East-Central Europe (or Middle Europe, Median Europe, fr. Europe médiane) – a term defining the countries located between German-speaking countries and Russia. Those lands are described as situated “between two”: between two worlds, between two stages, between two futures. In the geopolitical sense, East-Central Europe may be opposed to the Western and Eastern Europe, as one of the “Three Europes”.

Differing from ideas of Eastern Europe and Central Europe, the concept is based on different criteria of distinction and has different geographical spread. In addition, countries of Central Europe and of Eastern Europe belong to two different cultural and economic circles.

Oscar Halecki, who distinguished four regions in Europe (Western, West Central, East Central and Eastern Europe) defined East-Central Europe as a region from Finland to Greece,the eastern part of Central Europe, between Sweden, Germany, and Italy, on the one hand, and Turkey and Russia on the other. According to Halecki, in the course of European history, a great variety of peoples in this region created their own independent states, sometimes quite large and powerful; in connection with Western Europe they developed their individual national cultures and contributed to the general progress of European civilization.

György Gordon Bajnai (pronounced [ˈɡordon ˈbɒjnɒi]; born 5 March 1968, Szeged) was the seventh Prime Minister of Hungary from 2009 to 2010. In March 2009, following Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány's announced resignation, Bajnai was nominated by the ruling Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP) to become Hungary's next prime minister. Bajnai became prime minister when the parliament passed a constructive motion of no-confidence against Ferenc Gyurcsány on 14 April 2009.

Bajnai was raised in Baja, Hungary. He graduated from the Budapest University of Economic Sciences (now Corvinus University) International Relations Department in 1991. For his public and professional activities he was rewarded Pro Universitate Award.

Bajnai was not a Hungarian Young Communist League (KISZ, Kommunista Ifjúsági Szövetség) leader, like Gyurcsány (who was Vice-President of the communist youth organization in 1989), but he was active in youth-politics. In 1987, Bajnai organized a boycott of the University of Economics' canteen, and was chairman of the Independent Student Council. He was also the head of the History Department of Studium Generale, Admission Preparatory Studies College.