Twenty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall and five years after the biggest EU enlargement it is worth taking stock of the experiences of transition in Central and Eastern European countries in the context of sustainable development. The following article focuses on the principal economic, social, environmental, and institutional aspects of sustainable development in Central Europe, in particular in Hungary. The key challenges in the region are shared: how to respond to global financial and economic crises while avoiding deep social tensions and protecting the environment for future generations.