New Publication: Responding to Crises in Europe

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How can Europe respond to war, hybrid threats, democratic erosion and growing geopolitical uncertainty? These questions are at the centre of the newly published volume Responding to Crises in Europe, edited by Lucie Tungul and published by the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies, Campus Tivoli, Institute of European Right and TOPAZ.  

Among the contributors is IDM Director Sebastian Schäffer. In his chapter, Containing Russia: International Cooperation, Enlargement and Europe’s Strategic Autonomy, Schäffer argues that European security can no longer be understood solely in military terms. Instead, containing Russian aggression requires sustained international cooperation linking sanctions, defence cooperation, democratic resilience, digital sovereignty and EU enlargement.  

The volume brings together leading experts from across Europe on topics including hybrid warfare, democratic resilience, total defence, neutrality and European strategic autonomy. Contributions examine the long-term implications of Russia’s war against Ukraine and the broader challenges facing Europe’s security architecture.  

The publication is available in Czech here: 

Responding to Crises in Europe 

Peter Techets Vortrag über Ungarn als Laboratorium der illiberalen Demokratie im Amt für Archiventropie

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Im Rahmen der künstlerischen Performance „Turul-Manövers“, bei der sich zwei Künstler mit dem Nachlass des ehemaligen ungarischen Kulturpolitikers Kúnó von Klebelsberg auseinandersetzen, hielt Péter Techet am 6. Mai im Amt für Archiventropie in Wien einen Abendvortrag über die aktuelle politische Situation in Ungarn nach der Wahl im April. Dabei stellte er die These auf, Ungarn könne als Laboratorium gesamteuropäischer Entwicklungen verstanden werden – wegen der legalen Einführung und dann der friedlichen Abwahl der „illiberalen Demokratie“.

 

IDM Co-Organises Kyiv Conference on Private Law and EU Integration

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The Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM) co-organised the International Research and Practice Conference “The Transformation of Private Law in the Context of EU Integration: Challenges and Perspectives”. IDM Director Sebastian Schäffer delivered opening remarks at the event, which took place on 5 May 2026 in Kyiv. 

The conference was organised by the Private Law Department of the Law Institute at Kyiv National Economic University named after Vadym Hetman, with IDM as co-organiser. 

Schäffer joined virtually and expressed regret at not being able to attend in person despite his recent visit to Kyiv. He highlighted Ukraine’s impressive achievements in EU integration despite ongoing wartime conditions, including the granting of candidate status in June 2022, the opening of accession negotiations in June 2024, and progress under the €50 billion Ukraine Facility programme. 

Key Challenges Ahead 

In his remarks, Schäffer outlined critical challenges remaining on Ukraine’s EU path. These include deeper political reforms, sustained anti-corruption efforts, and the eventual renewal of electoral processes once conditionsallow. He emphasised that private law reforms, covering contracts, property rights, inheritance, and family law, form essential foundations for trust, investment, and post-war recovery. 

Schäffer also addressed the need to prepare EU member state societies for enlargement. He noted significant public scepticism in countries like Austria, driven by concerns over institutional capacity, economic impacts, and EU budget distribution. “Ukraine in the EU is not charity. It is strategy”, he stated, calling for honest public dialogue across Europe on the geopolitical stakes involved. 

Strong Institutional Ties 

The IDM Director would like to thank Tetiana Druzhchenko for the invitation and praised the excellent cooperation with the Research Service of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. He expressed commitment to deepening this partnership through future joint events and exchanges. Special appreciation went to Arina Fisher for interpretation during the virtual address. 

The conference brought together legal scholars, practitioners, and students to discuss harmonising Ukrainian private law with EU standards, covering topics from martial law adaptations to environmental codification and family law reforms. It underscored the IDM’s ongoing role in fostering Danube region and Central European cooperation on EU enlargement. 

More information (in Ukrainian): https://jf.kneu.edu.ua/ua/depts5/jf_kcivil/jf_kcivil_news/jf_private_05.05.26/ 

Joint Seminar of the West Balkan Scholarship Programme at IDM

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The Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe hosted a closed-door exchange with administrative staff from the parliaments of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia, who are fellows of the Western Balkans Fellowship Programme of the Austrian Parliament. The programme is carried out in cooperation with the European Fund for the Balkans and gives participants the opportunity to engage with a range of governmental and non-governmental institutions in Austria and beyond. 

As part of this exchange, the fellows and their colleagues from the Austrian Parliament visited the IDM to learn more about our work and our perspective on the region. The IDM was represented by Director Sebastian Schäffer, Research Associate Péter Techet and Research Assistant Elena Marko. 

The visit began with an introduction to the IDM and our “5 Ps” framework, which guided a discussion on the region, EU enlargement, the accession process and other topics of shared interest. It was a valuable opportunity to exchange views with professionals who work at the heart of parliamentary administration and decision-making in their respective countries. 

We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this programme and to continue building dialogue with partners from across the Western Balkans. These exchanges are an important part of our work and reflect the IDM’s commitment to fostering informed discussion on regional cooperation and European integration. 

IDM Melange with Juliane Huth

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In the latest IDM Melange, we were joined by Juliane Huth, the lead of the “Water Security and Coastal Systems” team at the German Aerospace Center (Deutschen Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt – DLR). Huth’s work sits at the critical intersection of satellite-based Earth observation and climate resilience, where she utilizes remote sensing data to monitor the shifting dynamics of global water cycles. During the discussion, she provided insight into how high-resolution spatial data can be leveraged to address the growing challenges of water scarcity and the management of fragile coastal ecosystems, which are increasingly under threat from rising sea levels and anthropogenic pressures. 

By connecting space-borne technology with on-the-ground ecological needs, our guest underscored that the path toward a sustainable transition in the Danube region and beyond relies heavily on our ability to monitor and protect the planet’s vital natural resources from a global perspective. 

Sebastian Schäffer on Ukraine, Oil, and the Strait of Hormuz — Interview with Qnews

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IDM Director Sebastian Schäffer spoke with Cairo-based Qnews’ programme In Focus on the geopolitical dynamics surrounding Ukraine’s strikes on Russian oil infrastructure, Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and the US “Operation Freedom” initiative, joining the programme from Vienna shortly after returning from a visit to Ukraine. 

Schäffer cautioned against reading Ukraine’s targeting of Baltic Sea oil ports as a direct reaction to events in the Gulf. The strategy, he argued, predates the Hormuz closure and is driven by a consistent logic: disrupting the revenue flows that sustain Russia’s war effort. With oil prices rising sharply following the closure, the stakes of that strategy have only grown. And the root cause, Schäffer stressed, remains clear: had Russia not invaded Ukraine, none of this would be happening. 

On the US response, Schäffer expressed scepticism toward the humanitarian framing of “Operation Freedom,” pointing to a broader pattern in which the Trump administration generatesinstability before positioning itself as the solution. He noted that Tehran’s wariness of the growing US military presence in the region is, in that context, geopolitically understandable. 

▶ Watch the full interview: https://youtu.be/jbQDp0zqtwU 

21st DRC (Danube Rectors’ Conference) Summer School: Imagining Europe’s Future

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DRC SUMMER SCHOOL ON REGIONAL COOPERATION

EU36: Imagining Europe’s Future

 

26 July – 1 August 2026

Regensburg, Germany

An intensive one-week programme for students and researchers 

What will Europe look like in 2036? What could a European Union of 36 member states mean for its political, economic, and societal future? The summer school EU36 invites participants to explore these questions from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Whether understood as a forward-looking vision of the European Union in ten years’ time or as a scenario of an enlarged Union, EU36 serves as a framework to critically examine transformation processes within and beyond Europe. Participants will engage with key challenges and opportunities shaping the EU’s future – ranging from geopolitical shifts and economic restructuring to social cohesion, migration and democratic governance.

By bringing together students, researchers, and practitioners from diverse backgrounds, the summer school fosters dialogue across disciplines and encourages innovative thinking about Europe’s role in a rapidly changing global landscape. Through lectures, workshops, and interactive discussions, participants will analyse current developments, present their own research and develop ideas for the future of the EU.

DETAILS OF THE SUMMER SCHOOL 2026

We are looking for young researchers with a scientific background and/or a strong interest in deepening their knowledge of developments in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe!

  • Date: 26 July – 1 August 2026
  • Application deadline: 31 May 2026
  • Target group: BA, MA, PhD level students and scientists
  • Registration fee: none
  • Accommodation: provided and covered by the organisers (if needed)
  • Travel: covered by the organisers up to 200 €
  • Language of instruction: English
  • Course location: Regensburg
  • Organisers: Danube Rectors’ Conference (DRC), Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM), OTH Regensburg
  • Publication: possibility of contributing to one of the IDM’s publications e.g. policy paper or study

TOPICS

1.  Geopolitics and International Relations: This strand explores the European Union’s role in an increasingly contested global order. It looks at enlargement and neighbourhood policy as key strategic tools, alongside the EU’s relationships with major global actors such as the United States and China. Questions of security, defence cooperation, and the pursuit of strategic autonomy will be central, particularly in light of ongoing geopolitical tensions and shifting alliances.

2. Economy and Transformation: This theme prioritizes the green transition as a driver of the EU’s future competitiveness and resilience. It explores how climate-neutral growth, supported by the Single Market and digital innovation, can strengthen the EU’s economic position, while addressing inequalities and promoting convergence across member states, especially in an enlarged Union.

3. Migration and Demography: This strand addresses one of the EU’s most debated and politically sensitive areas. It will explore migration governance, asylum systems, and border management, as well as broader demographic trends such as ageing populations and labour shortages. Discussions will also consider how mobility and migration intersect with questions of social inclusion and integration across European societies.

4. Democracy and Desinformation:  This theme connects the EU’s institutional framework – governance, decision making, and rule of law – with the lived reality of democracy at citizen level. It explores participation, polarisation, and the influence of disinformation, and how these dynamics affect trust, cohesion, and democratic resilience in an expanding Union.

Please note that participants will have the opportunity to present their own research. Applicants’ research topics should align with the themes outlined above. The programme, including lectures and workshops by Regensburg-based and international professors as well as a cultural programme, will be published in the coming weeks.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Please send the following documents to info@drc-danube.org by 31 May 2026, at the latest:

  1. Answer the following questions:
    Description of research subject/interest (100 words)
    Would you like to present your research during the DRC Summer School? (yes or no)
    What is your motivation to attend the DRC Summer School? (120 words)
  2. Your CV (maximum 2 pages)

Please send all above-mentioned documents as one file, the only accepted format is PDF with a maximum file size of 3 MB for all documents.

Selected participants will be informed latest by 15 June 2026.

ORGANISERS

SPONSORS

Peter Techet on STVR Patria Radio about the possibilities and dangers of a new supermajority in Hungary

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In an interview with the Hungarian-language program of Slovak Radio, Peter Techet spoke about what Péter Magyar can do with his new supermajority—and what he should do if he truly wants to restore liberal democracy.

The interview can be listened to here: A Tisza kormány önmagában hordozza a lehetőséget és veszélyt is régi rendszer elszámoltatásra vagy újraéledésére – Pátria Rádió

Peter Techet im Die Presse Podcast über Péter Magyars Pläne und Viktor Orbáns Zukunft

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Im Podcast „Was wichtig ist“ der Tageszeitung Die Presse sprach Peter Techet über die Aussichten nach den ungarischen Wahlen, über Péter Magyars Pläne für die Medien und den Umbau der Verfassungsordnung sowie über erste Namen für Ministerposten. Außerdem ging es auch um die politische Zukunft von Viktor Orbán in Ungarn.

Der Podcast kann hier nachgehört werden: https://www.diepresse.com/20790177/wie-peter-magyar-ungarn-umbaut-manche-wuenschen-sich-orban-in 

Peter Techet für Neue Zürcher Zeitung über Ungarn nach Viktor Orbán

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Die Neue Zürcher Zeitung führte ein ausführliches Interview mit Peter Techet zur Lage in Ungarn nach den Parlamentswahlen. Dabei wurde unter anderem diskutiert, warum Orbán die Wahlen verloren hat bzw. wie Péter Magyar die Institutionen umbauen sollte, um das Orbán-Regime endgültig abzulösen.

Das Interview kann hier gelesen werden: https://www.nzz.ch/pro/viktor-orban-ist-doch-kein-diktator-ld.1934233