On May 28, 2024, the Hungarian Atlantic Council (MAT) held its annual General Assembly.
Before the official opening of the session, György Csóti, President of the Council, presented the Antall József Award, established by the MAT Presidency in 2023, to Prof. Dr. Szilveszter E. Vízi, Honorary President of MAT. The awardee’s achievements were commended by Zsolt Németh, Chair of the Hungarian Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee and Vice President of MAT. The Antall József Award is given annually to a Hungarian and/or foreign individual or institution that has made an outstanding contribution to promoting the idea of Atlanticism.
Prior to the General Assembly, Barna Pál Zsigmond, State Secretary and Deputy Minister of the Ministry for European Union Affairs, delivered a briefing on the upcoming Hungarian EU Presidency.
During the meeting, President György Csóti reported on MAT’s activities in 2023 and outlined the organization’s plans for 2025. He noted that 2023 marked a turning point for the Council: MAT renewed itself, strengthened its leadership with new board members, and reinstated the position of Secretary General. This renewal prepared the organization for the 2024 jubilee year, in which we celebrate both NATO’s 75th anniversary and the 25th anniversary of Hungary’s NATO membership.
As part of this renewal, the MAT Presidency committed itself to examining two key issues it considers crucial for the North Atlantic community. Accordingly, a series of debates was organized with external experts on the state of North Atlantic principles and values, the internal and external threats they face, and Europe’s role and responsibilities in safeguarding the shared interests of NATO member states. The highlight of this initiative was a major international conference held on May 7, a full report of which is available on the MAT website.
Looking ahead, the President announced that, in response to member initiatives, MAT is launching the Atlanti Klub event series. This program will include informational discussions in cities across Hungary, focusing on current security issues in Europe and our region, including Hungary. The events are being organized in cooperation with the Friends of the Military and Society Association.
In an effort to bring our mission closer to the public, MAT will host NATO tents at major festivals such as Sziget and Tusványos. In the autumn, MAT will organize a conference entitled “The Path of the Hungarian Defence Forces from Pákozd to NATO”.
Following the President’s address, Secretary General István Gyarmati presented an overview of MAT’s current status, highlighting that thanks to state support and numerous grants, the organization has stabilized its financial situation. He provided updates on ongoing MAT projects and emphasized that in the coming year, it is a priority to expand MAT’s presence beyond Budapest and increase visibility in both print and digital media.
