{
  "id": 9759927,
  "title": "C8 could become regional development platform despite political differences – political scientist",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/c8-could-become-regional-development-platform-despite-political",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-25T11:50:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Interfax-Ukraine",
    "slug": "interfax-ukraine",
    "url": "https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/press-conference/1209993.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Carpathian Eight (C8) format shows promise as a regional cooperation platform for all member countries, despite political disagreements among some participants, according to Ihor Chalenko, a political scientist and the head of the Center for Analysis and Strategies. The Carpathian Initiative serves as a political framework for economic, security, cultural, and other forms of collaboration to flourish. Economic cooperation was a primary driving force behind its establishment, Chalenko explained during a discussion at the Interfax-Ukraine press center. Despite Hungary's leadership issuing a political gesture, Budapest maintains interest in practical economic collaboration within the new framework. Chalenko dismissed claims that no consultations took place with Hungary during the initiative's formation, stating that discussions had been ongoing since at least November 2025 and became more intense in the foreign ministry sphere later that year. He also highlighted the potential for Ukrainian-Hungarian cooperation in the energy sector, particularly concerning the Druzhba oil pipeline after its current contracts expire. Chalenko emphasized the importance of stability and reputation in Ukrainian-Hungarian relations, noting that recent political statements from Hungary harm this image. He stressed that the security aspect of the C8 is not directly linked to the war but aims to foster stable conditions for economic, energy, tourism, and environmental projects in the macroregion. Chalenko sees the development of regional formats as aligned with current trends towards enhancing the role of macroregions in Europe amidst a crisis of confidence in traditional supranational institutions. Developing cross-border communications among border regions, oblasts, and municipalities holds significant potential, enabling long-term cooperation not reliant on electoral cycles. Chalenko concluded that the C8 could become one of the successful regional cooperation models, alongside the Bucharest Nine, Nordic-Baltic Eight, and other international initiatives.",
  "summary": "The Carpathian Eight (C8) format has prospects for further development as a platform for regional cooperation among all member countries in the areas of economy, security, energy and infrastructure, despite political differences among some participating countries, political scientist and head of the Center for Analysis and Strategies Ihor Chalenko said.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}