CEA Talk

In our podcast, Zoltán Levente Ember, CEO of Hungarian research Compass Institute delves into the pressing challenges facing Hungary’s energy sector. From the rapid expansion of solar power capacity to the political and financial risks foreign investors must navigate, the discussion uncovers the complexities of the country's energy landscape. Listeners will learn about Hungary’s efforts to become a leader in electromobility and battery manufacturing, while struggling with outdated grid infrastructure and rising energy demands. The conversation touches on the role of government incentives, such as the “utility reduction” policy, and the unpredictable nature of policy changes driven by Hungary's ongoing state of emergency. With the European Union's funds out of reach, the country’s future energy development hangs in the balance. Topics like the impact of the Robin Hood tax and MAVIR’s moratorium on solar connections add depth to the narrative. Zoltán highlights the difficulty for foreign investors to thrive under these conditions and points out the significant gap in wind power investment. Additionally, environmental and taxation concerns surrounding solar panels, along with legal challenges, create further uncertainty. As the podcast unfolds, the listener gains insight into both the opportunities and obstacles in Hungary’s renewable energy journey. The episode closes with a reflection on the urgent need for clearer energy policies and improved collaboration between stakeholders.

Prohibition has always looked appealing to lawmakers, and this has not changed in recent years. Moreover, we see more and more governments, both on the left and the right, that resort to bans and regulations. And not only governments but activists are also loud about protecting mankind from itself. In this edition of the CEA Talk podcast series, Zoltán Kész talks to Bill Wirtz, the Senior Policy Analyst from the Consumer Choice Center, who emphasizes that prohibition has never worked and it never will. He also introduces his Fun Police podcast which focuses on neo-prohibitionists. 

Do people in western countries understand Viktor Orbán? What are the differences and similarities between him and other politicians in Europe? CEA Talk is trying to find the answers with the help of Italian-Hungarian historian Stefano Bottoni, who has written extensively about Hungarian politics and the prime minister himself. 

Daniel Kaddik talks about the alternatives of fossil fuels for the next couple of decades. He mentions many challenges mainly focusing on Germany, where producing car is more than just sheer production, but also many other sectors are connected to it. Kaddik mentions the future of hydrogen and other alternative fuels, and talks enthusiastically how free market capitalism will solve transform petrol stations to being more service driven rather than only focusing on selling fuel. He also says that present-day cars will still be around until 2040, so there is ample time to see how the alternatives could be used and to what efficiency.

CEA Talk's guest was Emil Panzaru, Research Manager at the Consumer Choice Center. He has promoted consumer welfare as the standard for regulation in topics ranging from PFAS to agriculture. The European Union's Chemical Agency wants a world with zero risks. However, any hazard-based strategy is misguided and economically costly. And it will be Eastern European businesses and consumers that pay the cost of the Chemical Agency's missteps.

One of Finland’s most impressive diplomats in the last two decades has been Jari Vilén, an accomplished envoy who served in the Finnish Parliament and represented the National Coalition Party between 1999 to 2007. In August of that same year, Mr. Vilén was tapped as Finland’s Ambassador in Budapest, and by mid-February 2012, he was assumed as Ambassador to Warsaw, which he began later that fall. In 2014, Mr. Vilén was also appointed EU ambassador to the Council of Europe.

During a wide-ranging discussion as a guest on CEA Talk with István Teplán, Amb. Vilén addressed a litany of geopolitical topics in a most volatile time for the continent. In introducing his friend and colleague, Mr. Teplán reminded listeners that Jari Vilén currently has been serving as Ambassador to the Barents and the Northern Dimension in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Amb. Vilén “is very interested in Central Europe, and a great friend of Hungary,” observed Mr. Teplán, saying that the respected envoy has helped with “the democratization process of [Central European] countries for many years.”

In this episode of CEA Talk, our guest was Johannes de Jong, the director of the Sallux Foundation based in the Netherlands. Mr de Jong talks about the Christian democratic principles of Europe, how they are receding, and how crucial human dignity is for humanity. During the podcast, our guest talks about populist governments, autocratic regimes, and how the world has now been divided into two groups, countries where you have freedom and those where there is unfreedom.

In this edition of CEA Talks, Russia expert Dr András Rácz analyzes the gesture Orban is making to the Russian Federation by asking to have oligarchs removed from the EU sanction list. He also gives ample explanation to the tank situation regarding Germany.  As for the Russian aggression in Ukraine, he describes the present stalemate and talks about why Belarus will actively not join on Russia’s side. 
Dr András Rácz is Senior Research Fellow at German Council on Foreign Relations.

CEA Talks host Zoltán Kész interviews the ambassador of the Netherlands to Hungary, Désirée Bonis. The topics include the two countries’ business, cultural and historical connections, and some politics. Désirée talks about the NATO membership of Sweden and Finland and how she imagines the war ending. From the EU point of view, corruption is a big problem in Hungary, and populism is threatening democracy worldwide. But after all, the EU is still a unique society of liberty and freedom, which we should all be proud of. 

Agriculture is an issue which is viewed very differently depending on which European country you look at it from. Whether it is the subsidies or the methods, it seems like there is no real understanding among all the EU member states. In this edition of the CEA Talks podcast, host Zoltán Kész is joined by Bill Wirtz, senior policy analyst at the Consumer Choice Center.