This was the title of a matinee organised by the Committee of the Honorary Knights together with the Order Academy in Budapest on 1 March 2024. In their statements, the high-profile speakers, like the panellists, addressed the importance of Central Europe and its potential for Europe and the European Union. More than 100 Dames and Knights of the Order and guests – including our Honorary Dame HIRH Camilla von Habsburg – accepted the invitation to the Károlyi Palace to listen to the interesting reflections and analyses.
In his welcoming address, Capitular Dr. Manfred Hasenöhrl, explained that the purpose of the Central Europe Matinee was not to hold one of the many emotional or technocratic discussions about the pros and cons of a common Europe, nor to talk about individual interests and day-to-day political issues, but to hold a value-political discourse for today and the future. A discourse that focuses on our values – our Christian and Western image of society and humanity. In this context, he emphasised the importance of a clear commitment to family and subsidiarity, to the regional diversity of Europe’s regions, to tolerance as well as to parliamentarianism and a defensive democracy.
The Deputy Prime Minister of Hungary, Honorary Knight Dr. Zsolt Semjén, then spoke in favour of close cooperation between the states of Central Europe, based on the values arising from the Western, Christian Hellenistic worldview. He emphasised the importance of the Habsburg Empire as a historical framework that shaped and moulded the mentality and mindset of the Central European community for centuries. Hungary is endeavouring to strengthen and preserve this Central European unity and uniqueness within the European Union under the motto “Central European solidarity within the European community of values and solidarity”. The Deputy Prime Minister also emphasised how the Archducal house continues to play an active role: the House of Habsburg-Lorraine has not only played a central role in shaping Hungary’s history over the centuries, but continues to be a close part of Hungary’s present and future. In the person of Georg von Habsburg and Eduard von Habsburg, two prominent representatives of the dynasty were in the service of Hungarian diplomacy, one as ambassador in Paris, the other to the Holy See. The establishment of the Otto von Habsburg Institute is also a sign of the grand importance that the House of Habsburg-Lorraine continues to play in Hungary and will continue to play in the future.
In his opening statement, our Procurator Baron Vinzenz von Stimpfl-Abele first thanked all those who had contributed significantly to the success of this matinee, in particular the Capitulars Dr. Manfred Hasenöhrl and Dr. Peter Harold, as well as Vice Chancellor Michael Blaha, MSc., and Commander Gábor Boldizsár. In terms of content, it was obvious that the Order of St. George – a EUROPEAN Order of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine would deal intensively with the topic of „Central Europe for Europe – Value-political principles for Europe“ and in this context, he highlighted two characteristics that particularly characterise the orientation of our community: “We are a CHRISTIAN Order and do not call ourselves a EUROPEAN Order by coincidence, but quite consciously. This means that we strive for a strong, proud Europe. A Europe that is just as aware of its common history and how to learn from it, or hopefully will finally become more aware of it, as it is of its common values. This cannot be about allowing the identities of countries and regions to merge into an indefinable, bureaucratically imposed amalgam. Nor can blind nationalism be the solution. What we need is a new type of positive PATRIOTISM, which simultaneously means attachment to one’s own individual roots and pride in the common Europe. According to the procurator, this is not a contradiction, but the only way to make the diversity, the similarities and how the differences of our continent are based on the aforementioned unifying values its central strength. In order to counteract certain undesirable European developments in this spirit, a counterweight is needed under the current constellations and balance of power: “We are convinced that a Central Europe that moves closer together can be an engine of reform from which every country, but also the whole of Europe, can benefit. Because the potential of this Central Europe, which is also particularly linked to and through the history of the House of Habsburg, is enormous! So when we discuss PRINCIPLES OF VALUE FOR EUROPE today as a Christian European Order of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine, we must never forget that we are also and above all talking about a commitment. A commitment to a Christian Europe that is aware of history and tradition. A commitment to a EUROPE OF VALUES. As we see it, I would like to end with a quote from Hans Dietrich Genscher: Europe is our future, otherwise we have none.”
In his keynote speech, the Deputy Grand Master, Archduke Georg emphasised the importance of cooperation and solidarity between the European states within the European Union. At the same time, he regretted that the institutions of the European Union in Brussels seem to have largely forgotten the fundamental ideas and values on which the European Union is based. Instead, ideological issues had increasingly taken centre stage. He emphasised that Europe and the European Union were based on a Christian Hellenistic world view and that it was precisely these values that were upheld in Central Europe. As Hungary’s ambassador to France, however, it is with grand regret that he sees that many European decision-makers do not have comprehensive, in-depth knowledge of the history and political contexts of Central Europe and are therefore unable to properly assess the sensitivities of their partners from this region, often facing them with a lack of understanding and even criticism. In Central Europe, for example, people know the history of France better than France knows the history of Central Europe, said the Deputy Grand Master.
In the subsequent panel discussion, competently and confidently chaired by Dr. Gergely Pröhle, Director of the Otto von Habsburg Foundation in Hungary, Honorary Knight former prime minister Dr. Jan Peter Balkenende, former Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic Order Knight Mgr. Daniel Herman (Czech Republic), former Vice Chancellor Mag. Wilhelm Molterer (Austria), Honorary Knight former president Mag. Rosen Plevneljev (Bulgaria), Honorary Knight former governor Univ. Prof. Dr. Franz Schausberger (Austria) gave highly interesting and sometimes quite emotional keynote speeches.
Honorary Knight Jan Peter Balkenende addressed the two levels of subsidiarity and their grand importance for (Central) Europe: on the one hand, vertical subsidiarity, which concerns the local, regional, national and European or global levels, and on the other, horizontal subsidiarity, which regulates the relationship between the state and its citizens. The EU should develop on the basis of the framework conditions laid down by the principle of subsidiarity and, in particular, ensure that the smallest or lowest level is actually given the necessary competences to implement the mandated agendas. Our Community could contribute a great deal to the implementation of the associated canon of values – which also corresponds to the duties imposed on the Order of St. George by Otto von Habsburg and his son, our Grand Master Archduke Karl,.
Our Order Knight Daniel Hermann reminded us that we live in a common European home, which we are trying to build on the principles of individual responsibility and freedom, but also on the conviction that only reconciliation can lay a firm foundation for constructive coexistence and fruitful cooperation. However, we must also be aware of the dangers that threaten us in the present. In this context, he referred to the terrible war in Ukraine: “In view of the appeasement policy of the 1930s towards Hitler, whose first victims were Austria and Czechoslovakia, we must not be deceived by those who claim that peace can be achieved by appeasing Putin and making concessions that undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We must try to continue building our common European house, which our ancestors left us, and always be ready to defend it against anyone who tries to sow hatred, division and fear again, so that the European project of peace and freedom is not threatened by populism and short-sighted national interests!”
Honorary Knight Rosen Plevneljev looked at the “big picture” and made it clear that, not least due to the USA’s increased focus on the Pacific region, Europe and the EU are being forced to develop from an economically focused community into a strong, active political player at the international banquet. The upheaval of the previous peace order was unfortunately leading to instability and unrest. The EU, with its fundamental values focussing on democracy, human rights and security, must define a policy based on these values. A common, strong Union is therefore in everyone’s interest and indispensable.
The Chairman of the Committee of the Honorary Knights, Franz Schausberger, compared the Habsburg monarchy with the European Union and pointed out that the former could serve both as a role model and as a warning example for the latter. The monarchy would serve as a role model above all because it had a leader who was not multinational but supranational – the emperor. The emperor conveyed a high level of emotionality in all parts of the multi-ethnic empire and was a unifying institution, creating identification and identity. Unfortunately, this was lacking in the EU, which had no emotional connection, but was still a “cold rational entity”. As a further example, he mentioned the efficient administration of the Habsburg monarchy, decentralised down to the level of the governorates, which would roughly correspond to today’s federal states, for example in Germany and Austria. This was also largely lacking. Austria-Hungary had an army, even if it was not very strong. However, the EU lacked this completely and was therefore always dependent on others for its defence. As an example of where the Danube monarchy could serve as a warning, he cited the 1867 Compromise, which created two parts of the empire and thus the beginning of its collapse and downfall. The lesson for the EU, he said, should be that there should not be two groups of member states, such as a northern group and a southern group. In his view, there should also not be two speeds of enlargement. That would be the seed of the break-up of the EU.
Wilhelm Molterer emphasised that we need to know history in order to understand and shape it. History must not be instrumentalised. In the current war in Europe, we are currently experiencing how history is being used as an instrument to justify this war. We must be aware of the importance of the European constitution with its fundamental pillars and that the European constitution is a value-based constitution. Since the end of the Second World War, we had made the mistake of taking Europe’s fundamental values for granted rather than seeing them as an asset to be protected and defended. The EU is also the result of a learning process that has not yet been completed. It is shocking for him to see that there is currently a war in Europe and the consequence of this is that we have to invest in our defence capabilities. Central Europe can and must play a key role in the issue of security in particular – and migration is one aspect of this. Of course, this also applies to economic competitiveness, where Central Europe must endeavour to become an area of innovation again. With regard to the future, the former Vice-Chancellor pointed out that the forecast for the end of this century was that Asia and Africa together would account for 85% of the world’s population and Europe only 6%. Only a strong, united Europe would be able to survive in the future in terms of defence, security and the economy.
Afterwards, host Honorary Knight Zsolt Semjén invited guests to lunch, where the wide-ranging topics of the matinee were discussed intensively until late in the afternoon.
Photos: Gergely Botár / Prime Minister’s Office