V4 Reloaded: Central Europe Unites to Defend Cohesion and Agricultural Funding
The next big debate on the future of the European Union has already begun—not over enlargement, migration or defence, but over the EU's next long-term budget.
Central European Times
Slovak referendum on Fico's lifetime pension fails amid record-low turnout
A failed Slovak referendum on Prime Minister Robert Fico's lifetime pension has exposed a pattern playing out well beyond Slovakia: across Europe, benefits for former heads of state are becoming political ammunition precisely where societies and elites are most deeply divided.
Chasing gigafactories: CEE’s AI infrastructure bet
Artificial intelligence is emerging as Central Europe's best answer to an exhausted growth model – but the race to build the infrastructure that could underpin that transformation reveals as much about the region's limitations as its ambitions.
Gdańsk's Message: Ukraine's Reconstruction Is Also About Central Europe's Future
The central theme of the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026 (URC 2026) in Gdańsk was financing Ukraine's post-war reconstruction.
AI as the New Test of Central European Convergence - Poland and Hungary Face the Same Challenge
Two Central and Eastern European countries with different growth structures and economic performances are both looking to artificial intelligence as a driver of faster development.
Budapest Regional Summit: The V4 Is Coming Back to Life
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar aims to breathe new life into the Visegrád Four format. To achieve this, the countries will have to overcome political differences – particularly regarding their approach toward Russia.
Slovakia’s Search for Political Balance: Economic Pressures, Institutional Debates and the Stakes of the Next Election
Slovakia has once again become a focus of political attention in Central Europe.
Romania faces political deadlock as second PM nominee defies own party
Romania has been left without a stable government for nearly seven weeks, with a second prime ministerial candidate now facing expulsion from his own party after refusing to stand down. The crisis was triggered on 5 May, when a no-confidence vote — backed by the left-wing Social Democrats (PSD) and the
New Ukrainian - Polish Dispute: Allies Clash Over the Past
Poland's support has been one of the pillars of Ukraine's resilience since the start of the war. Now, that seemingly stable alliance has come under strain in a dispute that could have implications for broader regional cohesion and even the course of the war.
Polish-German Relations: Defence Cooperation Is Strengthening, but History Remains a Constraint
While Central Europe’s security environment has been fundamentally transformed by the Russia – Ukraine war, relations between Poland and Germany remain both a strategic necessity and a political challenge. This is clearly demonstrated by the fact that the two countries are set to sign a new defence cooperation agreement in
The price of an industrial economy
Czechia's economy grew 2.6% in 2025, unemployment sits near record lows, and the current account is in surplus. It is not an economy in difficulty.
Regional Lessons from the Romanian Drone Incidents: The Grey Zone of War Is Expanding
The two recent drone incidents in Romania have once again highlighted a growing reality: while the Russia – Ukraine war continues to be fought primarily on Ukrainian territory, its security implications are increasingly spilling over into neighboring NATO and EU member states.
Romania's President Taps European Parliament Member as Prime Minister
Romanian President Nicușor Dan has designated Eugen Tomac, a Member of the European Parliament and former presidential adviser, as prime minister-designate, tasking him with forming a new government within ten days. The nomination, announced on Thursday, comes nearly a month after the collapse of the Bolojan cabinet and reflects Mr
Romania's Senate passes amended defence laws with days to spare before EU funding deadline
Romania's upper house has approved two emergency ordinances clearing the last legislative hurdles for the country to sign military procurement contracts under the European Union's SAFE programme. The Senate voted on Tuesday to adopt both pieces of legislation, though in amended form. The legislation is required
Lessons from Kraków’s mayoral recall: a regional signal for Central European urban politics
The recent political upheaval in Kraków, where Mayor Aleksander Miszalski was removed in a recall referendum, is more than a local Polish story. It reflects a broader Central European pattern where urban governance, national polarization, and EU-level political identities increasingly intersect.