The White Paper on the future of EU elaborated by Jean-Claude Juncker and his team last week offered five scenarios for the future development of the EU integration project. Visegrád was able to write a joint text that shows shared concerns. However, it is important to remember that different views on the future development exist within the group.

Juncker´s White Paper comes at the right time. Europe stands at a crossroads and it is important to realize that there are various directions that can be followed. The text of the Commission offers five scenarios: carrying on; nothing but the single market, those who want more do more; doing less more efficiently and doing much more together. These alternatives clearly show that there are more options than federalisation or the end of the EU on the table, contrary to what many expected amidst the hysteria after the British referendum.

Visegrád came with its response (more likely by coincidence than intentionally) the very next day. It is apparent from the joint declaration that Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary do not want federalisation, nor a return to only the single market, and that the emergence of the multi-speed Europe is particularly undesirable for them. However, this is where the Visegrád consensus ends.

Read the full text at EurActiv.com.