After the collapse of the Soviet regimes in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia (which formulated the Visegrad group afterwards) were one of the most successful CEE countries leaving the Soviet legacy behind and progressing on their way to the EU integration. The political and economic transformation of the V4 countries was not quick, however it was successful enough on making the V4 one of the most reliable members of the EU, and serving as an example for the other perspective membership applicants. In terms of the Eastern Partnership Project (EaP) on enlarging the EU, the Ukrainian case can be effectively compared to the V4 transformation and European integration for two reasons. First, Ukraine, as a post-Soviet country, has signed the Association Agreement (AA) and is actively contemplating the economic and political reforms (with the huge EU support) to become a full member of the European Free Trade Area. Second, although Georgia and Moldova have also reached the conclusion of the AA, Ukraine is currently serving as EU’s crucial foreign policy direction (connected with the Russian factor), and has the most strategic importance not only for the V4 members (compared to the other EaP countries), but also for the rest of the EU countries (with the NATO membership on the agenda).

After the collapse of the Soviet regimes in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia (which formulated the Visegrad group afterwards) were one of the most successful CEE countries leaving the Soviet legacy behind and progressing on their way to the EU integration. The political and economic transformation of the V4 countries was not quick, however it was successful enough on making the V4 one of the most reliable members of the EU, and serving as an example for the other perspective membership applicants. In terms of the Eastern Partnership Project (EaP) on enlarging the EU, the Ukrainian case can be effectively compared to the V4 transformation and European integration for two reasons. First, Ukraine, as a post-Soviet country, has signed the Association Agreement (AA) and is actively contemplating the economic and political reforms (with the huge EU support) to become a full member of the European Free Trade Area. Second, although Georgia and Moldova have also reached the conclusion of the AA, Ukraine is currently serving as EU’s crucial foreign policy direction (connected with the Russian factor), and has the most strategic importance not only for the V4 members (compared to the other EaP countries), but also for the rest of the EU countries (with the NATO membership on the agenda). The objective of the paper is to examine the possible application of the transformation mechanisms of the V4 countries to Ukraine and understand the letter’s current position on the way to the European integration. Although the accession of the V4 countries to the EU took place long before, and they are on a very different political and economic advancement levels in comparison to Ukraine, certain transformation procedures and experiences can still be applied, as the countries have had similar political and social traditions (e.g. the single Communist party system, lack of political and economic freedoms, backwardness of the legal system, etc.).