Central Europe
Afghanistan to feature high in Uzbekistan high-level connectivity conference
The high-level meeting next week in Uzbekistan’s capital Tashkent to discuss connectivity is a stability dividend and a timely opportunity to convince countries that the international community is not abandoning the region following US withdrawal from Afghanistan, stakeholders told a...
Hungary’s ‘Trump before Trump’ PM Orban faces US reset
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is bracing for tougher treatment from a Joe Biden-led administration in Washington after his all-in bet on a win for President Donald Trump backfired.
Kyrgyzstan president says ready to resign once new cabinet appointed
Kyrgyzstan’s President Sooronbai Jeenbekov said he was ready to resign once a new cabinet was appointed to end the power vacuum in the Central Asian nation gripped by unrest since opposition supporters seized government buildings on Tuesday.
Pompeo in Prague at start of central Europe visit
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Prague on Tuesday (11 August), public TV footage showed, to open a five-day visit to central Europe with a hefty agenda including China's role in 5G network construction.
Kazakhstan well poised to tackle digital learning but challenges remain
Kazakstan’s education and skills policies will be crucial for the Central Asian country’s economic recovery and efforts to avoid the digital divide, experts say. Some 78% of Kazakhstan’s population are internet users and the country has one of the lowest...
Nur-Sultan’s financial hub to be at heart of Kazakhstan’s recovery and greening
With the support of authorities and growing green credentials, the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) is well placed to play a key role in the country's recovery and sustainable economic development, experts say.
Berlin expects US sanctions to slightly delay Nord Stream 2
The US sanctions slapped on controversial Russian gas pipeline to Europe will likely delay the project's completion by several months to the second half of 2020, a top German official said Monday (23 December).
Uzbekistan holds first legislative polls under pro-reform leader
Uzbekistan votes Sunday (22 December) in the former Soviet republic's first parliamentary elections since a new leader ushered in an era of reform after years of isolation and stagnation, yet voters' choices remain highly restricted.
US readies sanctions against Nord Stream 2 and Turkish Stream
The US House and Senate agreed on Monday (9 December) a defence bill that would force Donald Trump's administration to impose sanctions on companies involved in the Russian-sponsored gas pipelines Nord Stream 2 and Turkish Stream.
Polish reform erodes judicial autonomy: top court
Poland's Supreme Court ruled on Thursday (5 December) that a new judicial council charged with nominating and disciplining judges lacks independence, calling into question the government's court reforms.
Did Hungary turn to the Russian Duma for support against Ukraine?
Hungary has a deep controversy with Hungary over minority rights. In this context, a heated controversy has unfolded over reports that Budapest asked the Duma, the lower chamber of Russia's parliament, for joint efforts to uphold minority rights in Ukraine.
Trump skips trip to Poland as hurricane approaches Florida
US President Donald Trump abruptly called off a weekend trip to Poland on Thursday (29 August), saying he wanted to stay home and make sure the federal government is prepared for a looming hurricane headed for Florida.
The Czech president’s summer power play comes to an end
The latest Czech government crisis is over: President Miloš Zeman will appoint Lubomír Zaorálek as the new minister of culture on Tuesday (27 August), ending a dispute over the post that almost caused a collapse of the government. However, the crisis has exposed the deteriorating state of democracy in the country.
Fight against top-level corruption is needed in Slovakia, says monitoring report
Slovakia should adopt steps to prevent corruption in the government, said a report published on Thursday (22 August) by the Council of Europe, citing 'systemic weaknesses' in the country's legal framework.
Prague mayor comes under international spotlight
Zdeněk Hřib is the first mayor of Prague to come from the Pirate Party. In his post for only ten months, Hřib has already drawn the attention of international media mainly due to his opposition to the growing Chinese influence in the country.
Investigation of Slovak journalist murder uncovers other serious crimes
A year and a half since the murder of Slovak investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée, prosecutors said that the investigation has uncovered a ring of other crimes, including four murders and planned high-level assassinations.
China’s political interference in Czech Republic back in focus
Political interference by China is now essentially a global phenomenon. In the Czech Republic, relations with Bejing are institutionalised in the 17 plus 1 framework. Their real impact is difficult to assess but they have already pitted the country's president against many other politicians and the public.
Germany and Italy’s migration schemes are simply ways to avoid uncomfortable truths
The issue of migrants entering Europe will dominate the European Parliament's upcoming session, but the proposals already put forward are simple remakes of previously failed plans for the migrant crisis, writes Faisal Al Yafai.
Will the government of Andrej Babiš survive again?
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš survived a no-confidence vote on 27 June, but his coalition government is torn by internal strife and appears to be nearer the end than at any point in its past 12 months in office.
Slovak president attacks Beijing’s human rights record
Slovakian president Zuzana Čaputová has criticised Beijing for not respecting human rights, during a visit by China's foreign affairs chief on Wednesday (10 July). Wang Yi was in Slovakia to discuss the involvement of the Visegrád Four in the Silk Road project.
Visegrad leaders claim victory in race for EU top jobs
The leaders of the Visegrad Four – Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia – were jubilant back home after they successfully blocked their arch-enemy Frans Timmermans from winning the European Commission presidency.
How Czech media reported about the largest protest since 1989
Europeans were stunned by the magnitude of the protests in Prague on Sunday (23 June): reportedly 250,000 people demanded Prime Minister Andrej Babiš to step down over allegations of graft. But what was even more stunning is the way the Czech media reported about them.
Lithuanian FM: Russian threats are real and should be taken seriously
Although there are no direct Russian threats to Lithuania, there are insecurities in the region and militaristic arguments used in political debates, which must be taken seriously, Lithuania's foreign minister told EURACTIV Croatia in an interview.