Zselyke Csaky
@zecsaky.bsky.social
Senior research fellow CER @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social. Mostly EU stuff, sprinkled with some democracy & Central Europe. Past lives Freedom House, EUI, Bloomberg.
Taking a look at EU enlargement reports, rule of law & democracy still remains an area where candidates are lagging. I made this chart last year to show how prepared each country is based on the reports' assessments... www.cer.eu/insights/enl...
November 4, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Taking a look at EU enlargement reports, rule of law & democracy still remains an area where candidates are lagging. I made this chart last year to show how prepared each country is based on the reports' assessments... www.cer.eu/insights/enl...
Some really good charts in the FT on Chinese investment in Europe. It seems to be hitting a wall but Hungary still stands out on.ft.com/4qhOu3d
October 20, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Some really good charts in the FT on Chinese investment in Europe. It seems to be hitting a wall but Hungary still stands out on.ft.com/4qhOu3d
Update: Massive crowds today at the (government-banned) 30th Budapest Pride. 🏳️🌈 The largest Pride according to the organizers, possibly among the largest protests in the past 15 years. Follow live: www.youtube.com/live/0u7-QHv...
June 28, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Update: Massive crowds today at the (government-banned) 30th Budapest Pride. 🏳️🌈 The largest Pride according to the organizers, possibly among the largest protests in the past 15 years. Follow live: www.youtube.com/live/0u7-QHv...
This preliminary survey has some already quantifiable impact & a lot of pointers on where help is needed most. 60% of organizations impacted by USG democracy programming cuts have received no other help since
June 27, 2025 at 8:08 AM
This preliminary survey has some already quantifiable impact & a lot of pointers on where help is needed most. 60% of organizations impacted by USG democracy programming cuts have received no other help since
With exponential AI takeup, newspapers are in trouble (again). But here is a suggestion from the always-excellent @erdelyip.bsky.social: focus on serving your niche instead of scale. Call me naive but I'd love a future that resembles parts of the early internet. www.funds4media.org/p/the-fractu...
June 26, 2025 at 9:53 AM
With exponential AI takeup, newspapers are in trouble (again). But here is a suggestion from the always-excellent @erdelyip.bsky.social: focus on serving your niche instead of scale. Call me naive but I'd love a future that resembles parts of the early internet. www.funds4media.org/p/the-fractu...
And Orban's response, cynically calling the Pride a "law enforcement" matter. It's also EUCO day today.
June 26, 2025 at 7:11 AM
And Orban's response, cynically calling the Pride a "law enforcement" matter. It's also EUCO day today.
The official response has arrived and as expected, Orban calls the AG opinion "shameful:"
June 6, 2025 at 3:14 PM
The official response has arrived and as expected, Orban calls the AG opinion "shameful:"
These are hilarious. I asked for their Brussels versions and got the same people but now they smile? (OK kind of for the journalist.)
June 6, 2025 at 3:06 PM
These are hilarious. I asked for their Brussels versions and got the same people but now they smile? (OK kind of for the journalist.)
On the obligations after joining the EU: Art 49 creates an obligation to maintain the protection of (Art 2) values AND to promote them.
June 5, 2025 at 12:55 PM
On the obligations after joining the EU: Art 49 creates an obligation to maintain the protection of (Art 2) values AND to promote them.
On constitutional identity: it pushes back against those that use the term to limit the reach of EU law, saying that national choices cannot disrespect the EU’s identity as “a constitutional democracy that respects human rights.”
June 5, 2025 at 12:55 PM
On constitutional identity: it pushes back against those that use the term to limit the reach of EU law, saying that national choices cannot disrespect the EU’s identity as “a constitutional democracy that respects human rights.”
Some additional interesting nuggets below.
On Art 2 violation: it references Art 7 and introduces a test, the *negation* of values enshrined, not the quantity or seriousness of breaches in question.
On Art 2 violation: it references Art 7 and introduces a test, the *negation* of values enshrined, not the quantity or seriousness of breaches in question.
June 5, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Some additional interesting nuggets below.
On Art 2 violation: it references Art 7 and introduces a test, the *negation* of values enshrined, not the quantity or seriousness of breaches in question.
On Art 2 violation: it references Art 7 and introduces a test, the *negation* of values enshrined, not the quantity or seriousness of breaches in question.
The AG opinion on Hungary's anti-LGBT+ law is out: it proposes that the ECJ agrees with the Commission on *all counts.* This would be massive: Hungary would be in violation of not just separate rights but Art 2, the founding values of the EU curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/...
June 5, 2025 at 8:30 AM
The AG opinion on Hungary's anti-LGBT+ law is out: it proposes that the ECJ agrees with the Commission on *all counts.* This would be massive: Hungary would be in violation of not just separate rights but Art 2, the founding values of the EU curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/...
Financial incentives coupled with conservative policies fail to make a lasting effect on fertility it seems. Cf. Hungary.
June 2, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Financial incentives coupled with conservative policies fail to make a lasting effect on fertility it seems. Cf. Hungary.
Very on point quote from @danielhegedus.bsky.social about the proverbial frog. Also read his excellent op ed on the draft "transparency law" & how it would challenge the primacy of EU law euobserver.com/rule-of-law/...
May 20, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Very on point quote from @danielhegedus.bsky.social about the proverbial frog. Also read his excellent op ed on the draft "transparency law" & how it would challenge the primacy of EU law euobserver.com/rule-of-law/...
Even more worrisome is the unexpectedly high percentage for the far right (15% +6%) & the fact that those votes could add up to a victory for Nawrocki. As @benstanley.eu warned us though, voters are not Lego blocks – and that’s what we learned in Romania, too.
May 19, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Even more worrisome is the unexpectedly high percentage for the far right (15% +6%) & the fact that those votes could add up to a victory for Nawrocki. As @benstanley.eu warned us though, voters are not Lego blocks – and that’s what we learned in Romania, too.
As pointed out earlier, Orban’s support for Simion backfired badly in the ethnic Hungarian community in Romania. (In my hometown, Targu Mures, Nicusor Dan got 79% while in my mum’s hometown Gheorgheni a whopping 92%.) TBD what this means for Orban’s support in Transylvania.
May 19, 2025 at 2:38 PM
As pointed out earlier, Orban’s support for Simion backfired badly in the ethnic Hungarian community in Romania. (In my hometown, Targu Mures, Nicusor Dan got 79% while in my mum’s hometown Gheorgheni a whopping 92%.) TBD what this means for Orban’s support in Transylvania.
Re the diaspora, Simion’s support held in the countries with the highest numbers (Italy, Germany, UK, Spain). But Moldova, the 5th most populous diaspora, delivered for Dan 88%.
May 19, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Re the diaspora, Simion’s support held in the countries with the highest numbers (Italy, Germany, UK, Spain). But Moldova, the 5th most populous diaspora, delivered for Dan 88%.
Better understanding (and reporting) of what's at stake in today's Politico playbook.
April 17, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Better understanding (and reporting) of what's at stake in today's Politico playbook.
From an EU angle, it's hard to see how banning the Pride and in general limiting rights in such a way would be in line with the Charter of Fundamental Rights. And that places all EU funds, including the already released amount at risk of suspension
April 15, 2025 at 7:39 AM
From an EU angle, it's hard to see how banning the Pride and in general limiting rights in such a way would be in line with the Charter of Fundamental Rights. And that places all EU funds, including the already released amount at risk of suspension
I find the reporting and conversation around the latest changes in Hungary frustrating. For one, there is a mixup of getting rid of unanimity and sanctioning Hungary for cracking down on rights & freedoms here. Art 7 is about the latter www.politico.eu/article/eu-c...
April 15, 2025 at 7:24 AM
I find the reporting and conversation around the latest changes in Hungary frustrating. For one, there is a mixup of getting rid of unanimity and sanctioning Hungary for cracking down on rights & freedoms here. Art 7 is about the latter www.politico.eu/article/eu-c...
Trump seems to have unleashed a vicious cycle. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
February 7, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Trump seems to have unleashed a vicious cycle. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Yes but in a sense, Orban is following the direction of events. As AfD's co-leader said, Musk is "normalizing" the party. www.nytimes.com/2025/01/13/w...
February 3, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Yes but in a sense, Orban is following the direction of events. As AfD's co-leader said, Musk is "normalizing" the party. www.nytimes.com/2025/01/13/w...
12/ To put it into context, the EU + European countries spend roughly $75B per year on development aid, of which around $4B is core democracy support. For details, read this excellent @europeandemocracyhub.epd.eu article and use the data tool europeandemocracyhub.epd.eu/unfolding-tr...
January 29, 2025 at 6:02 PM
12/ To put it into context, the EU + European countries spend roughly $75B per year on development aid, of which around $4B is core democracy support. For details, read this excellent @europeandemocracyhub.epd.eu article and use the data tool europeandemocracyhub.epd.eu/unfolding-tr...
11/ Now the question is, what can & will the EU and European member states do in reaction. One possibility is to wait it out. For now, the freeze is for 90 days. But democracy is v likely to join the list of programs permanently cut www.nytimes.com/2025/01/28/u...
January 29, 2025 at 6:01 PM
11/ Now the question is, what can & will the EU and European member states do in reaction. One possibility is to wait it out. For now, the freeze is for 90 days. But democracy is v likely to join the list of programs permanently cut www.nytimes.com/2025/01/28/u...
4/ Democracy aid is small in comparison but meaningful on the ground. USAID and other USG agencies have been funding programs on election integrity, civil society, independent media, judicial reform, human rights, and good governance in past years. crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/...
January 29, 2025 at 5:57 PM
4/ Democracy aid is small in comparison but meaningful on the ground. USAID and other USG agencies have been funding programs on election integrity, civil society, independent media, judicial reform, human rights, and good governance in past years. crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/...