The European Values Center for Security Policy (EVC) has launched a new program dedicated to monitoring and analyzing hybrid threats, foreign influence, and strategic communications in Hungary and Slovakia. Within the program, with the base of operations in Prague, the European Values Center already publishes a bi-weekly newsletter “Orbán Watch Briefing”, which provides insights into the latest developments in Hungary.
Victor Breiner, a specialist in international security, has been appointed as senior analyst of the Central European Program in Bratislava. Breiner brings over 14 years of experience in international media, non-profit organizations, and government. He holds two Master’s degrees in International Security and German Language. For a decade, he worked on analyzing and mitigating malign foreign influence, founding and heading the Infosecurity.sk portal and the Disinfo Report podcast. He worked as advisor and later director at the Slovak Ministry of Defense focusing on creating public policies and strategic documents related to mitigating hybrid threats, such as the Action Plan for Coordinated Countering of Hybrid Threats 2022-2024.
“The Central European Program will focus on monitoring and analyzing hybrid threats, foreign influence, and strategic communications in Hungary and Slovakia, and will provide insights to policymakers and the wider public,” said Victor Breiner. “We aim to be a reliable source of information and analysis for those interested in the region.”
In the long term, the European Values Center for Security Policy plans to establish and extend its presence in Slovakia, a country heavily impacted by disinformation campaigns and foreign influence.
“The malign influence of the Orbán regime on its neighbors is a real concern for us,” said Jakub Janda, the Director of the European Values Centre for Security Policy. “We are launching this program to provide policymakers and civil society with reliable and timely analysis of the situation in Hungary and Slovakia. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that people of this region can make informed decisions and are not manipulated by malign actors,” claims Andrea Michalcová, Deputy Director and Head of the Central European Program.
The launch of the Central European Program is founded on the conviction that cultivating stronger connections and promoting the exchange of knowledge between the Czech Republic and Slovakia will prove advantageous for both nations who uphold the rule of law, human rights and promote security. It is supported by individual donors and analysts will publish regular briefs and reports with a focus on the situation in Hungary and Slovakia. The program will also organize events and roundtables to facilitate discussions among experts, policymakers, and civil society representatives.
To stay updated on the latest developments in the region, subscribe to the “Orbán Watch Briefing” newsletter on the link below.
For further information, please contact:
Andrea Michalcová
Deputy Director and Head of the Central European Program
European Values Centre for Security Policy
andrea.michalcova(at)europeanvalues.cz
