The Legacy of 1956, 1989 and 2004 from the Perspective of 2021 in Hungary - hybrid conference organised by the Hungarian Europe Society - Date: 22 October 2021, Friday 10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (CET) Venue: ibis Styles Budapest Center (Rákóczi út 58., 1074 Budapest) & Zoom   1989 represents a turning point in history, both for Central Europe and the whole European continent. In East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia or Hungary, democratic opposition managed in a short period to peacefully oust communist elites that had been ruling their countries for several decades. Hence, between 1989 and 1991 the new political elites were able to reunify successfully with a democratic neighbour (Germany) or build the democratic foundations of their states (Czechia, Poland, Hungary). The German reunification in 1990 itself can be considered as the preliminary step of the integration of Central Europe with the rest of the continent. Meanwhile, the democratic and economic transitions of the 1990s constituted necessary preconditions for Central European countries to achieve their accession to the Euro-Atlantic organizations such as the European Union and NATO. The transition was sometimes painful but successful, as 2004 became the symbol of unity of the European continent with the biggest ever European Union enlargement.  Today it is particularly important to recall the legacy of democratic transition of 1989 and the largest European integration of 2004 when nationalism, populism, and authoritarian trends are on the rise in Europe, particularly in Central European states and undermines the unity of the EU. Indeed, this legacy may serve as a crucial source of inspiration for activities aiming at the reinvigoration of European values.     The main goal of our project EUritage is to remind the European citizens about the importance of democratic transition of Central Europe and its accession to the EU and the values (liberal democracy, rule of law, civic national identity, free market economy) underpinning these processes. The same values make the foundations of the Union.   Agenda 10.30 Welcome: István Hegedűs (chairman, Hungarian Europe Society) 10.35 Historic Perspectives - Hungary at the Crossroads Speaker: Gergely Romsics (historian, Institute of History at the Research Centre for Humanities, Budapest) Discussant: István Hegedűs (chairman, Hungarian Europe Society) 11.15 Video presentation: “A European Success Story? Central Europe from Democratic Revolutions to EU Accession” 11.30 Round-table discussion: Adam Balcer (senior fellow, WiseEuropa, Warsaw) Ladislav Cabada (vice-rector for Research and Creative Work, Metropolitan University, Prague) Zsuzsanna Szelényi (former Member of the Hungarian Parliament, 1990-94, 2014-18) István Szent-Iványi (former Member of the Hungarian Parliament, 1990-2004) Moderator: Erik Uszkiewicz (vice-chairman, Hungarian Europe Society) 12.45 Student challenge Máté Bozóky (winner of the Hungarian essay competition) 12.55 Concluding remarks István Hegedűs (chairman, Hungarian Europe Society, Budapest) Please note that the language of the event is English and no translation will be provided. This event is being video recorded for archival, educational and related promotional purposes. By attending or participating in this event you are giving your consent to the video recording. Please note that proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required for in-person participation.

Uncertain Times: The Future of Trans-Atlantic Relations from the Perspective of NGOs and Think Tanks in Central Europe and Hungary Online international conference Monday, 27 September 2021 WATCH THE CONFERENCE RECORDINGS ON HES'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL The Hungarian Europe Society has provided a platform for political analysts, policy experts, intellectuals, civil society activists and citizens from the Central European region, the European Union and the United States of America in order to analyse new global trends and seek solutions to current political, cultural and economic dilemmas. At our forthcoming event we intend to discuss with our guests the growing challenges of great power politics and their security implications, inequality in all its forms and the need of economic recovery, climate change as well as the pressure of anti-liberal, populist forces in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. This conference is also a closing event of our webinar series held in 2020-21 under the same title. Program (CET) 10.30-10.45 Welcome address István Hegedűs (Chairman, Hungarian Europe Society, Budapest) 10.45-12.15 I. Morning session: The future of the international order (first part) Veronica Anghel (Adjunct Professor, Johns Hopkins University - School of Advanced International Studies; Max Weber Fellow, European University Institute, Florence): The Future of the Trans-Atlantic Relations Roland Freudenstein (Policy Director, Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies, Brussels; from 1 October 2021: Vice President of GLOBSEC and Head of GLOBSEC Brussels): Trans-Atlantic Relations, Values and Great Power Politics in Central Europe Thibault Muzergues (Author of the forthcoming book “War in Europe?”): The Future of the International Order, and Europe’s Place in It Moderator: István Hegedűs (Chairman, Hungarian Europe Society, Budapest) 12.15-13.30 Online lunch break 13.30-14.45 II. Afternoon session: The Future of the International Order (second part) Julie Smith - Baroness Smith of Newnham (Fellow in Politics and Graduate Tutor at Robinson College, Cambridge, Member of the House of Lords, London): Global Europe, Global Britain Oana Popescu-Zamfir (Director, GlobalFocus Center, Bucharest, Europe's Futures Fellow, Institut für die Wissenschaften vom Menschen, Vienna): Global Order and Geopolitics Jacek Kucharczyk (President of the Executive Board, Institute of Public Affairs, Warsaw): The Future of Central Europe Inside the European Union and Globally Moderator: István Hegedűs (Chairman, Hungarian Europe Society, Budapest) III. Presentations 14.45-15.15 Benjamin de Cleen: (Associate Professor at the Department of Communication Studies, Vrije Universiteit Brussel): When Populism Meets Nationalism: Understanding the Limited and Specific Role of Populism 15.15-15.45 Petra Bárd (Visiting Professor, Researcher, Central European University, Research Affiliate, CEU Democracy Institute, Budapest/Frankfurt am Main): The Future of the Rule of Law and Its Current Challenges in Hungary Moderator: Erik Uszkiewicz (Vice-chairperson, Hungarian Europe Society, Budapest) Short Break 16.00-16.30 Louisa Slavkova (Co-founder & Managing Partner, The CIVICS Innovation Hub, Sofia): Civic Education in the European Union 16.30-17.00 Zsolt Darvas (Senior Fellow, Bruegel,Brussels, Senior Research Fellow, Corvinus University of Budapest): The Future of Sustainable Economic Development 17.00-17.30 Daniel C. Hallin (Distinguished Professor, Department of Communication, University of California, San Diego): The Future of Media Freedom 17.30-18.00 Naja Bentzen (Policy analyst, European Parliamentary Research Service Liaison at European Parliament Office in Washington D.C., fellow, the German Marshall Fund of the United States): The Future of Truth and Facts Moderator: Erik Uszkiewicz (Vice-chairperson, Hungarian Europe Society, Budapest) Short Break 18.15-18.45 Jan-Werner Müller (Professor of Politics, Princeton University): The Critical Infrastructure of Democracy 18.45-19.15 Ákos Róna-Tas (Professor at the Sociology Department at the University of California, San Diego): Globalization, Democracy and the Nation States Moderator: István Hegedűs (Chairman, Hungarian Europe Society, Budapest) 19.45 Farewell Remarks István Hegedűs (Chairman, Hungarian Europe Society, Budapest)   This event is part of the "Uncertain Times: The Future of Trans-Atlantic Relations from the Perspective of NGOs and Think Tanks in Central Europe and Hungary" project which is supported by the Embassy of the United States of America in Budapest. The conference is also supported by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom. This event is being video recorded for archival, educational, and related promotional purposes. By attending or participating in this event, you are giving your consent to the video recording. Please note that the language of the event is English and no translation will be provided.

INVITATION Uncertain Times: The Future of Trans-Atlantic Relations from the Perspective of NGOs and Think Tanks in Central Europe and Hungary - online webinar series organised by the Hungarian Europe Society - Seventh Debate The challenges of digitalisation and economic competitiveness Date: 14 June 2021, Monday 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. (CET) Welcome address by István Hegedűs, Chairman, Hungarian Europe Society (Budapest) Panelists Kálmán Dezséri, Policy Officer, European Commission (Brussels) Šárka Prat, Executive Director, Institute for Politics and Society (Prague) Ivar Tallo, Independent Director, NC JSC State Corporation "Government for Citizens" (Kyiv) Moderator: István Hegedűs, Chairman, Hungarian Europe Society Short briefings are followed by an open debate. For the corresponding papers please scroll down. Sign in or register on our website and share your comments on the papers after scrolling down to the comment section. This event is part of the "Uncertain Times: The Future of Trans-Atlantic Relations from the Perspective of NGOs and Think Tanks in Central Europe and Hungary" project which is supported by the Embassy of the United States of America in Budapest. Please note that the language of the event is English and no translation will be provided. This event is being video recorded for archival, educational, and related promotional purposes. By attending or participating in this event, you are giving your consent to the video recording.

INVITATION Uncertain Times: The Future of Trans-Atlantic Relations from the Perspective of NGOs and Think Tanks in Central Europe and Hungary - online webinar series organised by the Hungarian Europe Society - Fifth Debate Inclusiveness and its challenges: The state of minorities in the Western world Date: 28 April 2021, Wednesday 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. (CET) Welcome address by Erik Uszkiewicz, vice-chairman, Hungarian Europe Society Panelists Henriett Dinók, Executive Director, Romaversitas Foundation Anikó Félix, PhD, Executive Director, Goldziher Institute Bea Sándor, Legal program director, Háttér Society Moderator: Erik Uszkiewicz, vice-chairman, Hungarian Europe Society Short briefings are followed by an open debate. For the corresponding papers please scroll down. Sign in or register on our website and share your comments on the papers after scrolling down to the comment section. This event is part of the "Uncertain Times: The Future of Trans-Atlantic Relations from the Perspective of NGOs and Think Tanks in Central Europe and Hungary" project which is supported by the Embassy of the United States of America in Budapest. Please note that the language of the event is English and no translation will be provided. This event is being video recorded for archival, educational, and related promotional purposes. By attending or participating in this event, you are giving your consent to the video recording.