Visegrad Insight

29/10/2025

Slovakia and Hungary remain Central Europe’s outliers on Russian energy. Alternatives exist, yet politics and pricing frictions pull the brakes.

👉 Watch our video recap: Is Slovakia Ready to Break Free from Russian Gas?

Experts: Eva Mihockova (Slovak Foreign Policy Association) and Andrej Nosko, PhD (Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica), moderated by Tomasz Kasprowicz (Res Publica Nowa)

Find the link to the video in the comments 👇

29/10/2025

From the war in Ukraine to the migrant crisis, the EU’s ability to anticipate and adapt has been put to the test. A recent debate: How the Civil Society Leaders Must Update Their Plans To Match the EU Defence Posture Challenge with Goran Buldioski and Maia Mazurkiewicz, moderated by Wojciech Przybylski, explored key questions:

💡 Resilience & Preparedness: Have EU countries truly become more resilient, or are there still gaps?
🤝 Civil Society’s Role: Local organisations are crucial in crisis response - but need stronger EU and national support and stable financing.
⚖️ Balancing Levels: True resilience lies in bridging EU-wide strategy with national realities.
💬 Human Dimension: Resilience isn’t just logistics - it’s emotional and psychological strength too.

Last but not least…🔮 Strategic Foresight: Europe must better anticipate challenges - with more bottom-up insight from member states.

28/10/2025

On 28 October, we convened leading experts from the Polish government and think tanks for an in-depth discussion around Visegrad Insight’s new report: War on Democracies. Democracies at War – EU Values Foresight for the Next Five Years.

The conversation mapped the future of European democracy and security, stressing the urgent need for tighter coordination among EU member states and a comprehensive crisis-readiness strategy. Key challenges - from the rise of nationalist and anti-democratic forces to external pressures such as Russian interference - were central to the discussion, alongside the indispensable role of NGOs in safeguarding democratic values.

The report’s forward-looking scenarios provide a powerful framework for reimagining how Europe can protect democracy while strengthening its collective resilience and global influence.

This discussion is a part of the European Commission’s Citizens, Equality, Rights, and Values (CERV) programmes, and involved a Visegrad Insight-led 3-year engagement across Central and Eastern Europe: https://visegradinsight.eu/eu-values-foresight/

Fot. Mariusz Bodnar

27/10/2025

How should the EU provide a credible defence posture by investing in democratic support? 🇪🇺

👉 Join our discussion in Brussels on 3 November at 15:30 for a discussion: Civil Society – Missing Element of Defence Preparedness.

During the event, we will present key takeaways from the upcoming Visegrad Insight report, which contributes to deliberations on four EU policy initiatives: the EU Democracy Shield, the EU Civil Society Strategy, the EU Preparedness Strategy, and the funding to be provided in the next Multiannual Financial Framework.

Featuring Wojciech Przybylski, Editor-in-Chief of Visegrad Insight and an author of the report, and Magda Jakubowska, Editorial Director at Visegrad Insight.

Join our public debate in Brussels on 3 November at 15:30-16:45 CET at EESC, Rue Van Maerlant building (VMA), Rue Van Maerlant 2 in Brussels REGISTER FOR THE EVENT BY SCROLLING DOWN OR CLICKING HERE. The discussion will present key takeaways from the upcoming Visegrad Insight report, which contribut...

26/10/2025

How can “defence” serve as a strategic lens for civil society action, political advocacy and community resilience?

🔴 Don’t miss the opportunity and join us in Warsaw on 28 October!

👉 Together with Goran Buldioski (Hertie School), Maia Mazurkiewicz (PZU Foundation), and Wojciech Przybylski (Visegrad Insight), we'll explore how civic strategies and European policies can stay effective and resilient in uncertain times.

Join our public debate in Warsaw on 28 October at 16:00-17:15 CET at Res Publica Foundation, Gałczyńskiego 5, Warsaw. The times have changed, revealing gaps in democratic security strategies, and civil society strategies must adapt. In an era of rising geopolitical tensions, hybrid threats and inf...

26/10/2025

Don't miss our online event!

🇸🇰 How is Slovakia leveraging V4 partnerships to secure non-Russian gas sources? Join us on Zoom on 29 October!

With Andrej Nosko (Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica) and Eva Mihockova (Slovak Foreign Policy Association). Moderated by Tomasz Kasprowicz (Res Publica Nowa).

Click below to get event details and your 25% VI subscription promo code 👇
https://visegradinsight.eu/online-is-slovakia-ready-to-break-free-from-russian-gas/

25/10/2025

Don't miss our public debate in Budapest! Join us on 30 October to discuss how the EU policies help maintain peace in Europe.

🎙️Speakers:
Goran Buldioski (senior fellow at the Hertie School),
Peter Heil ( Adviser at the European Parliament),
Márta Pardavi (Hungarian Helsinki Committee),
Wojciech Przybylski (Visegrad Insight),
moderated by Magda Jakubowska (Visegrad Insight).

👉 The debate will draw on insights from Visegrad Insight’s upcoming report, presenting Central Europe’s foresight and recommendations for the EU’s forthcoming democracy, civil society, and preparedness initiatives.

Registration is required. Fill out the form by clicking below👇

Join our public debate in Budapest on 30 October at 17:00 CET at the Up Hotel, Csengery u. 31, Budapest (Cloud Room). As the European Union (EU) approaches the 2029 elections, concerns over democratic resilience persist, particularly given pressures in countries such as Hungary. How can Europe stren...

24/10/2025

As the EU plans to phase out Russian fossil fuels by the end of 2027, Slovakia faces a strategic crossroads. Can the V4’s regional cooperation help secure alternative gas routes and strengthen energy independence?

👉 Join us for the online debate on 29 October on Zoom! As always, the second part of the event will feature a closed Q&A session with the speakers.

Speakers:
🔸Andrej Nosko, PhD, Central European energy policy and security expert, visiting researcher at the Faculty of Political Sciences and International Relations of Univerzita Mateja Bela v Banskej Bystrici.

🔸Eva Mihockova - Marcin Król Fellow 2024 at Visegrad Insight, Editor-in-Chief of Foreign Policy SFPA, a media website operated by the Slovak Foreign Policy Association.

Moderated by Tomasz Kasprowicz, Editor-in-Chief of Res Publica Nowa, PhD in Finance, specialising in risk management, earned his doctorate at Southern Illinois University.

REGISTER FOR THE EVENT BY SCROLLING DOWN OR CLICKING HERE. This discussion will examine how regional cooperation within the V4 enhances energy security and diversifies gas supply routes amidst geopolitical challenges. We will address these key questions: How is Slovakia leveraging V4 partnerships to...

23/10/2025

How must the civil society leaders update their plans to match the EU defence posture challenge?

👉 Join us in Warsaw for a public debate on 28 October!

In an era of rising geopolitical tensions, hybrid threats, and information warfare, civil society and political activists face new challenges in safeguarding common EU values while supporting a credible defence posture.

Speakers:
🔸 Goran Buldioski – Senior Fellow at the Hertie School. He supports the Office of the President in designing and developing new initiatives on democracy.

🔸Maia Mazurkiewicz – President of the PZU Foundation, co-founder of Alliance4Europe, and host of the program “Anatomy of Disinformation” on TVP World. An expert in countering disinformation and communication.

Moderated by Wojciech Przybylski, Editor-in-Chief of Visegrad Insight and President of the Res Publica Foundation.

Join our public debate in Warsaw on 28 October at 16:00-17:15 CET at Res Publica Foundation, Gałczyńskiego 5, Warsaw. The times have changed, revealing gaps in democratic security strategies, and civil society strategies must adapt. In an era of rising geopolitical tensions, hybrid threats and inf...

23/10/2025

How Will EU Policies Help Maintain Peace in Europe?

👉 Join us in Budapest for a public debate on 30 October! We’ll discuss how societies can stay prepared for potential threats while still nurturing unity and a lasting peace across the continent.

Speakers:
🔸Goran Buldioski - Senior fellow at the Hertie School. He supports the Office of the President in designing and developing new initiatives on democracy

🔸Peter Heil - Adviser at the European Parliament for the Hungarian delegation at the Group of Socialists and Democrats

🔸Márta Pardavi - Co-chair of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, a leading human rights NGO based in Budapest

🔸 Wojciech Przybylski - Editor-in-Chief of Visegrad Insight and President of the Res Publica Foundation (Res Publica Nowa)

Moderation:
🔸Magda Jakubowska - Vicepresident of the Res Publica Foundation and Editorial Director at Visegrad Insight

Click below to register👇

Join our public debate in Budapest on 30 October at 17:00 CET at the Up Hotel, Csengery u. 31, Budapest (Cloud Room). As the European Union (EU) approaches the 2029 elections, concerns over democratic resilience persist, particularly given pressures in countries such as Hungary. How can Europe stren...

15/10/2025

See the newly released Position Paper: “Resilient Neighbors: Addressing the Common Challenges to Democracy in WB and EaP Countries from a Civil Society Perspective”.

The paper highlights the shared democratic challenges in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership regions - from shrinking civic space and weakened rule of law to the operational sustainability of civil society organizations. It also outlines strategic recommendations for the European Union, local civil society actors, and allies in EU member states, emphasizing the urgent need for solidarity, resilience, and community-level engagement.

👉 Read the Position Paper: https://www.forum2000.cz/en/news/resilient-neighbors-addressing-the-common-challenges-to-democracy-in-wb-and-eap

International Visegrad Fund, Civic Idea, Memo 98, Political Capital

This position paper addresses the common challenges to democracy in the Western Balkans (WB) and Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries from a civil society perspective. In these regions, democracy is often a matter of procedural compliance rather than substance and as long as managed democracy and hyb...

15/10/2025

On 14 October, we had the great pleasure of hosting ambassadors and diplomats during the Visegrad Insight Breakfast!

The new political shift in the Czech Republic raises questions about the country’s direction in Central and Eastern Europe 🇨🇿 Will Babiš follow Orbán’s path, or strike a different course? While anti-Ukrainian sentiment has been growing, a clear turn toward Moscow seems unlikely.

Read more about the event👇

Event recap: Czech Republic election 2025 and Andrej Babis. What the result means for EU and NATO policy, Czechia's Ukraine support and Visegrad countries.