About: Visegrad countries
Four eastern EU states to discuss top jobs, keen to boost their influence
The leaders of Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic will discuss in Budapest on Thursday (13 June) potential candidates for top jobs in the European Union coming up for grabs shortly, in a sign of regional coordination by the so-called Visegrad Four.
Visegrad4: From a provincial energy debate to joint action for renewables
The V4 group of countries ignores climate threats, attempts to extend fossil fuel burning, violates air pollution limits and undermines the development of renewable energies. The Visegrad+ Renewable Energy platform has been established to turn this trend around, writes Ada Ámon.
Visegrad countries fight to keep pace with e-mobility transition
Central Europe falls under the EU average of electric vehicle market penetration. But it doesn’t want to be left behind by the global trend, leaping into battery production and dreaming even bigger. EURACTIV's network partners report.
Mega infrastructure projects win over clean energy in Visegrad Four
In the Visegrad countries, decision makers prefer their historical favourites – coal and nuclear – to renewable sources and energy efficiency. As the Global Climate Action Summit resumes in San Francisco, it’s important to realise that corporate leadership can also shape the outlook for clean energy in Eastern Europe, writes Ada Ámon.
‘Controlled centres’ for migrants – not ‘hotspots’, say EU leaders
The European Council’s idea of “controlled centres” for migrants put forward in its conclusions is strikingly similar to the 2015 hotspots. EURACTIV.fr reports.
Migration set to overshadow eurozone reform debate at EU summit
The political crises in Germany and Italy are European and revolve around the debate on migration, which is set to overshadow other issues during the European Council in Brussels, on 28-29 June. EURACTIV.fr reports.
V4 no longer a role model for Eastern Partnership countries
Experts have warned that Visegrad countries, haunted by a wave of Euroscepticism and populism, can no longer aspire to be role models and “export” their experience with democratic transition to the Eastern Partnership countries. EURACTIV Slovakia reports.
Juncker will fight for ‘more Europe’ in post-Brexit EU
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will support "more Europe" for all members instead of a two-speed model that would split the bloc, a senior Commission official has said, refuting previous allegations.
Visegrád Group spells out its vision of EU’s future
The leaders of the Visegrád Group (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary) adopted yesterday (2 March) a joint statement on their input to the Rome Declaration, which will be adopted at the summit in the Italian capital on 25 March.
Visegrád readies attack against ‘double standards’ for food
The leaders of the Visegrád Group (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary) are meeting today (2 March) in Warsaw to discuss, among other things, food quality in Central and Eastern Europe.
Letta: If Le Pen wins, it’s ‘game over’ for EU
Former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta told an audience in Malta on Monday (27 February) that if the leader of the Front National wins the French elections, it would be "game over" for the EU. But there is a silver lining.
Commission and member states clash over capacity mechanisms
The European Commission fears that capacity mechanisms would just translate into subsidies for coal power plants. Therefore, installations exceeding emission limits should not take part in support schemes, according to a proposal under the Energy Union's Winter Package. EURACTIV Czech Republic reports.
Norwegian waste expert: Germany should lead, not slow down progress
The proposed 2030 waste targets are ambitious, but achievable, EURACTIV Slovakia learned from Henrik Lystad, deputy director of the Norwegian Association of Waste Management and chair of the European Compost Network.
Socialists and Democrats VP: Socialist ‘errors’ contributed to populism’s rise
S&D Vice-President Enrique Guerrero told EURACTIV Spain that he acknowledged the "political errors" made in the past that have contributed to populism's rise across Europe at the expense of socialism.
Balkan candidates hope to reinvigorate EU bids with new strategy
Enlargement has fallen off the EU’s list of priorities and the Union is more than likely to shrink before it grows again. But the Western Balkans are still aspiring EU members and a new strategy has been developed that hopes to put them back on Brussels’ immediate agenda.
Austria left disappointed by Bratislava
The 27 member states that attended the Bratislava summit all had different priorities. Austria seems to have left Slovakia without any real movement on any of theirs, as little has changed regarding Turkey’s membership bid and CETA. EURACTIV Germany reports....
Brexit: an opportunity to be exploited
As the referendum looms large on the horizon, there are two ways of facing the threat of Brexit: despondency or trying to make something positive out of the situation, writes Robert Cox.
Leaked Skopje letter exposes ‘closed borders’ coalition
EXCLUSIVE / A list of requests to protect external borders recently sent to several member states by the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has exposed the weaknesses of the group of countries blocking an EU-wide solution of the refugee crisis.
Germany accepted twice as many refugees as Visegrad group
Last year, Eastern European member states admitted less than half the number of refugees than Germany took in, despite the 11 countries having a combined population that eclipses that of the Bundesrepublik. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Hungary shows EU aid does not ‘buy’ solidarity for refugees
Neither financial aid nor economic strength may be sufficient to foment solidarity in tackling the refugee crisis, writes Solon Ardittis.