Six months ago, many questioned whether Hungary could fulfil the role of ‘honest broker’ required for the EU Presidency. Now, as the semester concludes, it is evident that Budapest has delivered one of the most successful and memorable presidencies in the history of the European Union.
European competitiveness was made the top priority of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2024, thus the meetings of the EU Competitiveness Council have carried special, added significance to them. The last of these meetings took place last week under the Hungarian Presidency, where five conclusions were adopted by the Member States.
Hungary’s EU presidency, despite facing unjust criticism, stands as a testament to courage and determination, said Maurizio Gasparri, leader of Italy’s Forza Italia Senate faction, during a concert in Rome held in honour of the Hungarian presidency, dedicated to fostering peace and harmony among the nations.
With Austria’s veto lifted, Romania and Bulgaria are set to become full members of the Schengen area by 2025. The agreement was reached in Budapest under the auspices of the Hungarian EU Presidency, marking yet another success for the often-criticized presidency in recent weeks.
A newly published book unveils the rich history of Budapest’s iconic Várkert Bazaar. Chronicling its construction, transformation, and restoration, the book celebrates a landmark that has become a vibrant cultural and diplomatic centre. While you may not be able to read the book as for now it is only available in Hungarian, remember: if you happen to be in Budapest during the winter holidays, the Várkert Bazar is a must see!
‘Trump 2.0 is a huge opportunity. Of course there are risks. Of course there will be things the administration does which I will disagree with. But the big picture is what matters. His victory is a victory for conservative forces across the world, a victory for foreign policy realism and for getting our means in line with resources.’
According to an analysis by the Makronóm Institute, Hungary can be considered a connector state, as it acts as a major link in the global economy, especially in combining Eastern and Western technologies. This is particularly true in the case of the automotive industry and energy storage systems, where Hungary has attracted significant investments.
‘Coming up with an authoritative definition of conservatism is not an end in itself so much as a sort of ritualistic pursuit, which we perform expecting some change from it along the lines of a deeper understanding of our past, our present, and the mysteries of the human species and the world. There are any number of ways in which the history of conservative thought could be written, if only as a story of the attempts at grasping the very notion of conservatism.’
‘We want to learn how Hungary changed its values system, making people realize that having children is not only good but a fulfilling and joyful part of life. We’re ready and willing to learn from you,’ founding Chairman of the Korean–Hungarian Friendship Association Jae Hun Ro stressed in an interview with Hungarian Conservative.
‘South Korea can offer valuable expertise and alternatives to Hungary in terms of military modernization and strengthening security infrastructure in a more strategic manner,’ Heritage Foundation Research Fellow Anthony B. Kim told Hungarian Conservative on the sidelines of a Budapest conference organized to mark 35 years of Hungary–South Korea diplomatic relations.
Hungarian Conservative is a quarterly magazine on contemporary political, philosophical and cultural issues from a conservative perspective.