The Institutional Background of Hungary’s Diplomatic Personnel Crisis
The foreign service is one of the most important state institutions of any country. Embassies and consulates do far more than perform protocol duties: they represent economic interests, facilitate strategic information exchange, carry out cultural diplomacy, provide security assessments, and manage crisis situations. Foreign policy can only function with a stable, well-trained, and professional staff. This is why it becomes particularly striking when a country’s diplomatic system gradually—almost imperceptibly—loses its professional weight and becomes increasingly politicised.
Czechia at the Crossroads: Babiš’s Balancing Act Between Brussels and Budapest
When Andrej Babiš re-entered Czech politics, it was more than a local political comeback — it sent tremors through the heart of Europe. For Brussels, his return revives a familiar, sometimes frustrating partner. For Central Europe, it raises a deeper question: can pragmatism still hold its ground in an era increasingly defined by populism?
Hungary’s Faith Diplomacy: The Rise and Realities of the Hungary Helps Program
In the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Külgazdasági és Külügyminisztérium) in Hungary there operates a State Secretariat for the Aid of Persecuted Christians and for the Hungary Helps Program.¹ According to official descriptions, no other country in the world has a state or diplomatic body with this exact name or mandate.² The budget line for this Secretariat appears in the Ministry’s chapter of the state budget under the title “Hungary Helps Program” (HHP) and at the sub-heading of that name.³ For the current year, the appropriation is approximately HUF 5.6 billion.⁴
Europe’s Chat Control Dilemma: Between Child Protection and Digital Privacy
As the European Union grapples with one of the most divisive digital policy debates in recent years, the so-called “Chat Control” proposal has come to symbolise a wider struggle between public safety and the right to privacy. Officially known as the CSAM scanning regulation, the measure seeks to detect and prevent the spread of child sexual abuse material online by requiring messaging platforms to automatically scan private communications.
A New Chapter for the Transatlantic Economy
The chandeliers glittered in the ballroom of the Atlantic Council as diplomats, ministers, and executives filtered in for the opening session of the Geoeconomics Forum. The event promised high-level conversation on trade, technology, and global markets, but there was little illusion about the stakes: the EU–US relationship is being reshaped in real time by war, energy shocks, and the race for technological supremacy.
Tobacco, Regulation, and the Future of Choice in Europe
The European tobacco industry stands at a crossroads. On the one hand, it continues to provide governments with a stable and predictable revenue stream—second only to income tax in Germany, and accounting for up to 5 per cent of annual budgets in countries such as Romania and Poland. On the other, the industry faces mounting political exclusion, regulatory mistrust, and a growing push for prohibitionist approaches that risk undermining both innovation and consumer choice.
Out of Africa: Hungary’s Faltering Continental Strategy
When the Trump administration signed its Most-Favoured Nation (MFN) executive order in 2025, few doubted the measure would shake global pharmaceutical markets. By tying U.S. drug prices to the lowest government-negotiated rates in Europe and Canada, the White House pitched the plan as relief for American patients at the pharmacy counter.
Most-Favoured Nation Drug Pricing Risks Transatlantic Rift
When the Trump administration signed its Most-Favoured Nation (MFN) executive order in 2025, few doubted the measure would shake global pharmaceutical markets. By tying U.S. drug prices to the lowest government-negotiated rates in Europe and Canada, the White House pitched the plan as relief for American patients at the pharmacy counter.
Liberalism’s Crisis of Confidence in Europe
From Brussels to Berlin, Europe’s liberal parties are struggling to define their role in an increasingly fragmented political landscape. Once the kingmakers of the European Parliament, they now find themselves relegated to the fifth-largest group, unable to balance left and right as they once did.
Denmark’s Balancing Act: Inside the EU Presidency’s Strategic Pivot on Climate, Security, and Sovereignty
As the European Union contends with internal fragmentation and rising global uncertainty, Denmark has assumed the EU Council Presidency with a slogan that reflects both ambition and urgency: *“A strong Europe in a changing world.”* In a special episode of *CEA Talk*, Szilárd Szelpál spoke with Otto Brøns-Petersen, Director of Analysis at CEPOS and one of Denmark’s most influential economic voices, to unpack the deeper motivations and policy visions behind this presidency—and what it means for Europe’s political and economic trajectory.
Hungary’s Tectonic Turn: Polls, Protest, and the Possibility of Political Realignment
For over a decade, Hungary’s electoral politics have functioned like clockwork: predictable, polarized, and dominated by the monolithic presence of Fidesz. Yet today, with national elections just ten months away, the gears of that machine are grinding, and the signs of political realignment are no longer theoretical—they’re measurable.
After the Ministry: Gábor Baranyai on Diplomacy, Brussels Realities, and the Uneven Future of the EU
In Brussels, where power often hides in plain sight, few know its rhythms better than former diplomat Gábor Baranyai. A two-time envoy to the European capital and a seasoned legal expert, Baranyai’s career path reflects not only the arc of Hungarian diplomacy, but also the institutional undercurrents shaping the EU’s political core.
Sporting Ambitions and Strategic Shifts: How Business, Policy, and Legacy Shape the Future of Athletics
In a world where geopolitical influence, technology, and entertainment converge more than ever before, the business of sport is fast becoming one of the defining arenas of global competition. In the second part of my conversation with Marlon Gilbert-Roberts, CEO of Business to Sports Group (B2S), we delved deeper into the shifting ground beneath international sport—spanning EU regulation, commercial partnerships, emerging markets, and athlete futures.
The EU must learn from its mistakes on environmental regulation
For years, the EU has branded itself as global regulator. With a slowing economy, it promises to reverse past decisions. But its economy will only thrive if it abandons this indecisive course. Its U-turn over banning internal combustion engines is a case in point.
Israel’s Resilience Division Head Reflects the Nation’s Energized Collective Spirit
“ZAKA does deeply sacred and incredibly difficult work,” says Yifat Godiner, a strategic adviser in cybersecurity and AI. “As an Israeli, I see them as a symbol of compassion, resilience, and unwavering dedication… They bring dignity and humanity where it’s needed most.”
This powerful sentiment is embodied by Vered Atzmon Meshulam, clinical psychologist and head of ZAKA’s Resilience Division. In the wake of Hamas’ devastating October 7 attacks—the deadliest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust—Vered found her life’s mission transformed. “We’re in a situation that we, in this generation, have never felt or dealt with,” she recalls. “I understood that we are in a new generation.”
Responding with urgency, she created a trauma-informed national recovery system that fuses psychological therapy with Jewish spiritual tools. “Healing resilience grows not despite the pain, but through it,” she told a recent Jerusalem Post conference.
From accompanying grieving families at IDF’s Shura base to leading over 1,000 first responders through her ‘Lens of the Spirit’ model, Vered’s work is redefining how a nation processes collective trauma. “In every Jewish story, there is an ember of eternity,” she says. “If we learn to tend that fire—even through our pain—it can illuminate the path for others.”
