Zselyke Csaky

Magyar needs the EU but the EU needs Magyar, too. And in this mutual dependency, neither should lose sight of the rule of law. That's what I'm arguing in this @financialtimes.com op ed www.ft.com/content/8800...

Aleksandar Vučić has just conceded to the Student List, which will have an absolute majority of MPs, 135-140 out of 250.

Vucic has announced defeat

Here is my latest piece about the rule of law and democracy in the next MFF. Will it have actual teeth? Are the proposed changes enough to defend democracy? Read more below 👇

Good stuff here from @zecsaky.bsky.social www.cer.eu/insights/can...

The EU’s next 7-year budget will show how serious Brussels is about defending democracy. As far-right parties gain ground now in larger member-states, will the 2028-34 MFF have real teeth – or just louder rhetoric? New @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social insight by @zecsaky.bsky.social buff.ly/8GsJmRr

We have a fantastic opportunity for someone working on the big questions of European politics today. Read more below and apply! 👇

We have a fantastic opportunity for someone working on the big questions of European politics today. Read more below and apply! 👇

And in an information environment thats designed for speed and engagement, slow procedural institutions are doublely disadvantaged against those who offer emotional certainty and quick fixes.

🇵🇱⚖️Polish rule of law crisis latest: Ziobro might be good at evading justice, but some people weren't as lucky, and now we have a black bar on the eyes of two guys who ran a state-owned fund to promote Poland abroad by, among others ... planting billboards about how Polish judges are bad. 1/

One year after the dismantling of the USAID funding, what does the democracy support landscape look like? Several new initiatives have emerged in some regions, but whether these will evolve into concrete forms of “post-US” democracy support remains unclear. A must-read on @carnegieendowment.org ⤵️

Rather humbling. Handelsblatt: "A key factor in the Chancellor's change of course was, among other things, a research paper by economists Sander Tordoir and Brad Setser" Pleased Brad and I could contribute to Chancellor Merz's thinking on China Shock 2.0 with analysis and a few policy ideas. 1/

We've updated and significantly improved upon the Barnier staircase to outline what the future might hold 7/11

The problem here is that France wants a strong common EU foreign policy "strategic autonomy" AND total national control of foreign policy. The only way to make EU foreign policy strong and coherent is for states to give up control. Europe needs to make the trade: sovereignty for power.

🇭🇺⚖️ @verfassungsblog.de is running a symposium on the rule of law restoration in Hungary, and everyone's favourite ECtHR dork, Dr Marcin Szwed, has a piece there about when, if and how you can remove judges from their positions as part of reform. Probably interesting for 🇺🇸 readers, too.

PERSONAL NEWS: I've joined the @newyorker.com full-time as a global-affairs columnist, where I'll be writing a weekly essay on the world. It's a dream gig and I'm still pinching myself that I get to say all these incredible, talented journalists I've long admired are my colleagues!

I learned a lot about what is happening with enlargement from this brilliant podcast, by @milanninberlin.bsky.social and @zecsaky.bsky.social. They are not as pessimistic as I am about the prospects of EU enlargement.

Europe needs to rapidly improve its deterrence. A new @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social / Hanns Seidel Foundation paper by @armida.bsky.social outlines key steps European governments can take in the next 1-2 years to accelerate rearmament, readiness and deterrence efforts. Read here: buff.ly/rwfLU1S

Ideology for the masses, money for the elites.

In May 2026, votes in the EP resembled those of times past: with majorities based on the cooperation of EPP, S&D and Renew, no votes decided by the far right, and a fine example of a very broad supermajority. By NICOLAI VON ONDARZA #EUanalytics

This Wednesday I will join #DemocracyDrinks of @defenddemocracy.eurosky.social in Brussels. All welcome!

“I think this is crunch time on enlargement. So what is realistic? We will see after the June European Council,” @milanninberlin.bsky.social told @zecsaky.bsky.social in the latest #CERpodcast, listen here: buff.ly/TBagUtJ

My next public event is in Brussels at @defenddemocracy.eurosky.social — all welcome!

Finally…! www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/pre...

The Hungarian prosecutor just dropped the case against the organiser of Pécs Pride arguing that organising Prides is not crime, referring to the EU Court of Justice judgement on HU’s anti LGBTIQ-law. A very encouraging step in the restoration of the rule of law and fundamental rights in Hungary!

This is an important point & why Hungary’s democratic restoration *may* be easier than that of Poland. When institutions behave as they should, there is less of a need for complete overhaul — the problem is not structural. It’s early days though and clearly doesn’t apply to all institutions.

With Hungary lifting its veto on accession for Ukraine (and Moldova) and the Western Balkans Summit coming tomorrow, @milanninberlin.bsky.social was indeed correct that it's crunch time for enlargement. Listen to our latest podcast below 👇 www.ft.com/content/c78f...

Just in: Peter Magyar says a deal with Ukraine on minority rights could be reached "as soon as this week", paving the way to lift the veto on Kyiv's accession. The IGC on the first cluster could take place on 15 June after the FAC meeting in Luxembourg. Things are definitely moving!

“I think this is crunch time on #enlargement. So what is realistic? We will see after the June European Council,” @milanninberlin.bsky.social told @zecsaky.bsky.social in the latest #CERpodcast, listen here:

I spoke to Milan Nic @milanninberlin.bsky.social about where things are going (but also, not going) on enlargement and how to make sense of the recent flurry of ideas on associate membership, veto rights, etc. It turned out to be a more optimistic conversation than I expected! Tune in below 👇

🇵🇱⚖️Polish rule of law crisis latest - in a letter to ECtHR wrt to the case of four limbo-judges, the Polish Constitutional Tribunal invents a novelty in international law - a retroactive reservation to the European Convention on Human Rights. Weird that we've never seen it for 30 years.