The Danube Institute’s two-day conference on family formation and demographic decline continued with a panel discussion comparing Hungarian and American policies and perspectives on the issue. Participants agreed that the West faces a civilizational crisis but expressed hope in the Trump administration’s shift—led by Vice President JD Vance—toward a pro-family approach.
The Danube Institute’s two-day event dedicated to family formation has started with keynote addresses from Executive Director István Kiss; author and Budapest Fellow Helen Roy; Hungarian Ambassador to the Holy See Eduard Habsburg-Lothringen, a descendant of the historic Habsburg family; and Minister for Culture and Innovation Balázs Hankó of Hungary.
According to POLITICO, Germany’s incoming government plans to call on the European Union to withhold funds and suspend voting rights from member states deemed to be ‘misbehaving’. The news fits into a broader, coordinated campaign by pro-war forces seeking to sideline Hungary—the only country currently standing in the way of the EU’s potential escalation into open conflict with Russia.
The Hungarian Institute of International Affairs presented its comprehensive study on the potential consequences of fast-tracking Ukraine’s accession to the European Union at a panel discussion organized by Mathias Corvinus Collegium. Experts agreed that the EU must identify alternative means of supporting Ukraine’s stabilization and long-term development beyond full membership.
‘To suggest swapping Hungary for Ukraine simply because the Hungarian government does not fall in line on critical issues and instead maintains a consistent, principled position is not only impossible but reckless. It would trigger a series of developments that could ultimately lead to the EU’s collapse—a risk that already looms large.’
As the Trump administration reshapes transatlantic relations, Hungary has a unique opportunity to position itself as a key player in the new order.
Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó stated that Hungary firmly rejects Ukraine’s fast-track EU accession, especially if it comes at the expense of the Transcarpathian Hungarian community. For the past ten years, Kyiv has gradually curtailed the rights of national minorities, including Transcarpathian Hungarians.
After Kyiv expressed readiness for an immediate ceasefire following US–Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia, EU leaders issued statements suggesting—or even claiming—that they had always been working toward peace. However, as the lone voice advocating for peace within the EU for a long time, Hungary knows precisely that Brussels has done quite the opposite over the past three years. Our commentary.
Former US ambassador to Hungary David Pressman continued his smear campaign against his former host country on CNN. However, while speaking to Christiane Amanpour, he accidentally admitted that he viewed Hungary as a ‘battleground between democracy and authoritarianism’ and that his goal was to defeat this perceived authoritarianism—essentially, ousting Viktor Orbán and his government.
The Batthyány Lajos Foundation has presented the first volume of its new series on the history of the Castle District, covering the Ottoman period from 1526 to 1686. The richly illustrated work aims to serve both the general public and academic audiences.
Hungarian Conservative is a quarterly magazine on contemporary political, philosophical and cultural issues from a conservative perspective.