Central Europe
Europe’s ambitious but uncertain future on show at Bratislava forum
As Globsec’s 2019 forum in Bratislava kicked off earlier this week, EURACTIV went along to listen to world leaders from politics, civil society and business on the Future of Europe. Here we present a summary of the main talking points in the field, across the first two days.
V4 in the EU: neither blocking minority nor agenda-setter
Fears in Berlin of the Visegrad Four acting as a blocking minority on EU dossiers has softened. Instead, German policy-makers and analysts are trying to identify common ground between Germany and the V4, writes Anna-Lena Kirch.
Russia angry at Poland over WWII anniversary snub
Russia expressed anger on Wednesday (20 March) that President Vladimir Putin has not been invited to ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of the start of World War II in Poland later this year.
Polish PM cancels trip to Israel in wake of comments on Poles in Holocaust
Poland’s prime minister has cancelled a trip to Israel in the wake of reported remarks made by his Israeli counterpart suggesting Polish complicity during the Holocaust, an aide in his office told Polish media on Sunday (17 February). A government...
Hungary warns Pompeo against Western ‘enormous hypocrisy’ toward Russia
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo voiced hope Monday (11 February) that renewed American engagement with Hungary's Viktor Orbán would help steer the increasingly authoritarian leader away from Russian and Chinese influence.
Pompeo begins tour in long-overlooked central Europe
When Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visits Hungary, Slovakia and Poland this week he wants to make up for a lack of US engagement that opened the door to more Chinese and Russian influence in central Europe, administration officials say.
Why do foreign investors leave Bulgaria as if it were the Titanic?
Despite being one of the most beautiful countries in the European Union, despite having talented and educated people, despite a favourable tax environment, Bulgaria is likely to stay as the poorest in the EU, and to continue losing its population, writes Blaga Thavard.
Visegrad Four to hold first summit abroad… in Jerusalem
The leaders of Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia will hold the first summit of their Visegrad grouping in Jerusalem, a move which looks like a slap in the face of the EU at a time the Union tries...
Hungary to shun Italian-led eurosceptic alliance, stick with EPP
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's ruling Fidesz party will not join a eurosceptic alliance spearheaded by Italy in the run-up to European Parliament elections despite their common hard line on immigration, a government official said on Wednesday (30 January).
Far-right protest overshadows Auschwitz camp liberation commemoration
Dozens of Polish far-right nationalists gathered at the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland on Sunday (27 January) at the same time as officials and survivors marked the 74th anniversary of the camp's liberation in an annual ceremony.
France and Germany to sign Élysée 2.0 treaty
France and Germany have pledged to strengthen their alliance and deepen a bilateral post-war reconciliation treaty in a bid to show that the EU's main axis remains strong and ready to counter growing Eurosceptic nationalism in the bloc.
Poland gets a pass as Romanian presidency struggles with rule of law approach
EU affairs ministers met in Brussels on Tuesday (8 January) for the first meeting of 2019 under the helm of the Romanian presidency. Rule of law matters, highly prominent in previous sessions, were off the agenda for the first time.
Poland to increase number of lobbyists in Brussels
Warsaw will create a lobbying centre for Polish entrepreneurs in Brussels to help them exert a greater influence on EU legislation. EURACTIV Poland reports.
Kazakhstan opens doors to new foreign investment
The President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev has re-shuffled the cabinet, appointed a new foreign minister and given this ministry new powers and responsibilities, especially for attracting new foreign investment.
Mussels, health, and Baltic tourism. What do they have in common?
Initiatives like the Baltic Sea Region combine the unusual and predictable in developing people’s sense of shared responsibility for the development of their home regions, writes Jerzy Kwieciński.
Orbán exempts pro-government behemoth media group from scrutiny
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has exempted a mammoth pro-government media group from scrutiny by the national competition watchdog, according to a decree published late on Wednesday (5 December).
Slovak foreign minister’s resignation over Migration Pact puzzles political scene
Slovak President Andrej Kiska is taking “time to think” about Foreign Affairs Minister Lajčák's resignation. The long-serving pro-European career diplomat, Lajčák said he was stepping down after the Parliament’s refusal of the UN migration compact last week. EURACTIV Slovakia reports.
Czech MEP Niedermayer: Politics is more aggressive, social networks are to blame
The Czech attitude towards the eurozone is only a small part of a bigger problem called “searching for the right approach to the EU”, says Czech MEP Luděk Niedermayer (EPP).
Czech PM probe damages country and EU, MEP Grassle says
The ongoing investigation into Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’s possible conflict of interest damages the Czech Republic and harms the EU as well, MEP Ingeborg Grässle said, revealing that the inquest has almost drawn to a conclusion. EURACTIV.cz's media partner Aktuálně.cz reports.
The Swiss-EU ‘bilateral way’: an inspiring option?
The Brexit discussion has shed a new light on the relations the EU has with non-member states. Switzerland and the EU are currently reinforcing the bilateral way by negotiating new bilateral agreements.
In rare coordinated move, Western envoys seek meeting on Xinjiang concerns
A group of 15 Western ambassadors in Beijing, spearheaded by Canada, are seeking a meeting with the top official in China’s restive, heavily Muslim Xinjiang region for an explanation of alleged rights abuses against ethnic Uighurs.
Seehofer to step down as CSU chair
Germany's Federal Minister of the Interior, Horst Seehofer, wants to imitate Angela Merkel and give up his position as party chair. It remains unclear whether he will be able to keep his ministerial post in the long term. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Can Germany’s Grand Coalition survive Merkel’s withdrawal?
The German Chancellor Angela Merkel will be handing over the CDU chair, which will have an impact on the governing parties, the CDU, the CSU and the SPD. The coalition government is shaking. EURACTIV Germany’s media partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.