Application
Application
Dear Future Participant,
We are delighted to welcome you to the application process for Neighbourhood Dialogues 2026. This year, the event will take place in Budapest from May 7 to 9. It is our collective responsibility to examine Europe’s most pressing challenges — and what better location for this than the vibrant Hungarian capital, Budapest?
The conference explores the implications of the “four concentric circles” model, which envisions a far-reaching transformation of the European Union’s institutional framework in the name of efficiency. At the same time, the discussions highlight that while institutional efficiency is essential, the EU’s legitimacy ultimately stems from the consensus of its national democracies rather than directives from Brussels as the strongest “capital”.
Given the historic scale of these debates, the conference brings together international students and young professionals from diverse disciplines to examine how institutional change may reshape the Europe in which their generation will live. Through dynamic panel discussions on Competitiveness, Security and Defence Policy, and Geopolitics: Europe’s Position Among Global Powers, participants will engage in a lively exchange of ideas on how to balance deeper integration with national sovereignty and democratic legitimacy.
About the Program
Neighbourhood Dialogues is a prestigious event founded in 2015 and organized by the students of MCC. In recent years, we have hosted more than 100 domestic and international speakers and welcomed over 250 students from around the world. Our conference brings together students from diverse disciplines—including law, business, economics, political science, medicine, and many others—with a strong emphasis on interactive dialogue and professional debate.
Terms of Participation and Costs
Participation in the conference is free of charge and includes:
- full access to all professional programs
- hotel accommodation
- at least three meals per day
- organised cultural programs
Cancellation Fee: Due to the free nature of the event, maintaining reserved spots involves significant costs. Please note that if you cancel your participation after your application has been confirmed, a cancellation fee (penalty) of 100,000 HUF (approx. 263 EUR) will be charged.
Mandatory Attendance: By applying, you commit to attending all mandatory programs, which will be monitored through attendance sheets. Any unexcused absence from a session will result in a non-attendance fee of 5,000 HUF (approx. 13 EUR) per session.
Application Process
The following are required for the admission procedure:
- a one-page letter of motivation (including a brief introduction and your fields of interest)
- a 2-3-minute introduction video as part of the selection process.
Let’s start a dialogue about the future of Europe together.
We look forward to meeting you,
The Neighbourhood Dialogues Organising Team