The V4+ Energy Summit held in Budapest on 24-26 February ended in a joint declaration signed by the V4 plus Austria, Slovenia, Romania, Bulgaria, and the perspective member state Croatia (along with Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina). If these countries show such unity as they had in the March 2009 economic crisis summit, it can put a great empire back on the power equation of Europe. The former Habsburg Empire had stretched over (most of the current territories) of these countries. The combined voting or market power of this 8 + 1 member states could hardly be excluded from any EU deal - theoretically. What political and economic forces can help and undermine this new regional block within the EU?

The more similarities we find in economic performance or structure, or in economic decision, the more likely that the group will share common interests, and it makes more economic and political sense to act as a group against other countries. However, if one or two EU member states are more similar to their other neighbors, they will have a motivation to undermine the V4 group.

About a thousand supporters of the far-right Jobbik party have participated in a peaceful march on the 90th anniversary of Horthy’s takeover in Hungary. Hungary has no real historical anti-Nazi and anti-Communist hero. That gives a little credit to the old man who had successfully beaten a Soviet uprising 90 years ago. However, it would be very unwise to believe that Hungary is developing a cult for Horthy or his regime. He is one of the most tragic and least successful Hungarian leaders whose regime casts a long shadow over Hungarians in other Central European countries.

Now that Poland and the Czech Republic had their turns in bringing Central European surrealism into the EU, it is Hungary’s turn with naming the oddest Commissioner-in-waiting. Mr Andor’s my prove to become a surprising talent but his past makes him the least likely member of Europe’s (kind of)government, the European Commission.I still hope that Mr Andor will be stage a better act within the Commissioner than Mr Klaus among the heads of states. His nomination is just yet another sign of contingency within the transition elites in Central Europe.

Hungary has joined the EU in 2004 after a referendum with overwhelming support. Five years on, accession would get a 74:26 majority a referendum if it was asked again

If Mr Habsburg joins ECRG, it will add another explosive dimension to the Cameron-Kaczynski-Klaus trio’s strange group. Mr Habsburg’s father, Otto von Habsburg had been a Bavarian Christian Socialist MEP between 1979 and 1999, and also the last heir of the Austrian, Czech, Croat and Hungarian thrones (At those times, the last one entitled them to whole Slovakia and part of today’s Romania and Serbia, the first one to Slovenia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, too). The younger Habsburg holds the passports of the latter two countries besides a German one, although he is barred by republican Austrian and Hungarian laws to use his archduke title in these countries.

What connects Kaczynski, Klaus and Cameron? The new European Conservatives and Reformists Group connects a lot of Central- and Eastern European small parties with the British Tories.

Hungary on photographs without all rights reserved. Although Hungary has no Pirate Party, you can have less restrictive copyright in this jurisdiction, too.

The Hungarian EP elections resutls are very surprising. The country has turned to the right in an unprecedented manner.

Central Europe seems to have escaped from an economic meltdown. However, a bigger problem may be the fear among political elites, some of whom will stick at nothing to stay in power and out of jail, and who treat Mr Berlusconi as their role model and political ally.