iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Welcome to the IEP family, John! Thank you for joining us!

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Welcome to the IEP family, John! Thank you for joining us!

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Institut für Europäische Politik e.V. @iep-berlin.de · 17/09/2026

Shortly after the election 🗳️ in #SaxonyAnhalt, Lena Düpont, @danielhegedus.bsky.social, Eva Heidbreder and Miriam Hartlapp explore how institutions and societies can respond to #Euroscepticism, polarisation and growing pressure on European democracy at national and EU levels. #IEPCon2026

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

4/4 I look forward to this unique journey, and especially to learning from and alongside a remarkable cohort of Obama Leaders. I am deeply grateful to the many wonderful people whose trust, encouragement, and support helped make this opportunity possible. www.obama.org/programs/lea...

obama.org

Leaders Europe 2026-2027

Meet the Leaders Europe 2026-2027 cohort

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

3/4 I remain firmly convinced that Europe and North America are stronger together—and that an enduring partnership must rest on shared democratic values, mutual respect, active solidarity, and coordinated action in defence of the rules-based international order.

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

2/4 After eight years of transatlantic work, this milestone gives me renewed motivation and courage to connect democratic forces facing similar challenges on both sides of the Atlantic—and to facilitate mutual learning and cooperation.

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

There are moments in life when it is worth pausing to reflect. I feel deeply honored to have been selected as an Obama Leader and to join the 2026–2027 Leaders Europe cohort of the ObamaFoundation. Thread 1/4 @obamafoundation.bsky.social @iep-berlin.de @gmfus.bsky.social @ceudeminst.bsky.social

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

🇮🇸🇪🇺🇮🇸🇪🇺 More than a year ago, I wrote a short piece for @euobserver.com on why Nordic enlargement would make an essential contribution to Europe’s security and geopolitical weight. A small reading recommendation for the 🇮🇸 referendum weekend👇 euobserver.com/23047/why-it... @iep-berlin.de

euobserver.com

Why it’s time for Norway and Iceland to join EU

Iceland and Norway are deeply integrated into the EU’s internal market through the European Economic Area and the Schengen zone, yet formally outside the Union. Both have a history of EU candidacy. Bo...

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

🇮🇸🇪🇺🇮🇸🇪🇺 One of the most important democratic exercises of 2026 will take place this Saturday. It won’t be an election, but #Iceland’s referendum on resuming accession negotiations with the #EuropeanUnion. THREAD 1/8 iep-berlin.de/site/assets/...

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

8. Check out the analysis, follow the IEP Election Monitor—more goodies are coming—and keep your fingers crossed that Iceland chooses the EU. This is in our shared European interest. @iep-berlin.de

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

7. The great Icelandic political scientist Eirikur Bergmann explains the domestic state of play ahead of the referendum and the remaining open questions between Iceland and the EU in our latest IEP #ElectionMonitor analysis. 👉 iep-berlin.de/site/assets/... 👉 www.facebook.com/reel/1087694...

iep-berlin.de

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

6. It could also be a game changer for Greenland’s relationship with the EU and for U.S. aspirations towards 🇬🇱. Last but not least, it could create a geopolitical bridge for closer security and political cooperation between the EU and Canada.

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

5. Furthermore, Iceland’s accession could consolidate the EU’s geopolitical position in the Arctic and secure Europe a seat at the table of Arctic security alongside the United States, China, and Russia.

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

4. Iceland could become the first net contributor to join the bloc since 1995 and bring an entirely new perspective to the enlargement process.

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

3. A restart of the negotiations could convince sceptical capitals, including Paris and The Hague, that EU enlargement is not only about bringing net beneficiaries on board that rely on EU financial transfers, or about the continued shift of the EU’s geopolitical centre of gravity to the East.

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

2. While Iceland is considered a relatively small country—which is true only in terms of its population, but certainly not its territory—and the referendum is not receiving the attention it deserves, the geopolitical consequences of this decision could be far-reaching for the EU.

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

8. This is Chinese checkbook diplomacy directed at Europe's political class—at least as much an investment in future fellow travellers as in Péter Szijjártó himself, a man who appears to have little political future in Hungary.

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

7. In the same spirit, Szijjártó's hiring was not a corporate decision driven by business logic. It was a political message to the European political class that those who work hard to advance 🇨🇳 interests will not be left alone after leaving office, but rewarded with lucrative corporate positions.

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

6. Through it, the PRC demonstrated that, after the de facto collapse of the former 16+1 cooperation framework, it was prepared to generously reward its friends in the CEE region, among them the closest one, Hungary, which neither turned away from nor downgraded its relationship with China.

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

5. In the years that followed, he repeatedly blocked EU statements condemning China's human rights abuses in Xinjiang and Hong Kong. The flood of Chinese FDI into Hungary over the past years was the result of a geopolitical—not a business—decision made in Beijing.

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

4. In 2016, he was the only EU foreign minister to openly echo Beijing's position following the South China Sea arbitration ruling and became the main reason why the EU was unable to adopt a joint position in response to the arbitration ruling.

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

3. Szijjártó did not merely facilitate the unprecedented inflow of Chinese FDI into Hungary in recent years. Since the beginning of his tenure as foreign minister he consistently championed Chinese interests in the broadest sense.

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

2. On Szijjártó's appointment, I argued that what we are witnessing is not a typical revolving-door case, but rather a political message from Beijing to Europe's political leaders. www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPSg...

youtube.com

Hungary's power shift: What comes next? | Daniel Hegedüs

YouTube video by TALKING WITH TVP WORLD

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

🇨🇳🇹🇯 On Monday, I had the opportunity to discuss with @tvpworld.bsky.social's excellent Ashim Kumar the latest amendment to Hungary's Fundamental Law, the removal of President Sulyok, and former Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter #Szijjártó's appointment to #BYD's global management team. THREAD 1/8

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

2. The paper argues that Hungary's new Tisza government, while demonstrating a high degree of continuity with the previous Fidesz government's Ukraine policy, nevertheless offers a genuine opportunity to de-securitize this important neighbourhood relations.

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

🇺🇦🇭🇺 The second paper in our Hungary–Ukraine Reconciliation Initiative, authored by the excellent Sergiy Gerasimchuk and Illia Yurchyna, examines the securitization of Hungary–Ukraine relations and the corresponding elite discourse in both countries. www.gmfus.org/news/de-secu... @gmfus.bsky.social

gmfus.org

De-Securitizing the Hungary- Ukraine Agenda

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

🇺🇦🇭🇺 I am particularly pleased to share the first policy brief produced within the Hungary–Ukraine Reconciliation Initiative, authored by Tamás Csiki Varga, exploring pathways towards the disciplined normalization of Hungary–Ukraine relations in the security domain. www.gmfus.org/news/discipl...

gmfus.org

Disciplined Normalization

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

More papers will follow over the coming days—stay tuned. @gmfus.bsky.social

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

gmfus.org

Disciplined Normalization

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Jakub Jaraczewski @jakubjaraczewski.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

🇭🇺🇵🇱⚖️ @danielhegedus.bsky.social is right for FT here - the almost complete lack of constraints (maybe except for the 🇪🇺) on Magyar will require the exercise of huge self-restraint - as opposed to Tusk in Poland, who is so constrained that he needs all the wiggle room he can find.

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Katalin Halmai @eublogo.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

“Magyar’s authority is subject to few meaningful constraints beyond public opinion, his own popularity & perhaps the EU”, says @danielhegedus.bsky.social. “The success of 🇭🇺 re-democratisation will ultimately depend on the willingness of Tisza & Péter Magyar to exercise political self-restraint.”

ft.com

The Magyar revolution: Hungary’s new era

What will the dismantling of the Orbán machine lead to?

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Europe may be heading into its toughest #MFF negotiations yet. With joint borrowing politically unrealistic, extending the #RRF beyond 2026 and unlocking allocated but undrawn funds could provide the financial incentive needed to bridge divides and secure a deal. euobserver.com/226923/how-e...

euobserver.com

How extending Covid funds could be a key bargaining chip in EU budget fight

Extending the EU's recovery and resilience funds (RRF) would add flexibility to the 2028–2034 EU budget negotiations, raise the chances of agreement before year’s end, and preserve EU leverage over re...

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

euobserver.com

How extending Covid funds could be a key bargaining chip in EU budget fight

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Zsuzsanna Vegh @veghzsuzsanna.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

🗣️ Rethinking Hungary-Ukraine Relations June 30, 9am ET/16.00 CET Looking forward to discussing a possible reset w/ Tamás Csiki Varga, Serhiy Gerasymchuk, @danielhegedus.bsky.social & Balázs Tárnok under the Hungary-Ukraine Reconciliation Initiative of @gmfus.bsky.social ➡️ Register: t.ly/BhVCv

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

🇺🇦🇭🇺 Can Hungary and Ukraine turn a new page after years of strained relations? Join our experts from Budapest & Kyiv to discuss pathways for trust-building & deeper bilateral cooperation. 🗓 June 30 | 3:00 pm CET / 4:00 pm EET RSVP 👉 www.gmfus.org/event/rethin... @gmfus.bsky.social

gmfus.org

Rethinking Hungary-Ukraine Relations: A New Start for Reconciliation

Relations between Hungary and Ukraine have experienced a turbulent decade. They were subordinated to Hungary's ties to Russia, and affected by the Kremlin’s instrumentalization of the Orbán regime as ...

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

gmfus.org

Rethinking Hungary-Ukraine Relations: A New Start for Reconciliation

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

🇭🇺🇪🇺🇩🇪 Hungarian foreign and EU policy has become a subject of heightened interest as 🇭🇺 has jettisoned its role as the EU’s internal veto player on a range of strategic issues & begun reshaping itself as a constructive and trustworthy partner on the 🇪🇺 stage. THREAD 1/3 tinyurl.com/hungaryEU

tinyurl.com

What Hungary’s Regime Change Means for German EU- and Foreign Policy | IEP

The regime change in Hungary opens up new scope for action at European level. Progress in regional cooperation, the release of EU funds and enlargement policy are closely linked to the success of the ...

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

2/3 Looking beyond the headlines and lofty rhetoric, my paper examines the internal political logic of 🇭🇺 foreign policy through four policy areas where the most significant shifts are likely to occur: ▪️ Central European cooperation ▪️ Access to EU funds ▪️ Ukraine ▪️ The Western Balkans

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

tinyurl.com

What Hungary’s Regime Change Means for German EU- and Foreign Policy | IEP

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Zsuzsanna Vegh @veghzsuzsanna.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Civil society is often among the first targets of illiberal governments. In a new @gmfus.bsky.social Resilience podcast episode, I spoke with @danielhegedus.bsky.social about shrinking civic space in Central Europe, and lessons from Hungary and Slovakia. Listen here: t.ly/mZhUO

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

2/2 I am wholeheartedly grateful to my former GMF Engaging Central Europe (ECE) team for hosting me for this conversation! @gmfus.bsky.social @iep-berlin.de

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

In the GMF #ResiliencePodcastSeries, I had the pleasure of discussing with the great @veghzsuzsanna.bsky.social the tools that #illiberal governments have used—and continue to use—within the 🇪🇺 to shrink civic space and target civil society. Check out the conversation 👉 tinyurl.com/yay25rfh

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Stephan Stach @stachst.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

📢 𝗪𝗮𝘀 𝗸𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘁 𝗻𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗱𝗲𝗺 𝗣𝗼𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗺𝘂𝘀? Am 9. Juni diskutieren wir die Folgen des Hin und Her von Liberalen und Populisten für die Visegrád-Staaten mit @danielhegedus.bsky.social (@iep-berlin.de) Tanja Börzel (@freieuniversitaet.bsky.social) Kai-Olaf Lang (@swp-berlin.org) @libmod.de @scripts-berlin.eu

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