Körber Network Foreign Policy in Budapest

Photo: Körber-Stiftung

Field Trip to Hungary and Slovakia

29 September to 5 October 2019

During the Field Trip 2019, the Körber Network Foreign Policy visited Hungary and Slovakia. In regard to Körber-Stiftung’s focus topic “The Value of Europe” the aim of this journey was to learn more about our European neighbours and to understand current political and ideological cleavages in debates among members of the European Union.

The first stop of our journey was Budapest where the members of the Körber Network Foreign Policy met with Hungarian politicians, such as Dr. Csaba Hende, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Judit Varga, Minister of Justice, Dr. Gergely Gulyás, Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office, and Miklos Hajnal, Spokesman of the opposition party Momentum. At the meetings they discussed domestic and international politics, economical aspects, as well as Hungary’s relations with the EU, and its understandings of democracy and the rule of law.

Additionally, the group met with representatives from academia, media and civil society. With Professor Michael Ignatieff, President and Dean of the Central European University, Dr. Márta Pardavi, Co-Chair of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee and journalist Márton Gergely, they spoke about the repercussions of shutting down important academia centres and the role of media and civil society.

The participants continued their trip upwards the Danube River to Bratislava. In meetings with the Deputy Slovak Plenipotentiary for Romani Communities, with Peter Bátor, Head of Security Policy Division of the President, and Peter Bárdy, Editor-in-Chief of “Aktuality.sk”, topics such as the political and economic development of Slovakia, the 2020 parliamentary elections, minority politics, its relations with the European Union, and the murder of the journalist Ján Kuciak were discussed.

The programme concluded with a last stop in Vienna, where the group talked to Professor Paul Lendvai, publicist and author.

From Budapest the group travelled to Szeged, the third-largest city of Hungary, and at that time the only major city with a mayor from an opposition party to Fidesz. Discussions with members of the local government provided interesting perspectives of the political opposition’s work.

The trip also included a visit of the Szeged Synagogue, the fourth largest synagogue in the world.

  • Members of the Körber Network Foreign Policy on the Value of Europe
    Members of the Körber Network Foreign Policy on the Value of Europe Photo: Körber-Stiftung
  • Discussion with Dr. Csaba Hende, Deputy Speaker, Hungarian National Assembly
    Discussion with Dr. Csaba Hende, Deputy Speaker, Hungarian National Assembly Photo: Foto: Körber-Stiftung
  • Chamber of Hungarian Parliament Országgyűlés
    Chamber of Hungarian Parliament Országgyűlés Photo: Körber-Stiftung
  • Hungarian Parliament Building Országgyűlés
    Hungarian Parliament Building Országgyűlés Photo: Körber-Stiftung
  • Miklos Hajnal, Spokesman, Momentum
    Miklos Hajnal, Spokesman, Momentum Photo: Körber-Stiftung
  • Discussion with Ambassador Volkmar Wenzel, German Ambassador to Hungary
    Discussion with Ambassador Volkmar Wenzel, German Ambassador to Hungary Photo: Körber-Stiftung
  • Discussion with Judit Varga, Minister of Justice
    Discussion with Judit Varga, Minister of Justice Photo: Ministry of Justice Hungary/Márk Oláh
  • Discussion with Dr. Gergely Gulyás, Minister of the Prime Minister`s Office
    Discussion with Dr. Gergely Gulyás, Minister of the Prime Minister`s Office Photo: Körber-Stiftung
  • Discussion with Prof. Michael Ignatieff, President and Rector, Central European University
    Discussion with Prof. Michael Ignatieff, President and Rector, Central European University Photo: Körber-Stiftung
  • Köber Foreign Policy Network
    Köber Foreign Policy Network Photo: Körber-Stiftung
  • Szeged Synagogue
    Szeged Synagogue Photo: Körber-Stiftung
  • Szeged Synagogue
    Szeged Synagogue Photo: Körber-Stiftung
  • Bratislava Castle
    Bratislava Castle Photo: Körber-Stiftung
  • Meeting with representatives of GLOBSEC
    Meeting with representatives of GLOBSEC Photo: Körber-Stiftung
  • Discussion with  Prof. Paul Lendvai
    Discussion with Prof. Paul Lendvai Photo: Körber-Stiftung

Previous Field Trips

Since 2005, over 15 Field Trips of the Körber Network Foreign Policy have taken place in more than 20 countries.

  • Field Trip to Morocco, 2023
    Field Trip to Morocco, 2023 Photo: Körber-Stiftung
  • Mini Field Trip to Rostock and Kiel, 2022
    Mini Field Trip to Rostock and Kiel, 2022 Mini Field Trip to Rostock and Kiel, 2022
  • Field Trip to North Macedonia and Albania, 2022
    Field Trip to North Macedonia and Albania, 2022 Photo: Körber-Stiftung
  • Field Trip to Hungary and Slovakia, 2019
    Field Trip to Hungary and Slovakia, 2019 Photo: Körber-Stiftung
  • Field Trip to Ukraine and Belarus, 2018
    Field Trip to Ukraine and Belarus, 2018 Photo: Körber-Stiftung
  • Mini Field Trip to Szczecin, 2018
    Mini Field Trip to Szczecin, 2018 Photo: Körber-Stiftung
  • Field Trip to Iran, 2017
    Field Trip to Iran, 2017 Photo: Körber-Stiftung
  • Field Trip to Korea, 2016
    Field Trip to Korea, 2016 Photo: Körber-Stiftung
  • Field Trip to Israel and the Palestinian Territories, 2015
    Field Trip to Israel and the Palestinian Territories, 2015 Photo: Körber-Stiftung
  • Field Trip to China, 2013
    Field Trip to China, 2013 Photo: Körber-Stiftung
  • Field Trip to Turkey, 2012
    Field Trip to Turkey, 2012 Photo: Körber-Stiftung
  • Mini Field Trip to Lüneburg, 2012
    Mini Field Trip to Lüneburg, 2012 Photo: Körber-Stiftung
  • Field Trip to Saudi Arabia, 2011
    Field Trip to Saudi Arabia, 2011 Photo: Körber-Stiftung
  • Field Trip to Warsaw, 2011
    Field Trip to Warsaw, 2011 Photo: Körber-Stiftung
  • Field Trip to Kazakhstan, 2010
    Field Trip to Kazakhstan, 2010 Photo: Körber-Stiftung
  • Field Trip to Syria and Lebanon, 2009
    Field Trip to Syria and Lebanon, 2009 Photo: Körber-Stiftung
  • Field Trip to Ukraine, 2008
    Field Trip to Ukraine, 2008 Photo: Körber-Stiftung
  • Field Trip to Iran, 2007
    Field Trip to Iran, 2007 Photo: Körber-Stiftung
  • Mini Field Trip to Kiel, 2007
    Mini Field Trip to Kiel, 2007 Photo: Körber-Stiftung
  • Field Trip to Georgia, 2006
    Field Trip to Georgia, 2006 Photo: Körber-Stiftung
  • Field Trip to Pristina/Prizren/Belgrade, 2005
    Field Trip to Pristina/Prizren/Belgrade, 2005 Photo: Körber-Stiftung