Europe has €56bn shortfall to meet Nato 2% of GDP spending pledge

European nations within Nato are facing a €56bn shortfall in meeting the alliance's defence spending pledge of 2% of GDP this year, the Financial Times reported on March 16.

Polish fashion giant LPP’s stock price collapses after sale of Russian business reported as faked

LPP fiercely denied the report, which knocked its stock price nearly 36% in one day.

Poland revives ties with Berlin and Paris in push to help Ukraine

The underlying premise of the summit was to acknowledge that stopping Russia in Ukraine now will come at a much smaller cost than having to stop it later at the EU's gates.

Former Fidesz insider draws tens of thousands for protest against Orban regime

Magyar drew an estimated 30-40,000 people, compared to Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s 20,000 on day of commemoration of 1848 revolution.

Support for Nato membership falls sharply in Southeast Europe

Under half of Montenegrins now back Nato membership, and only 33% would help another member in case of attack.

Hungarian government may reconsider amendments to Central Bank Act

Government may be preparing to retreat due to reactions in the financial markets to perceived threat to central bank independence.

Former Fidesz insider calls political rally to topple Orban

Peter Magyar, who burst into the public eye over the Fidesz paedophile pardon scandal, has made incendiary comments about the inner workings of the government.

Hungary signs agreement with UAE on construction of €5bn city centre 'mini-Dubai' in Budapest

The plan would transform a 130-hectare train station yard in a northern part of the capital into a new city quarter with tourism, economic, business and sports functions.

Tusk schedules Ukraine summit with Macron and Scholz

The so-called Weimar Triangle has sprung back to life under the Polish premier after an eight-year lull under the previous government of Law and Justice.

Navalny chief of staff attacked with hammer

Leonid Volkov, the former chief of staff of Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny, was violently assaulted near his residence in Vilnius on March 12.

Hungarian government abandons 4% growth target

Hungary’s economy contracted 0.9% in 2023, ranking the country among the laggards in the EU.

Opposition attacks Slovak government plan to reconstruct public broadcasters

A new Slovak television and radio broadcaster is to be set up in place of RTVS, with a board appointed partly by the government and partly by parliament.

Hungarian central bank accuses government of trying to curb its independence

Economists say the infighting within the Orban regime is unnerving investors and hurting the currency, given the ongoing freezing of EU funds because of its violations of the rule of law.

Hungarian foreign ministry summons US ambassador over Biden's 'dictatorship' comments

Poland’s central bank split over allegiance to Glapinski in face of government pressure to remove him

Rate setters divide along political lines over a vote on a resolution in support of the governor.

Record Czech poll support for ANO as its leader adopts Kremlin-appeasing narrative

Leaked emails reveals how former premier wanted to target foreign minister's family.

Orban pays fealty to Trump at Mar-a-Lago

"The world would be better, and it would be better for Hungary if President Donald Trump returned to power," Hungarian premier declares.

Czech president says finance for Ukraine ammunition secured

Czech initiative to buy ammunition from third countries follows failure of EU to provide promised 1mn rounds from within the bloc.

Farmers’ rally clashes with police in front of Polish parliament

Farmers want the EU to bin the Green Deal and end the imports of Ukrainian agricultural products, which, they claim, has depressed prices on the Polish market.

Poland’s government sets out programme to fix rule of law

The European Commission has said that EU payouts will be unblocked once Poland restores the rule of law, which was compromised by the PiS government.