The EU’s most recent corruption scandal—the second within a short period of time—is a reminder of the lack of accountability and popular oversight of Brussels.
Despite the significant grants and investments agreed upon by the EU, and the bloc’s support for the regional association process, what Tirana didn’t bring closer is the holy grail for the Western Balkans: fast-tracked EU accession.
It is becoming increasingly clear that the freedom of movement of European citizens, which is so essential to the European project, is now in danger in the face of the worsening migration crisis.
‘If the world’s largest trading bloc gives up on the concept of free trade, the entire global economy will be hurt.’
Harald Vilimsky cautioned that the European Union is determined to impose yet another sizable common debt on people through the establishment of a sovereignty fund.
Twenty-two years have passed since the end of the last Yugoslav war. Two decades may be enough to rebuild a country, but the memories of the war and the wounds it caused are still present and will be present for a long time to come in the still unstable Balkans.
Today it is again the ideal of freedom that connects Hungary, Poland and Italy. In all three countries people voted for governments that promised to follow the interest of their own nations, rather than what New York, Moscow, Berlin, Istanbul or Paris dictates or expects.
‘I am Giorgia, I am a woman, I am a mother, I am Christian,’ Meloni has famously proclaimed. Now she is also Italy’s first female prime minister.
Ultimately, the fact that Belgium still allows Russian diamond imports means that they are more invested in supplying those living a life of luxury with rare precious stones than in letting people heat their homes in the winter.
On Tuesday, Danube Institute organised an event, where a panel discussion on the historic election in Italy was hosted. Commentators discussed how Giorgia Meloni’s win could affect European politics, and what impact it could have on Hungary.
Hungarian Conservative is a quarterly magazine on contemporary political, philosophical and cultural issues from a conservative perspective.