The first session of the Forum – Strengthening the Visegrád Four – was moderated by Dr. Sławomir Dębski, Director of the Polish Institute of International Affairs. Panelists discussed the current state of the Visegrád Group (V4), its relationship with the EU, how the V4 can work to strengthen its regional security, and how the V4 countries can work within NATO. Petr Gajdušek, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, stressed the important role that V4 cooperation and outreach plays in bringing regional interests to the fore of greater EU discussions. Ivan Korčok, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia, echoed this point and expressed his view that the future of the EU must develop according to the individual capabilities of each of its members. Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, noted the effectiveness of the V4 in developing common positions and plans of action. Witold Waszczykowski, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, discussed the importance of shared values in the European project, and how these values must be defended if the EU is to prosper and survive into the future.