Map of Power II. International ConferencePontszerző: 3 pont
Map of Power II
Europe in Transition
Alliances, Influence and the New Centres of Power
23 September 2026
Széchenyi Hall, Ludovika University of Public Service
08:00–09:00
Working Breakfast
By invitation only
A closed-door discussion bringing together senior policymakers, diplomats and experts ahead of the official opening of the conference.
09:00–09:30
Registration
09:30–09:45
Opening Remarks
Dr Gergely Deli
Rector, Ludovika University of Public Service
Liliana Śmiech
Director General for International Affairs, Ludovika University of Public Service
Dr Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi TBC
Minister of Defence, Hungary
09:45–10:15
Opening Keynote
Arthur Milikh TBC
Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, US Department of State
10:15–11:15
Panel I
America is Back? - How the United States is Reshaping Global Alliances?
The United States is once again reshaping the transatlantic relationship and the wider international balance of power. The discussion will examine what this means for Europe, NATO and the future of global alliances.
Speakers
Dr Tamás Magyarics
Former Ambassador of Hungary to Ireland
Dr Gábor Csizmazia
Senior Research Fellow, John Lukacs Institute, Ludovika University of Public Service
Anna Hardage TBC
Deputy Director, American Security, America First Policy Institute
Márton Hajdu TBC
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hungarian National Assembly
Amb. Réka Szemerkényi TBC
Director of International Affairs, Equilibrium Institute
Former Ambassador of Hungary to the United States of America
Moderator
Liliana Śmiech
Director General for International Affairs, Ludovika University of Public Service
11:15–11:45
Coffee Break
11:45–12:45
Panel II
Western Europe at a Crossroads
Western Europe faces growing pressure to reconcile competitiveness, strategic autonomy and economic security with rapid technological and geopolitical change. The panel will consider whether Europe has the political and economic tools needed to strengthen its global position.
Speakers
Gergely Prőhle
Programme Director, John Lukacs Institute for Strategy and Politics, Ludovika University of Public Service
Bruno Maçães
Former Secretary of State for European Affairs, Portugal
Guillaume Klossa
President, EuropaNova
Witold de Chevilly
Executive Director, New Direction
Moderator
Csaba Zalai
Professor of Practice, Ludovika University of Public Service
Former Deputy State Secretary for European Affairs
12:45–13:30
Networking Lunch
13:30–14:30
Panel III
From the Baltic to the Black Sea - Emerging Centres of European Influence
As defense spending across the Baltic–Black Sea axis reaches historic highs, the region is transitioning from NATO’s eastern flank into a primary driver of European security policy. This panel will examine how countries along this corridor are actively defining the continent's strategic posture; from building robust national deterrence and expanding defense-industrial capacity to leading regional intelligence sharing and hybrid threat response.
Speakers
Aleksandra Palkova
Senior Lecturer, Rīga Stradiņš University
Ambassador (Ret.) Gheorghe Magheru
Member of the Scientific Council, New Strategy Center
Dr András Rácz TBC
Deputy Director General for Research and Scientific Affairs, Hungarian Institute of International Affairs
Klára Breuer
State Secretary for Bilateral Relations, MFA (TBC)
Moderator
Dr Réka Zsuzsánna Máthé
Research Fellow, Europe Strategy Research Institute, Ludovika University of Public Service
14:30–15:00
Coffee Break
15:00–16:00
Next Generation Policy Forum
The session will present the three best essays submitted as part of the Map of Power II Student Essay Competition.
The selected students or teams will present the main arguments, conclusions and policy implications of their essays before a jury composed of academics and practitioners.
Following the presentations, members of the jury will provide feedback and discuss the ideas presented. The jury will then select the winning essay, which will be announced at the end of the session.
16:00–17:00
Closing Reception
Nemzetközi Főigazgatói Iroda / Directorate General for International Affairs