FEATURED COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

Hungary’s policy on China: Doing Beijing’s bidding

Report Nov 10, 2025

Czechia’s policy on China: Swinging between engagement and de-risking

By Zoltán Fehér

Although Czechia emerged as one of the EU’s early hawks and whistleblowers on China, its overall stance has shifted markedly over the past two decades—oscillating between engagement and balancing, with the fluctuations largely driven by domestic political divisions and sustained Chinese influence efforts.
Central Europe China
Hungary’s policy on China: Doing Beijing’s bidding

New Atlanticist Nov 4, 2025

Trump has an opportunity to unblock Ukraine’s EU accession in his meeting with Orbán

By James Batchik

Getting Hungary to drop its opposition to Ukraine’s European Union accession would be a strategic coup for Ukraine, Europe, and Washington.
Conflict Economic Sanctions
Hungary’s policy on China: Doing Beijing’s bidding

Issue Brief Mar 14, 2025

The Three Seas Initiative stands at an inflection point

By Emma Nix, Ian Brzezinski

The Three Seas Initiative is preparing for a critical summit in Warsaw in 2025. What opportunities exist to ensure the Initiative can accomplish its goal of ensuring a Europe whole, free, secure, and at peace?
Central Europe Economy & Business

Program

The Europe Center promotes the transatlantic leadership and strategies required to ensure a strong Europe.

EXPLORE THE PROGRAM
explore the warsaw office

Content

Report

Nov 10, 2025

Hungary’s policy on China: Doing Beijing’s bidding

By Zoltán Fehér

Under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Hungary has emerged as China’s closest ally within the EU, aligning its foreign policy with Beijing’s global agenda and repeatedly obstructing EU efforts to counter Chinese influence.

China
Economy & Business

Report

Nov 10, 2025

Poland’s policy on China: From partnership to skepticism

By Zoltán Fehér

Despite its traditionally transatlantic orientation, Poland pursued an engagement policy toward China until the late 2010s. However, unmet economic promises and Beijing’s alignment with Moscow following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine shifted Warsaw’s view of China from economic partner to systemic challenger.

China
Economy & Business

Report

Nov 10, 2025

Czechia’s policy on China: Swinging between engagement and de-risking

By Zoltán Fehér

Although Czechia emerged as one of the EU’s early hawks and whistleblowers on China, its overall stance has shifted markedly over the past two decades—oscillating between engagement and balancing, with the fluctuations largely driven by domestic political divisions and sustained Chinese influence efforts.

Central Europe
China

In the News

Nov 8, 2025

Sapuppo in Kyiv Post on Hungarian exemption from US sanctions targeting Russian energy

By Mercedes Sapuppo

On November 8, Mercedes Sappuppo, nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center, was published in Kyiv Post on the one-year exemption for Hungarian imports of Russian gas.

Energy Markets & Governance
English

MENASource

Nov 7, 2025

Kazakhstan joins the Abraham Accords—and redefines the geography of peace

By Joseph Epstein

While some have dismissed an expansion to Central Asia as “largely symbolic” this interpretation overlooks deeper implications.

Central Europe
Europe & Eurasia

New Atlanticist

Nov 4, 2025

Trump has an opportunity to unblock Ukraine’s EU accession in his meeting with Orbán

By James Batchik

Getting Hungary to drop its opposition to Ukraine’s European Union accession would be a strategic coup for Ukraine, Europe, and Washington.

Conflict
Economic Sanctions

New Atlanticist

Oct 30, 2025

What does the US drawdown in Romania mean for European defense? 

By Atlantic Council experts

The drawdown marks the first officially announced step of the Trump administration’s planned pullback of its European force presence.

Central Europe
Defense Policy

EnergySource

Oct 9, 2025

EU enlargement could redefine its energy geopolitics

By Andrei Covatariu

The EU's next enlargement wave could lead to greater European competitiveness and influence—or risk deepening divisions within the bloc. Tying energy security to enlargement offers Brussels a way back into the geopolitical game.

Central Europe
Eastern Europe

Eye on Europe's elections

Oct 1, 2025

Your primer on the Czech Chamber of Deputies elections

By Atlantic Council experts

Experts from the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center answer the most pressing questions about the Czech parliamentary elections and what the results could mean for the country’s foreign policy.

Central Europe
Elections

UkraineAlert

Sep 23, 2025

Putin is escalating Russia’s hybrid war against Europe. Is Europe ready?

By Maksym Beznosiuk

Putin has clearly been encouraged by Trump’s efforts to downgrade America’s involvement in transatlantic security and feels emboldened to escalate his own hybrid war against Europe, writes Maksym Beznosiuk.

Belarus
Conflict
Load More

Experts

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Anna Ascani

Vice President of the Chamber, Italy Chamber of Deputies

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Education

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Antti Rauhala

Programme Officer, International Energy Agency (IEA)

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Eastern Europe

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Daniel Di Giusto

Co-founder & Social Impact Strategist, Tech To The Rescue Foundation

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Civil Society

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Hélène Sene

Global Engagement Manager, HCLTech

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Technology & Innovation

Fellow

Marek Magierowski

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Inês Bravo Figueiredo

Co-President, Volt Portugal

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Economy & Business
Load More