Since its establishment, the European Union has been representing an arena for the sharp exchange of particular interests of the member states, which determines the dynamics and shape of European integration. With the accession of the new member states, whose national strategies emerged from diff erent historical backgrounds, geopolitical circumstances and internal economic progress, a map of external EU interests became not only wider, but also distinctively developed along new trends. The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), the most important instrument of the European External Policy has been a subject of internal tensions between the old and the new member states, as it does not off er any accession perspective for the strategic partners of the latter. Diff erent approaches towards the new EU neighbours have become apparent in the regionalization process of the ENP, in the Eastern Partnership established in March 2009, as well as the Union for the Mediterranean and the Black Sea Synergy. Despite these disagreements, the EaP remains a platform for constructive cooperation in Central and Eastern Europe within the auspices of the V4.

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