Central Europe / News
Ukrainian drone strikes Kazakhstan’s main oil export pipeline route in Russia
Attack comes on same day Hungarian and Kazakh top diplomats back idea of Ukraine conflict talks between Putin and Trump.
Poland’s Tusk warns European allies against making “empty promises” to Ukraine again
Europe must not make “empty promises” on security to Ukraine again, Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk told reporters on February 17 just before flying to Paris for an emergency meeting of key European allies.
Hungarian e-commerce platforms falling behind regional peers on local turf
The Hungarian e-commerce market grew by 15% to HUF1.92 trillion (€4.8bn) in 2024, while sales generated by Hungarian and EU-based retailers increased at a slower pace, rising 10% to HUF1.6 trillion.
Hungary's opposition leader kicks off campaign at Tisza Party’s first congress with sweeping reform pledges
Peter Magyar, the leader of the opposition Tisza Party, delivered a scathing critique of the current political establishment and presented some clues to his party's election programme, with a focus on tackling the cost-of-living crisis.
Poland navigates alliance with US amid Trump’s diplomatic shake-up
Poland reaffirmed the long-standing commitment to its alliance with the United States as newly appointed Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth visited Warsaw on February 14 – his first bilateral trip since taking office.
Poland to play key role in EU Paris meeting to counter Trump’s Ukraine talks exclusion
Poland was the poor second cousin to its EU peers when it first joined the EU two decades ago. But a flourishing economy, its frontline position and growing military might means it’s been promoted to the top table in EU affairs.
Iraqi migrants face trial in Russia after EU-border jump to Latvia
Twenty-three men from Iraq's Kurdistan Region are awaiting trial in Russia following their detention at European Union borders, with one illegal migrant reportedly dying in custody.
Iraqi PM visits Czechia amid arms and security diversification push
Baghdad Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani arrived in Prague on February 13 for official talks focused on military deals.
BMW sets date for launch of serial production at Hungarian plant
Serial production at BMW's €1bn plant in Debrecen, eastern Hungary, will start in the autumn, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto announced on February 13 after meeting with company executives.
Progressive Slovakia maintains lead as Fico pushes to keep his coalition together
The largest opposition party, centrist Progressive Slovakia, is maintaining its lead (24.6%) in the latest poll, by NMS Market Research, ahead of populist Smer.
German automotive industry crisis hits Hungarian suppliers
German-based automotive supplier ZF Hungary has announced plans to axe 110 jobs at its Hungarian base, citing the downturn in the European automotive sector and declining orders.
Viktor Orban breaks taboo by hosting AfD’s Alice Weidel in Budapest, analysts react
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban defied a long-standing taboo by inviting Alternative for Germany co-leader Alice Weidel for an official meeting in Budapest.
Hungary's leading fertiliser producer seeks bond payment deferral amid financial struggles
Hungary's largest fertiliser producer Nitrogenmuvek is proposing a 2-3 year delay to bondholders in repaying the $200mn corporate bonds due to mature in May 2025,
Hungary marks the first anniversary of Clemency-Gate and the ascent of opposition leader Peter Magyar
Hungarian opposition leader Peter Magyar is commemorating the first anniversary of the social media post that sparked his political transformation, propelling him from an insider within the Fidesz ecosystem to Viktor Orban’s foremost challenger.
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Student protests spread across the Balkans
Student protests have broken out in Bosnia and Slovenia, with demonstrators rallying in support of protests in Serbia as well as on local issues.
Hungary's Economy Minister hints at reintroducing price caps amid rising inflation
National Economy Minister Marton Nagy in a social media post on February 10 has hinted that the government may reintroduce price caps to protect households from rising prices.
Slovak populist PM Fico congratulates Musk on dismantling USAID
Slovakia’s populist Prime Minister Robert Fico has congratulated Elon Musk on dismantling the United States Agency for International Development and called on Musk to share information with him about USAID funding in Slovakia.
Viktor Orban references ‘great replacement’ and ‘Reconquista’ in speech at European radical right-wing gathering
The summit of the Patriots for Europe group in Madrid was a huge demonstration of strength, a powerful parade of troops from a new European right, according to Fidesz commentators after the gathering of radical-right-wing, Eurosceptic parties.
Kaliningrad becomes an energy island after Baltic States cut Russian grid connection
The Russian exclave on the Baltic Sea has become an energy island after the Baltics States cut themselves off from the Soviet-era BRELL power grid on February 8, thus becoming vulnerable to sanctions.
Hungary’s atomic energy watchdog orders partial halt of construction at Paks NPP expansion site after incident
Hungary's National Atomic Energy Authority has ordered a partial halt to construction at the Paks II nuclear power plant after a section of the southern wall of the excavation pit collapsed.