The European Quartet is a joint effort for cooperation between the so-called "Visegrad group" countries (V4) - the Czech republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, in the field of joint tourist promotion in overseas markets.

The European Quartet reflects the efforts of countries of the Central European region to work together within an all-European integration. The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia have always been a part of civilization that shares common historic roots and traditions. The members of the European Quartet are close neighbors caught in a pattern of similar historic development: from the times of the Holy Roman Empire to the mighty glory of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, and later - to the creation of the independent nation states. Common architecture, music, food and landscapes are those distinguishing features that bind them together. All four states aspire to join the European Union, perceiving their integration in the EU as another step forward in the process of overcoming the artificial lines of division in Europe through mutual support. The tourist promotion of the Central European region held by all V4 members is a further contribution to this process with the main objective being to attract foreign visitors to the whole region instead of showing them single countries.The initiative to create the European Quartet emerged in early 2003. On the grounds of the protocol signed by the Ministers of tourism of the Visegrad Group Countries (V-4) in Budapest on 12th of February 2003, the Presidents of the National Tourist Boards of V-4 at the meeting in Prague, held on 13th of March 2003, and in Krakow, on the 10th-11th of April 2003, agreed on the target markets for joint tourist promotion starting in 2003. The target markets selected for 2003 comprise USA, Japan, China and Brazil. The promotion will include common participation in tourist fairs, a joint promotion website, elaboration of a promotional brochure and film, road shows, study visits, as well as the close cooperation of the National Tourist Boards within the frameworks of the European Quartet.