The Hungarian Atlantic Council (Magyar Atlanti Tanács – MAT) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization founded in 1992 and reorganized in 1999. Its original mission was to promote Hungary’s accession to NATO and to foster broad acceptance of Euro-Atlantic principles and values within Hungarian society. The MAT played a key role in the public discourse that led to the 1997 referendum, where 85% of Hungarian voters supported NATO membership—an approval rate unmatched in the history of the Alliance.
Today, the Council focuses on emphasizing Euro-Atlantic values and deepening transatlantic cooperation. Its activities include organizing public and closed-door conferences, lectures, and roundtable discussions, as well as representing Hungary in international forums.
The MAT is especially engaged in addressing a broad interpretation of security, encompassing nuclear safety, sustainable energy use, the challenges of climate change, and the fight against terrorism. Its youth division, the Hungarian Youth Atlantic Council Foundation (MIAT Foundation), is committed to educating younger generations and promoting the ideals of transatlantic cooperation.
The MAT is a full member of the Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA), actively participating in the international Atlantic community and supporting Hungary’s engagement within the Alliance.
The Council’s current activities focus on the integration of Euro-Atlantic principles, with a strong emphasis on practical issues and the dissemination of well-founded knowledge and reliable information. The primary goal of the Hungarian Atlantic Council is to strengthen transatlantic cooperation with other member states, while maintaining a deep respect for the continuity of Hungarian history, its traditions, and cultural distinctiveness.
The Hungarian Atlantic Council believes it is necessary to harmonize Atlantic and national thinking, as their joint representation in Hungarian society may serve as an important basis for broad societal consensus.
The Council advocates for a broader interpretation of the concept of “security”, placing emphasis on nuclear safety, the rational use of resources, as well as on energy reserves and stocks. In addition, it monitors the implications of climate change, terrorism, human rights, and civil protection issues.
The Hungarian Youth Atlantic Council (MIAT) was established in 1995 as the youth section of the Hungarian Atlantic Council, reorganized in 2018, and as of 2024, has been operating in the form of a foundation (MIAT Foundation). Its core mission is to inform high school and university students, as well as young professionals. MIAT contributes to the promotion of Atlantic values and the idea of international cooperation, in line with the international youth cooperation framework of the ATA (YATA).
The Hungarian Atlantic Council is a full member of the Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA).
Magyar Atlanti Tanács
The official website of Hungarian Atlantic Council.
