A collection of 195 posts
Hungary will not agree to the extension of EU sanctions against Russia unless visa bans and asset freezes against three Russian oligarchs are lifted, according to diplomatic sources that spoke to news outlet Szabad Europa. The EU’s punitive measures are extended every six months, and the renewal, due on
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasised the urgency of accession for aspiring EU members in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) when he met with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala in Prague. Scholz also laid out his pan-European policy vision regarding energy, defence, trade, natural resources and migration. “The centre of Europe
Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova were among the European countries most affected by low rainfall rates in the three months up to 10 August, according to the latest report from the European Commission (EC) research body Global Drought Observatory (GDO). Other badly hit regions in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE)
Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte reacted to criticism on Thursday over her country’s acceptance of the transport of civilian-use goods from Russia to Kalingrad across its territory. “It would be irrational to continue to argue with EU partners” Simonyte said, after the European Commission (EC) on Wednesday clarified its
The Hungarian government declared a state of emergency and ditched its flagship policy of subsidising domestic utility bills on Wednesday, as fears of a looming European energy crisis rise across the continent. The crisis meeting of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s energy cabinet on Wednesday was prompted, according to
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced that banks, insurance companies, retail chains, energy firms, telcos and airlines in Hungary will have to pay a large proportion of what he called their “surplus profits” into two state funds in 2022 and 2023, on Wednesday. The money will be used to subsidise
The US can do without Russian oil, but has been reluctant to give up on its metals. Sanctions against Russian aluminium lasted less than a year before being lifted, due to their impact on US producers. Russian oil and gas have been high on the agenda of late, but Russia
In a letter to be sent to EU finance ministers, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia jointly call for frozen Russian assets to be used towards the reconstruction of Ukraine in the aftermath of its invasion by Russia. The letter written by the four Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, seen
The EU on Monday failed to make headway on finalising a sixth package of sanctions against Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine, which includes a complete embargo on oil imports from the country. The first five rounds of EU sanctions included asset freezes and travel bans on Russian
The European Commission (EC) could channel funds to countries in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) to help reduce their dependence on Russian fuels, in the wake of Hungary threatening to veto the planned EU embargo on Russian oil imports. The financial compensation would be disbursed via the new RePowerEU strategy
Czechia will participate in the UN Human Rights Council meeting on Thursday 12 May, after being elected as Russia’s replacement in the 47-member body earlier this week. The special session from 10am will address the deteriorating human rights situation in Ukraine including reported atrocities in Mariupol, at the request
NATO has around 30 surveillance and fighter jets in airspace outside of Ukraine and Belarus at any moment according the defence alliance, in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. NATO also released an infographic outlining the allied aircraft able to be deployed in airspace in Central and Eastern Europe
NATO will increase its number of forces in the Baltic sea if Sweden applies to join the defence alliance, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced on Thursday afternoon. The NATO chief told Swedish SVT News that although NATO does not intend to enter the conflict between Russia and Ukraine – and therefore
The Polish government’s Stop Russia Now advertising campaign arrived in Hungary on Wednesday, increasing speculation that the alliance between the two countries’ populist nationalist governments has reached breaking point over differences on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Of the Visegrad Four (V4) group, comprising Poland, Czechia, Slovakia and Hungary,
There were mixed messages from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) on Wednesday, when the European Commission (EC) announced plans for a Russian oil embargo. In CEE, two of the countries that would be most affected by the import ban had markedly different reactions to the announcement. While Slovakia merely requested