Europe, Central Europe and Hungary: 2014, a Year of Anniversaries

Abstract

2014 can be considered a year of anniversaries. These include five key events that have shaped the historical and contemporary face of modern Europe: 100 years since the start of the First World War; 70 years since the Holocaust; 25 years since the collapse of Communism in Central Europe; 15 years since the accession of the first Central European countries (Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland) to NATO; and, most recently, ten years since the accession of eight former communist bloc states to the European Union. 2014 offers many opportunities to reflect on how far Europe, and in particular Central Europe, has come during these years. Writing from the position of Hungary, but also acknowledging the wider Central European region, this commentary pays particular attention to the tenth anniversary of the EU's eastern enlargement and reflects on both the positive developments and the challenges for the European integration project that were raised during this time and which still lie ahead.

Notes

¹ Joining the EU on 1 May 2004 were Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.

² ‘The Programme of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, 1 January–30 June 2011. Strong Europe’, available at: http://www.eu2011.hu/files/bveu/documents/HU_PRES_STRONG_EUROPE_EN_3.pdf, accessed 7 February 2014.

³ The EU provides 55% of overseas development aid. See ‘The EU Contribution Towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)’, available at: http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/development/general_development_framework/r12533_en.htm, accessed 7 February 2014.