V4 Group Research Articles

Consequences of Covid-19 for Kosovo’s Implementation to V4+

Abstract The article aims to provide a micro- and macro-level of a problem definition focused on Coronavirus crisis impacts on the tourism industry in the V4 countries and the eventual Kosovo integration into the V4 as a part of the Western Balkan 6 (WB6) and Eastern Partnership (EaP) enlargement V4+. The analysis of the primary data and the search for results are based on the Delphi method providing a better explanation of economic, social and market integration processes which fully exploit the opportunities of the content analysis provided by the quantitative and qualitative secondary data. The article offers key guiding criteria for deepening the economic integration into the V4 Group, emphasizing key aspects such as the economic and regional convergence, and the incorporation of diverse social strata into the economic growth process. The article highlights the benefits derived from the full membership of the actual V4 Group in the European Community as well as identifies its powerful strength and stable frame for promoting growth and prosperity. The critical view of the political and economic integration process emphasizes the risks derived from the deepness of divergence across countries and regions.

COVID-19 case fatality rate in the context of healthcare system organization and EHCI performance: Focus on the Visegrad (V4) countries

Abstract This article tries to explain the differences in COVID-19 case fatality rate (CFR) in 22 European countries by their type of organization and performance level of their healthcare systems. The CFR is taken here as the most important indicator since it measures the ratio between COVID deaths and COVID cases. In our view, this indicator reflects the true performance of the healthcare system, as this indicator is freed form public health interventions, like testing, lockdowns or social distancing. Our research is also unique, because it sees the healthcare system in a holistic way and tries to explain the CFR not by individual risk factors, socioeconomic indicators, or partial system parameters, but by using a complex healthcare system classification method adopted from Isabelle Joumard and an overall healthcare system performance index adopted from European Health Consumer Index (EHCI). The main results are twofold. First, higher EHCI score is related to lower CFR. So, the countries are cumulated basically in two quadrants: High EHCI performers (score 790 and higher) with low CFR (below 1.93%) and low EHCI performers with high COVID CFR. Second, apart from Czech Republic, the V4 countries are not doing very well in fighting COVID. Hungary is the worst, not only from the V4 group, but the worst from the whole list of 22 European countries included in this research. Poland is doing better, but still is high above the median CFR. Slovakia was the second worst from the V4 group. Czech Republic is the best V4 performer and the only country with EHCI score lower than median and CFR also lower than the median.

Renewable Energy Producers’ Strategies in the Visegrád Group Countries

Companies that belong to the energy sector can use Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for their strategies and diversify electrical energy production with reverence to the natural environment. This article aims to analyze sustainability strategy types among the Visegrád Group (V4) countries’ energy producers, who decided to generate electrical energy from the renewable resources. This research uses an inductive inference approach supported by a literature study and deductive reasoning supported by a statistical reference method. The main finding is that the energy producers from the V4 group have a common direction of evolution in their strategies. This change is based on a growing share of renewable energy sources to achieve environmental excellence strategies. The lack of renewable energy sector organizations’ strategies translates into disappointment with the goals pursued by these organizations. The significance of this study lies in an explanation of how sustainability strategies compare at a firm and country-level in a proposed classification. The analysis can open future research areas to examine development of strategies in the renewable energy sector.

Comparison of anterior chamber angle changes following phakic intraocular lens with and without a central hole implantation for moderate to high myopic eyes.

The aim of this study was to compare the anterior chamber angle changes after implantation of phakic intraocular lens with and without a central hole for moderate to high myopic eyes in Chinese people.This study enrolled 106 eyes of 54 people with intraocular lens V4 implantation and 105 eyes of 53 people with intraocular lens V4c implantation. Postoperative vault, intraocular pressure, and anterior chamber angle changes were assessed using noncontract tonometer and ultrasound biomicroscope, respectively, at 1, 3, 6, and 12months after the surgery.There were no significant differences (all P > .05) between the 2 groups in the depth of the central vault, intraocular pressure, or the width of anterior chamber angle at any time point post-surgery. The anterior chamber angle width in degree had a baseline of 54.40 ± 10.51 in V4c group, and decreased to 27.80 ± 5.62, 26.95 ± 5.56, 27.32 ± 5.66, 27.04 ± 5.47 at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-surgery, respectively. Mean preoperative value of 50.62 ± 11.77 decreased to 27.28 ± 6.53, 26.82 ± 6.03, 26.61 ± 5.80, 26.83 ± 5.76 at 1, 3, 6, 12 months, respectively, in V4 group. It had sufficient evidence (P < .001) that anterior chamber angle will narrow done after surgery, but there were no statistically significant differences within groups at any time point after surgery.The anterior chamber angle changes of the V4c group was essentially equivalent to that of conventional V4 group, although implantation of both models will lead to the decrease in anterior chamber angle width.

Is the “show-the-flag” strategy relevant for Visegrad countries in securing the EU?

The European security environment has changed and the EU has become more independent in its security policy. New threats faced by the EU in 2014 (the migration crises) and other remaining threats (such as terrorism, organised crime, piracy) need solving by its greater involvement in the region. One problem that the EU tries to solve is the inconsistency of member states in security issues. In this article, we focus on the V4 group and their opinions towards EU security. This article examines strategies adopted by small/new EU member states to protect European borders and European territories and regions outside the EU that affect their security. For a long time, the V4 countries only participated sporadically in EU missions. The article shows what changes took place and what were the reasons for the decision to participate or not in the EU activities. The article raises the question of whether the show-the-flag strategy adopted by the V4 countries and their participation in EU missions is relevant for ensuring European security nowadays.

Multi-level Governance and Energy Specifics of the V4 Countries within the Context of European Integration

Abstract The topic of energy is still one of the most sensitive policy areas. The aim of this article is to examine the multi-level governance and energy specifics of the V4 countries within the context of European integration by analyzing selected the specifics of the energy mix of the V4 group countries. This will be carried out within the context of applying the theory of multilevel governance. The paper shows how energy policy is formed at state, and/or non-state level, as well as how these levels are influenced by the EU. The article also looks at the efforts taken to shape a common energy policy. A closer examination of the individual countries‘ levels lies outside the scope of this article. Therefore, the framework was chosen with regard to the particular features within the context of the functioning of the V4 group of countries. Using multi-level governance as a theoretical concept, the authors considered the limits arising from the determination of levels and the subjects of the survey, as well as having distinguished three levels of analysis. The first is the supranational level. This is represented by the EU. The second level is represented by the V4 states. The third level is the state as the actor that formulates energy policy, sets the energy mix and subsequently manifests itself in relation to the EU and the V4 group. Energy policy is significantly influenced by states, especially in the area of energy security of fuel supplies, or that of setting the energy mix. With the gradual communitarization of energy policy, the EU’s influence is growing and it is debatable how the evaluation of existing strategic plans, presented by individual states, will be done. The role of the V4 group is the weakest of the three levels of analysis which were examined. However, its increasing influence can be predicted mainly in the case of coal depletion and the perception of nuclear energy as a renewable source.

THE ANALYSIS OF THE BANKRUPTCY OF ENTERPRISES EXEMPLIFIED BY THE VISEGRAD GROUP

The phenomenon of enterprises bankruptcy is an extremely complex process of economic, legal, social and even psychological nature. In the developed countries, the first studies on forecasting bankruptcy date to the early 20th century. In Central and Eastern Europe, due to, among other factors, the geopolitical situation and the introduced economic system, this issue became the subject of researchers’ interest only in the 1990s. The universality and complexity of the phenomenon incline the Authors to make an attempt to identify the scale of the bankruptcy processes in the states of the Visegrad Group (V4). The countries of V4 were selected because of their common history and similar economic development. The aim of this article is to analyze the dynamics of the phenomenon of bankruptcy of enterprises in the states of the V4 Group in the years 2005–2016 on the basis of the data taken from the Credit reform reports. The estimation of trend models in time series on the basis of the bankruptcy in the Visegrad Group countries in the years 2005–2016 was used in the article as the primary research method. The descriptive analysis was also applied in the article.

The Study of Tumor Volume as a Prognostic Factor in T Staging System for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: An Exploratory Study.

Background:This study aimed to evaluate T staging system for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using tumor volume (TV) and other prognostic factors.Methods:This study included 1309 cases. The TV and greatest tumor diameter (GTD) were semi-automatically measured. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of TV and GTD were used to predict survival. The regression analysis was used to describe the correlation between GTD and TV. Overall survival (OS) was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox’s proportional hazards regression model was applied for multivariate analysis.Results:Using the OS in pN0M0 patients (997 cases), we obtained 4 optimal cutoff values and divided all cases into 5 TV groups (V1: TV ≤ 2.80 cm3; V2: TV > 2.80–6.40 cm3; V3: TV > 6.40–12.9 cm3; V4: TV > 12.9–55.01 cm3; V5: TV > 55.01 cm3) with significant OS (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that age, visceral pleural invasion (VPI), and all TV cutoff points were independent factors of OS (P < 0.05). For V3 and V4 groups, the OS in patients without VPI was better than that in patients with VPI. Using the values of TV, VPI, and N stages, we classified all cases into 5 stages from I to V depending on the OS. The OS in I, II, III, IV, and V stages were 71.3%, 65.5%, 59.8%, 47.7%, and 35.1% respectively (P < 0.001).Conclusions:We proposed a new T staging system using TV as the main prognostic descriptor in NSCLC patients, which may provide a better comprehensive clinical value than GTD in clinical applications.

Fair trade phenomenon and its evolution in Visegrad countries

Objective: The objectives of this paper are as follows: to describe how the Fair Trade movement supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also using A Theory of Change, to analyze the Trade Fair phenomenon in the global scale, in the V4 countries and make a comparison with selected EU countries as well as an attempt to develop recommendations for the Visegrad Group countries in terms of the Fair Trade development. Research Design & Methods: The research methods applied in the article are: studying the literature of the subject, analysis of source texts, the descriptive method and deductive reasoning (the observational method combined with a case study). Findings: Fair Trade development level and the sales level in the analysed countries considerably differ from other developed EU countries. Contribution & Value Added: Therefore, it was proposed in the recommendations to use the UK benchmarks and take advantage of the economic potential of the V4 group.

P2.14-45 EML4-ALK Fusion Subtype Is Associated with Therapeutic Efficacy in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular characteristics of each subtype of the EML4-ALK fusion gene and to evaluate the efficacy of first-line crizotinib or pemetrexed in combination with platinum in the treatment of patients with advanced NSL4-ALK fusion subtypes of advanced NSCLC. From August 2015 to September 2018, the clinicopathological data of patients who received driver genes detection for lung cancer in the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University were collected, NGS was used for gene detection. The EML4-ALK fusion gene was divided into E13: A20 subtype (variant 1, V1), E20: A20 subtype (variant 2, V2), E6: A20 subtype (variant 3, V3) and Other subtypes (V4) 4 groups. The primary study endpoint was progression-free survival. A total of 122 patients with ALK fusion gene-positive NSCLC were screened. Of the 122 patients, 41 (33.6%) had V1 variants, 14 (11.5%) had V2 variants, 35 (28.7%) had V3 variants, and 32 (26.2%) had other variants. There was no correlation between EML4-ALK gene mutation subtypes and distant metastasis (x2=0.570, P=0.903), brain metastasis (x2=4.447, P=0.217) and bone metastasis (x2=1.547, P=0.672). The median was 13.3 months (95% CI: 9.45-17.10) and 6.83 months (95% CI: 5.30-8.36), respectively, in patients receiving first line Crizotinib and chemotherapy, with statistically significant differences (P =0.001). In the first-line application of crizotinib, the ORR of V1, V2, V3 and V4 variants were 55.56% (10/18), 62.50% (5/8), 44.44% (4/9) and 43.75%, respectively. (7/16), median PFS were 11.96 months, 15.08 months, 12.88 months, and 7.62 months, respectively. There was no significant difference. The ORR of V1, V2, V3 and V4 variants in first-line patients treated with pemetrexe-platinum regimen was 41.18% (7/17), 37.50% (3/8), 36.36%(4/11)and 41.18% (7/17), respectively. The median PFS were 9.13 months, 3.22 months, 7.52 months, and 7.85 months, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in PFS between V1: V3, V2: V3, and V1: V4. However, the PFS differences in the V1:V2 group (V1:V2=9.13 months: 3.22 months, P=0.007) and the V2:V4 group (V2:V4=3.22 months: 7.85 months, P=0.015). Among all ALK fusion subtypes, E13:A20 subtype (V1 variants) is the most common. Smoking history was a factor affecting crizotinib PFS. Compared with chemotherapy, patients with E20:A20 subtype (V2 variant) showed significant benefit with crizotinib. The median PFS of the pemetrexed combined with platinum regimen was lower than that of the E13:A20 subtype.

Trwałość przewagi konkurencyjnej w sektorze fonograficznym w krajach Grupy Wyszehradzkiej

Sektor fonograficzny jest przykładem sektora oferującego dobra kulturalne. Podlega on ciągłej zmianie, związanej m.in. z przekształceniami wewnątrzstrukturalnymi, zachodzącymi w wyniku fuzji i przejęć, ze zmieniającą się liczbą nośników dźwięku i ich znaczeniem dla odbiorców, skutkującym malejącymi przychodami sektora w pierwszej dekadzie XXI wieku. Od kilku lat jest obserwowane odwrócenie tego trendu, wynikające z rosnącej sprzedaży muzyki w formie cyfrowej. Przedmiotem opracowania jest konkurencyjność produktów sektora fonograficznego. Celem opracowania jest przeprowadzenie analizy zmian trwałości pozycji konkurencyjnej fonogramów w układzie czasowym oraz w odniesieniu do fonogramów oferowanych na wybranych czterech rynkach: polskim, czeskim, słowackim oraz węgierskim, a więc krajów tworzących Grupę Wyszehradzką (Grupę V4) – grupę połączoną więziami gospodarczymi i politycznymi. Na podstawie analizy wartości wskaźnika trwałości przewagi konkurencyjnej fonogramu, jakim jest okres utrzymania dominującej pozycji na rynku, została podjęta próba weryfikacji tezy, zgodnie z którą okresy trwałości przewagi konkurencyjnej ulegają obecnie skracaniu. W opracowaniu zastosowano analizę danych rynkowych oraz miary statystyki opisowej. Zauważono, że w ramach Grupy V4 nie można mówić o jednolitym kierunku zmian trwałości przewagi konkurencyjnej fonogramów. Na rynku czeskim powyższa teza nie znajduje potwierdzenia. Różnice między rynkiem polskim i węgierskim dotyczą trwałości pozycji konkurencyjnej fonogramów reprezentujących różne gatunki muzyczne. Rekomendacje obejmują potencjalne kierunki zmian oraz wynikające z nich działania, które mogą zostać podjęte przez graczy sektora.

Static and dynamic pupillary characteristics in high myopic eyes with two implantable collamer lenses

To determine static and dynamic pupillometry characteristics before and after implantable collamer lens (ICL) (V4 and V4c) implantation. Shanghai, China. Prospective consecutive observational case series. Patients who had either V4 or V4c ICL implantation were included in this observational study. An automatic quantitative pupillometry system (MonCv3) was used for pupillometry preoperatively and 1week, 1month, and 3months after surgery. Static pupillometry measurements (pupil diameters [PDs] at 4 standardized illumination levels) and dynamic parameters (including initial PD, amplitude of contraction, latency of contraction, duration of contraction, velocity of contraction, latency of dilation, duration of dilation, and velocity of dilation) were measured. The study comprised 98 eyes (50 patients). Mesopic and low photopic PDs declined by 0.32mm and 0.27mm, respectively, at 3months after ICL implantation; scotopic PD declined at 1week and recovered to preoperative levels at 3months; and high photopic PD remained unchanged. Regarding the pupil light reflex, contraction amplitude and velocity declined after surgery, whereas other dynamic parameters remained unchanged. The static and dynamic pupillary characteristics were similar between the V4 and V4c ICL groups. The V4 and V4c ICLs had similar influences on iris motility. ICL implantation had a miotic effect under mesopic and low photopic illumination conditions, resulting in decreases in pupil contraction amplitude and velocity in light reflexes.

THE IMPACT OF PUBLIC DEBT ON ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE COUNTRIES OF THE VISEGRAD GROUP

The issue of public debt, including its service is relevant to most countries. As a result of the study, the importance of this problem was identifi ed with appropriate arguments in the writings of scientists. Identifying the eff ect of public debt on economic growth and debt policy in the Visegrad four countries. The objectives of the article are: to review the literature on this subject and to compare the views of scientists; to identify the level of infl uence of public debt and external debt on GDP dynamics in these countries; to justify the forecast level of public debt by 2020. In the research process, statistical, comparative, economic-mathematical methods. To study this eff ect built linear regression model for each country and compiled by the regression equation using the method of least squares. The importance of identifying the relationship between the dynamics of public debt and economic growth is caused by the fact that in countries of V4 Group are observed diff erent approaches to the formation of debt policy. The level of Public debt as a percentage of GDP in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia of the period of 2011–2015 has been analyzed. Using a mathematical apparatus, the impact of debt on GDP can be analyzed, it shows that this impact on GDP in all countries of the V4 Group can be diff erent as strong – Czech Republic and Hungary, and signifi cant – Poland and prominent – Slovakia. In order to more broadly identify the infl uence of other factors on economic growth, the main indicators are analyzed, in particular infl ation, exports, imports, unemployment, etc. Poland is the most economically developed country of the V4 countries and the GDP dynamics has a great importance to the debt ratio. During 2016 – mid-2018, the Polish government predicts a slight increase in the dynamics of GDP and the volume of this type of debt will grow at a moderate pace. Such stability is evidence of the reliability of an economic system that can withstand globalization challenges. The results of the study indicate that each of the countries of the V4 Group pursues its own economic policy, which is the most optimal for some periods. It is safe to assert that the growth of exports and imports is a signifi cant factor in ensuring of economic growth in the V4 countries. It is worth noting that an important factor of economic growth of Slovakia is strong economic ties with Germany, which is Slovakia’s number one trade partner. Czech Republic is the second largest trading partner for Slovakia, both in terms of exports and imports.

The effect of mydriasis on moderate-to-high myopic eyes with implantable collamer lenses V4 and V4c.

To evaluate the vault change and anterior segment movement induced by mydriasis in moderate-to-high myopic eyes with implantable collamer lenses (ICL). Shanghai, China. A prospective consecutive observational study. A total of 45 eyes of 24 patients with ICL V4 implantation and 128 eyes of 65 patients with ICL V4c implantation were included and analyzed. Anterior chamber depth, posterior corneal endothelium-to-ICL distance, and vault before and after mydriasis were measured by Pentacam (Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany) at 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery. Significant vault increases and anterior chamber depth increases induced by mydriasis were noted in both ICL V4 and V4c groups at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. The corneal endothelium-ICL distance increased significantly in eyes with implanted ICL V4c after mydriasis at 3 and 6 months. Moreover, mydriasis-induced vault increases were greater in the ICL V4 group than in the ICL V4c group at 3 and 6 months. In eyes with implanted ICL V4c, mydriasis-induced vault increases were significantly greater at 1 month than at 3 and 6 months. Mydriasis results in a general vault increase in eyes with implanted ICLs. The adjustment of the pressure equilibrium via the central hole of the ICL V4c has an important role in vault change. The mydriasis-induced vault increases tend toward stability after 3 months postoperatively. Mydriasis is relatively safe in eyes with ICL implantation.

Angioplasty and stenting for severe symptomatic atherosclerotic stenosis of intracranial vertebrobasilar artery

This retrospective study is to investigate the safety and efficacy of the stent implanting for treating severe symptomatic atherosclerotic stenosis of the intracranial vertebrobasilar artery (ICVBA). 213 patients who had undergone intervention for severe symptomatic ICVBA stenosis between September 2012 to May 2018 were enrolled into this study. Among the 213 enrolled patients, 210 patients (98.6%) obtained successfully revascularization and 206 patients (96.7%) had good revascularization after stenting. The extent of stenosis before and after intervention was 86.3 ± 6.8% and 9.1 ± 3.7%, respectively. Within 90 days after stenting, 10 patients (4.7%) experienced primary endpoint events, including 4 cases (4.2%) in the intracranial vertebral artery (V4) group and 6 (5.1%) in basilar artery (BA) group. Among them, 2 (2.1%) and 3 cases (2.5%) of ischemic stroke in V4 and BA group, respectively; and 2 (2.1%) and 2 (1.7%) cases of TIA in V4 and BA group, respectively. One (0.8%) case in the BA group dead because of the acute stent occlusion resulted in the top of the basilar syndrome. Six patients (2.8%) experienced adverse events, including 2 (2.1%) and 4 (3.4%) cases of groin hematoma in the V4 and BA group, respectively. No cases of hemorrhagic stroke, stent dislocation and vessel dissection in both groups. Our study showed that a low complication rate and a high and good revascularization rate would be achieved by the treatment of severe symptomatic atherosclerotic stenosis of the ICVBA using the stents.

Level of financial literacy of academic youth from rural areas in the Visegrad Group countries

The aim of the study is to determine the level of financial literacy of academic youth from rural areas in the V4 Group countries, as well as to compare the results obtained with the level of financial literacy of young people from cities. The source of data used for analysis and inference were primary information obtained from own research (PAPI method, 900 people). The research used a set of questions to assess the level of financial literacy of adults proposed by the OECD INFE. In addition to primary sources, secondary sources were also used to achieve the goal. The measures of descriptive statistics and one-way analysis of variance (F) were used. The level of financial literacy was determined at the medium level, which may indicate the low effectiveness of financial education measures implemented at different levels of education. The component of financial literacy where students from rural areas had the lowest scores was basic financial knowledge. Only 43% of people from rural areas achieved the minimum target score.

THE EXPECTED IMPACT OF BREXIT FOR VISEGRÁD COUNTRIES

As a result the UK will leave the EU intratrade will be changed significantly. Altough the UK trade with the Visegrad countries is not the most important, it is necessary to review the current flow and to present the relations related the agricultural and food sector. Based on the EU intratrade values of Eurostat, it can be describe that processed products are mainly involved in UK-V4 bilateral trade and from the V4 group Poland has a significant role.

An East‑West Divide in the European Union? The Visegrad Four States in Search of the Historical Self in National Discourses on European Integration

Abstract This article explores whether a new east‑west divide exists in the enlarged European Union by analysing national discourses on European integration in the Visegrad Four (V4) states. Two V4 foreign policy legacies form the basis of analysis: the “Return to Europe” discourse and the discourses around the reconstruction of the historical self. The article gives evidence that the V4 countries share sovereignty in external policies and thus have a distinct European orientation. V4 national‑conservative governments hold sovereigntist positions, however, in policy areas that they consider falling exclusively within the realm of the member state. Comparison with Western European member states gives evidence that the post-1945 paradigm changes were more profound than those of post-1989 ones of Eastern Europe. This historic legacy can explain the more integrationist orientations in Western Europe. The article concludes that behaviour of the individual V4 state seems to be of greater importance for each member than collective V4 group action. Finally, the article gives an outlook on ways in which solidarity between the Western and Eastern halves of the EU can be exercised in an ideologically diverging Union.

The Environmental Situation in the Visegrad Region: Neglect and Insufficient Cooperation in the Face of Serious Environmental Threats

Abstract Only a few studies have covered environmental problems in Central Europe and analysed environmental governance in Central European countries and no study has considered environmental cooperation in this region. The goal of the article is to map and analyse the environmental situation in Central Europe, paying attention to Central Europeans’ perceptions about the environment, key environmental problems and the policy tools these countries plan to use to face them. For this purpose, I concentrate mainly on the Visegrad Four (V4) countries, which represent the core of Central Europe. My findings suggest that the most active and successful environmental cooperation is taking place in an area that includes the V4 countries, their neighbours and other European countries. The EU offers the most important framework to support and develop this environmental cooperation. My assessment of the environmental situation in the V4 region shows that environmental cooperation among the V4 countries cannot be expected and would only have limited value. Because of their geopolitical situation and physical geography, Poland and Hungary in particular are linked to environmental issues that go beyond Central Europe and call for far wider environmental action. Dealing with environmental threats successfully and protecting the Central European environment efficiently cannot be tasks for the V4 group alone. Clearly we require a cooperative and cross‑border Europe‑wide approach.

The innovative potential of the Visegrad Group regions

The main aim of analysisis to determine the innovation potential and the level in the Visegrad Group regions, 25 years after the start of economic transformation. The reference point in the analysis is the European Union and its average values in terms of selected innovation indicators. Two methods were used in the analysis. The theoretical part uses a method of literature studies. In the empirical part - a comparative method, which used the comparison of the Visegrad Group states and the average for the entire EU, in the scope of selected indicators of innovation potential. Results of a research. Innovation and innovativeness are no longer exclusively associated with economic activity. They also refer to public management and human attitudes. Innovativeness of the region is a component of innovation of all units operating in a given territory and determines the achievement of competitive advantage. The Visegrad Group was formed in the early 1990s. It clusters neighboring countries of Central and Eastern Europe, which began economic transformation at the same time. The innovative potential of the Visegrad Group regions is low, comparing to the EU average. What is worse, in recent years the distance in many elements of this potential has deepened. As an example are such indicators as: expenditures of enterprises on research and development, participation in lifelong learning, or employment in the high-tech sector. One of the few potentials that can determine the economics competitiveness of V4 group, in the future, is human capital and a high level of education in society. As a result of the analysis, it also turned out that among the Visegrad Group countries, the most innovative potential lies in the Czech and Hungarian regions. This was also reflected in the summary ranking of innovativeness. What is also important, relatively high level of innovation potential of the capital regions, which are characterized by high entrepreneurship, higher level of education and higher research and development activity of enterprises. Range of application of results: government agencies supporting innovation, local government units responsible for regional innovation, entrepreneurs. Conclusions. Innovativeness is considered today as a key determinant of the countries and regions competitiveness. The low innovation potential of the Visegrad Group regions affects their weak economic position in relation to more developed countries. Therefore, it is crucial that the authorities should support individual elements of this potential, especially university education.