (museums, galleries, sports clubs) individual citizens or even private companies • not organizations fully funded from state budgets, and/or state administration institutions (ministries, cultural institutes, etc. )

What Cannot Be Covered? • tangible/intangible assets (with the exception of 7% allowed within Strategic Grants) • indirect costs (utilities, bills…) exceeding 15% overhead costs • internal costs and expenses exceeding 15% overhead costs • employments ruled by labor code (and related costs, such as per diems)

What Can Be Covered? • • • printing and publishing costs website design and updates rent of premises expert fees and honoraria accommodation and board translation and interpreting awards and prizes advertising and promotional costs office supplies, etc.

Visegrad Scholarship Program—Key Facts • Individual academic mobility: 1. within V 4 region 2. between V 4 region and the Western Balkans 3. between V 4 region and the Eastern Partnership countries MA/post-MA levels (Ph. D/postdoc) no age limit, affiliation with university not required 1– 4 semesters (MA level), or 1– 2 semesters (post-MA) support for both scholar and host institution: € 2, 300/semester + € 1, 500/semester (+ € 200 travel grant) • annual deadline: January 31 • •

Visegrad Scholarship Program SCHOLAR/APPLICANT: • has completed min. 6 semesters of higher education (= BA equivalent at the time of assuming the scholarship) • picks any academic field , and any language of instruction • finds a host university/institute and requests (preliminary) acceptance letter • applies and submits on-line by January 31, and sends signed printout & accompanying documents • is eligible for € 2, 300/semester + € 200 travel grant (where applicable)

Visegrad Scholarship Program HOST UNIVERSITY/INSTITUTE: • any public of private accredited higher-education institution (college, university, art academy, science academy—lists of schools available at http: //visegradfund. org/scholarships/instructions) • confirms scholar’s acceptance (or his/her applying, where entrance exams required) • is eligible for a € 1, 500 lump sum per semester/each scholar

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Funding by Recipient Regions (2000– 2014) Eastern Partnership € 7, 009, 761 11% Western Balkans € 1, 650, 715 3% other non-V 4 € 1, 253, 381 2% Czech Republic € 13, 061, 493 21% Slovakia € 13, 462, 094 22% Hungary € 12, 848, 163 21% Poland € 12, 649, 126 20% 100% = € 61, 934, 733

The Western Balkans (2004– 2014) Albania € 129, 090 Bosnia(8%) and Herzegovina € 264, 335 (16%) Serbia € 867, 690 (52%) Macedonia € 207, 600 (13%) * This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSC 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence. Kosovo* € 63, 700 (4%) Montenegro € 118, 300 (7%) 100% = € 1, 650, 715 (= 2. 67% of total funding)

Eastern Partnership Countries (2004– 2014) Armenia. Azerbaijan € 341, 200 € 137, 100 (5%) (2%) Belarus € 1, 556, 659 (22%) Ukraine € 3, 409, 882 (49%) Georgia € 1, 246, 365 (18%) Moldova € 312, 555 (4%) 100% = € 7, 003, 761 (= 11. 31% of total funding)

Main Results • stable and visible component of V 4 cooperation • stronger level of regional cooperation and cooperation with neighboring regions • good promotion of the region in the EU • contribution to “Visegrád” as a brand name • to date (by the end of 2014): – more than 4, 500 grant projects – ca. 2, 500 “mobilities” (scholarships/residencies) – total worth of nearly € 62 million

Thank you for your attention. Dr. Piotr Bajda E-mail: bajda@visegradfund. org /Visegrad. Fund @visegradfund