The Central European Summit, an international conference organised by the Oeconomus Economic Research Foundation and the Center for Fundamental Rights on 15 April, featured a panel on the strategic importance of Central Europe with Márton Ugrósdy, Deputy State Secretary and Political Director of the Prime Minister’s Office, Will Thibeau, Director of The American Military Project at the Claremont Institute, Harald Vilimsky, Member of the European Parliament (Patriots for Europe), and Chris Farrell, Director of Investigations & Research, USA. The discussion was moderated by Anton Bendarzsevszkij, Director of Oeconomus. The panel discussed the challenges of international competition between great powers, the relationship between the US and Central Europe and the interests behind this cooperation, and how the region could become the new intellectual and economic centre of Europe in ten years’ time.
Central Europe’s place on the global stage
Chris Farrell began the discussion by describing Central Europe as a key region for great power selections, stressing that it is here that countries will decide whether to commit to the United States or China. He warned that the US administration sees close economic ties with China as risky and sees Central Europe as a culturally and politically reliable partner that deserves closer economic and military cooperation.
Will Thibeau praised the political model of the region, especially Hungary’s, which has inspired the American conservative movement in recent years. He rejected the idea that Central Europe should be seen as a buffer zone and pointed out that CPAC events in Hungary set an encouraging example for Americans.
Márton Ugrósdy presented the Central European countries as bastions of common sense and conservative values. He stressed the need for a European movement that, in line with the political changes in the US, would put national sovereignty and freedom first, helping to create a more independent and stronger Europe.
“The creation of a political innovation centre led by Hungary, the Czech Republic and Austria would be a key element to give new impetus to EU reform,”
said Harald Vilimsky, who highlighted the region’s cultural purity and political potential, noting that Central Europe is free from the problems that plague Western countries, such as illegal immigration.
Great power influence and economic prospects
Will Thibeau was optimistic about the global position of the United States, arguing that Donald Trump’s tariff policy is reshaping the world order, limiting China’s economic room for manoeuvre. He stressed that the rapprochement between Russia and China was the Biden administration’s mistake, but Donald Trump could create new opportunities for the region by quickly resolving the Russia-Ukraine war and creating a more balanced relationship with Russia.
Chris Farrell felt the same way. He outlined US foreign policy priorities, highlighting the attempt to find a diplomatic resolution for conflicts in the Middle East and Europe so that the US can focus on Asia. The goal, he said, is a world order where China’s possible actions in Taiwan do not destabilise the global system, and Central Europe’s economic resilience is key to this.
Márton Ugrósdy criticized the lack of European capacity to act, noting that the European Union is not a real superpower and cannot influence global processes in a meaningful way. He said the region can only succeed if it restores democratic legitimacy and economic competitiveness, rather than passively enduring the games of great powers.
Harald Vilimsky assessed the situation from the perspective of economic self-determination, citing as an example Trump’s 2016 Twitter messages calling for the repatriation of US industry. He suggested that Central Europe should similarly protect its own labour market and industry, rejecting solutions that rely on external immigration instead of supporting local workers.
The future of Central Europe in ten years’ time
“In ten years’ time, Central Europe can move from the current resistance to becoming part of the European mainstream”,
stressed Márton Ugrósdy. In his view, reform of the EU is possible if it serves the well-being of the European people and harnesses the region’s capacity to think.
Chris Farrell expressed concern about the rise of Chinese investment in Central Europe, particularly in Hungary. He noted that close ties with China could make the partnership with the US more difficult in the long term and that a clear geopolitical commitment is needed for the region to succeed.
Will Thibeau predicted a radical transformation in which a movement led by Hungarian and other patriotic forces could reform the EU.
Harald Vilimsky believes that Central Europe – with Hungary, the Czech Republic and Austria – will become a driving force for political innovation. He called for cooperation based on positive nationalism and conservative values that, with US support, could transform Europe.
Anton Oleksiy is currently a Master's student in Political Science at the Faculty of Law and Political Science, Eötvös Loránd University. Previously, he worked as an intern at the Hungarian Institute of Foreign Affairs, where he focused on the political situation in the post-Soviet space.
He specialises in international relations and diplomacy, in particular political and economic developments in the post-Soviet states.
