Peter Magyar wants to expand the Visegrad Group - and Croatia is among the invitees. At his first press conference after the elections, Hungary's new leader proposed that V4 become V8 with the addition of Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, and Romania.

The idea isn't new. When the Visegrad Group was founded in 1991 - by Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary - Croatia received an invitation but declined. Franjo Tudjman feared losing support from Germany and France, who didn't look favorably on Central European consolidation.

Why now?

Magyar has no partners in Slovakia and Czechia - both countries are in political crisis. So he's looking for substitutes. Political analyst Davor Gjenero explains: "Magyar is returning to the positions Hungary held in 2010, at the start of Orban's mandates. Back then, V4's coordinated two-thirds majority voting gave them more votes in the EU Council than Germany and France combined."

The meeting between Magyar and Plenkovic at this year's Munich Security Conference is considered a key moment. Magyar also announced Warsaw as his first destination after taking office - a signal that the Visegrad Group is a priority.

What would Croatia gain? "If this initiative materializes, the political interests of each member state gain exponential significance in the European Council," says Gjenero. Two-thirds voting in the Council with eight countries behind you - that's weight equal to France and Germany.

It's interesting for the Balkans too: if Croatia, Slovenia, and Romania join an expanded Visegrad Group, it creates a bloc from the Baltic to the Adriatic that changes the balance of power in the EU. Is that good for the region - or just another club where the Western Balkans wait outside the door?