Central Europe / News
Austria and Slovenia advocate qualified majority voting to unblock EU enlargement
Dropping unanimity requirement could accelerate the accession process for Ukraine, Moldova and potentially Western Balkans, but faces opposition from within the EU.
Poland and Baltic states deride former German chancellor Merkel for Ukraine war comments
Angela Merkel’s comments on Eastern European resistance to her diplomatic overtures towards Moscow before Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine triggered strong reactions in Poland and the Baltic states.
Rifts on show at EU-Western Balkan summit in Albania
Differences apparent over EU reform as well as friction between Serbia and Kosovo.
Babiš in talks with far-right and anti-green parties after Czech election win
Prague is likely to get the most Eurosceptic government yet seen as ANO leader Andrej Babis confirms talks with far-right SPD and anti-green, Eurosceptic Motorists for Themselves.
Donald Trump nominates Orthodox Jewish businessman as ambassador to Hungary
Landa is the son of parents who emigrated from Czechoslovakia after WWII, where his father had served as a rabbi. In a 2010 speech, he described his family as having Hungarian Hasidic roots.
Russia destroys Polish fashion retailer LPP's warehouse in Lviv
Warsaw-listed LPP says cooperation with multiple logistics providers means deliveries to Ukrainian stores will continue without interruption.
Leaders of Hungary and Slovakia hail Babiš’ election victory in Czechia
Hungary’s Victor Orban and Slovakia’s Robert Fico have repeatedly clashed with fellow EU members on support for Ukraine and more broadly on the bloc’s values, and hope for an ally in ANO leader Andrej Babiš.
Populist ANO takes landslide victory in Czechia's parliamentary election
Billionaire ex-prime minister Andrej Babiš' ANO is poised to make a powerful comeback and form what could be the most eurosceptic cabinet Czechia has yet seen.
Hungarian PM isolated at EU summit over Ukraine stance
Victor Orban's sharply critical stance on a proposal to finance aid to Ukraine from frozen Russian assets contrasted with the positions of fellow EU leaders.
Ukraine warns Poland over President Nawrocki’s bill targeting nationalist symbols
Ukraine will be “forced to take retaliatory measures” if Poland passes a bill equating Ukrainian nationalist movement with Nazism and communism, Ukrainian historians.
Hungary has world's second-largest LEGO plant after €140mn expansion
Danish toy maker LEGO's expansion of its Hungarian base boosts production by 30%.
Orban says ‘Hungary can't be circumvented' on Ukraine EU accession
Ukraine's accession procedure to the European Union cannot be opened through "legal tricks" circumventing Hungary, PM Viktor Orban tells journalists at EU summit in Copenhagen.
Protests intensify against Lithuanian culture minister exposed in viral sauna video
Lithuania’s cultural community has vowed to press ahead with protests over the government’s decision to hand the culture ministry to the radical right Nemunas Dawn party.
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EU presses ahead with December signing of divisive Mercosur deal
The European Commission is gearing up to sign its contentious trade agreement with South American bloc Mercosur on December 5 in Brazil, possibly sealing the fate of an accord that has languished in negotiations for more than a quarter-century.
Orban dismisses Ukraine drone incursion as “it is not a sovereign state”
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban dismissed allegations that Hungarian drones violated Ukrainian airspace last week as irrelevant even if they had, as “Ukraine is not an independent, sovereign country”, he said in an interview.
Croatian PM angrily rejects Hungarian accusations of war profiteering
"We're the good guy," says Andrej Plenkovic after Hungarian foreign minister claims Zagreb is profiting from disruptions in Russian supplies.
Slovakia adopts PM Fico’s amendments enshrining two genders in constitution
The constitutional changes, which include limiting who can adopt children, may put Slovakia at odds with EU norms on equality.
European diplomats warn Kremlin that Nato is prepared to shoot planes over its airspace
European diplomats warned the Kremlin that Nato is prepared to shoot down any Russian fighter jets that violate their airspace, as military tensions between the EU and Russia continue to mount.
Lithuanian government confirmed despite outrage over minister’s half-naked dance video
Protests erupt after viral video shows incoming Culture Minister Ignotas Adomavicius dancing lewdly in a hot tub.
Slovenia bans Israeli PM Netanyahu
Slovenia imposes ban as debate intensifies within the EU over how to respond to Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank, where humanitarian conditions have deteriorated sharply.