On April 19, 2024, the Presidency of the Hungarian Atlantic Council held a press briefing at the headquarters of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences to present the Council’s objectives and programs for the year. Following the briefing, an informal discussion lasting more than two hours took place with representatives of prominent and widely-read media outlets. The Hungarian Atlantic Council was represented by its president, two vice-presidents, the secretary-general, and the press officer. The full text of the press statement is provided below:
Csóti György, President of the Hungarian Atlantic Council, welcomed the attendees.
The Hungarian Atlantic Council is a public-benefit civil organization, politically independent, and based on broad societal support. In response to the value crisis and conflicting interests that have emerged within the transatlantic space, the Council’s Presidency decided in the spring of 2023 to strengthen its leadership and renew its commitment to preserving the idea of Atlanticism within Hungarian society, and more broadly among Hungarians across the Carpathian Basin—while also aiming to positively influence the thinking of neighboring nations.
We firmly believe that there is no alternative to transatlantic cooperation for Central Europe. Only through this framework can we effectively address the great challenges of our time: upholding international legal order, preventing the escalation of local armed conflicts, curbing illegal migration, bridging the North–South divide, managing the global gap between rich and poor, fostering mutually beneficial cooperation with emerging global economic centers, and ensuring effective environmental protection. We trust that sooner or later the transatlantic value system will be restored in our region, and that conflicting interests will be resolved through mutual compromise.
In 2024, the Hungarian Atlantic Council aims to meet these objectives through a series of large-scale initiatives. In addition to launching several professional projects, we are organizing a full-day international conference on May 7 at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, with the participation of high-level domestic and international guests. The conference will examine issues related to the value crisis and conflicting interests, assess the prospects of building independent European defense capabilities within the North Atlantic Alliance, and reflect on the lessons of Hungary’s 25 years of NATO membership.
