During the project meeting in the morning, the next milestones of the project were defined and the second workshop was scheduled to take place in May 2019 in Sarajevo. Furthermore possible authors for the book, the topics of the articles and the publication of the edited volume book were discussed. The plan is to launch the book in March 2020 in Budapest.

In the afternoon the workshop participants presented their reflections on identity in the Visegrad and Western Balkan countries. These topics were then analysed and discussed with the Master's students and doctoral students attending the workshop. The speakers were Robert Wiszniowski and Kamil Glinka from the University of Wroclaw, Hana Semaníć from the Central European University, Ešref Kenan Rašidagić from the University of Sarajevo, Kinga Anna Gajda from the Jagiellonian University Krakow, Ondřej Daniel from the Metropolitan University Prague and the organiser Christina Griessler from Andrássy University Budapest.

In terms of content, the project deals with the concepts of identity in the countries of the Visegrad and Western Balkan regions. Research into the identity of states and societies provides a basis for a better understanding of political and social development in the Western Balkans (i.e. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia) and the Visegrad states (Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, and Slovakia). Identity is constructed and undergoes changes over time. It shapes states and societies and influences political behavior. Research on the identity of regions is important as countries either want to join the European Union or appear to reinterpret their position in the Union. One focus therefore is the national and regional identity in relation to the European Union. Identity is often misused as a political tool to distinguish an "in-group" from the "out-group" and, in consequence, to separate people based on identity. In turn, other aspects of identity could help to overcome national boundaries through common language and culture. The topic of identity is also important for the analysis of historical narrative and history.The understanding of identity construction and the interpretation of identity elements within their regional context form the starting point for a possible transformation of these identities or their aspects, in order to bring about more inclusive policies rather than exclusive policies between states in the region. As part of the project, the perspectives of experts from the V4 region and the Western Balkans region should answer some of the many questions related to identity and thus offer the research topic a further perspective on scientific discourse.

The project lasts 18 months from November 1, 2018 to April 2020. The project objectives are to organize three events and to publish a book on "Understanding Identities and Regions - Perspectives on V4 and WB". The project is funded by the International Visegrad Fund Grant no. : 21820078).