From Hungary to Poland: New Institutional Cycle, Renewed Ambitions

Hungary’s presidency of the EU Council has taken place during a pivotal transition from an old to a new institutional cycle within the EU. With the beginning of this new cycle, expectations have risen steadily while the challenges have continued to mount. The war in Ukraine has persisted, the situation in the Middle East has escalated, and Europe faces uncertainty regarding the potential implications of a Trump 2.0 administration in the United States. These developments have further prompted the EU to reflect on its internal capacities to become a more effective and capable actor, with the Draghi Report on competitiveness fuelling discussions among member states and EU institutions in this direction. Simultaneously, the enlargement policy has remained a high priority. Montenegro is set to begin closing chapters, while Albania has opened a cluster, with another expected soon. Given such dynamism in the preceding period, the following questions emerge: What progress has been made in line with Hungary’s motto to “Make Europe Great Again”? What follow-up actions has the EU undertaken in response to the Draghi Report to further prioritise competitiveness? How have Hungary’s initiatives influenced broader EU efforts to maintain internal unity while addressing external challenges? How did Hungarian efforts contribute to accelerating enlargement?

As the presidency transitions from Hungary to Poland, it marks the continuation of Central Europe’s leadership in the Council, offering a renewed opportunity to strengthen EU cohesion and sustain the momentum of the enlargement process. With Poland assuming the presidency during a fully formed European Parliament and European Commission, the focus will be on ensuring that the new institutional cycle begins robustly, particularly by laying the groundwork for anticipated internal reforms. With its historical commitment to European integration and its prominent role in supporting Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict, Poland is expected to prioritise solidarity, resilience, and enlargement. In this context, this panel aims to explore Poland’s vision for the next six months, addressing key questions such as: What role will Poland play in shaping the EU’s position on global issues and strengthening its strategic autonomy? What new initiatives can Poland propose to enhance the EU’s long-term competitiveness? How can Poland build on Hungary’s efforts to sustain the momentum of enlargement while maintaining a strong focus on both “new” and “old” candidate countries?

This event will provide an opportunity for policymakers, experts, and stakeholders to assess the progress made during Hungary’s presidency and outline expectations for Poland’s leadership.

Speakers:

• Tanja Miščević, Minister of European Integration, Government of the Republic of Serbia
• H.E. Emanuele Giaufret, Ambassador, Head of the EU Delegation to the Republic of Serbia
• H.E. Jozsef Zoltan Magyar, Ambassador of the Republic of Hungary to the Republic of Serbia
• Representative, Ministry for the European Union, Government of the Republic of Poland
• Milena Mihajlović Denić, Programme Director, European Policy Centre (CEP)

Strahinja Subotić, Programme Manager and Senior Researcher at the European Policy Centre (CEP), will moderate the panel.

Since December 2016, this event has been traditionally held every six months as part of a series of gatherings initiated by CEP and supported by the EU Delegation to Serbia. Its overarching objective is to foster substantive debate on EU priorities, offering insights from the perspective of both outgoing and incoming presidencies of the Council of the EU. Focused on pressing topics within the accession process, this biannual event serves as a platform to advance the discourse on Serbia’s EU integration. Regularly attended by representatives from the diplomatic corps, state institutions, and civil society organizations, the event also garners significant media attention, further amplifying its impact.

This event will be held at the Europe House in Belgrade (Zmaj Jovina 8). Seats are limited! If you wish to follow this discussion, please email anesa.omeragic@cep.org.rs.

Attendance without registration is not possible.