On April 19, 2024, the Presidency of the Hungarian Atlantic Council (MAT) held a press conference at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences to present the Council’s objectives and 2024 programs. The event included over two hours of informal discussion with representatives of prominent and popular media outlets. Participating on behalf of MAT were the President, two Vice Presidents, the Secretary General, and the Press Officer.
Press Statement Highlights:
The MAT is a non-partisan, public-benefit civil organization grounded in broad societal support. In response to the ongoing value crisis and conflicting interests in the transatlantic region, the Council’s leadership decided in spring 2023 to strengthen its leadership and renew efforts to preserve the idea of Atlanticism within Hungarian society and across the Carpathian Basin—hoping to influence neighboring nations as well.
MAT maintains that transatlantic cooperation is essential for Central Europe and critical to tackling today’s major challenges:
– Upholding international legal order
– Preventing escalation of local armed conflicts
– Managing illegal migration
– Addressing North–South global divides
– Bridging the gap between rich and poor
– Building mutually beneficial ties with new global economic centers
– Ensuring effective environmental protection
2024 Initiatives:
To pursue these goals, MAT is launching several professional projects and will host a major international conference on May 7 at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. The event will focus on the value crisis, tensions within the transatlantic alliance, the prospects for independent European defense capabilities, and reflections on Hungary’s 25 years of NATO membership.
