Peter Magyar, Hungary's new leader who defeated Viktor Orban, has declared his ambitions: uniting Central Europe on the Austro-Hungarian model. His first official visits in May will be to Warsaw and Vienna - a clear signal of strategic direction.

"We once shared a state, and Austria is Hungary's key economic partner," Magyar said, announcing the merger of the Visegrad Group with the Slavkov Format into a single Central European bloc. Ambitious. But realistic?

The numbers speak for themselves: Austria is the second-largest investor in Hungary, and around 134,000 Hungarians work there. Economic integration has existed for a long time - the question is whether it can evolve into political integration.

The challenges are obvious. Central European countries are deeply divided over Ukraine and the EU loan. Poland is sharply pro-Ukrainian, Slovakia closer to Russian positions, and Hungary under Magyar has yet to reveal its new direction. Uniting countries that can't agree on the continent's most important question - that's more than a diplomatic challenge.

For the Balkans, any reshuffling of Central European geopolitics is relevant. The Visegrad Group traditionally influences European policy toward the Western Balkans. If Magyar manages to create a stronger bloc, it could mean a different voice in Brussels for our region - but in whose favor?