60 representatives of non-governmental organizations from Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia as well as other European states took part in the 5th Visegrad Youth Conference, held in Warsaw on April 19-24, 2005. The event was organized by Young Diplomats' Center Association and Center of Europe Foundation in cooperation with Warsaw City Hall. Honorary patronage over the Conference was held by ministers for foreign affairs of Visegrad countries.

Media patrons were: Polish Press Agency, Polish Television 3, NGO.pl webportal, Radio BIS, The Warsaw Voice, Edustrona webportal, e-polityka Webportal, Student Newspaper. Project was financed by European Community and International Visegrad Fund.

There were also many partner organizations involved in the realization of the project: Central European Student Partnership Orgniazation [Hungary], Czech-Slovak Political Science Students’ Union, Students’ Forum 2000 [Czech Republic], Forum for International Co-operation [Slovakia], Europe&We Association, National Agency of the Youth Program in Poland, Hungarian Institute for Culture, Czech Center in Warsaw, Center of European Information [Poland].

Main themes of the Conference were solidarity in the united Europe and possibilities of international cooperation among non governmental organizations. Workshops on project management and fundrising for international activities were organized as well as seminars with embassies’ and City of Warsaw representatives.

During several discussions participants exchanged their views on EU membership of their home countries and on future cooperation of V4 on the fields of politics, economy and culture.

Participants decided that for regional cooperation it is crucial to provide better coordination and more tight relations among organizations. As a result Visegrad Youth Association – international non governmental organization consisting of youth organizations from Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland - was established. Representatives of 25 organizations as well as 20 other people signed the declaration and joined the Association.

Main goals of this new Association are to enhance the role and involvement of civil society in public life, to develop international cooperation among V4 countries and to promote education and youth development.