News

EU Commission agrees that German gas levy likely violates bloc rules

Newsbase March 7, 2024

The European Commission agreed at an energy ministers’ meeting in Brussels on March 4 that Germany’s levy on natural gas exiting its territory probably violates EU law.

Hungary threatens to block Dutch PM Rutte as new Nato chief

bne IntelliNews March 7, 2024

Hungarian delay in Sweden's Nato membership has already strained ties with allies, undermined the country’s credibility and reinforced views that Prime Minister Viktor Orban serves Russian interests.

Latvian government adopts €300mn eastern border defence plan

Linas Jegelevicius in Vilnius March 7, 2024

The Eastern border military strengthening and anti-mobility plan is part of the creation of the Baltic Defence Line involving all three Baltic states

Iran confiscates US oil by court ruling in sanctions case

bne Tehran bureau March 7, 2024

Iran confiscated $50mn worth of American crude from a tanker seized last year by order of a Tehran court.

Major Uzbek gas storage expansion project linked to Russian “stoligarch” and Putin friend Timchenko

Ben Aris in Berlin March 6, 2024

News investigation also sheds light on involvement of Uzbekistan energy tycoon Bakhtiyor Fozilov. Russia plans to up gas deliveries to Central Asian nation fivefold.

Fugitive Marsalek of bust fintech Wirecard hiding in Russia

bne IntelliNews March 6, 2024

Jan Marsalek, the former fugitive COO of the bust German payment provider Wirecard, has long collaborated with Russian intelligence services and continues to hide in Russia using three fake passports.

Ethnic Greek mayor’s conviction threatens to derail Albania’s EU accession process

bne IntelliNews March 6, 2024

Greek officials have warned for months that Albania risks jeopardising its EU accession progress if Beleri is not released.

Macron doubles down on idea of using Nato troops in Ukraine

Robert Anderson in Prague March 6, 2024

French president for a "strategic leap" in Western thinking on help to Kyiv.

Poland’s parliament delays work on changes to abortion law until after local elections in April

Wojciech Kosc in Warsaw March 6, 2024

Poland’s four-party coalition government is split on how far the changes should go.

Romanian hypermarket chain La Cocos expands in market dominated by foreign players

Iulian Ernst in Bucharest March 6, 2024

La Cocos reached €200mn turnover in 2023 and plans to more than double its number of stores in 2024-25.

Central Europe's top security conference moves to Prague amid pressure from Slovak cabinet

Albin Sybera March 6, 2024

Robert Fico's government is targeting Slovakia's strong roster of think-tanks, which he argues is part of the opposition campaign against him.

Bulgaria’s PM Denkov tables resignation of government

Denitsa Koseva in Sofia March 5, 2024

Resignation aimed at triggering rotation of prime ministers, stalled by dispute between Gerb and CC-DB.

Investors ramp up pressure on Turkey for more rate hikes

bne IntelliNews March 5, 2024

Calls follow latest inflation readout and warning from MIT economist that monetary policy is not tight enough to achieve the disinflation goal, with the benchmark still negative.

Azerbaijan demolishes Karabakh Parliament building

Ani Avetisyan March 5, 2024

Armenians say the demolition illustrates Baku's attempts to eradicate any evidence of the Armenian presence in Karabakh.

Turkish terminal freezes Russian oil business

bne IntelliNews March 5, 2024

Mediterranean facility Dortyol recently sprung to attention when US senators claimed “masked Russian oil” supplied via facility even ended up in US warships.

Poland to push EU to ban food imports from Russia and Belarus

Wojciech Kosc in Warsaw March 5, 2024

Prime Minister Donald Tusk is going to ask the Polish parliament this week for a resolution calling on the ban of farm product imports from Russia and Belarus.

Beauty queens in public spat as Miss Ukraine accuses Miss Russia of pageant bribery

bne IntelliNews March 5, 2024

Beauty queens competing in Miss Europe 2024 have come to blows after the Ukrainian representative accused her Russian competitor of bribing her way to victory.

Hungarian government paid for regional online advertisement push in support of political allies

Albin Sybera March 5, 2024

Hungary’s advertisement campaign featured the headline “Hungary protects the EU from illegal migration”.

German foreign minister calls for faster EU enlargement to Western Balkans amid Russia threat

bne IntelliNews March 4, 2024

Annalena Baerbock says expansion of the EU to the Western Balkans has become a geopolitical necessity in light of Russia's "brutal imperialism".

Croatian PM Plenkovic announces spring general election

bne IntelliNews March 4, 2024

Plenkovic says the ruling HDZ is "full of self-confidence" ahead of election despite a series of scandals involving government ministers.

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