Poland Takes Off with Offshore Wind Energy
On July 10, a new chapter began in Poland’s history: for the first time, electricity generated by an offshore wind farm entered the country’s national power grid.
Central European Times
How Did the V4 React to the AfD’s Historic Victory?
The reaction in the Visegrád countries to the Alternative for Germany (AfD) victory in Sunday’s Saxony-Anhalt state election was far from uniform.
High-Speed Rail Reform in Poland: Trains Set to Race at 250 km/h
Polish media report that travel time between Warsaw and Kraków could fall to less than two hours.
Hungary’s Return to the EU: Already Underway, But Far from Complete
Based on the developments in Hungary over the past few days, it would be difficult to argue that relations between Hungary and the European Union are simply returning to where they were before Viktor Orbán came to power.
Czech Chamber overrides Pavel’s veto, clears way for looser fiscal rules
The Czech Chamber of Deputies overrode President Petr Pavel's veto of a fiscal-rules omnibus bill clearing the way for a law that lets the government exceed budget ceilings on defence and infrastructure spending through 2036, a move the opposition says it will challenge at the Constitutional Court.
Prague's budget war: a new chapter of castle and government struggle
The Czech Chamber is due to vote on overriding the President's veto of a fiscal-rules bill on 25 August. Not just defence spending is at stake, but the next presidential election, where the President is increasingly viewed by the Czech public as the head of the opposition.
Romania’s Political Crisis: Deadlock Over Government Formation and EU Funds
The domestic political paralysis could have serious economic consequences: the caretaker government is running out of time ahead of the August 31 deadline set by Brussels.
Polish Dilemma: Fugitive Criminal or Political Refugee?
It puts the former Polish ruling party in an uncomfortable position that its former deputy justice minister is hiding from the justice system in territories outside the reach of the law.
When the Danube runs dry - How CEE's power systems are coping with the 2026 heat-drought
Hungary and Romania are living through their most serious energy crisis in decades, as record-low Danube levels have all but shut down two of the region's nuclear plants.
Why Have Czech and Slovak Nuclear Power Plants Been Able to Withstand the Heat While Paks Has Run into Trouble?
In Hungary, low Danube water levels and a prolonged heatwave have created an acute energy crisis, while other countries in the region appear to have weathered the situation more easily. Part of the explanation lies in the differences between the cooling systems used by their nuclear power plants.
Cracks in Poland’s Right: Is PiS Falling Apart?
For a long time, it seemed that the return to power of Poland’s illiberal right – allied with Orbán and highly effective at blocking Donald Tusk’s government – was merely a matter of time. But those plans could now be derailed by an emerging split within the party.
Hungary joins Poland-led AI Gigafactory bid
Hungary is joining the Poland-led AI Gigafactory consortium that already includes Czechia and Lithuania, marking a significant upgrade from the country's previous position as one of the EU's lighter-touch "AI Factory Antenna" participants.
Romania shoots down Russian drones on home soil for the first time
A Romanian F-16 destroyed a Russian-made drone over the Black Sea on July 24.
Defence spending is driving the Czech budget off course
Czechia's 2026 deficit is running nearly a full percentage point above what the outgoing Fiala government projected and the single largest reason is a defence-spending trajectory that Prime Minister Babiš campaigned against but has since chosen to continue.
The Polish Press on Hungary's Change of Government: Parallels and Differences
Is Hungary now facing the same political turmoil that has characterized Poland for years? According to the Polish press, not necessarily.