The inaugural Chain Bridge (Lánchíd) Forum was held on 27 April 2023. This first UK-Hungary bilateral forum was organised jointly between the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs (HIIA) and British Embassy Budapest in partnership with the UK’s Royal United Services Institute and the British Council.
The Forum was held at the HQ of HIIA and opened by H.E. Paul Fox, His Majesty’s Ambassador to Hungary, H.E. Ferenc Kumin, Ambassador of Hungary to the UK and Márton Schőberl, CEO of HIIA. The forum was jointly chaired by Péter Sztáray, Minister of State for Security Policy and Energy Security (Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Sir Alex Younger, former Chief of the UK Secret Intelligence Service.
The event comprised five discussion panels, led by policy experts, industry representatives, academics, and decision makers. The topics included regional security and defence policy, education and Roma inclusion, our people-to-people links and energy security. This is a formal opportunity to discuss shared challenges and opportunities in foreign policy, economic and social issues. The goal of this new cooperative format is to provide a policy platform for discussion and exchange amongst Hungarian and British decision-makers, and representatives of civil society.
Photos by Hungarian Institute of International Affairs (HIIA)