central europe

A Region at a Turning Point in History

THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS AND WAR DEVELOPMENTS WILL RE-ARRANGE THE ORDER IN THE COUNTRIES OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE, AS WELL AS IN THE BALKANS

For nearly a year, the wider Central, Eastern, Northern and Southern European region has been struggling with an energy crisis and economic crisis. It followed the start of Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine on 24 February 2022, however Russian President Vladimir Putin had already been implementing his hostile energy policy towards the West since autumn 2021, with the aim of testing energy as a potential tool of war, e.g. by artificially restricting supplies with the effect of driving up commodity prices.

Dynamic Duo for Destabilisation

The importance of integration both within the North Atlantic Alliance and the European Union formats has increased dramatically in recent times. Contrary to predictions, the war did not lead to the collapse of both NATO and the European Union itself. The so-called 'collective West', united, has survived the full-scale war taking place in its immediate vicinity. It is also capable of taking joint decisions. Two states stand out: one that is a member of the aforementioned international organisations and one that merely aspired to join the EU.

In Central Europe, Hungary and Serbia currently constitute an alliance which is heating up tensions. Budapest openly supports Milorad Dodik, who foments separatist sentiments in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Hungary does not regard Russia as an enemy state; Fidesz politicians in the European Parliament did not vote in favour of a resolution recognising Russia as a terrorist-financing state. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić meet at least once a month and discuss the situation in the region.