Central Europe / News
Czech president says Ukraine unlikely to reclaim occupied territories
Czech President Petr Pavel has said Ukraine will not be able to liberate its Russian-occupied territories in the near future, and that it is unfair to pressure Kyiv to give them up, Interfax reported on August 5.
China’s BYD entry to Slovak market boosts EV sales
The entry of China’s BYD on the Slovak market is boosting the sale of electric vehicles (EVs), according to industry experts.
Polish manufacturing downturn eases in July but remains steep
Business conditions in Poland’s manufacturing sector continued to deteriorate in July, though at a slower pace than the month before.
Slovenia announces imposition of arms embargo on Israel
Slovenia imposed an embargo on exports, imports and transit of arms to Israel, becoming the first European country to take such action, Prime Minister Robert Golob announced following a government session.
Lithuanian PM Paluckas to step down amid allegations of shady business dealings
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda confirmed on the morning of July 31 that the Social Democratic Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas is stepping down, following a series of controversies and possible law infringements.
Hungary U-turns on EU defence loan scheme as it joins €150bn defence financing initiative
Hungary has reversed its earlier opposition and joined 17 other EU member states in applying for loans under the European Union’s €150bn defence financing initiative, the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme.
Poland sees biggest ice cream output rise in EU, Eurostat says
Weather in Poland might be freaky this year – the country has been a cold-ish blob in the otherwise red-hot European heatwave in July – but local ice-cream producers are not complaining.
Polish regulator wheels out greenwashing charges against major courier companies
Polish logistics services giants Allegro, DHL, DPD and InPost have misled consumers with false environmental claims, Poland’s competition regulator UOKiK said.
PiS leads new Polish party poll as key government party drops in ratings after cabinet reshuffle
Poland’s radical right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party received 28.3% support in a United Surveys poll released on July 28, putting it ahead of Civic Coalition (KO), the main party of the incumbent coalition government, which dropped to 25.8%.
Facebook political ad ban threatens to upend Fidesz's digital strategy
Fidesz, which has consistently outspent its political rivals in the digital arena, may soon see its competitive edge erode as Meta plans to suspend all political advertising on Facebook and Instagram across the European Union from this autumn.
Estonia invites US defence chief Pete Hegseth to take a dip in icy winter training
Estonia’s Minister of Defence, Hanno Pevkur, extended a rather brisk invitation to US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth – to join Nato troops for a winter training exercise and take a dip in an icy lake.
Hungarian government bans Irish hip hop group Kneecap from entering Hungary ahead of Sziget Festival
Hungary has barred members of Irish hip-hop group Kneecap from entering the country for three years, citing "repeated anti-Semitic hate speech supporting terrorism." The band was scheduled to appear at the annual Sziget Festival in two weeks.
Viktor Orban vows to block next EU budget in keynote speech in Transylvania
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban repeated his threat to block the next long-term EU budget and argued for a multi-speed Europe, while criticising the EU for supporting Ukraine in his annual keynote address at the Baile Tusnad summer university.
Czech police press charges against leader of far-right opposition SPD party
Police pressed charges against Tomio Okamura following the investigation into SPD’s last year’s anti-immigration campaign.
Hungary holds trilateral talks on construction of new oil pipeline to Serbia with Russia
Hungary and Serbia are moving ahead with plans to build a new cross-border oil pipeline that could transport up to 5mn tonnes per year of crude, as both countries deepen energy ties with Russia despite EU sanctions.
Budapest Airport reports record passenger and cargo traffic in June
Passenger numbers at Budapest Airport rose 15% year on year to 9.07mn in the first half, which roughly matches the full-year total recorded a decade ago. Last month, the airport hub registered a record 1.7mn passengers, up 9% y/y.
Tusk unveils cabinet shake-up to regain footing after presidential election setback
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced a government reshuffle on July 23 in a bid to regain political momentum following the opposition’s victory in the presidential election in June.
Hungarian policymakers concede 2.4% growth target out of reach
Hungarian policymakers have conceded that the economy stagnated in Q2 and that full-year growth, even in the base case scenario, could only reach 1%, in line with market consensus.
Hungarian central bank holds rate steady at 6.5%
The Hungarian National Bank kept its key interest rates unchanged at 6.5% on July 22, maintaining a tight monetary policy stance amid persistent inflation risks and heightened global uncertainties.
Serbia and Hungary advance plans for joint oil pipeline by 2027
Planned 128-kilometre pipeline will link Serbia to the Druzhba pipeline network via Hungary.