A collection of 205 posts
Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) could be closing in on an energy standoff as Hungary and Slovakia have threatened to restrict or even suspend electricity supplies to Ukraine in response to its recent decision to halt crude oil transits of Russian supplier Lukoil, Hungarian state news channel M1 reported on
The expansion and modernisation of the NATO air base in Constanta, south-east Romania, symbolises the country’s growing strategic importance to NATO and the US, regional expert Ronald H. Linden writes in an article entitled “Romania is America’s new indispensable ally in Eastern Europe” in US politics daily The
Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is making notable strides in the e-commerce arena, driven by increasing digital adoption and a burgeoning online market, according to a recent analysis by Polish IT solutions provider Exorigo Upos. In 2023, CEE’s e-commerce penetration was 55%, lagging Western Europe’s 80%, underscoring the
Bulgaria has extended a helping hand to Hungary in managing the fallout from Ukraine’s recent ban on the transit of oil from Russia’s Lukoil, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, announced in Bucharest, Romania, on Wednesday 24 July. Szijjarto detailed how he and Bulgarian Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov had
Slovakia and Hungary have vehemently criticised Ukraine’s recent decision to halt the transit of Russian Lukoil oil to Hungary, with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto describing it as “incomprehensible and unacceptable”. These sanctions prevent Lukoil from renting the Druzhba (Friendship) pipeline for transit purposes. As approximately 70% of the
Poland has an improved investment climate and access to EU funding are expected to support this revival, according to a new cautiously optimism report by ING Bank Slqski and the European Economic Congress (EEC). The report presents a comprehensive analysis of the current state and future prospects of investment in
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was accused of mission creep by the international community after he opened his first week hosting the six-month EU rotating presidency with unannounced trips to Kyiv, Moscow and Beijing. Orban’s final destination after a busy week was Washington DC, for the long-planned NATO summit
The EU formally opened accession negotiations with Moldova and Ukraine on 25 June. The agreement of the EU’s 27 members was secured the previous week, despite efforts from Hungary to block the move. “These are truly historic moments. Ukraine is and will always be part of a united Europe,
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas was nominated on Friday, 28 June as the EU’s foreign policy chief (High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy), subject to agreement from the European Commission (EC) president. Kallas will succeed Spain’s Josep Borrell and become the first politician
Hungary will take over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union on Monday, 1 July with the slogan “Make Europe Great Again,” a nod to the populist and nationalist politics of Donald Trump, who will run for US president again in November, during Hungary’s own tenure.
Hungary will not be obliged to participate in military actions outside its territory or send money or troops to Ukraine, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said after he met NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Budapest on Wednesday, 12 June, ahead of the treaty organisation’s Washington Summit next month.
The EU elections, which will be held from on 6-9 June, involve nearly 400mn voters across 27 countries deciding on 720 seats in the European Parliament (EP). The vote will decide who will lead the European Commission (EC), with EC President Ursula von der Leyen vying for a second term,
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken travelled to Chisinau, Moldova and Prague, Czechia, from May 28-31, to discuss energy, defence and the NATO summit in Washington DC scheduled for early July. In Chisinau, Blinken met with Moldovan President Maia Sandu to show support for the European country’s progress on
Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nauseda secured re-election on Sunday 26 May, according to official results, in a vote heavily dominated by defence concerns regarding neighbouring Russia. The electoral commission reported that Nauseda garnered 74.6% of the vote, with 90% of ballots counted following the polls’ closure on Sunday. His
Slovakia’s head of state and president-elect jointly called for calm in the wake of the assassination attempt on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Wednesday 15 May. Fico was shot five times by Juraj Cintula in Handlova, central Slovakia, on Wednesday, at 2:30 pm, in the highest profile