Robert Schuman Institute (Budapest)

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Prof. László Árva, a longtime speaker at the Young Leaders seminar and many other RSI programmes, whose connection with our Institute spanned more than two decades.

His dedication, knowledge and generosity in sharing his experience, as well as his light-hearted and humane approach left a lasting impression on our community. We will remember him with deep respect and gratitude for all he brought to RSI and for his contribution to the growth and development of generations of young leaders.

We extend our sincere condolences to László’s family, friends and everyone who knew him. His memory will remain with us always.

Laci, rest in peace.

🇱🇺 Wrapping up the WAVE - Move Christian Democracy Training! ✨

The first WAVE training, organised by RSI in partnership with the Eduardo Frei Foundation, brought together a day of reflection, practical exercises and exchange on Christian democracy and its role in public life.

What did participants explore?
🔸the role of conscience and the limits of government authority
🔸vocation in public life and the ethics of responsibility in policymaking
🔸how the WAVE framework can inform political and advocacy work

These themes continued over dinner with Françoise Kemp, MP and former General Secretary of Luxembourg’s Christian Social People’s Party (CSV), Mathias Steinmetz, International Secretary of CSV, and Tibor Jóna, former Vice-Chairman of the European Democrat Students and RSI alumnus. We are grateful to them for sharing their experience and expertise with the group.🤝

Together, they explored Christian democratic values within Luxembourg’s EPP sister party, the importance of community building and supporting those who strengthen communities, and how Christian democratic thought can respond to major changes in society.

📖 This also led to reflections on two encyclicals: Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum (1891), responding to the social challenges of industrialisation, and Pope Leo XIV’s Magnifica Humanitas (2026), addressing the human person and human dignity in the age of artificial intelligence.

By combining theoretical depth with interactive learning, WAVE gave participants space to deepen their understanding of Christian democracy, challenge ideas and build connections that can support their continued efforts towards a values-driven Europe.

🚀 The success of this first WAVE pilot sets the stage for future editions and supporting a new generation of leaders capable of reconciling the tensions at the heart of democratic governance.

💬 And the conversation doesn't have to end here. How can we approach AI and technological change while keeping human dignity and the common good at the centre? Read Magnifica Humanitas and share your thoughts below.

A special thank you to our trainer, Prof. Dr. Arjen Siegmann, for guiding participants throughout the training, and to the for their partnership. 🤝

⏰📣 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥: 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲! 🇺🇦

Are you ready to contribute to Ukraine’s sustainable recovery while strengthening your skills in governance, policymaking, and local and regional development? There’s still time to apply for the Sustainable and Innovative Recovery of Ukraine 2026 programme!

The Robert Schuman Institute, in cooperation with the Christian Democratic International Center - KIC, invites local and regional leaders, public administration professionals, and civil society representatives from Ukraine to join this learning and exchange opportunity.

📅 Programme includes:
🖥️ 26 August 2026 - Online Preparatory Session
📍 7-8 September 2026 - Module 1: Transparency, Inclusivity & International Collaboration (Hungary)
📍 12-13 October 2026 -Module 2: Policymaking, Economic Development & Sustainability (Hungary)
📍 14-15 October 2026 -Module 3: Project Development & Stakeholder Engagement (Hungary)
🇭🇷 26-31 October 2026 - Study Visit to Croatia (Vukovar, Osijek, Zagreb & Šibenik)

💡 Participants will gain hands-on experience in project development, evidence-based policymaking, transparent governance, sustainable development, and international cooperation through expert-led training and peer learning.

📌 How to apply:
👉 Application form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf9NJtTn7XPEZW9U7NJViGVfZR2totz3AGO3iMVlTIck0a5-g/viewform
👉 Detailed information:https://schuman-institute.eu/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/call-for-Sustainable-and-Innovative-Recovery-of-Ukraine-Programme.pdf

⏰ DEADLINE: TODAY, 17 August 2026, 23:59 CET
📩 Questions? Contact: [email protected], [email protected]

👉 Don’t miss your final chance to apply and be part of this programme!

🗣️ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 - 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐧𝐢?✨

They bring their experiences with them, challenge ideas, exchange perspectives and turn political thinking into practical solutions.🇱🇺🤝

Our Young Leaders Seminar alumni reunited in Luxembourg for the first 𝐖𝐀𝐕𝐄 - 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 - a new RSI programme in partnership with the Eduardo Frei Foundation combining political reflection, debate and hands-on learning.

The programme opened with a discussion led by Prof. Dr. Arjen Siegmann on the meaning of Christian democracy and its main values today, drawing on readings participants had explored before the training.

👉 Then it was time to put ideas into practice:

🔹 Participants pitched a political issue from their own country or region in two minutes, creating a starting point for applying the WAVE model: Worldview, Authority, Vocation and Effect.

🔹 They explored the deeper dimensions behind these issues, analysing them through the different elements of the WAVE model and looking at the values, ideas and assumptions shaping political challenges.

🔹 Working in groups, they developed possible solutions and presented their findings, putting critical thinking, and skills into practice.

🔹 Feedback and brainstorming helped them challenge their ideas further, reflect on their learning and consider different approaches to political questions.

📍A guided visit to Maison Schuman with Prof. Marco Gabellini and Guido Lessing, historians at the University of Luxembourg, connected the discussions with Luxembourg’s place in European history. 🇪🇺

✨ WAVE training was more than a reunion. It gave alumni the opportunity to question, analyse, present and learn from one another - while building on the knowledge and connections gained through the Young Leaders Seminar.

The training wrapped up with RSI Director Gábor Berczeli congratulating participants on their active engagement, followed by a certificate ceremony celebrating their commitment to continued learning.

⭐️ A big thank you to the for making this first WAVE training possible and for its continued partnership with RSI, and to all the speakers and trainers who shared their knowledge, experience and perspectives throughout the programme.

Happy International Youth Day! ✨

At the Robert Schuman Institute, we believe that empowering the next generation starts with political education. Through our programmes, we create opportunities for young people to develop the knowledge and skills to take an active role in politics and contribute to shaping the future of Europe and beyond.

Today, we celebrate the young people who take part in our programmes and the achievements they go on to pursue in their communities and countries. We are proud to see their ideas, commitment and leadership grow, and grateful for the cooperation that makes this possible. Working alongside our members and partners, including the Youth of the European People’s Party YEPP and European Democrat Students, we continue to create spaces for young people to learn, exchange ideas and build connections across borders. 🇪🇺

Your voice matters, and young people should be meaningfully involved in the decisions that shape our societies and our shared future. 🗣️

📢 We are delighted to share some great news!

The Europe Now Movement Pokret Evropa sad from Montenegro has been unanimously elected as the newest member of the Association of the Robert Schuman Institute. 🤝

We are happy to welcome the Europe Now Movement and look forward to strengthening our cooperation. 🇲🇪🇪🇺

🇭🇺🤝 We welcomed our new President, Reinhold Lopatka, at the Budapest office, as he took the time to meet the team behind our work.

💬 Beyond discussing ongoing projects and future priorities, the visit was about something equally important: getting to know one another.

Strong institutions are built not only on ideas and strategy, but also on trust, open conversations, and personal connections. These moments create the foundation for effective teamwork in the years ahead.

📍 During his stay in Budapest, President Lopatka was also welcomed by the 🇦🇹 Austrian Ambassador, Astrid Harz, for an informal dinner with representatives of Hungary’s new government.

The evening offered an opportunity to exchange views on the changing political landscape, the future of Christian democracy in Central Europe and across the continent, and the role the Robert Schuman Institute can play in supporting the next generation of political leaders, as well as more resilient societies.

🇪🇺 As the Institute prepares to take an even more active role in the European People’s Party’s strategic development initiatives, we look forward to this new chapter under President Lopatka’s leadership and to continuing our mission of strengthening political leadership, dialogue, and cooperation across Europe.

📣 Calling all RSI Alumni and Friends!

🇩🇪 Join the Berlin Campaign Conference 2026 in Berlin on 3–4 September!

For the third consecutive year, the Robert Schuman Institute is proud to partner with this unique international gathering of center-right campaign professionals, communicators, political and party leaders, think tank representatives, and opinion leaders from across Western democracies and beyond. 🤝

At a time of profound political and societal transformation, the Berlin Campaign Conference offers a platform to exchange ideas, build meaningful connections, and explore the future of center-right campaigning. 👇

🎤 Discuss the strategic outlook for the center-right in a changing political landscape.
💻 Explore the growing impact of digital campaigning, artificial intelligence, and political communication.
🌍 Connect with leading campaign professionals and expand your international network.
💡 Gain insights into both the enduring principles and emerging innovations shaping successful campaigns.
✨ RSI alumni and friends can enjoy an exclusive 20% discount on conference tickets! Message us for your special discount code.

⏰ Early Bird tickets are available until 31 July 2026. Later on, the full-price ticket will also have a discount.
🎟️ Register now: www.berlincampaignconference.de

Don't miss this opportunity to learn, engage, and collaborate with like-minded professionals from around the world.

It was a pleasure to welcome our dear partners from the Dutch Eduardo Frei Foundation to our office. 🤝

📍As one of our founding partners since the 1990s, the Eduardo Frei Foundation has stood by us for decades and continues to be one of our most trusted and committed partners. Partnerships like these are built not only through successful projects, but also through the trust, openness, and shared values that grow over time.

📍Friendly visits like this are a wonderful reminder that it is important to step outside the language of reports and project plans - to spend time together, get to know the people on our collaborating teams, exchange ideas, and speak openly about our common plans, concerns, and hopes for the future. These moments strengthen our mutual understanding and help us shape a shared vision for what lies ahead.

Alongside serious evaluations with our local partner from the Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung, we also enjoyed the warmth and friendship that make long-term cooperation so special - including Markus Ehm's homemade apple strudel! 🥧

A heartfelt thank you to Friso Douwstra, Astrid Frey, and Jan Mulder from the Eduardo Frei Foundation, as well as Markus Ehm, for your support, friendship, and your visit.

We look forward to many more years of working and growing together! 🌍