Central Europe

the co-operation of Poland, France, and Germany has recently gained renewed momentum with a more progressive government in Poland, a new French Foreign Minister who auspiciously added „European Affairs“ to his title, and a German Federal Government that enshrined trilateral cooperation in its coalition treaty
22-04-2024

Germany, Poland and France: Recasting a Green Weimar Triangle

Est. 5min

The current geopolitical context is pushing the Weimar Triangle of France, Germany and Poland to prioritise defence and security. On the occasion of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 22 April, NGOs, think tanks, and businesses argue that a 'Green …

08-03-2024

Slovakia faces increasing isolation as allies exclude it from Ukraine meeting

Est. 4min

France organised a follow-up teleconference bringing together foreign and defence ministries to discuss the war in Ukraine. However, they 'learned their lesson' and did not invite Slovakia meeting because of its pro-Russian stance.

28-02-2024

Visegrad Four Group lives on despite opinion split over Russia’s war on Ukraine

Est. 4min

Despite tensions and increasingly diverging opinions over key issues such as Russia's war in Ukraine, the Central European Visegrad Four (V4) Group has so far managed to live on.

02-10-2023

The Brief – Slovak elections: Shape of things to come?

Est. 6min

The victory of anti-liberal pro-Russian leader Robert Fico in the general elections in Slovakia is perceived as a shock across the EU, apart from in Hungary, where Viktor Orbán welcomed the incoming prime minister to be at his side at EU summits.

22-11-2022

Kazakhstan rejects OSCE criticism of presidential election

Est. 2min

Kazakhstan has dismissed international criticism of its presidential vote, in which incumbent Kassym-Jomart Tokayev secured a landslide re-election victory.

Central Asia 18-11-2022

Kazakhstan tells EU: We can supply all 30 critical raw materials you need

Est. 4min

Officials from Kazakhstan told a Brussels audience on Thursday (17 November) that the resource-rich country in the near future be able to offer all the 30 critical raw materials the Union needs, according to a list adopted in 2020.

23-08-2022

Kazakh crude exports hit by Russian terminal repairs

Est. 4min

Russian and Kazakh oil exports via the Caspian Pipeline Consortium's (CPC) Black Sea terminal face at least one month's disruption each once repairs begin on two of its three single mooring points (SPMs), CPC confirmed on Tuesday (23 August).

Global Europe 13-06-2022

WTO chief says ‘cautiously optimistic’ ahead of high-stakes meet

Est. 5min

The World Trade Organization chief voiced cautious optimism Sunday (12 June) as global trade ministers gather to tackle food security threatened by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, overfishing and equitable access to Covid vaccines. Speaking just hours before the opening of the …

Europe's East 28-02-2022

Russia’s war in Ukraine triggers U-turn in Germany’s foreign policy thinking

Est. 4min

The German government has broken with its long-standing tradition of its foreign and security policy that was rooted in ‘peace’ diplomacy and reserved defence spending and termed the Ukraine war to be a “turning point” in its policy approach.

07-10-2021

Kazakh official: The Taliban are no threat to Central Asia

Est. 7min

It is necessary to create conditions for dialogue with the new government in Afghanistan, regardless of its political attitudes and ideologies. This is very important for both the Central Asian countries and the EU, Kazakhstan's Talgat Kaliyev told EURACTIV in an interview.

23-09-2021

The Brief, powered by EHFG — Vucic, Orban and the Putinisation of Europe

Est. 6min

The latest news is that Central European leaders signed a joint declaration today saying immigration should not be the answer to the EU’s demographic challenges and calling on the bloc to keep family policy under national jurisdiction. In other words, they want to have it their way.

09-07-2021

Afghanistan to feature high in Uzbekistan high-level connectivity conference

Est. 6min

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 …

17-11-2020

Hungary’s ‘Trump before Trump’ PM Orban faces US reset

Est. 4min

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.

09-10-2020

Kyrgyzstan president says ready to resign once new cabinet appointed

Est. 2min

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.

Global Europe 11-08-2020

Pompeo in Prague at start of central Europe visit

Est. 2min

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.

08-07-2020

Kazakhstan well poised to tackle digital learning but challenges remain

Est. 5min

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 prices …

07-07-2020

Nur-Sultan’s financial hub to be at heart of Kazakhstan’s recovery and greening

Est. 7min

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.

Energy 23-12-2019

Berlin expects US sanctions to slightly delay Nord Stream 2

Est. 3min

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).

20-12-2019

Uzbekistan holds first legislative polls under pro-reform leader

Est. 4min

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.

Energy 10-12-2019

US readies sanctions against Nord Stream 2 and Turkish Stream

Est. 3min

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.

Justice 06-12-2019

Polish reform erodes judicial autonomy: top court

Est. 2min

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.

05-12-2019

Did Hungary turn to the Russian Duma for support against Ukraine?

Est. 5min

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.

Global Europe 30-08-2019

Trump skips trip to Poland as hurricane approaches Florida

Est. 2min

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.

Politics 23-08-2019

The Czech president’s summer power play comes to an end

Est. 3min

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.