Ryanair inks EUR 340mn deal to triple traffic at Modlin Airport

2 min read Warsaw Modlin Airport, Warsaw Chopin Airport, Boeing, Michael O’Leary, ryanair

The Irish low-cost carrier will invest approximately EUR 340mn, its largest-ever commitment in Poland. Annual traffic at Modlin is expected to increase from 1.5mn to over 5mn by 2030.

Serbian president rejects calls for early elections, as protests continue

2 min read Serbia, Boris Tadic, Aleksandar Vucic, Rio Tinto, Jadar, Lithium

Government supporters have established a counter-camp "Caciland" in Belgrade’s Pionirski Park, drawing participation from nationalist groups and rural unions. The Serbian government said the camp demonstrates “popular support for stability”.

Poland's Orlen ends Russian oil imports to Czech refinery

2 min read Poland, czechia, PKN Orlen, Ireneusz Fafara, Russia, Ukraine, Litvinov, Druzhba, crude oil, gas, Lithuania, Transalpine, Plock, Mazeikiai, Ursula von der Leyen, ACER

EC President Ursula von der Leyen said: "Russia has repeatedly attempted to blackmail us by weaponising its energy supplies. We have taken clear steps to turn off the tap and end the era of Russian fossil fuels in Europe for good."

CEE countries jointly oppose EU's 'flexible funding' plan

1 min read Poland, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, EU, European Commission, Katarzyna Pelczynska-Nalecz, European Regional Development Fund, Cohesion Fund, Just Transition Fund, ESF Plus, European Council

The signatories, including Poland, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, said the policy’s “visibility and predictability” would be compromised if merged into a broader single investment fund.

Albania, Montenegro could join EU by 2030 - EU commissioner

3 min read Marta Kos, Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Slovenia, czechia

Albania is expected to have opened all the EU accession negotiation clusters by September, EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said on 1 July at a Western Balkans leaders’ meeting in Skopje, North Macedonia.

CEE must better coordinate on defence - Global Peace Index founder Steve Killelea tells CET

5 min read GPI, Killelea, UN, Ukraine, Russia, Italy, Germany, Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Defence, czechia, Hungary

Global Peace Index (GPI) founder Steve Killelea spoke to the Central European Times on the day of the release of the GPI's 18th annual report. Despite the steep rise in militarisation in CEE, investment-led ambitions are currently limited by fragmentation, Killelea tells CET.

Serbs plan fresh protests as anti-gov't unrest grows

3 min read Serbia, protests, Aleksandar Vucic

Demonstrations intensified over the weekend as student-led groups erected makeshift barricades at key intersections in central Belgrade. Police estimated turnout at 36,000, while independent observers cited figures as high as 140,000.

CEE distillers pivot to domestic sales as exports fall, tastes shift

2 min read Alcohol, Poland, Hungary, czechia, Moldova, Euromonitor, Transnistria, Russia, Green Tree Distillery, Zubrowka, Absolwent, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, EU, SEA, Gulf

Producers in Poland, Czechia and Moldova are rebranding locally and pursuing new strategies to stay afloat after the collapse of major foreign markets, in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Western sanctions on premium alcohol.

Czech intel reveals Chinese plan to intimidate Taiwanese veep

2 min read czechia, Hsiao Bi‑khim, Czech Security Information Service, China, Lai Ching‑te, CCP, US House Foreign Affairs Committee, Kung Ming-hsin, R&D, Taiwan, One‑China principle

The Czech Security Information Service said individuals linked to China’s embassy followed Hsiao’s convoy and considered a “demonstrative kinetic action” intended to unsettle, but not harm, her. Hsiao had been on her first foreign trip as veep, with Taiwanese President Lai Ching‑te.

NATO endorses 5% defence spending framework at The Hague summit

Under the Hague Investment Plan adopted on 25 June, NATO members committed to raise annual defence-related spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. The 5% comprises 3.5% on conventional military capability and 1.5% on infrastructure, cyber-defence and civil preparedness; including support for Ukraine. cet

Poland, Hungary return to space for first time in post-Soviet era

3 min read Axiom, ISS, HUNOR, ESA, Tibor Kapu, Slawosz Uznanski,, IGNIS, Bertalan Farkas, Szijjarto, NASA

Uznanski is now Poland’s first astronaut in space since 1978, when Miroslaw Hermaszewski flew under the Soviet Intercosmos programme. Kapu is Hungary’s first since Bertalan Farkas's 1980 mission aboard Soyuz 36 under the same programme.

Nestle to fire 80 at Czech vegan meat plant due to low demand

2 min read czechia, Nestle, veganism, vegetarianism, Unilever, Monde Nissin

The Czech Chamber of Commerce said on 22 June that the Nestle cuts should be viewed in the context of changing consumer priorities amid inflation and a shift toward simpler food products.

Protestors to target NATO summit in the Hague

2 min read NATO, Donald Trump, Fico, Rutte, Operation Orange, Extinction Rebellion, Gaza, LGBT, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Netherlands, Russia, People for Peace

The People for Peace coalition, which includes left-aligned Dutch lawmakers and activists with prior ties to Russian disinformation networks, is expected to stage events near the World Forum venue and at key traffic corridors.

Poland, Baltics plan EU-backed AI infrastructure hub

2 min read Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, European Commission, InvestAI, European Investment Bank

The InvestAI programme, presented by the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in September 2024, earmarked EUR 20bn. The Polish-Baltic consortium is one of the first regionally coordinated bids submitted under the framework.

Baltics surge for household consumption, Hungary slumps

3 min read AIC, Eurostat, czechia, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Bulgaria, Romania, Viktor Orban

Hungary has now fallen to the lowest position in the EU for actual individual consumption (AIC), despite its starting position ahead of several regional peers two decades ago.