"OPB Politics Now" is a weekly podcast that takes a deep dive into the hottest political topics in Oregon and the Northwest. Every Friday, OPB’s political reporters and special guests offer in-depth analysis, discussion and insight into candidates, events and issues.
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Player FM - Internet Radio Done Right
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Το περιεχόμενο παρέχεται από το Res Publica Foundation. Όλο το περιεχόμενο podcast, συμπεριλαμβανομένων των επεισοδίων, των γραφικών και των περιγραφών podcast, μεταφορτώνεται και παρέχεται απευθείας από τον Res Publica Foundation ή τον συνεργάτη της πλατφόρμας podcast. Εάν πιστεύετε ότι κάποιος χρησιμοποιεί το έργο σας που προστατεύεται από πνευματικά δικαιώματα χωρίς την άδειά σας, μπορείτε να ακολουθήσετε τη διαδικασία που περιγράφεται εδώ https://el.player.fm/legal.
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The election has been decided, and Donald J. Trump is the United States’ 47th president. With 15 years of experience covering politics, Puck senior political correspondent Tara Palmeri is here to bring you all the latest news and developments from Trump’s second term, including her exclusive reporting and interviews with the smartest political brains to discuss all the latest developments from the front page to behind the scenes in Washington, D.C.
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True crime investigations from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Veteran legal affairs journalist Bill Rankin takes you inside the courtroom to break down the story and the criminal justice system. This award-winning series investigates Georgia’s most important cases with fact-based reporting. Season 10 will focus on the historic indictment of former President Donald Trump in Fulton County, Georgia, led by District Attorney Fani Willis. Co-hosted by senior reporter Tamar Hallerman and editor ...
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The Financial Times takes you into the corridors of power to unwrap, analyse and debate British politics with a regular lineup of FT correspondents and informed commentators. New episodes available every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Scheer Intelligence features thoughtful and provocative conversations with "American Originals" -- people who, through a lifetime of engagement with political issues, offer unique and often surprising perspectives on the day's most important issues.
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Tough decisions rattle us all to the core. But for our guests on One Decision— the choices they are up against can also shape history. No pressure! They take us through all of their doubts, emotions and—sometimes unexpected--consequences. A fresh take on foreign policy. Hear the former head of Mi6, Sir Richard Dearlove alongside international journalists as they analyse, interview, and discuss.
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Organizer and activist DeRay Mckesson explores news, culture, social justice, and politics with analysis from Kaya Henderson, De’Ara Balenger, and Myles Johnson. Then he sits down for deep conversations with experts, influencers, and diverse local and national leaders. New episodes every Tuesday.
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America’s premier Sunday morning public affairs program. For nearly 70 years, Face the Nation has sought to help audiences understand how current events affect their lives. Today, that mission remains the same. Hear moderator Margaret Brennan’s illuminating and informative interviews with elected officials, policy experts and foreign leaders. Face the Nation airs Sundays at 10:30 AM, ET on the CBS Television Network and at 12 PM, ET on the CBS News Streaming Network. Face the Nation is also ...
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Our weekly podcast from Politics Home discussing all the ups and downs in Westminster. Please subscribe and share - and keep up with all the latest news on PoliticsHome.com. Got a question for the team? news@politicshome.com.
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Hosted by CNN's Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, State of the Union features interviews with top newsmakers on politics and policy—covering Washington, the country, and the world.
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Player FM - Εφαρμογή podcast
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On August 20th, 1989, Lyle and Erik Menendez shot and killed their own parents. Until then, this Beverly Hills family had been a portrait of the American Dream. How did it go so wrong? To listen to all four episodes of 'The Menendez Brothers' right now and ad-free, go to IntoHistory.com . Subscribers enjoy uninterrupted listening, early releases, bonus content and more, only available at IntoHistory.com . If you or someone you know is in crisis, there is free help available at mhanational.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…
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Το περιεχόμενο παρέχεται από το Res Publica Foundation. Όλο το περιεχόμενο podcast, συμπεριλαμβανομένων των επεισοδίων, των γραφικών και των περιγραφών podcast, μεταφορτώνεται και παρέχεται απευθείας από τον Res Publica Foundation ή τον συνεργάτη της πλατφόρμας podcast. Εάν πιστεύετε ότι κάποιος χρησιμοποιεί το έργο σας που προστατεύεται από πνευματικά δικαιώματα χωρίς την άδειά σας, μπορείτε να ακολουθήσετε τη διαδικασία που περιγράφεται εδώ https://el.player.fm/legal.
Wojciech Przybylski and Staś Kaleta discuss Central European reactions to Donald Trump's victory, Radosław Sikorski vs Rafał Trzaskowski in the ruling party primaries for the 2025 presidential race and more from our latest Weekly Outlook.
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Μοίρασέ τοManage episode 449808372 series 2703267
Το περιεχόμενο παρέχεται από το Res Publica Foundation. Όλο το περιεχόμενο podcast, συμπεριλαμβανομένων των επεισοδίων, των γραφικών και των περιγραφών podcast, μεταφορτώνεται και παρέχεται απευθείας από τον Res Publica Foundation ή τον συνεργάτη της πλατφόρμας podcast. Εάν πιστεύετε ότι κάποιος χρησιμοποιεί το έργο σας που προστατεύεται από πνευματικά δικαιώματα χωρίς την άδειά σας, μπορείτε να ακολουθήσετε τη διαδικασία που περιγράφεται εδώ https://el.player.fm/legal.
Wojciech Przybylski and Staś Kaleta discuss Central European reactions to Donald Trump's victory, Radosław Sikorski vs Rafał Trzaskowski in the ruling party primaries for the 2025 presidential race and more from our latest Weekly Outlook.
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In this episode, we look at how democratic countries need to act when tackling illiberalism. We breakdown the Romanian government’s decision to ban far-right frontrunner Cǎlin Georgescu from the May elections, and then respond to a recent report titled ‘When Democrats Govern Undemocratically: The Case of Poland’ – with input from Matthew Boyse , the report’s author and a former senior foreign service officer under Donald Trump 1.0.…
In this episode, we break down regional reactions to the now infamous meeting between Donald Trump, JD Vance and Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Oval Office. We also look at why it was a mistake not to invite the Baltics to the Ukraine Summit in London.
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
In this episode, we break down election results in Germany, growing Trump administration pressure on Ukraine, as well as the EU’s upcoming Clean Industrial Deal. Wojciech Przybylski joins from the Yalta Conference in Kyiv , and we hear from special guest David Criekemans – a distinguished Professor of International Relations and Specialist in Geopolitics from Antwerp University.…
In this episode, we digest the outcomes of a chaotic Munich Security Conference, including reactions from around Central and Eastern Europe - and expectations for EU defence after an emergency summit in Paris.
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
This is the second episode of a two-part series, where we look at the hopes and fears of countries in Central and Eastern Europe regarding the potential outcomes of German elections on 23 February. It is hosted by Goran Buldioski and includes special guests Marzenna Guz-Vetter, Zuzana Lizcová , Péter Krekó , Tomás Strážay , Alina Inayeh , Vessela Tchernev a and Márta Pardavi . We hope you enjoy, and sign up for a number of online talks we’ll be running on the State of Germany after the elections by clicking this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfGJL5GkZbasArUcdi9yP3HuyBQxtT3FAMJTqHlsNf6YdmqxQ/viewform…
This is the first episode of a two-part series, where we look at the current relations between Germany and countries in Central and Eastern Europe ahead of German elections on 23 February. It is hosted by Goran Buldioski and includes special guests Marzenna Guz-Vetter, Zuzana Lizcová, Péter Krekó, Tomás Strážay, Alina Inayeh, Vessela Tcherneva and Márta Pardavi. Stay tuned for Part II, and sign up for a number of online talks we’ll be running on the State of Germany after the elections: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfGJL5GkZbasArUcdi9yP3HuyBQxtT3FAMJTqHlsNf6YdmqxQ/viewform…
In this episode, we look at a week of important gatherings on European defence, culminating with an Ursula Von der Leyen visit to Poland and the specially chosen port city of Gdansk. Related Weekly Outlook: https://visegradinsight.eu/eu-focus-on-security-in-gdansk-rutte-urges-war-readiness/
In this episode, we look at what to expect next in Slovakia in the wake of country-wide demonstrations – which saw 100,000 Slovaks protest against the government of Robert Fico – and ahead of another upcoming motion of no-confidence. We are joined by special guests Beata Balogová , editor-in-chief of SME daily, one of the most popular broadsheets in Slovakia, and Rasťo Kužel , a media and election expert and director at MEMO 98. Click here to read the related Weekly Outlook: https://visegradinsight.eu/from-freedom-square-to-europe-civil-society-rises-against-slovakias-pro-russian-turn/…
In this episode, we break down the Central European response to Donald Trump’s inauguration and why economic security will dominate much of this year and beyond.
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
1 NATO Baltic Meeting: Shadow Fleet, Eco-Sec Risks, Greenland Powerplay and Dragon-Bear Privateers? 21:04
In this episode, we explore the run-up to Donald Trump’s inauguration on 20 January, including the Baltic response to his comments on Greenland, and the Biden administration’s final US sanctions. We then look at growing signs that the Polish presidential race is heating up!
In this episode, we dive into Poland’s decision to uninvite Hungary from the gala opening of its EUCO Presidency – and why this is about far more than a political spat. Read more in the Weekly Outlook: https://visegradinsight.eu/tusk-slams-door-in-hungarys-face-to-kick-off-eu-presidency/
In this episode, the hosts offer their account of the pitfalls and triumphs of European democracy in 2024 and look ahead to 2025 - the year that will test the European Democracy Shield initiative in the making. References: Our latest EU Values Foresight report https://visegradinsight.eu/eu-values-foresight/2024-shielding-european-democracy/ European Democracy Shield Needs Defence Posture - Policy Brief https://visegradinsight.eu/reports/…
In this episode, we delve into the murky waters of Democracy Information Manipulation and Interference (DIMI) in Europe. With Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's controversial trip to Moscow, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's meddling in Polish politics, and the traces of an illegal TikTok campaign in Romania, we ask the pressing question: who is the leading DIMI in Europe? Join us as we uncover the intricate web of political manoeuvres, foreign influence, and digital manipulation shaping the European political landscape. BONUS INTERVIEW: A conversation with Christian Lequesne, a renowned French professor from SciencesPo about the importance of Paris embracing future EU enlargement. In this exclusive interview with Wojciech Przybylski, Lequesne proposes how to reframe the debate in France and the west of Europe.…
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
Visegrad Insight editors Wojciech Przybylski and Staś Kaleta break down Viktor Orbán and Robert Fico’s recent dive into geopolitics and peace talks – and how long their influence might last. European Enlargement Fellow Jan Farfal then interviews Erik Jones, Director of the Robert Schuman Centre at the European University Institute, on EU strategy for the return of Donald Trump. Read the interview here: https://visegradinsight.eu/a-win-win-strategy-how-europe-can-turn-trumps-trade-tariffs-into-cooperation/…
Visegrad Insight editors Wojciech Przybylski and Staś Kaleta look at the decision of Romania’s constitutional court to rerun the country’s presidential elections – through the lens of our recent ‘Shielding European Democracy’ report. They then break down the latest Weekly Outlook , including Sergey Lavrov’s first visit to Europe since February 2022, Volodymyr Zelensky’s trip to Paris and lots more.…
In this episode, we explore Romania's election campaign, discuss the dilemma between foreign and domestic interference with insights from the latest EU Values report ( Shielding European Democracy ) and welcome back Alina Inayeh , Marcin Król Fellow, after a brief hiatus. URL: https://visegradinsight.eu/eu-values-foresight/2024-shielding-european-democracy/…
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Visegrad Insight editors Wojciech Przybylski and Staś Kaleta break down our Weekly Outlook , including the surprise lead of a far-right candidate in Romania’s presidential elections, and the naming of presidential candidates in Poland. Europe Enlargement Fellow Jan Farfał then interviews Veton Surroi , a Kosovar Albanian publicist, politician and journalist, on the Western Balkans under Donald Trump 2.0 and more. URL: https://visegradinsight.eu/romanias-presidential-surprise-far-right-georgescu-or-pro-eu-lasconi/…
Visegrad Insight Editors Wojciech Przybylski and Staś Kaleta examine Warsaw’s place in European decision-making, what Joe Biden’s missile update changes for Ukraine, political dynamics in Slovakia - and the latest from our Weekly Outlook . URL: https://visegradinsight.eu/1k-days-of-war-poland-rallies-leaders-to-revamp-european-security/…
Wojciech Przybylski and Staś Kaleta discuss Central European reactions to Donald Trump's victory, Radosław Sikorski vs Rafał Trzaskowski in the ruling party primaries for the 2025 presidential race and more from our latest Weekly Outlook.
Visegrad Insight Editors Wojciech Przybylski and Staś Kaleta discuss Central European responses to Georgian elections, Donald Tusk's visit to Belgrade, the unofficial start of the 2026 election campaign in Hungary - and all the latest from our Weekly Outlook . URL: https://visegradinsight.eu/georgia-has-orbans-dream-come-true-eu-yet-to-respond/…
Visegrad Insight's Editor-in-Chief Wojciech Przybylski comments on voting results in Moldova, after Editor Staś Kaleta breaks down our Weekly Outlook – as the EU backs Donald Tusk’s migration plan, the Polish PM visits Belgrade and the V4 struggles to end its dependency on Russian oil. Then, Staś Kaleta and Stephanie Fenkart, Director at the International Institute for Peace , discuss the reality and direction of ‘peace’ negotiations and victory plans at the Europe Future Forum. URL: https://visegradinsight.eu/moldova-votes-for-eu-membership-but-will-russian-interference-stop-sandu /…
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Visegrad Insight Editor-in-Chief Wojciech Przybylski and editor Staś Kaleta break down Tusk’s decision to seek legal provisions for member states to temporarily suspend asylum rights – as well as more news from our Weekly Outlook . Then, Staś Kaleta and Srdjan Cvijić , President of the International Advisory Committee of the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, discuss Serbia, Kosovo and the Western Balkans’ accession prospects – ten years after the Berlin Process began. URL: https://visegradinsight.eu/border-control-tusk-wants-the-eu-to-withhold-some-asylum-rights/…
Visegrad Insight Editor Staś Kaleta met with Margus Kolga , Director General at Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, at the Europe Future Forum to discuss the new role of Kaja Kallas, how Estonia and Ukraine can lead digitisation in Europe, increasingly close Baltic-Polish relations and wider security in the region.…
Visegrad Insight sat down with Alicja Bachulska and Janka Oertel, two of Europe’s leading experts on China and co-authors of The Idea of China , a book published by the European Council on Foreign Relations, to discuss the significance of the EU’s decision on EV tariffs and its impact on the EU’s geoeconomic strategy. Wojciech Przybylski interviews them while Staś Kaleta narrates the most interesting points from our fresh weekly outlook: https://visegradinsight.eu/poland-votes-for-eu-autonomy-from-chinas-electric-cars-against-berlin-budapest-and-bratislava/…
How Europe should navigate a renewed conflict in the Middle East? Visegrad Insight sat down with Florence Gaub, Director of the Research Division at the NATO Defense College in Rome and an acclaimed security expert leading foresight-based analysis of international relations, to discuss the shifting geopolitical alignments and consequences of the Middle East on the brink of war.…
Visegrad Insight Editor Staś Kaleta sits down with Rosa Balfour, Director at Carnegie Europe, during the Europe Future Forum to discuss the rising far-right in Europe, the EU’s changing position in the world and the role enlargement has therein – as well as lots more from the latest Weekly Outlook . URL: https://visegradinsight.eu/austrian-far-right-victory-will-energise-central-european-nationalists/…
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Editor Staś Kaleta interviews Joséphine Staron , Director of Studies and International Relations at Synopia, to explore how France's new government, reliant on far-right support for a majority, may approach the EU's enlargement agenda.
Visegrad Insight Editor-in-Chief Wojciech Przybylski and Editor Staś Kaleta discuss differing opinions on Chinese EVs in central Europe ahead of a crucial vote this week, what the results of regional elections mean for Czechia – and lots more from the latest Weekly Outlook . url: https://visegradinsight.eu/a-fork-in-the-road-central-europe-split-on-chinese-ev-tariffs/…
Visegrad Insight contributing editor Albín Sybera sits down with Marcin Król Fellow Matej Šimalčík and Miroslava Pisklová , Research Fellow at the Slovak Foreign Policy Association, to discuss the bombshell dismissal of Michal Šimečka from his parliamentary post. He is then joined by Eduard Hulicius , Deputy Minister at the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs , to discuss Czechia’s EU portfolio and this week’s local elections. Both interviews were conducted at Visegrad Insight’s Europe Future Forum in Warsaw this week. Click here to read more about the portfolios: https://visegradinsight.eu/portfolio-decisions-poland-ready-to-lead-a-new-europe/…
Visegrad Insight Editor-in-Chief Wojciech Przybylski and Jacques Delors Centre Deputy Director Thu Nguyen discuss the prospects of EU enlargement over the next five years, ahead of our Europe Future Forum next week. Staś Kaleta then joins to discuss increasingly illiberal practices in Slovakia – and lots more from our latest Weekly Outlook .…
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Visegrad Insight editors Wojciech Przybylski and Staś Kaleta examine the ways in which autocrats from Poland, Hungary and Slovakia manipulate election processes, how Budapest has been helping to smuggle American equipment into Russia, why a Donald Tusk/Piotr Serafin duo could fill a vacuum in the EU – and lots more from our latest Weekly Outlook . URL: https://visegradinsight.eu/law-and-justice-election-fraud-what-next-from-cees-civil-society-oppressors/…
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Wojciech Przybylski and Miles R. Maftean explore how disinformation actors exploit loopholes to fuel their operations and profit financially. They also discuss the European Union's escalating efforts to combat this growing threat, from new regulations under the Digital Services Act to high-stakes battles with tech giants like Meta or Twitter.…
Wojciech Przybylski and Visegrad Insight editor Staś Kaleta break down coverage of the Nord Stream drama, as well as the latest on the Kursk incursion, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to CEE, protests in Bratislava – and all the latest outlined in our Weekly Outlook . Weekly Outlook url: https://visegradinsight.eu/indian-pm-modi-visits-warsaw-and-kyiv-amid-europes-internal-strengthening-efforts/…
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Visegrad Insight editor-in-chief Wojciech Przybylski and editor Staś Kaleta discuss several strategic narratives at play around the world, relating to shifts in focus from the Middle East to Ukraine, a Kamala Harris-Tim Walz duo, defence plans in Poland and much more – as outlined in our Weekly Outlook . As the Paris games come to a close, not without some controversies, also read about the most notorious Visegrad olympians in modern history – involved in silent protests, doping scandals, and gender controversies.…
Wojciech Przybylski talks with Visegrad Insight editor Staś Kaleta about several of the critical developments shaping CEE politics this week, including mixed responses to an international prisoner exchange, weaponisation of gender controversies at the Olympics, Ukraine’s diplomacy with the Global South and much more – as outlined in our Weekly Outlook .…
Wojciech Przybylski talks with Visegrad Insight Fellow and Central European correspondent for Die Welt Philipp Fritz about Hungary's decision to allow Russians and Belarusians into their 'national card' programme, which European defence experts warn could lead to increased espionage or destabilising actions against EU democracies.…
Join Wojciech Przybylski and bestselling author and historian Jason Steinhauer as they explore how digital and social networks have disrupted history, the ways autocrats around the world exploit these disruptions and strategies to combat these non-democratic tactics. Jason Steinhauer's book - History, Disrupted: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-85117-0 Website: https://www.jasonsteinhauer.com/…
Wojciech Przybylski talks with Hungarian journalist Viktória Serdült about PM Viktor Orbán's meetings with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping as well as his success in forming the Patriots for Europe group in the EU parliament.
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Galan Dall talks with Radu Albu-Comănescu , Lecturer in European Integration at the Babeş-Bolyai University, about the outcome of the French elections and what we can expect from this week's NATO summit in Washington.
Will there be a Mélenchon-isation in France; How deeply embedded are pro-Russian narratives in the DNA of the far-right? What will the outcomes of France's election mean for Central Europe? Wojciech Przybylski spoke with Isabelle Lasserre – the Diplomatic Correspondent of Le Figaro and Paul Taylor – Freelance columnist for The Guardian and a senior visiting fellow at the European Policy Centre about these questions and more. Click this link to subscribe and attend similar events: https://visegradinsight.eu/membership-levels/…
Pavel Macko , retired 3-star general, politician and analyst explains how security and political strategy can preserve democracy and freedom.
Wojciech Przybylski discusses with Marcin Król Fellow Alina Inayeh the impact of the Ukrainian Peace Summit as well as NATO's consideration of increasing their nuclear arsenal. Read Alina Inayeh's article: https://visegradinsight.eu/peace-eludes-burgenstock-key-takeaways-from-the-ukrainian-summit/
Galan Dall , Staś Kaleta and Luca Soltesz break down what the EP election results mean for Central Europe, explaining how Poland bucked the trend of surging far-right parties and why Hungary seems to finally have a viable alternative to the ruling Fidesz party. Then, Future of Ukraine Fellow Valeriia Novak explains which sectors of Ukraine's economy can strategically address existing gaps in Europe, focusing on agriculture, IT and raw materials. Valeriia Novak's article: https://visegradinsight.eu/ukraine-recovery-and-integration-even-more-beneficial-than-you-think/ Weekly Outlook: https://visegradinsight.eu/pro-russian-parties-surge-ahead-of-ukraines-recovery-and-peace-summits/…
Magda Jakubowska , Wojciech Przybylski and Galan Dall discuss the shifting European political landscape in the run-up to the EP elections as well as what challenges will face the next parliament and EU council. Then, Marcin Król Fellow Bart Wieliński breaks down the successes and failures of the current Polish government before outlining what steps still need to be taken to ensure a prosperous Polish democracy.…
Wojciech Przybylski talks with Marcin Król Fellow Matej Šimalčik on Xi Jinping’s tour of Europe, comparing it to his visit from five years ago as well as the differences between his reception in Paris, Belgrade and Budapest. Read Šimalčik's text on the visit here: https://visegradinsight.eu/xi-jinping-in-europe-what-makes-his-trip-so-special/ Read the related weekly outlook: https://visegradinsight.eu/tusk-and-ursula-plans-for-europe-against-russian-subversion/…
How Ursula von der Leyen's and Donald Tusk's "Plan for Europe" speeches addressed the security threats from Russia and other autocratic powers, but failed to address the issue of democratic security and enlargement. By Wojciech Przybylski and Galan Dall Recommended reads: Wojciech Przybylski on Ursula von der Leyen speech in Poland: https://visegradinsight.eu/ursula-mobilised-europe-against-the-virus-now-tasked-against-the-evil-quick-take/ Matej Šimalčik on Xi Jinping's European visit: https://visegradinsight.eu/xi-jinping-in-europe-what-makes-his-trip-so-special/ CEE democratic security dynamics this week: https://visegradinsight.eu/tusk-and-ursula-plans-for-europe-against-russian-subversion/…
Wojciech Przybylski and Albin Sybera discuss the differences between Czech and Polish countries in their 20-year history of EU membership. We also provide commentary on Sikorski's foreign policy priorities address and Macron's Sorbonne 2.0 speech. Links: Vladimír Špidla interview: https://visegradinsight.eu/if_not-for-the-european-union-central-europe-would-be-torn-between-germany-and-russia-interview/ Marek Suski: https://visegradinsight.eu/suski-affair-puts-a-lid-on-law-and-justice-election-campaign-quick-take/ Weekly Outlook - https://visegradinsight.eu/only-enlarged-eu-would-thwart-some-of-xi-jinpings-ambitions/…
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Wojciech Przybylski sits down with Maria Simeonova , programme coordinator the Wider Europe programme and ECFR's Sofia office, to discuss the potential impact of the new EU Strategic Agenda 2024-2029 as well as the new trajectories mentioned in the leaked version of the agenda which has additional focus on democratic security and enlargement. Links mentioned in the podcast: Cost of Non-enlargement report: https://visegradinsight.eu/costs-of-non-enlargement/ Europe Future Forum link: https://visegradinsight.eu/europe-future-forum-2024/ Outlook link: https://visegradinsight.eu/new-eu-strategic-agenda-to-sponsor-democratic-security-and-boost-enlargement/…
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Wojciech Przybylski moderates a discussion between Michaela Terenzani, SME's lead on the foreign news desk, and Eva Mihočková, Editor-in-chief of Foreign Policy SFPA and Marcin Król Fellow at Visegrad Insight, break down the results of Slovakia's presidential election where Peter Pellegrini won by tapping into the fears of the electorate and amplifying Moscow's disinformation narratives.…
For a number of weeks, Viktor Orbán has been on the defensive, an unprecedented development in in the past 14 years. Who is Péter Magyar and why does he generate massive interest today? And is it bad or good news for the opposition? Wojciech Przybylski interviews Bálint Ruff , a political strategist and a host of Vétó show on Partizán YouTube channel Recommended reading: https://visegradinsight.eu/new-political-geometry-boosts-europes-defence/…
Deputy Editor Adam Jasser talks to political scientist and Visegrad Insight Fellow Spasimir Domaradzki about the impact of the breakdown of Bulgaria's grand coalition in this special episode of our podcast.
Adam Jasser speaks with Paul Taylor , a freelance columnist for The Guardian and veteran Brussels think-tanker and journalist, about last week's EU summit. Key topics included the ongoing farmers' protests, as well as discussions on the prioritisation of defence matters on the agenda as leaders deliberated on how the EU could bolster its own industry while promptly extending aid to Ukraine.…
Adam Jasser and Staś Kaleta discuss the context behind last week’s meeting between Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz and Donald Tusk, how their visions for Europe compare to Viktor Orbán’s plans to “occupy” Brussels, as well as Russia’s sham elections.
Wojciech Przybylski and Adam Jasser discuss President Duda and PM Tusk's US tour to celebrate 25 years of NATO enlargement. It is the first co-habitation trip, showing a sense of unity is possible even in the polarised Polish political environment, which can be inspirational for the domestic disagreements between Democrats and Republicans in Washington. This is all occurring as Poland starts to conceive having NATO nuclear deterrents on their soil. Read https://visegradinsight.eu/is-poland-mulling-its-own-nuclear-deterrent/…
Wojciech Przybylski and Albin Sybera discuss the Slovak Constitutional Court's partial rejection of PM Fico's judicial overhaul as well as the meeting between the Slovak and Russian foreign ministers. Weekly Outlook - https://visegradinsight.eu/hungarys-forint-sinks-on-economic-gloom-and-orban-pressure-on-central-bank/…
Wojciech Przybylski and Galan Dall delve into the V4 summit in Prague, the 2nd anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and critical topics: securing Kyiv's success and the impact of US policy divergences on their strategic interests. Weekly Outlook: https://visegradinsight.eu/long-delayed-v4-summit-in-prague-unlikely-to-end-disunity/ Editorial: https://visegradinsight.eu/ukrainians-your-fight-is-our-fight-we-are-mutually-indebted-editorial/…
Wojciech Przybylski discusses with the former State Secretary on EU Affairs of Sweden, Lars Danielsson , how there can be a democratic and market-oriented, free liberal Europe without enlargement and how Poland's experiment with reversing illiberal state capture can be a paradigm for other countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Weekly outlook link: https://visegradinsight.eu/navalnys-killing-shows-putin-senses-leeway-as-us-wavers-over-ukraine/…
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
1 Hungarian Pardon for Paedophile Accomplice Rocks Budapest, President Resigns as Scandal Grows 34:31
Managing Editor Galan Dall interviews Budapest-based political journalist and Visegrad Insight Fellow Iván László Nagy about the unfolding scandal which has pierced the Fidesz-regime's propaganda bubble and led to President Novak's resignation. For more information, follow this link: https://visegradinsight.eu/hungarian-president-katalin-novak-resigns-the-full-story-behind-the-pardon-scandal/…
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
In a special episode of Visegrad Insight, Adam Jasser talks to Zsolt Darvas , a renowned economist from Breugel, about the prospects of eurozone membership for the leading economies in CEE.
In today's episode, Galan Dall and Adam Jasser discuss reasons behind Hungary's surprising defeat at the EU summit over Ukraine funding, as Prime Minister Viktor Orbán seems to have finally lost all allies over his pro-Russian stance. Visegrad Insight editors also look at the broader implications of revelations that a Latvian member of the European Parliament is accused of being a long-standing Russian intelligence asset.…
Weekly outlook by Galan Dall and Albin Sybera: Israeli-style security guarantees likely to be offered to Ukraine at the NATO Summit in Vilnius, as well as a "pathway" for Ukraine to join the alliance. President Zelenskyy's trip through Central Europe (CE) not only showcased Ukraine's adeptness in combating Russian disinformation narratives, but his speeches suggest an awareness of how these campaigns are targeting elections in CE. Special guests - Editor-in-chief Wojciech Przybylski , Vice President Magda Jakubowska and Visegrad Insight Fellow Jan Farfal sit down with Visegrad Insight Fellow Pavel Havliček and Assistant to the Czech Deputy Minister of European Affairs Marek Bičan to discuss the urgency for EU enlargement.…
Weekly outlook by Galan Dall and Wojciech Przybylski : As Sweden hands over the EU presidency to Spain, the first stop for Prime Minister Sanchez is a visit to Ukraine. The deception and theatre of the Wagner group moving to Belarus continue, with an already tense situation on the border of Belarus with their forced migration actions into Latvia, Poland, and Lithuania. One week before the NATO summit in Vilnius, the question remains about what will be offered to Ukraine regarding security guarantees. Poland and Hungary joined ranks and vetoed the EU's proposal for asylum, despite the demographic challenges in each country — a breakdown of what this means for the Polish election cycle in the coming months. Special guest – Executive Assistant Agnieszka Homanska sits down with renowned British-Polish photographer Christopher Niedenthal to discuss some of his most famous photographs, from the Berlin Wall's fall to the Gdansk protests in 1989.…
Weekly outlook by Miles R. Maftean and Adam Jasser : Yevgeny Prigozhin's rebellion and subsequent exile in Belarus spotlight Putin's weakening grip on power, amplified by Russia's war with Ukraine. The shift towards Belarus' President Lukashenka's role, who resolved the rebellion and now hosts Prigozhin, exhibits his growing significance in Putin’s scheme. Amid this turmoil, Ukraine’s struggle to quickly access international reconstruction funds, along with Slovak President Čaputová’s decision not to seek re-election and Jarosław Kaczyński’s reappointment as Poland’s deputy prime minister, highlight the escalating political complexity in the region. Special guests – Marcin Krol Fellow Iván László Nagy sits down with political scientist Cat Mudde to discuss how Europe has incorporated populism rather than creating effective tools to mitigate its rise. Mudde highlights how the West’s promotion of liberal democracy is rooted in strategy, not ideology.…
Weekly outlook by Miles R. Maftean and Wojciech Przybylski : Poland and Hungary amplified their objection to an EU asylum deal, wrongly labelling it as imposed migration from south to central Europe. Polish leader Jarosław Kaczyński proposed a referendum on the value in an attempt to boost his struggling election campaign. However, a poll revealed that just a third of Poles backed his challenging position. At the same time, 42% would accept the deal if it included financial aid for many Ukrainian refugees residing in Poland. Germany unveiled its long-delayed national security strategy. Tactical nuclear weapons have been deployed to Belarus, and Putin mused the possibility of using them if the war in Ukraine "threatened Russia's territorial integrity". Special guests – Christopher Coker (Director, LSE Ideas) sits down with Editor-in-chief Wojciech Przybylski to discuss the situation between China and the West. They discuss the global struggle between democracy and autocracy in the global world.…
Weekly outlook by Adam Jasser and Miles R. Maftean : Ukrainian forces have breached Russian lines in a counter-offensive amid severe ecological warfare showcased by the Kakhovka dam explosion. Polish President Duda discussed NATO’s Ukraine offer with French President Macron and German Prime Minister Scholz in Paris. A pending EU court ruling on June 15th will decide the legality of certain pre-2008 foreign currency loans by Polish banks. Banks may face costly write-offs if declared abusive, although Polish regulators assure their financial resilience. Special guests – Sigita Struberga (Marcin Krol Fellow, LATO) and Matej Kandrik (Marcin Krol Fellow, Adapt Institute): Editor-in-chief Wojciech Przybylski sits down with our guests to discuss the Ukrainian counter-defensive and what this means for next month’s NATO summit in Vilnius.…
Weekly outlook by Miles R. Maftean, Wojciech Przybylski, and Agnieszka Homanska : We unpack how an estimated 500,000 demonstrators have stormed Warsaw and other Polish cities in a unified outcry against the PiS party's escalating authoritarian tendencies. These gatherings, unprecedented since communism's downfall over three decades ago, signal a pivotal moment in Poland's political history. As the tussle between the PiS and PO parties intensifies, we're witnessing a distinct political polarisation. This dynamic threatens to limit the country's political landscape, forcing both right-leaning and left-leaning factions to choose sides in a heated, two-camp arena. Special guest – Peter Balík (Minister for Investments, Regional Development and Informatization for Slovakia) : Live at Globsec, our conversation with Minister Balík provides valuable insights into Slovakia's strategic utilisation of EU funds. In the upcoming months, the interim government will grapple with significant challenges, including the energy crisis and the ripple effects of Ukraine's refugee crisis.…
Weekly outlook by Adam Jasser, Miles R. Maftean and Wojciech Przybylski: Poland’s controversial new law, dubbed “Lex Tusk,” allows a government commission to ban individuals from holding public office. This measure has raised alarm bells in EU capitals and Washington, as it potentially hinders opposition candidates from running in upcoming elections. Read more on this Lex Tusk law in Wojciech Przybylski’s latest piece on Visegrad Insight. An EU proposal to strip Hungary of its EU presidency due to concerns over the rule of law and its controversial stances on Russia and Ukraine may inadvertently strengthen certain anti-EU narratives, potentially influencing future European Parliament elections. Erdogan’s victory in Turkey shows how strong his hold on the country is and how powerful the rhetoric of “making Turkey great again” resonates with voters despite economic hardships. Read up on our foresight project on the future of EU 2024 Parliamentary Elections here.…
Weekly outlook by Miles R. Maftean and Wojciech Przybylski : The pull between unity in the EU and unilateral action continues, with Hungary blocking the ammunition package for Ukraine and saying it will veto the EU’s 11th sanctions package against Russia. Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy continues his tour in the far East where the larger community of democracies stands firm and backs Ukraine, this time delivering more fighter jets for the potential counter-offensive likely to occur this year. Special guest – Deborah Enix-Ross (President of the American Bar Association): The rule of law hinges on three critical elements - civics, civility, and global collaboration across the Atlantic. We sat down with the President of the American Bar Association to discuss her recent trip to Poland and the crucial role that all legal professionals play in upholding justice.…
The latest tremors are shaking the illiberal union of Hungary and Poland. Major European powers are ramping up their support for Ukraine, dramatically underscored by Germany's generous packages announced during President Zelenskyy's recent visit to Berlin. Tensions rise in the first round of the Turkish elections, with Erdogan maintaining a slight lead over his rival Kilicdaroglu, leading to a runoff election on 28 May. In the second part of our podcast, we discuss the labyrinth of autocratic politics in Turkey. Our Deputy Managing Editor, Adam Jasser , exchanges views with Humeyra Pamuk (Reuters). They delve into the resilience of autocratic leaders, using Erdogan's current precarious lead as a point of departure.…
The ongoing saga between the EU and Hungary over access to post-pandemic recovery funds continues. Hungary's legal tricks continue with complex judicial reforms added to a bill at the last minute. Historic elections are underway in Turkey. Tensions in the Polish ruling party coalition continue. In the second part of the podcast, Visegrad Insight's Agnieszka Homańska sits down with esteemed journalist Anne Applebaum to discuss the future of Crimea and democracy in the CEE region.…
Outrage and condemnation from CEE after Chinese Ambassador Lu Shaye claimed former-Soviet states do not exist. Poland’s nationalist government is becoming increasingly erratic on the domestic and international scene as opinion polls show it may find it hard to retain power in the October elections after angering farmers, a key electorate, over Ukrainian grain imports. In the second part of the podcast, Editor-in-chief Wojciech Przybylski and Marcin Krol Fellow Jan Farfal sit down with Samuel Ramani (Royal United Services Institute) to discuss the changes happening in Russia and how Russian policy has changed since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.…
EU rejects the bans on Ukrainian grain imports introduced by Poland and Hungary. Hungary and Poland have been on opposite sides of the spectrum of reactions to Russia's war on Ukraine but remain aligned on their internal challenge to EU institutions. Reports mount of a bipartisan US Congress bill being drafted to sanction leading political figures in the Orbán's government. Last week, the US sanctioned three of the IIB's officials, including Russian Chairman Nikolai Kosov and Hungarian Deputy Chairman Imre Laszlocki. In the second part of the podcast, Editorial Director Miles R. Maftean sits down with Filip Konopczyński (Panoptykon Foundation) to discuss the European way to regulate artificial intelligence and emerging technologies and of the amended EU AI Bill aimed at curbing this potentially dangerous revolutionary tool.…
The EU’s overall democratic security developments are impacted by the events in CEE countries. As the new EU Strategic Agenda is in preparation, the Visegrad Insight expert group scans for weak signals across multiple scenarios and recommends a relevant course of action. Editorial Director Miles R. Maftean and Deputy Managing Editor Adam Jasser discuss at length the first policy brief on the state of democratic security in the Visegrad countries as part of our Foresight on European Values and Democratic Security project co-funded by the European Union. European unity on defence and security in question. Security issues trump democratic security. Elections in Slovakia and Poland are on the horizon.…
Polish veto of the combustion engine ban. Eight PMs from CEE write an open letter against the CEOs of the largest social media companies to do more to fight disinformation. European cohesion with the ammunition plan for Ukraine. How the indictment of former President Trump looks for the CEE community. In the second part of the podcast, Marcin Krol Fellow Jan Farfal sits down with Nikola Dimitrov, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, to discuss the future of EU enlargement in the context of a Europe shaped by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.…
Russia says it will station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, a move seen in the West as yet another attempt at intimidation. Putin’s announcement seems to contradict the Russia-China statement from last week on the non-proliferation of nuclear arms. Putin visited his counterpart Xi Jinping and reports state that both sides made progress but did not conclude all agreements worth $165 billion. Berlin and Brussels has struck a deal for allowing the use of combustion engines. In the second part of the podcast, Editor-in-Chief Wojciech Przybylski sits down with Dalibor Rohac (American Enterprise Institute) to discuss the future of Europe and his latest book Governing the EU in an Age of Division . Rohac argues that a new approach is needed to the question of what the future holds for European peace - a more flexible and creative approach which involves picking and choosing attributes of the European project that can be extended to the Ukrainian project now.…
Wojciech Przybylski and Galan Dall discuss the mounting pressure on Hungary from the West, the fiction of Orbán and Fico's illiberal "alliance", as well as the roadblocks in the US Congress preventing funding for Kyiv's defence. https://visegradinsight.eu/chaotic-hypocrisy/ https://visegradinsight.eu/hungarys-isolation-deepens-before-eu-council-on-ukraine-funding/…
In today's podcast, Deputy Editor Adam Jasser talks to Professor Barbara Brodzińska-Mirowska , a leading Polish political scientist, about the rocky transition of power in Poland as the new government seeks to consolidate its power ahead of local and European elections in the spring.
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
Adam Jasser and Galan Dall discuss the backdrop behind last week's protests in Warsaw, how they compare against the growing grassroots demonstrations in Slovakia as well as what support Ukraine can expect from Europe in the coming weeks and months.
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
Adam Jasser and Galan Dall discuss what to expect from the EU Council President's resignation and how autocratic leaders share the same playbook in European and American democracies.
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
We discuss the outcomes of the historical EU summit, which decided to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. Hungarian leader Viktor Orban dropped his threat to block the decision, mainly because a change of government in Poland left him isolated in the EU. Check more info on future EU values agenda at our foresight project page: https://visegradinsight.eu/eu-values-foresight/…
Editors Galan Dall and Adam Jasser discuss the complexity behind Poland's delayed transition of power after the 15 October elections as well as the potential pathways forward for the new Polish government in obtaining the deeply sought-after transition funds. Then, Wojciech Przybylski discusses the role civic education can play in Europe with Caroline Hornstein Tomic , co-founder of THE CIVICS Innovation Hub. With the malign influence of growing revisionist powers increasing every year, it is the state of civic education which will determine the resilience of our societies. Link to Networking European Civic Education - https://nece.eu/nece-festival/programme-2023/ Link to EU Values Foresight - https://visegradinsight.eu/eu-values-foresight/…
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
1 Hungary's EU Presidency in 2024 Will Be Sidelined By EP elections 1:06:25
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Αναπαραγωγή αργότερα Αναπαραγωγή αργότερα Λίστες Like LikedEuropean Parliament elections and the haggling between EU political groups and governments over the leadership and priorities for the next four-year term will likely overshadow Hungary's EU presidency in the second half of 2024. This will reduce Budapest's impact on actual policy decisions. This podcast is part of our #EUvalues foresight which outlines four possible foresight-driven scenarios for EU strategic policy. These scenarios stem from developments in the democratic security, economic and security arenas, as well as the state of transatlantic relations. Click the link below to learn more and download the report. https://visegradinsight.eu/eu-values-foresight/ This podcast is co-funded by the European Union. The Foresight On European Values and Democratic Security programme is part of a 4-year framework partnership to support European networks, civil society organisations active at the EU level and European think tanks in Union values (CERV).…
Adam Jasser interviews Wojciech Przybylski about the release of a new report, How European Democracies Are to Survive a New Trump Age , which outlines four possible foresight-driven scenarios for EU strategic policy. These scenarios stem from developments in the democratic security, economic and security arenas, as well as the state of transatlantic relations. Click the link below to learn more and download the report. https://visegradinsight.eu/eu-values-foresight/ This podcast is co-funded by the European Union. The Foresight On European Values and Democratic Security programme is part of a 4-year framework partnership to support European networks, civil society organisations active at the EU level and European think tanks in Union values (CERV).…
Albin Sybera discusses with Faris Kočan - assistant professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Ljubljana and author of the forthcoming book "Identity, Ontological Security and Europeanisation in Republika Srpska" - the recent EU enlargement report. The report attempts to balance the strategic need to integrate the Western Balkans (WB) and the reforms WB countries need to carry out. Interesting to note are the shared regional narratives prolific in the WB ahead of the 17 December elections in Serbia.…
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
In today's podcast, Deputy Editor Adam Jasser interviews Dr Jakub Šrol of the Slovak Academy of Science about the results of a major survey on attitudes to democracy in Visegrad Four countries and Germany, which seem to have chimed well with the latest election results in Poland and Slovakia.
In today's podcast, Visegrad Insight Editors Wojciech Przybylski and Adam Jasser zoom in on the likelihood that the EU report due this week will allow for the start of Ukraine's accession negotiations, which would be a huge political coup for Kyiv as it struggles to keep its war effort on track. https://europeandemocracyhub.epd.eu/the-end-of-polands-illiberal-experiment/…
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
In his pursuit of being the eternal EU rebel and Donald Trump's chief European acolyte, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán demonstrates glaring inconsistency by refusing to acknowledge Ukraine's right to defend itself against Russia and advocating a ceasefire while univocally supporting Israel's offensive in Gaza.…
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
Editor-in-Chief Wojciech Przybylski analyses with the journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner how the outgoing government in Poland used unfair election tactics in the recent campaign and how these elections will be studied by pro-democratic forces wishing to turn back illiberal forces in Central and Eastern Europe.…
Editors Galan Dall and Albin Sybera discuss the controversial developments unfolding in Bratislava's next government in light of Viktor Orban's meeting with Vladimir Putin and the recent Polish elections.
Poland's victorious opposition may wait several weeks before it can form the government due to stalling by the outgoing government and its ally, President Andrzej Duda. Duda and the constitutional tribunal packed with political appointees will make it hard to pass legislation, Jakub Jaraczewski , a leading constitutional scholar, tells Visegrad Insight.…
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
The large turnout shows the high level of engagement by Polish women, who, despite the rise in child benefit by the ruling Law and Justice, are afraid of getting pregnant because of cases where medical care is denied, Amanda Coakley , award-winning journalist and Europe's Futures fellow at the IWM in Vienna, tells Visegrad Insight.…
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
In today's episode, Deputy Editor Adam Jasser interviews Krzysztof Izdebski , a Visegrad Insight Fellow and policy officer at Batory Foundation, about the results of Poland's historic general election marked by the high turnout and mobilisation of young voters.
In this week's podcast, Visegrad Insight editors Wojciech Przybylski and Adam Jasser discuss the potential impact of the Polish parliamentary election next Sunday on the EU's ability to move forward with its ambitious strategic agenda, including enlargement.
In today's podcast, Visegrad Insight editors Wojciech Przybylski and Adam Jasser discuss the outcome of the Slovak election, which may bring firebrand pro-Russia ex-Prime Minister Fico to power, as well as the potential impact of the huge weekend rally of Polish opposition supporters on the country's parliamentary vote on 15 October. Our guest this week, Richard Giragosian of the Regional Studies Center in Yerevan, an independent think-tank, argues that Azerbajan's military takeover of Nagorno-Karabakh reflects the growing self-confidence of Baku and Russia's dwindling power in the South Caucasus. The West's passive approach so far must be replaced by a resolve to prevent another military attack by Azerbaijan on its democratic neighbour.…
In this week's episode, Wojciech Przybylski and Adam Jasser discuss the impact the Slovak and Polish elections could have on Ukraine's EU path as tensions between Warsaw and Kyiv escalate. This week's guest is Beata Balogová , an award-winning Slovak journalist , who gave her take on what the possible return of ex-PM Rober Fico may mean for Slovakia. Click here for information on our State of Slovakia event or insert this url: https://visegradinsight.eu/event-state-of-slovakia-video-recap/…
In this week's episode, Wojciech Przybylski and Adam Jasser discuss why migration will remain a policy issue for the EU and more acutely Central Europe, specifically in Hungary and Poland where both governments that are nominally anti-migration have been running visa-for-cash programmes. This week's guest is Marjorie Castle , a professor at the University of Utah, who explains the need for right-wing populists to have international elites to fight against as well as their weaponisation of the enlargement process and the future of democracy.…
In this week's podcast, Deputy Managing Editor Adam Jasser and Agnieszka Homańska discuss the launch of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor at the G20 meeting in New Dehli, which seems to be a challenge to China's Belt and Road and its claim to lead the Global South. The podcast also gives an update on the election campaigns in Poland and Slovakia, as surveys indicate a very close race in both countries.…
In this week’s podcast, Editor-in-Chief Wojciech Przybylski sits down with Volodymyr Omelyan , the Former Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine, to discuss the future of Ukraine: the costs of rebuilding the country, meeting the challenge of instability and tackling corruption through transparency.
Weekly Outlook by Adam Jasser and Miles R. Maftean : European Council President Charles Michel’s recent statement at the Bled Strategic Forum has opened up a Pandora’s Box of questions. He stresses that the EU should be ready to accept new members by 2030, feeling the already complex discussion. From a mysterious outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease that has killed seven people to alarm-induced train halts across multiple cities, Poland’s domestic security is under scrutiny. Authorities suspect intentional tampering with the water system and are investigating the digital stop messages sent to trains. Special guest: Spasimir Domaradzki, Visegrad Insight Fellow, sits down with Adam Jasser to discuss the death of prominent Bulgarian businessman Alexey Petrov, and how murders in Bulgaria are another opportunity for former political elites to secure their background to make sure that some of the potential threats are eliminated.…
Weekly outlook by Adam Jasser and Miles R. Maftean: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy unexpectedly visited Denmark and the Netherlands on Sunday, expressing gratitude for their decision to supply Ukraine with approximately 40 U.S.-manufactured F-16 fighter jets. Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan travelled to Hungary to converse with Orban about their strategic alliance. As the September elections near, Slovakia’s political climate becomes more turbulent with the arrest of current and former intelligence heads. Special guest: Leszek Jażdżewski , co-host of the Liberal Europe Podcast, sits down with Wojciech Przybylski to discuss what a strategically autonomous Europe might look like. To hear more conversations on the topic, check out these two episodes from the Liberal Europe Podcast: War and the Future of Europe European Union Strategic Autonomy…
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
Weekly outlook by Adam Jasser and Wojciech Przybylski: The official Polish election campaign for the October 15 parliamentary vote is now in full swing. Jarosław Kaczyński, the leader of the ruling Law and Justice party, has levelled accusations against the opposition, branding them as traitors. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will visit Hungary on August 20 to discuss "security issues", a Hungarian government spokesman said. Special guest: Piotr Łukasiewicz , Former Poland Ambassador to Afghanistan, sits down to discuss the importance of Wagner group mercenaries in Belarus from a military and political perspective.…
Weekly outlook by Agnieszka Homanska and Wojciech Przybylski: President Duda is constitutionally obliged to announce the start of Poland’s election campaign by Sunday, with voting expected between 15 October and 5 November. Unofficial campaigning has already begun in Poland, with the ruling government party using a number of tricks to boost their campaign budgets. Threats to NATO’s Eastern Flank continue with hybrid aggression on the Belarus border.…
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
Weekly outlook by Galan Dall and Miles R. Maftean : The situation in Ukraine is escalating, with recent gains on the battlefield in the Western Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions and a significant strike on the Chonhar bridge. An upcoming peace summit set for early August in Jeddah. Developments involving the Wagner Group near the Polish and Lithuanian borders spark heightened tensions across the Baltic states.…
Weekly outlook by Miles R. Maftean and Adam Jasser : The extreme-right Spanish party, Vox, suffered a notable loss in the elections, leading to a hung parliament. Vox had the endorsement of right-wing leaders Viktor Orban from Hungary and Jarosław Kaczyński from Poland. Odesa’s Orthodox Cathedral was razed by Russian missiles, escalating the city’s bombardment. Kyiv threatens to halt all ships heading to the Black Sea. Poland, leading a group of five other Central and Eastern European nations, has called for extending a temporary EU ban on Ukrainian food and grain imports. The European Commission has filed a lawsuit against Poland over a controversial ruling by its Constitutional Court.…
In this week's podcast, Editor-in-Chief Wojciech Przybylski and Deputy Managing Editor Adam Jasser discuss the outcome of the NATO Summit in Vilnius and Ukraine's counteroffensive, as well as take a deep look into Polish politics ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for October. The most recent polling suggests a possibly hung parliament, which could result in Warsaw's inability to take a leading role in EU and NATO affairs.…
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
On November 30, Visegrad Insight hosted a public discussion on the Future of Europe in Brussels with Katalin Cseh (MEP for Hungary), Éric Maurice (Manager of the Brussels Office of the Fondation Robert Schuman), and Wojciech Przybylski (Visegrad Insight, Res Publica Foundation). These experts debate policy towards achieving energy security in Europe (1:37). From Monday, the EU’s ban for seaborne Russian oil is in force, along with a 60 USD per barrel price cap agreed with the G7 allies. Przybylski comments on how the Hungarian outlier related to support for Ukraine has distanced Visegrad partners (11:48) and the future of regional dialogue (19:07).…
Central Europe’s reaction to the COP27 Summit has been lackluster yet divergent. Slovakia and Czechia lead the Visegrad Group in terms of political leadership on climate, while Hungary and Poland drag their feet on sustainability targets, as depicted by the latest climate change index. One overarching problem, Climate & Democracy Editor Michał Zabłocki and Foresight Editor Albin Sybera agree on, is breaking up the ownership beneficiary structure of dominant polluting corporations in the CEE — not least their control over the media environments.…
The G20 and COP-27 summits have been overshadowed as Russia’s assault against Ukraine results in the first casualty on the soil of a NATO member after rocket or air defence missile debris kills two people in a Polish town bordering Ukraine. According to Wojciech Przybylski’s foresight, more collateral damage on the side of NATO can be expected as Moscow raises the stakes due to its faltering objectives on the battlefield. To read in more detail, see Przybylski’s piece here . Our special guest this week is Zsuzsanna Szelényi, former Hungarian parliamentarian and the author of “ Tainted Democracy, Viktor Orban and the Subversion of Hungary ”. As a former Fidesz insider and then founder of an opposition party, Szelényi provides a concise yet captivating account of how the consensual set of rules between the Hungarian public and government has been undermined since the landslide victory of the ruling party in 2010. Hungary’s recent anti-corruption reforms — half-hearted at best — are unlikely to undercut systemic corruption. If a post-Orbán point in Hungary’s history can be imagined, restoring the integrity of democratic institutions and sustainable economic growth would be vital first steps for democratic security.…
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
Ahead of key meetings and decisions on access to €5.8bn in Covid recovery funds for Hungary, Wojciech Przybylski and Edit Zgut-Przybylska explore the multi-layered negotiating game between Brussels and Budapest. With EU Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen expected to arrive in Budapest with a stamp of approval for Hungary’s recovery plan, the looming ‘rule of law’ conditionality mechanism is yet to be separated from conclusion to procedure. The ruling party in Poland, however, will be watching closely how and what type of agreement will be inked in Budapest.…
Polling by Wall Street Journal shows Republican opposition to arming Ukraine is growing while support is becoming an increasingly partisan issue: 48% of GOP voters now say the U.S. is doing too much to help Ukrainians, up from 6% in the previous survey. While calls to drastically cut military and economic aid might be limited to a small circle of populist voices within the GOP faction, Visegrad Insight’s Editorial Director Miles R. Maftean warns not to underestimate the influence of the pro-MAGA contingency on national political debates. The potential shift towards isolationism in US foreign policy and Europe’s strategic response in this week’s episode.…
Last week Xi Jinping consolidated complete control over the Chinese Communist Party and vowed to bring Taiwan's independence to an end, by all means necessary. A sense of danger is felt in Taipei as the country looks to Ukraine and Central Europe for experience in resisting a hostile takeover. Taiwan also announces new generous support for Ukraine through its CEE offices. Against this backdrop, Visegrad Insight participated in the 11th Global Assembly of the World Movement for Democracy - a gathering of democracy fighters from around the world who come together to share experiences and reflect on their struggles against autocracies. It was the first international conference in Taipei since the end of the pandemic lockdown on the island, attended, among others, by Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwanese President and Joseph Wu, minister of foreign affairs, as well as Audrey Tang heading the ministry of digital affairs. We were also present at the Taiwan-Czechia-Ukraine Forum organised by the European Values Center for Security Policy – a Czech think tank with an office in Taipei. Guest speakers: Žygimantas Pavilionis , Deputy Chair of the Committee on European Affairs at the Lithuanian Parliament I-Chung Lai , President of the Prospect Foundation in Taiwan Hosts: Malek Banat, Podcasts editor Wojciech Przybylski, Editor-in-Chief Links: https://www.movedemocracy.org/networking/global-assemblies/11th-global-assembly https://visegradinsight.eu/taiwan-explores-gap-left-by-china-in-acee/…
Yet another Prime Minister swap in the UK reminds of upcoming elections in Britain and the US – the two biggest military donors to Ukraine. According to Luke Cooper, author and senior research fellow at the LSE Ideas, the idea of a ‘long war’ in Ukraine risks becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. Adjustment of economic policy towards a war economy is needed to support the social needs of Ukrainians as Russia’s attacks on critical infrastructure intensifies and local production continues to shrink.The war is an opportunity for the furthering of the grassroots democracy movement borne out of the Maidan revolution, as different events have been in the face of authoritarian protectionism in Central and Eastern Europe.…
Following the dismissal of Minister for EU Affairs Konrad Szymański less than a week after the firing of Prime Minister Morawiecki’s chief of staff, tectonic shifts in Polish politics are occurring. Polish businesses and the central bank also hit by the ‘hard-line’ crackdown on HR by state authorities. We ask legal expert and Marcin Król Fellow Krzysztof Izdebski what all this means for the likelihood of Warsaw receiving EU funds.…
A human chain made up of thousands of students and teachers last week in Budapest is symbolic of Hungary’s bottom-up resistance to Viktor Orban’s domestic policies. As the Hungarian Forint hits historic low levels against the Euro, and price increases continue to shrink the purchasing power of Hungarians, the Fidesz government is likely to use any ammo available to deflect responsibility. Michał Zabłocki, Climate and Democracy Editor at Visegrad Insight, and Hungarian journalist Viktória Serdült tune in live from Budapest to unpack latest developments.…
As European leaders meet for the first time under the new European Political Community format this Thursday in Prague, we take a close look at the diverse set of stakeholders participating in the political conversation over European affairs. In the bustling background, the second round of Czech Senate elections favour the ruling coalition despite earlier upset in local elections. Our esteemed guest this episode, historian of Central and Eastern European modern political thought Dr Michal Kopeček, explores the comparative ‘luck’ of the Czech democratic experiment among Central Europeans and explores the meaning of the populist upsurge in Czechia.…
With a year to go until parliamentary elections, Polish opposition parties are in full campaign mode. Newcomer Polska 2050 party, also a member of Renew Europe grouping, is being led by Szymon Hołownia as a third way between Donald Tusk’s Civic Platform and the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party that offers a renewed focus on dusty topics like Poland’s adoption of the Euro. Meanwhile, Poland is unable to ditch the Visegrad cooperation format despite fundamental differences on support for Ukraine with its Hungarian counterpart — begging the question of what comes next for the V4?…
We should have listened to the voices inside our Union – in Poland, in the Baltics, and all across Central and Eastern Europe, said Ursula von der Leyen in the recent State of the Union. But what does CEE have to say really? And is it one or several divergent voices? Based on a strategic foresight carried out in the past 12 months with CEE experts and opinion leaders Wojciech Przybylski explores the four scenarios that may determine the course of the European project and integration by 2030. Download our latest foresight report with one month free access outlining four scenarios on the War and the Future of Europe.…
Visegrad Insight podcast is back to digest the latest summer developments in CEE and Europe. This week we are joined by Anton Shekhovtsov, Director of the Austria-based Centre for Democratic Integrity and the author of a new report detailing the malign influence of Russian media abroad — ‘ RT in Europe and Beyond ’. As a small - but not insignificant wave of social protests begins to emerge in Central European cities - Shekhovtsov explains RT’s current mode of operations after EU sanctions, how the Kremlin’s disinformation campaign is expanding to Africa and future prospects for Russia’s propaganda arm to undermine Western support for Ukraine. Sign-up for the official presentation on our latest foresight report outlining four scenarios on the War and the Future of Europe, this Thursday 15 September, at 11:30 AM CET.…
European Parliament to debate and vote on the The Three Seas Initiative and discuss its challenges and opportunities. Slovak presidency in the Visegrad Group begins this week, prioritising some of the initiatives from the 3SI - interconnectedness and economy. Czech EU presidency kicks off with its obstacles. European grid operates plan to implement long-term plan to bring Baltic states into the European realm. What the EU member candidacy status really means for Ukraine. In the second part of the podcast, Jana Juzová , Senior Research Fellow at the European Institute for European Policy in Prague, discusses the start of the Czech EU presidency and the Slovak presidency within the Visegrad Group, along with their plans and obstacles that these presidencies might be faced with. Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (Editor-in-chief) and Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director).…
NATO summit meeting takes place this week, with security in the region being the main important topic on the docket. The political dimension of CEE turmoil with Czech and Bulgarian governments in peril and the possibility of new elections in these countries. New research coming from Visegrad Insight on China’s digital footprint in CEE. A paradigm shift coming from internal developments of policy in CEE countries that alters a European policy - specifically the enlargement policy. The issue with framing the Ukraine crisis as “Peace vs. Justice”. Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (Editor-in-chief) and Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director).…
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping met for over four hours in the Kremlin on Monday, ahead of formal talks today during which they will “draw up a new blueprint for China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership,” according to Beijing’s readout. Zelensky's reaction to the Beijing-Moscow axis. The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin over his part in the unlawfully forced deportations of Ukrainian children to Russia. while Hungary blocks the EU from issuing a joint statement about the ICC’s arrest warrant for Putin, citing people familiar with the matter. Fears the International Investment Bank (IIB) serves as a Russian spy hub inside the EU. In the second part of the podcast, Editorial Director Miles R. Maftean sits down with Rushan Abbas , an Uyghur American activist and Executive Director of the nonprofit Campaign for Uyghurs, along with Abdulhakim Idris , Executive Director at the Center for (OI-GUR) Studies. They discuss the devastating impact the Chinese government has had on the Uyghur minority and the ongoing human rights abuses in China.…
PiS kickstarts its value-laden campaign, with its new slogan "Poland is the Future!" New divisions will be created in this divisive election, with PiS continuing down the culture war angle with the latest defence over the legacy of John Paul II. Polish Sejm adopted changes to the electoral law which will increase the number of polling stations and provide free transport on polling day for elderly and disabled people. In the second part of the podcast, Editor-in-chief Wojciech Przybylski sits down with Ivan Krastev (IWM Vienna) to discuss the future of Europe in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.…
Historic voter turnout in Estonia with the liberal Reform Party winning big. Polish opposition shuffles on the electoral lists. The main opposition parties, the centrist Civic Platform, The Left, the centrist Polska 2050, the agrarian PSL and Yes! For Poland!, agreed not to stand candidates against one another for the Senate to boost their chances against the ruling parties and its allies in the autumn's parliamentary elections. The dance between the main parties and the protagonists of the Polish scene - the Left vs. Donald Tusk. Pegasus surveillance revelations in Poland. Editorial Director Miles R. Maftean and Editor-in-chief Wojciech Przybylski discuss the latest news in CEE.…
Hungary in headlines once again - the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is preparing for PM Viktor Orbán to visit Kyiv for the first time in years. The Parliament of Hungary will vote on the ratification of the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO, with Orbán's political theatre lurking in the background. What potential danger does this spell for Hungary's Visegrad relationships? Editor-in-chief Wojciech Przybylski and Editorial Director Miles R. Maftean discuss the possible scenarios. In the second part of the podcast, we sit down with Dániel Bartha (Centre for Euro-Atlantic Integration and Democracy) for the latest reaction to the firing of hundreds of high-ranking Hungarian officers of the military and the current state of Hungarian defence.…
US President Joe Biden’s secret visit to Kyiv. President Biden's riveting speech to a Warsaw crowd centered on how Putin will never win in Ukraine. What does this trip accomplish from a decision-making or institutional standpoint for Poland or other CEE members? Prior to the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, our Future of Ukraine Fellows (Bohdan Bernatskyi, Christine Karelska, and Vitaly Portnikov) on how Ukraine still stands and what the future holds. In the latter part of the episode, Editor-in-chief Wojciech Przybylski and Marcin Krol Fellow Jan Farfal speaks with Timothy Garton Ash, Professor of European Studies in the University of Oxford, Isaiah Berlin Professorial Fellow at St Antony’s College, to discuss the major developments of European dynamics one year after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.…
The European Council issues a resolution in which they reaffirmed their support for Ukraine in its battle against Russian aggression and urged Russia to get all of its troops out of Ukraine immediately. A new package of sanctions against Russian strategic sectors and individuals will be passed on the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Warsaw is at the center of gravity in CEE, with President Biden traveling to Poland from 20 -22 February to mark the anniversary of Russia’s invasion. It remains to be seen whether this is simply a temporary boost for Poland as a middle-power in CEE or whether tangible results follow from this newly held self-confidence. But a newly held self-confidence for CEE politicians may spell danger in the long-run. To discuss this, we interview Jakub Eberle, Research Director and Daniel Sitera, Researcher, from the Institute of International Relations in Prague…
Elections in Slovakia are set for 30 September, while Estonia and Lithuania prepare for elections on 5 March. The European Parliament voted in favour of more transparency in political advertising - what this means for upcoming elections and more. Ukraine's cabinet reshuffled - the Defence Minister will now be replaced by the Head of Ukraine Military Intelligence. The reshuffling occurs after a major corruption scandal involving the pricing of food purchases for the military embroiled the defence ministry. In the second part of the podcast, Editorial Director Miles Maftean sits down with Pavel Havlicek , Research Fellow at the Association for International Affairs (AMO), and breaks down what was at stake and what was accomplished during the 3 February visit of Ursula von der Leyen and most of her European commission visiting Kyiv.…
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Petr Pavel secured the Czech Presidential office in a runoff vote interpreted as a referendum on Czech foreign policy. A significant win for Czech society, with a return to the spirit of decency and truth in politics. This is a striking resemblance to how President Zuzana Čaputová shaped her messages during a polarised debate when becoming the Slovak president. Wojciech Przybylski (Editor-in-Chief) and Martin Ehl (Visegrad Insight Senior Fellow) sit down to discuss the results and what's to come for Czechia. In the second part of the podcast, Editorial Director Miles R. Maftean talks with Sergej Sumlenny (European Resilience Initiative Center) about the recent developments of German arms delivery, its failed Russia policy, and the role industry plays in German foreign policy.…
German Minister of Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock said her country “would not stand in the way” of deliveries of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine from Poland. What this means for the future of arms delivery in CEE. Babiš’s blunder — on not sending troops to aid Poland or the Baltic countries if these came under attack. Hundreds of high-ranking officers were sacked from the military in Hungary, with the Ministry of Defense says it is part of the military's modernisation. Voting in the second round runoff of the Czech presidential elections is to take place on 28-29 January and will decide whether the outgoing President Miloš Zeman will be succeeded by his populist political ally and opposition leader Andrej Babiš or former army chief of staff and former Chairman of the NATO Military Command, General Petr Pavel.…
Retired General Petr Pavel scored a tight majority in the first round of the Czech presidential election on Saturday, coming ahead of former PM Andrej Babiš. The two are now poised to face each other in the second round of leadership in two weeks' time. Does this show the vibrant nature of democratic politics in Europe or is Czechia's democracy just lucky? A breakdown of the two candidates, with a spotlight on the black campaign of Babiš, along with specifying the nature of Czech presidency from the standpoint of its ceremonial and symbolic function. This week's episode is a precursor for next week's State of Czechia , a week-long discussion hosted by Visegrad Insight including 4 panels across 4 days with 12+ Czech thought leaders, experts, and politicians. Subscribe now with our discount code CEEPOLITICS to register for the event: https://visegradinsight.eu/state-of-czechia/ Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (Editor-in-Chief) and Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director)…
The resilience of democracies in 2022 was clear after a bounce-back from post-COVID times. But key elections for 2023 in Czechia and Poland will test this resiliency. The disinformation narratives that will plague CEE - anti-NATO, anti-American, anti-EU sentiments. The key sectors that will continue to be targeted by disinformation in 2023. The fight in Ukraine continues, both on its own grounds and in EU institutions. Turbulent economic times ahead with unemployment expected to rise and a continued rise in inflation.…
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1 Four Scenarios to Monitor in 2023: A Recap 1:35:48
1:35:48 Αναπαραγωγή αργότερα Αναπαραγωγή αργότερα Λίστες Like Liked1:35:48
Αναπαραγωγή αργότερα Αναπαραγωγή αργότερα Λίστες Like LikedFour scenarios of potential future developments in the Central and Eastern European region are presented in this episode, with the December 5 foresight discussion event co-ordinated with the German Marshall Fund. The highlights of the panel discuss future perspectives of democracy, security and prosperity in the CEE space and the region’s potential future role in European integration and the Western security alliance. Speakers: Goran Buldioski (Managing Director for Europe and Eurasia, Open Society Foundations) Michael Meyer-Resende (Executive Director, Democracy Reporting International) Zsuzsanna Végh (Visiting Fellow, German Marshall Fund of the United States) Wojciech Przybylski (Visegrad Insight, Res Publica Foundation) Moderated by Philipp Fritz (Warsaw correspondent for WELT, WELT AM SONNTAG)…
In December, Visegrad Insight held a week-long, foresight event bringing together experts, analysts and leading journalists to discuss the future of CEE in the context of the aftermath of the War in Ukraine. Here are the main highlights from the panel experts: What if Ukraine wins? Moderator: Oleksandr Kraiev - Visegrad Insight, Ukrainian PRISM (1:25) Alena Kudzko - GLOBSEC (2:43) Radu Albu-Comanescu - Visegrad Insight, Universitatea Babeș-Bolyai (5:10) Will the War Break Europe's Social Contract? Moderator: Pawel Marczewski - Visegrad Insight, Batory Foundation (9:18) Amanda Coakley - Coda Story - GLOBSEC (9:35) Luke Cooper - LSE Ideas (14:02) Will Europe Ever Be an Equal Partner to the US? Moderator: Michal Matlak - Visegrad Insight, Review of Democracy (16:22) Martin Ehl - Hospodářské noviny (17:04) Georgina Wright - Institut Montaigne (22:50) Who Joins First - Serbia or Ukraine? Moderator: Jan Farfal - Visegrad Insight, University of Oxford (26:06) Milena Lazarevic - European Policy Center (28:00) Isabelle Lassarre - Le Figaro (30:20)…
Slovak cabinet is dismissed after losing a vote of no confidence and may join Bulgaria in seeing snap elections next year. The 18 billion euro aid package for Ukraine was approved. Polish and Hungarian governments nearly vetoed the 18 billion euro aid package. A rise of Pro-Russian political forces across CEE: Pro-Russian narratives echo in Bulgaria following the Schengen vote. 9th round of the sanctions package against Russia targets the strategic security sector. In the second part of the podcast, Foresight Editor Albin Sybera discusses the turbulent week in Slovakia, which ended with a successful no-confidence vote against Eduard Heger’s minority government. The rocky situation has left Bratislava in political turmoil and some suggest it could undermine democracy itself - to the point where a constitutional crisis may be looming in the near future.…
The backlash of the Schengen vote, as Austria vetos the accession of Romania and Bulgaria in the Schengen zone, intensifies. How the national effects the international - domestic agenda of right-wing Austrian party FPO rejects Romania and Bulgaria for their political gains. Hungarian veto bypassed in regards to the 18 billion support to Ukraine. Alarm flags in Warsaw raised as diplomatic language shows the tensions between Budapest and Warsaw. In the second part of the podcast (13:50), Mary Kaldor, Professor Emeritus of Global Governance at the London School of Economics, reiterates the importance of human rights for NATO’s Strategic Concept. Is there a future for a European security architecture reflecting the Helsinki Agreement principles?…
The challenges to the Three Seas Initiative - problems, opportunities, and proposals for the region. EU candidate status of Ukraine to be confirmed this week, coming after four EU leaders visited Kyiv last week and voiced their support for Ukraine. The shift towards strategic questions of security and resilience from the Russian aggression balanced with democratic ideals. Increasing role of Romanian security services as a blast from the communist past. In the second part of the podcast, Andrew Michta, a Dean of the College of International and Security Studies at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, discusses the larger security architecture in the CEE region and the shift away from grand theory to the on-the-ground reality unfolding. The interview also previews what to expect from the NATO summit in Madrid at the end of June. Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (Editor-in-chief) and Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director).…
European Parliament adopts a resolution calling on the European Council to agree to start the process to revise the EU Treaties. European Commission pushes pushed forward the approval of recovery funds to Poland regardless of compliance with the rule of law and despite dissent within the College. EU leaders meet in Kyiv. Russian-led Paks nuclear power expansion received the soil stabilisation permit from the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority. In the second part of the podcast, Emilia Sercan , an investigative journalist in Romania, discusses her hundreds of journalistic investigations which revealed the plagiarism of doctoral theses of high-ranking Romanian politicians, including Deputy Prime Minister Gabriel Opera and Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca. Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (Editor-in-chief), Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director), and Kamil Jaronczyk (Managing Editor).…
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Insights from the GLOBSEC Forum meeting, notably missing key Hungarian and Polish representatives. The adoption of the Resilience Recovery plan comes at a (legal) price, as critics claim. Hungary attacks Ukraine on social media. Will the Visegrad format be forgotten when Czechia resumes the EU presidency? Common efforts in the Visegrad Group to increase candidate status for Ukraine minus Hungary. Planned cuts for public broadcasting and rumours of capturing political control in Czechia. PM Kallas in political turmoil as her party loses their coalition in Estonia. In the second part of the podcast, Christine Karelska , a Future of Ukraine Fellow, discusses the role of sports diplomacy in the battle against Russia due to its unjustified invasion of Ukraine. She specifies what role FIFA plays and teases what's ahead in her series featuring several national Ukranian football players who are taking up the fight against Russia. Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (Editor-in-chief) and Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director).…
Ongoing summits in the EU and the focus on democratic security in Europe with a nod towards Ukraine and the Western Balkans. Gas prices lower for Hungarian-registered cars at the checkout, leading to a new type of petrol tourism. The launch of Future of Ukraine fellowship publication schedule for the upcoming week: sport diplomacy, pro-Russian insurgency parties in Ukraine, and territorial claims in Europe. In the second part of the podcast, Krzysztof Izdebski , a Marcin Krol fellow and lawyer specialised in access to public information and re-use of public sector information, discusses the mirage of anti-corruption policies in Poland the unfulfilled promises to bring the state back to the people. Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (Editor-in-chief), Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director), and Kamil Jarończyk (Managing Editor)…
The team summarises the time spent at the first Civil Society Forum based on a recommendation from a special report created by Visegrad Insight. We ask the larger questions in a search for a clarity of purpose for the Three Seas Initiative and what's in the future for it. Polish President Duda on a diplomatic offensive in Slovakia and Ukraine. Visiting Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová, Duda spoke about interconnections and possible Ukrainian membership to the EU. Polish-Ukrainian relationship grows stronger with further privileges for Ukrainians in Poland. Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (Editor-in-Chief), Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director), and Kamil Jarończyk (Managing Editor).…
A round-up of texts on the Conference on the Future of Europe. A pivotal moment in Germany foreign policy, as Ukraine certifies Germany to be the leader of Europe as of now. US will take up European demand of gas, with latest deal sealed with Bulgaria. Finnish-Baltic gas connection a highlight of energy policy in Europe moving away from Russia. Safeguarding democracy with militant measures in CEE - banning of the 'Z' symbol. In the second part of the podcast, Wojciech Przybylski talks with Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan on contemporary Russian migration after the invasion of Ukraine. What happens to Russians when they migrate away from Russia? A sociological picture is given on this latest phenomenon. Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (Editor-in-Chief), Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director), and Kamil Jarończyk (Managing Editor) .…
On the 9th of May, Russian President Vladimir Putin holds his Victory Day Parade. Can Russia win this war? We survey our top experts for the answers. Future of Europe conference final report will be announced today. New sanctions on Russian oil have been postponed. In the second part of the podcast, Editor-in-chief Wojciech Przybylski talks with Václav Štětka Principal Investigator of the Illiberal Project at Loughborough University and Sabina Mihelj (co-investigator), Professor of Media and Cultural Analysis in the School of Social Sciences, Loughborough University on the illiberal turn in the region and the role of media, at a key point in time when the region is undergoing dramatic changes given populism, illiberalism, and democratic backsliding. Speakers: Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director)…
In this special episode, we kick-off our Future of Ukraine fellowship to help Ukrainian thought leaders continue their work and tell the untold stories of the war. We introduce you to the first round of our three fellows that we have selected: Vitaly Portnikov, Christine Karelska, and Bohdan Bernatskyi. The fellows detail their experience and what they will be working on during their fellowship. Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (Editor-in-chief) and Tetiana Poliak-Grujić (Project Manager).…
EU elections rules overhaul. Hungary and Slovakia has said it will not support a proposed European Union set of sanctions against Russian energy with no immediate alternatives available. The release of the 20th edition of the World Press Freedom Index shows differing paths for Visegrad countries, with Poland worsening and Slovakia, Czechia, and Hungary improving. In the second part of the podcast, Pavel Havlicek, a Research Fellow at the Association for International Affairs (AMO) Research Centre, highlights some of the major foresights for the month of May, with a particular focus on security, 9th of May celebrations, and the future of the Eastern Partnership. Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (Editor-in-chief) and Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director).…
Incumbent President Emmanuel Macron wins a second term, eyes now on the parliamentary elections and its impact on the future of Central Europe. Ruling Slovenian Democratic Party led by PM Janša, conceded and was defeated by Robert Golob and his Freedom Movement. "War selfies" meetings continue in Ukraine. NATO countries meet in Germany to discuss Ukraine's long-term security needs, at the outset of Russia establishing more control on Southern Ukraine. Orban to amend constitution for the 10th time to expand emergency powers. In the second part of the podcast, Petr Čermák, a Researcher at the Charles University in Prague, highlights the upcoming EU Presidency of the Czech Republic and its priorities towards the Western Balkans. This podcast is part of the Visegrad Insight's Western Balkans Futures project that is supported by the International Visegrad Fund . Also participating in the project: Albanian Institute for International Studies (Albania), Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence (Serbia), EUROTHINK – Center for European Strategies (North Macedonia), Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Hungary), Prague Security Studies Institute (Czechia), Slovak Foreign Policy Association (Slovakia). Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (Editor-in-chief), Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director), and Tetiana Poliak-Grujić (Project Manager).…
Three outstanding Ukranian thought leaders are welcomed to the Viesgrad Insight team as the first cohort of Future of Ukraine Fellows : Bohdan Bernatskyi, Christine Karelska, and Vitaly Portnikov. Elections continue in France and Slovenia. The second phase of the Russian invasion of Ukraine moves forward. Spies from Lithuania in Belarus. In the second part of the podcast, Ledion Krisafi , Researcher at the Albanian Institute for International Studies, discusses Albania's perspectives on EU integration. What are the potential scenarios for the country and its main challenges on the way to gain the EU membership? Listen for insights. This podcast is part of the Visegrad Insight's Western Balkans Futures project that is supported by the International Visegrad Fund . Also participating in the project: Albanian Institute for International Studies (Albania), Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence (Serbia), EUROTHINK – Center for European Strategies (North Macedonia), Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Hungary), Prague Security Studies Institute (Czechia), Slovak Foreign Policy Association (Slovakia). Speakers: Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director), Kamil Jarończyk (Managing Editor), and Tetiana Poliak-Grujić (Project Manager).…
Future of Ukraine Fellowship funding continues with nearly 14,000 euros raised out of 20,000 - donate now to help Ukrainian thought leaders continue their work. The first presidential run-off elections in France and what it means for CEE. The EU goes to Ukraine. Controversial air siren tests in Poland on anniversary of Smolensk plane crash. Sweden and Finland debate joining NATO intensifies. As the war in Ukraine rages for over a month now, we sit down with Tomáš Strážay, Director of the Bratislava-based Slovak Foreign Policy Association, to discuss its impact on the Western Balkans region. Will anything change in terms of the EU accession for the region and should we expect any destabilisation actions by Russia there? Listen to the podcast to learn more. This podcast is part of the Visegrad Insight's Western Balkans Futures project that is supported by the International Visegrad Fund . Also participating in the project: Albanian Institute for International Studies (Albania), Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence (Serbia), EUROTHINK – Center for European Strategies (North Macedonia), Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Hungary), Prague Security Studies Institute (Czechia), Slovak Foreign Policy Association (Slovakia). Speakers: Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director), Kamil Jarończyk (Managing Editor), and Tetiana Poliak-Grujić (Project Manager).…
Future of Ukraine Fellowship funding continues with 12,500 euros raised out of 20,000. Elections in Serbia and Hungary lead to victories for Viktor Orban and Aleksandar Vucic. The Warsaw-Budapest axis tilted for the foreseeable future. Scenarios for Serbian response to Russian invasion of Ukraine after Vucic's victory. Tensions rise with Russian minorities in Estonia and Latvia. Lithuania cuts off all Russian gas. In the second half of the podcast, we focus on the two elections in the region with two interviews. The first is with Edit Zgut, a doctoral researcher at the Polish Academy of Sciences, who highlights the unfree and unfair Hungarian elections and Hungary’s geopolitical future after Orban’s victory. The second interview is with renowned Serbian journalist currently working with Reuters, Aleksandar Vasović. The conversation revolves around April 3 elections in Serbia and touches upon potential Serbian sanctions against Russia. This podcast is part of the Visegrad Insight's Western Balkans Futures project that is supported by the International Visegrad Fund . Also participating in the project: Albanian Institute for International Studies (Albania), Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence (Serbia), EUROTHINK – Center for European Strategies (North Macedonia), Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Hungary), Prague Security Studies Institute (Czechia), Slovak Foreign Policy Association (Slovakia). Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (Editor-in-chief), Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director), Kamil Jarończyk (Managing Editor), and Tetiana Poliak-Grujić (Project Manager).…
US President Joe Biden stuck in the middle of criticism after his speech in Warsaw. The latest on upcoming elections in Hungary and Serbia. Orban’s gerrymandering make opposition victory near impossible. Hungary in the neighbouring political crosshairs as Polish President Duda and Czechia Defense Minister Jana Cernochova criticise Orban’s Russia-friendly stance. In the second half of the podcast, Dimitar Nikolovski , Executive Director of EUROTHINK - Center for European Strategies (North Macedonia) discusses the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell's most recent visit to Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia. Listen to how it connects with Visegrad Insight's most recent Five Scenarios for Western Balkans 2030 report . This podcast is part of the Visegrad Insight's Western Balkans Futures project that is supported by the International Visegrad Fund . Also participating in the project: Albanian Institute for International Studies (Albania), Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence (Serbia), EUROTHINK – Center for European Strategies (North Macedonia), Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Hungary), Prague Security Studies Institute (Czechia), Slovak Foreign Policy Association (Slovakia). Speakers: Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director), Kamil Jarończyk (Managing Editor), and Tetiana Poliak-Grujić (Project Manager).…
The Future of Ukraine Fellowship announced, with Visegrad Insight putting up 10,000 euros and asking listeners to double this amount for several paid editorial positions on the team for Ukrainian thought leaders to tell the "untold stories" of the war. Poland as the humanitarian superpower of the crisis, with millions of refugees from Ukraine seeking safe harbor. The old friendship of Hungary-Poland is strained with Orban cozying up to Putin. Ex-prime minister Boyko Borisov of Bulgaria has been detained by authorities, suspected that he has mishandled EU funds. Discussion on the controversial op-ed by Iryna Podolyak and a response from Marcin Krol fellow Pavel Havlicek . On the second half of the podcast, Adéla Klečková, a security analyst who focuses on hybrid warfare and is a non-resident fellow of the German Marshall Fund, discusses the current cyber warfare situation in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Adela assesses the current cyber operations in Ukraine and explains why this is new terrain in the field of warfare, as hundreds of thousands of hacker volunteers join the fight. Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (editor-in-chief), Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director), Kamil Jarończyk (Managing Editor).…
School closures since the start of the pandemic have brought tremendous social ramifications for children, however, they have also led to dramatic consequences in terms of loss of revenue and diverging economic wellness for present and future generations. Edit Inotai, Senior Fellow, CEID (Hungary) and Larissa Zierow, Deputy Director, ifo Center for the Economics of Education (Germany) discuss COVID-related learning losses and economic effects at the New Europe 100 Forum 2.0 that took place in December 2020. Summary of the conversation, “COVID-19’s Long-Term Impact on Education”: https://visegradinsight.eu/covid-19-long-term-impact-on-education/ The New Europe 100 network is a project by Res Publica Foundation that brings together people who have a global impact through their groundbreaking expertise, unique skills and social outreach. In partnership with Visegrad Insight , StartUp Hub (Poland), SAPIE (Slovakia), Skool (Hungary) and Dataweps (Czechia). Supported by the International Visegrad Fund .…
How does the future of professions and enterprises look like? Will working from home for many of them become a new normal, and is it sustainable? Does the real estate branch in general, and co-working spaces in particular, have chances to survive the pandemic? Res Publica's Tomasz Kasprowicz talks with Ketevan Ebanoidze, Co-CEO of Impact Hub Tbilisi and Jerzy Brodzikowski, General Manager of CIC Warsaw about the challenges of working during the pandemic and potential outcomes. Summary of the conversation, “Work-Life During a Pandemic”: https://visegradinsight.eu/work-life-during-a-pandemic-covid-19/ The New Europe 100 network is a project by Res Publica Foundation that brings together people who have a global impact through their groundbreaking expertise, unique skills and social outreach. In partnership with Visegrad Insight , StartUp Hub (Poland), SAPIE (Slovakia), Skool (Hungary) and Dataweps (Czechia). Supported by the International Visegrad Fund .…
Talk about social media platforms taking a more active stance against hate speech and persons inciting to violence has ruffled feathers in Warsaw and Budapest. While some governments in Central Europe are now planning to legislate on protecting freedom of speech online, other more concerning digital power issues may continue unchecked. In this week’s podcast, we speak with the Kalecki Foundation’s co-founder and Visegrad Insight Fellow Filip Konopczyński about regulatory efforts against disinformation. We also ask Visegrad Insight Junior Fellow Maria Ciupka about the social media situation in Central Europe and her work on social bubbles online. #freedomofspeech #socialmedia #V4 #TrumpBan Law and Justice party’s conquest of digital media: https://visegradinsight.eu/digital-empire-in-the-making-media-poland/ Visegrad Insight weekly outlook: https://visegradinsight.eu/tag/weekly-outlook/…
A couple of weeks in, 2021 shows signs of being as eventful as the previous one. In the first episode of the new year, Wojciech Przybylski and Quincy Cloet look at what the storming of the US Capitol means for world politics and Central Europe in particular, where autocratic leaders have been inspired and abetted by the Trump playbook. Closer to home, incitation to violence and attacks on democratic institutions have also emerged in recent years. Besides, we discuss the January events of 1991 in Lithuania, how Czechia and Slovakia perceive the EU, followed by state power and digital media in Poland. Vacuum for chaos - monthly foresight for January 2021: https://visegradinsight.eu/vacuum-for-chaos-democratic-security/ January 1991 events in Lithuania: https://visegradinsight.eu/thirty-years-ago-and-thirty-years-later-lithuania/ Digital empire in the making in Poland: https://visegradinsight.eu/digital-empire-in-the-making-media-poland/ EU-membership of Czechia and Slovakia: https://visegradinsight.eu/czechia-slovakia-eu-membership-history/ #US #Capitol #Lithuania #Czechia #Slovakia #history #Poland #media…
The world has shifted dramatically over the past several decades. Nevertheless, one of the evergreen issues persists, and that is employment. A lot has been said about finding and keeping jobs. However, the question facing us nowadays is whether education is still key to securing them. Res Publica's Wojciech Przybylski looks for an answer with Pavlo Sheremeta, Founder of the Kyiv Mohyla Business School and former Minister of Economy of Ukraine, Louisa Slavkova, Executive Director of Sofia Platform (Bulgaria), and Botond Feledy, Manager of the European Leadership Programme (Hungary). Here is the summary of the conversation, “Pragmatic Learning”. The New Europe 100 network is a project by Res Publica Foundation that brings together people who have a global impact through their groundbreaking expertise, unique skills and social outreach. In partnership with Visegrad Insight , StartUp Hub (Poland), SAPIE (Slovakia), Skool (Hungary) and Dataweps (Czechia). Supported by the International Visegrad Fund.…
Year 2020 has forced us to embrace technological solutions to challenges that we were hardly prepared to handle. However, now we have the chance to leapfrog and adapt to the world where effective digital learning becomes a new normal. At the same time, does technology actually make education better? Res Publica's Tomasz Kasprowicz talks with Anna Grąbczewska, President of the Children's University Foundation, and Prof. Krzysztof Kozłowski, Vice Rector of the SGH Warsaw School of Economics about what should be the essence of the future education. Summary of the conversation, “Education, the Future is Here”: https://visegradinsight.eu/education-the-future-is-here/ The New Europe 100 network is a project by Res Publica Foundation that brings together people who have global impact through their groundbreaking expertise, unique skills and social outreach. In partnership with Visegrad Insight , StartUp Hub (Poland), SAPIE (Slovakia), Skool (Hungary) and Dataweps (Czechia). Supported by the International Visegrad Fund .…
The world of finance and economics becomes increasingly dominated by cards and electronic payments, and the technological race to develop secure systems of cashless payments has been heating up for years. Does this mean that we entering a cashless future? Res Publica's Tomasz Kasprowicz explores the issue together with Martin Miszerak, Visiting Lecturer of the Renmin University Business School, and Michał Rożynek, a UK-based strategy and innovation consultant, at the New Europe 100 Forum 2.0 that took place in December 2020. Summary of the conversation, “Plastic versus Cash”: https://visegradinsight.eu/plastic-versus-cash-payments/ The New Europe 100 network is a project by Res Publica Foundation that brings together people who have a global impact through their groundbreaking expertise, unique skills and social outreach. In partnership with Visegrad Insight , StartUp Hub (Poland), SAPIE (Slovakia), Skool (Hungary) and Dataweps (Czechia). Supported by the International Visegrad Fund .…
The future holds more global and hopefully cheaper fintech products, but it will require better regulation on both local and international levels. Tomasz Kasprowicz of Res Publica Foundation, and Alex Ivančo, Department Director at the Ministry of Finance of the Czech Republic, discuss challenges and opportunities for the fintech in CEE, at the New Europe 100 Forum 2.0 that took place in December 2020. Summary of the conversation, “Fintech in Action”: https://visegradinsight.eu/fintech-in-action/ The New Europe 100 network is a project by Res Publica Foundation that brings together people who have a global impact through their groundbreaking expertise, unique skills and social outreach. In partnership with Visegrad Insight , StartUp Hub (Poland), SAPIE (Slovakia), Skool (Hungary) and Dataweps (Czechia). Supported by the International Visegrad Fund .…
The use of technology in non-IT sectors is comparatively dire in Central Europe. In order to stay in pace with the rest of Europe, and the world, the region needs to adapt quickly. Solutions lie in familiar places – in the situation Central Europe finds itself, education will have to be one of the foremost solutions to tackle the issues facing industry and the general business sector. Wojciech Przybylski talks with Eva Maydell, Member of the European Parliament, about what education should look like in order to make future for Central European businesses brighter. Summary of the conversation, “Central Europe’s Digital Divide”: https://visegradinsight.eu/central-europes-digital-divide/ The New Europe 100 network is a project by Res Publica Foundation that brings together people who have global impact through their groundbreaking expertise, unique skills and social outreach. In partnership with Visegrad Insight , StartUp Hub (Poland), SAPIE (Slovakia), Skool (Hungary) and Dataweps (Czechia). Supported by the International Visegrad Fund .…
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
In the last episode of the year, the Visegrad Insight Podcast looks back at the key events of 2020 and considers the impact they may have on Central Europe in the next years. Whether it was the agreement on the European Recovery Fund, the Biden election, COVID-19 or the ongoing protests in Belarus, all of these significantly shaped events and perceptions as well as policy directions that were taken by the V4 countries. Next year will see us return with a fresh pair of eyes to follow the next generation of civil society activists, plans to mitigate climate change and to deal with the aftermath of the pandemic crisis. Weekly outlooks and monthly foresights: https://visegradinsight.eu/tag/democratic-security/ Our special reports on Central Europe: https://visegradinsight.eu/democrace/ #V4 #Central Europe #Poland #Czechia #Slovakia #Hungary #EU #Belarus #Biden #COVID19…
In this podcast, we ask the question about the state of central Europe after the last EU summit. Just before the negotiations, Victor Orbán and Mateusz Morawiecki along with Jarosław Kaczyński were threatening to veto the next Multi-annual Financial Framework and the European Recovery Fund. While the leaders of both countries were telling the story of Central European unity and support, in fact, we also heard vocal opposition to the veto from other countries in the region. While the V4 does not need a coherent voice on every possible political initiative (and it is often just a platform for consultation), the nature of the cooperation between these countries remains a valid question, especially after two V4 members were threatening the vital interests of everyone else against common sense and acceptable norms. Views from across Central Europe are provided by Marcin Zaborowski (Res Publica Nowa), Zuzana Stuchlíková (Europeum), Edit Zgut (Visegrad Insight Fellow) and Tomáš Strážay (SFPA). Weekly outlook https://visegradinsight.eu/tag/weekly-outlook/ Monthly foresight https://visegradinsight.eu/tag/foresight/ #EU #Hungary #Slovakia #Poland #Czechia #ruleoflaw #V4 #CentralEurope…
Elections in Romania were a tight race but the socialist party PSD eventually earned 30 per cent of the votes. With very low turnout, a difficult economic and pandemic situation this might well turn out into a pyrrhic victory for the populists who do not have obvious coalition partners in the new Romanian Parliament. Nevertheless, Prime Minister Ludovic Orban has already resigned following the elections. This gives us a moment to talk about the political game and the future outlooks for Romania in Europe. Our two guest speakers are Radu Albu-Comănescu, Visegrad Insight Fellow and a Lecturer in European Integration at the “Babeş-Bolyai” University of Cluj-Napoca, and Oana Popescu Zamfir, Director of the GlobalFocus Center and Editor-at-Large of Foreign Policy magazine Romania, who previously served as State Secretary for European Affairs at the Romanian Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Security and the Elderly. Radu Albu-Comănescu's analysis of the parliamentary elections and implications for Central Europe: https://visegradinsight.eu/romania-elections-drawing-a-defence-line-in-europes-east/ Weekly outlooks and monthly foresight at Visegrad Insight: https://visegradinsight.eu/tag/democratic-security/…
The lower house of the Czech Parliament passed a radical plan supported by governing party ANO to lower income taxes as of January 2021. While the legislation is yet to be approved by the Czech Senate and signed by the president, it has already sparked controversy for its questionable economic objectives as well as the fact the law was passed with the support of opposition parties instead of ANO’s social-democratic coalition partner. Is Prime Minister Andrej Babiš trying to secure voter support in the runup to next year’s elections or can the tax cut plan bring major benefits to overturn the pandemic-driven recession? We discuss the political and economic implications of the plan with Chief Analyst of Hospodářské noviny and our Senior Associate Martin Ehl as well as Czech freelance journalist and Visegrad Insight Fellow Albin Sybera . Read our weekly foresight on Central Europe: https://visegradinsight.eu/this-week-in-central-europe-30-nov-6-dec/ Martin Ehl’s recent contribution on the Biden administration and how the region should rise to the challenge: https://visegradinsight.eu/best-recipe-biden-central-europe/ #Czechia #economy #taxes #COVID-19…
Today’s meeting between Viktor Orbán and Mateusz Morawiecki is the latest event in a long-brewing standoff over the EU’s Multi-annual financial framework and the COVID-19 Recovery Fund. While the European Parliament and nearly all member states agree on the overall size as well as the rule of law mechanism, Budapest and Warsaw continue to hold onto their budget veto. The 1.8 trillion euros package offers a lifeline to many recession-stricken countries, hence what are the possible scenarios and their economic implications? Our guests this week are: Daniel Kelemen , Jean Monnet Chair at Rutgers University, Piotr Arak , Director of the Polish Economic Institute, and finance journalist and Visegrad Insight Fellow Zsuzsanna Szabó . Wojciech Przybylski on why Hungary will give up its veto: https://visegradinsight.eu/hungary-will-give-way-to-tactical-pragmatism/ The veto strategy of Budapest and Warsaw analysed by Daniel Kelemen for Politico: https://www.politico.eu/article/time-to-call-hungary-and-polands-bluff/…
Maia Sandu’s astounding victory in the run-off of the presidential election with 57 per cent of the vote against 42 per cent for incumbent Igor Dodon was positively received all across Europe. The real challenge begins as president-elect Sandu will endeavour to align Moldova's foreign policy more closely with the EU while maintaining close relations with Russia. Can the largely symbolic office of the president create a profound change for Moldova, as we have previously witnessed in Slovakia after the election of Zuzana Čaputová? We discuss the Moldovan presidential election with Denis Cenușa who is a Researcher at the Institut für Politikwissenschaft and PhD Candidate at Justus-Liebig-Universität (Germany). This episode is part of the Eastern European Futures (#EaP2030) project supported by the German Marshall Fund of the United States - Black Sea Trust. Read our scenarios for the Eastern Partnership region: www.visegradinsight.eu/EaP2030/ Change in Moldova: find out what Maia Sandu will focus on in her presidency in an analysis written by Denis Cenușa: https://visegradinsight.eu/what-will-change-for-moldova/ #Moldova #EaP2030 #EU #Russia #MaiaSandu…
The political situation in Ukraine is slowly reaching a boiling point due to stalled reforms, the continued Russian threat in Donbas and sensitive issues such as Nord Stream 2 and Black Sea connectivity. How comfortable is President Volodymyr Zelenskyi in his seat after his resounding victory in 2019? We discuss the latest domestic developments as well as Ukraine's strategic gambit with Angelina Kariakina, a Kyiv-based journalist and editor. Before our special guest's appearance, we look at the bigger news stories in Central Europe concerning the rule of law in Poland, the dismissal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Czechia and a controversial Hungarian vaccine contract. Global unrest over the Ukrainian conflict: https://visegradinsight.eu/global-unrest-over-ukrainian-conflict/ Zelenskyi is bad for the show: https://visegradinsight.eu/ukraine-zelenskyi-is-bad-for-the-show/ Clashes in Czechia over Dukovany expansion: https://visegradinsight.eu/dukovany-power-plant-clashes-czechia/ #Ukraine #Russia #V4 #Poland #Czechia #Slovakia #Hungary #Donbas #Sputnik…
With the latest news that Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov will not take a seat in the next parliament and is prepared to put another name forward as designate to form the next cabinet, the recent elections have thrown Bulgarian politics into disarray. While the ruling party GERB came first in the vote it fell short of a resounding victory and obvious coalition partners. Bulgarians have also shown a rejection of establishment parties, favouring new faces and movements. With our Editor-at-Large Galan Dall, we discuss the electoral outcome and possible scenarios. Visegrad Insight Fellow Asya Metodieva provides her analysis about the role of protest votes and the changing political scene in Bulgaria. Bulgarians reject the political establishment: https://visegradinsight.eu/bulgaria-elections-reject-the-political-establishment/ Bulgarian winner's defeat: https://visegradinsight.eu/bulgarian-winners-defeat-elections/ #Bulgaria #elections #Borisov #GERB #EU…
In the week before Easter, there was little sign of Central European politics slowing down before the holiday period. In Slovakia, the resignation of Prime Minister Igor Matovič caused a brief moment of relief, even though the former head of government will remain an important and divisive voice as Minister of Finance in the reshuffled cabinet. The news about the tragic death of PPF leader Petr Kellner was received with surprise and disbelief in Czechia, provoking questions about the future of the media conglomerate. Meanwhile, there are plenty of signs of election fever in Bulgaria, with implications for the wider region. In this week episode, we also discuss the brighter side of politics, namely how a direct chat app may transform political communication in Central Europe. Edward Heger, Slovakia's new prime minister: https://visegradinsight.eu/eduard-heger-slovakias-new-prime-minister/ Clubhouse leads politicians on to straight talking: https://visegradinsight.eu/clubhouse-leads-politicians-on-to-straight-talking/ A partnership in the shadow of Russia: https://visegradinsight.eu/eastern-partnership-russia-shadow/ #Slovakia #Czechia #PPF #Bulgaria #elections #clubhouse #CentralEurope #V4…
Although it is hard to predict what the future holds, it is certain that new sectors will be created, existing industries will be disrupted and professions transformed. Magda Jakubowska from Res Publica Foundation, Weronika Kuna, Government Affairs Lead at Microsoft (Poland), and Daniel Szemerey, Director and Co-Founder of Health Venture Lab (Hungary), explore what kind of future jobs we should expect, at the New Europe 100 Forum 2.0 that took place in December 2020. Summary of the conversation, “Cool Jobs in the Future”: https://visegradinsight.eu/cool-jobs-in-the-future/ The New Europe 100 network is a project by Res Publica Foundation that brings together people who have a global impact through their groundbreaking expertise, unique skills and social outreach. In partnership with Visegrad Insight , StartUp Hub (Poland), SAPIE (Slovakia), Skool (Hungary) and Dataweps (Czechia). Supported by the International Visegrad Fund .…
Political instability is not limited to Europe’s immediate neighbourhood and also keeps the political scene preoccupied within the European Union. Whether it is a crisis over vaccine purchases in Slovakia and Czechia. the prospect of new lockdown measures in Poland or tense weeks before elections in Bulgaria, these events often have repercussions elsewhere and a discernible impact on the EU’s foreign policy plans. How active has the EU been helping the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries during the COVID-19 pandemic? Has it been vocal enough in support of democratic protests? Is Russia ‘back’ in the Eastern neighbourhood after its intervention in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the heavy promotion of its Sputnik V vaccines? Is Hungary’s bond with Azerbaijan emblematic of EU pragmatism instead of principles? In this week’s episode, we discuss recent news and also look back at what has changed for the EaP since the tenth anniversary in 2019 as part of the EaP2030 week organised in March. Blooming relations between Hungary and Azerbaijan: https://visegradinsight.eu/hungary-azerbaijan-blooming-relations-pragmatism/ Bulgaria’s upcoming parliamentary elections: https://visegradinsight.eu/bulgaria-challenge-cost-removing-gerb-elections/ Visegrad Insight weekly outlook: https://visegradinsight.eu/orban-wants-to-remould-the-eus-far-right/ Does the Eastern Partnership have a future? https://visegradinsight.eu/does-the-eastern-partnership-have-a-future/ #EU #EaP2030 #Russia #Bulgaria #Slovakia #Poland #Czechia #Hungary #Azerbaijan This episode is part of the Eastern European Futures (EaP2030) project supported by the German Marshall Fund of the U.S. – Black Sea Trust. Read our scenarios for the Eastern Partnership region: www.visegradinsight.eu/EaP2030/…
This week, fast-developing events in Central Europe appear to overtake the pace of opinion and analyses. While every day brings new revelations concerning PKN Orlen CEO and Kaczyński-protégé Daniel Obtajtek in Poland, the Slovak coalition government led by Igor Matovič appears to have reached a dead-end following the prime minister's brash decision to order Sputnik V vaccines from Russia. While mentioning highlights on the website this week, we discuss these recent news stories before turning to excerpts from a debate between MEPs Michal Šimečka (SK), Anna Júlia Donáth (HU) and Sergey Lagodinsky (DE) on media freedom and what the EU can do to protect pluralism and independence. MEPs debate on media freedom: https://visegradinsight.eu/debate-with-meps-freedom-of-media-in-ce/ Daniel Obajtek's transparency problem: https://visegradinsight.eu/corruption-daniel-obajteks-transparency-problem/ The recovery funds' role in a V4 economic transition: https://visegradinsight.eu/can-the-recovery-funds-enable-a-visegrad-economic-transition/ #media #pluralism #covid19 #sputnikv #Russia #EU…
With judicial cooperation in the European Union on the verge of a breakdown because of continuing doubts about Poland's judicial system and a recent government-led takeover of local and regional media, many are expecting the European institutions to step in and put a stop to democratic backsliding and threats to the rule of law. Whether it is the European Court of Justice or the European Parliament, what means are available to bring a country back in line? We discuss a recent analysis by Visegrad Insight Fellow Jaras Gwizdak concerning the European Arrest Warrant and highlights from our last monthly foresight. Slovak MEP Michal Šimečka joins us to discuss the LIBE committee agenda and what the European Parliament is planning to do about media freedom. The EU has competences to deal with media freedom: https://visegradinsight.eu/eu-has-competences-to-deal-with-media-freedom/ Is European judicial cooperation more than pulp fiction? https://visegradinsight.eu/poland-european-judicial-cooperation-pulp-fiction/ Tribal politics in a pandemic: https://visegradinsight.eu/tribal-politics-in-a-pandemic-monthly-foresight-march/ This episode is part of a project co-funded by the European Union.…
Being adaptable and flexible is the cornerstone of human development. Though each of us is born with a certain skill set and associated prospects, the nurture of these skills is a never-ending process, if we want to develop and utilise them in practical settings. In order to be successful, companies need to modernise and adapt, too, as well as seek to create an environment where employees' talents can flourish. Res Publica's Magda Jakubowska talks with Joanna Gierak-Onoszko, PR and Communications Manager at Dentons, and Branka Rajičić, People and Talent Partner at PwC Central & Eastern Europe, about what is more important for professional growth, adaptability or talent, at the New Europe 100 Forum 2.0 that took place in December 2020. Summary of the conversation, “Adaptability versus Talent”: https://visegradinsight.eu/adaptability-versus-talent-skills/ The New Europe 100 network is a project by Res Publica Foundation that brings together people who have a global impact through their groundbreaking expertise, unique skills and social outreach. In partnership with Visegrad Insight , StartUp Hub (Poland), SAPIE (Slovakia), Skool (Hungary) and Dataweps (Czechia). Supported by the International Visegrad Fund .…
The ongoing rule of law debacle in Poland and Hungary and the case of a whistleblower in Romania are only signals of a wide-spread problem of coercive clientelism and corruption that beset Central Europe. So-called judicial reforms or changes to media pluralism undermine checks and balances rather than strengthening the democratic institutions of the region. We discuss recent analysis on Visegrad Insight by our Fellow Edit Zgut on coercive clientelism in Poland and our Associate Ruslanas Iržikevičius who questions politicians eager to welcome the unapproved Sputnik-vaccine. The episode continues with a personal testimony by Camelia Bogdan, a judge on the Bucharest Court of Appeals, and an explainer provided by democracy expert Alina Mungiu-Pippidi from the Hertie School in Berlin. Coercive clientelism on the rise in Poland: https://visegradinsight.eu/coercive-clientelism-is-on-the-rise-in-kaczynskis-poland/ For Borrell's Europeans, Sputnik AK-47 is here to save you: https://visegradinsight.eu/for-borrells-europeans-sputnik-ak-47-is-here-to-save-you/ This episode is organized in partnership with the National Endowment for Democracy. #Romania #Poland #Hungary #Slovakia #SputnikV #vacccine #justice #corruption…
The words of US President Joe Biden at the Munich Security Conference last week suggest the Trump years of transactionalism and cosying up to autocrats are over. Whether it concerns energy or human rights, the US is demanding a clearer stance by Central and Eastern Europe vis-à-vis Russia. This may have an impact on Nord Stream 2 but also the EU's foreign policy regarding the Eastern Partnership, which has in the previous decade been anaemic in countering Russian aggression and supporting democratisation in the Eastern neighbourhood. We discuss recent opinion and analysis on Visegrad Insight regarding these topics by Senior Associate Marcin Zaborowski and Fellow Zsuzsanna Szabó, followed by a discussion on the future of the Eastern Partnership framework with Orysia Lutsevych (Chatham House) and Pavel Havlíček (AMO). Biden gears up to take on Russian energy influence: https://visegradinsight.eu/biden-gears-up-russian-energy-influence-poland/ No appeasement from Biden in Munich: https://visegradinsight.eu/no-appeasement-from-biden-in-munich/ This episode is part of the Eastern European Futures (EaP2030) project supported by the German Marshall Fund of the U.S. – Black Sea Trust. Read our scenarios for the Eastern Partnership region: www.visegradinsight.eu/EaP2030/ #Biden #Russia #energy #Munich #security #EaP2030 #NordStream2…
Earlier this week, the signing of the Visegrad Declaration in 1991 was commemorated as an important moment and stepping stone for Central Europe in its pathway to European integration. European Council President Charles Michel joined the four leaders in Kraków for a discussion to map out the future of the V4. But what achievements can the Visegrad Group look back on in the past thirty years? We hear former Slovak ambassador Magdaléna Vášáryová talk about the group's historical and present-day significance. We also discuss relevant pieces by Fellows Zsuzsanna Szabó and Radu Albu-Comănescu, recently published, showing how Central Europe is acting and being perceived in the wider European arena. Ten Things You Should Know about the Visegrad Group: https://visegradinsight.eu/ten-things-you-should-know-about-the-visegrad-group/ Can France and Central Europe Truly Reconcile? https://visegradinsight.eu/building-europe-can-france-and-central-europe-truly-reconcile/ Bringing Real Competition to the CEE Gas Market: https://visegradinsight.eu/bringing-real-competition-cee-gas-market-russia/ #V4 #Visegrad #Czechia #Hungary #Poland #Slovakia #France #Romania #diplomacy #energy…
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
During and after his visit to Moscow, Josip Borrell was heavily criticised by MEPs and national governments for the ill-timed diplomatic encounter with Sergey Lavrov after a severe crackdown of the Russian authorities on protests in support of Alexei Navalny. What signal did it send to the neighbouring countries of the Eastern Partnership? We speak with Stanislav Secrieru, Senior Analyst at the European Union Institute for Security Studies, about the EU’s neighbourhood policy and concrete successes and realisations of the EaP framework that was revamped last year – just before COVID-19 struck in full force. With Nicolas Tenzer, President of the Centre d’étude et de réflexion pour l’Action politique (CERAP) and Editor of the Revue Le Blanquet, we zoom in on the EU’s attitude and approach towards Russia as a source of threat and instability in Eastern Europe. Read a public appeal (in French) for Europe to respond with a firm voice against Vladimir Putin’s regime in Russia: https://legrandcontinent.eu/fr/2021/02/07/tribune-leurope-et-les-gouvernements-democratiques-doivent-marquer-un-coup-darret-a-la-repression-du-peuple-russe/ This episode is part of the Eastern European Futures (EaP2030) project supported by the German Marshall Fund of the U.S. – Black Sea Trust. Read our scenarios for the Eastern Partnership region: www.visegradinsight.eu/EaP2030/ #Russia #Belarus #Moldova #Azerbaijan #Armenia #Ukraine #Putin #Georgia #EaP2030 #COVID-19…
Fluctuating levels of the pandemic-related governmental restrictions resulting in the unpredictability of the markets and economies have been one of the largest issues facing businesses in CEE. At the New Europe 100 Forum in October 2020 Martin Ehl, Chief Analyst, Hospodářské noviny (Czechia), Martyna Trykozko, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, 300Gospodarka (Poland) and Ignacy Morawski, Founder & Head, SpotData (Poland) analyzed the challenges that markets had been encountering since the pandemic started. Summary of the conversation, “The Economic Casualties of COVID-19”: https://visegradinsight.eu/economic-casualties-of-covid-19/ The New Europe 100 network is a project by Res Publica Foundation that brings together people who have a global impact through their groundbreaking expertise, unique skills and social outreach. In partnership with Visegrad Insight , StartUp Hub (Poland), SAPIE (Slovakia), Skool (Hungary) and Dataweps (Czechia). Supported by the International Visegrad Fund .…
The sheer size and weight of the Czech financial and investment group PPF (based in the Netherlands) have raised a few eyebrows in Central Europe in previous years because of investments in important sectors such as media and telecommunications. While PPF's founder Petr Kellner has kept a low profile and consistently emphasised the group's focus on efficient business, his encounters with politicians and promoting conservative values suggest a different agenda. In this week's episode, we speak with Visegrad Insight Fellow and Czech journalist Albin Sybera about PPF's investments in Serbia, a Chinese connection and why CEE should know more about this group. Serbian telecommunications market is PPF's latest target: https://visegradinsight.eu/serbian-telecommunications-market-is-ppf-latest-target/ Czech business empire with a political tinge: https://visegradinsight.eu/czech-business-empire-with-an-unsavoury-political-tinge/ #Czechia #business #politics #PPF #investment #China #Serbia…
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
Last weekend, protests were held in 196 Russian towns and cities following the arrest of Alexei Navalny upon his return to Russia. With a heavy-handed and violent crackdown on protesters, the Kremlin is opting for the same tactics used by Alyaksandr Lukashenka in Belarus and Viktor Yanukovych in response to the Euromaidan in 2013. The possibility of continued instability in the coming weeks and months has implications for the wider region: the events are closely followed all across the Eastern Partnership. To understand regional perceptions and possible futures for Eastern Europe, we invited several experts from the EaP region for initial comments and analysis. We hear from Grigorij Mesežnikov (IVO - Institute of Public Affairs), Hanna Liubakova (Atlantic Council), Zaur Gasimov (University of Bonn), Oksana Forostyna (Yakaboo Publishing), Liana Zakaryan (Citizens Voice and Actions) and Dionis Cenusa (Justus-Liebig-University). This episode is part of the Eastern European Futures (EaP2030) project supported by the German Marshall Fund of the U.S. - Black Sea Trust. Read our scenarios for the Eastern Partnership region: www.visegradinsight.eu/EaP2030/ #Russia #Belarus #Moldova #Azerbaijan #Armenia #Ukraine #Putin #Navalny #EaP2030…
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
Central and Eastern Europe can now boast a number of bingeworthy TV series of all kinds and genres. In this episode, we speak with Dawid Krawczyk, a Polish reporter and a writer, and privately - an avid fan of good TV with appreciation for the local industry. So if you are in the mood to watch a TV show on a warm night of August that takes place against the backdrop of 1990s Lower Silesia or contemporary Budapest - let this episode be your guide. All of the series discussed in the episode are available on global streaming platforms in translation.…
CEE states have a rich and interesting history of participating in the Olympic Games. In this episode, we discuss major CEE-Tokyo Olympics controversies, try to establish which disciplines Central Europeans have historically excelled at, and ask Kuba Kazula, a sports journalist from newonce.sport, which CEE athletes to follow at Tokyo Games this year.…
In his new op-ed, Vladimir Putin once again undermines Ukrainian independence and sends strong revisionist signals. This adds up to the tension that has built up since Russia's new National Security Strategy published a peculiar document written in a militaristic and revisionist language only two weeks after the Biden-Putin summit in Switzerland. In an attempt to unpack this stability-distorting dynamic, we speak with Gregory Feifer, executive director of the Institute of Current World Affairs, author of "Russians, The Great Gamble and Spy Handler", and a former NPR Moscow Correspondent. Gregory Feifer also co-hosts "The Cable", a podcast with Johnathan Katz from GMF and the Transatlantic Working Group in Washington D.C.…
Editors of Visegrad Insight Kamil Jarończyk and Wojciech Przybylski talk about the Three Seas Initiative and present key findings of their new scenario-based report ' Towards 3SI Civil Society Forum ' while this week Bulgaria hosts the 3Seas Initiative summit (8-9 July 2021). Fellows, Asya Metodyeva and Maliek Banat talk about terrorism online in Central Europe. https://visegradinsight.eu/3si2025/ In the last six years, Central European (CE) countries have initiated an unprecedented format that would aim at bettering connectivity in the European Union and increasing the investment potential of the whole block. They formed a joint investment fund and have regularly met to push for common development policies. This builds upon the ambitions of CE to reinforce Transatlantic cooperation while extending the idea of a secure and free Europe. But in order to build up the region and attract investment, a secure civil society actively participating in governance, as well as strong, independent media, are required. These two institutions would assert the societies’ control over their future and act as a bulwark against corruption. https://visegradinsight.eu/online-terrorism/ Opportunistic authoritarian and illiberal politicians make use of the public’s support to curb the growth of extremist groups online, but in doing so hamper the civic freedoms of everyday citizens critical to their messages. What is needed is a cohesive, internationally supported policy which — at the moment — is lost in the maelstrom of hyperpolarisation.…
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
On 1 July 2021 Slovenia takes over the EU presidency from Portugal and Hungary takes over the V4 presidency from Poland. This special episode features three guest speakers: Karolina Zbytniewska, editor-in-chief Euractiv Poland, Márton Ugrósdy, director of the Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade in Budapest, and Marko Milosavljević, professor at the University of Ljubljana, for a conversation about political objectives, ideological similarities and the reality check of the three Central European countries. Check our most recent 'Weekly Outlook' with main political highlights on democratic security: https://visegradinsight.eu/slovenia-set-to-take-the-reins-of-the-eu-presidency/…
In this week’s episode, we discuss the Putin-Biden summit with Steven Erlanger, chief diplomatic correspondent in Europe for The New York Times. Also in this episode: Germany and France’s idea to ‘reset’ EU-Russia relations, V4 finance ministers’ meeting and their approach toward G7 tax on multinational companies, as well as continuing tensions around LGBTQI issues in Hungary and Poland. Read Visegrad Insight's featured piece by Asya Metodieva, who asks if online terrorism can be effectively combated by illiberal states: https://visegradinsight.eu/online-terrorism/…
While most of the eyes are on the Biden-Putin meeting and other festive gatherings like the Globsec Forum this week, Hungary introduces legislation, allegedly trying to protect children, that will target the country’s LGBT+ community. In this episode, we speak with Márta Pardavi, co-chair of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, who explains the political background behind Orbán’s move and walks us through the potential implications of the new legislation for LGBT+ rights and media freedom in Hungary, pointing to similar narratives being deployed in other countries. Additionally, we discuss the political realities that the Polish and Czech opposition are currently dealing with.…
The President of the United States' first visit abroad since taking office will consist of a number of high-profile meetings with the G7, NATO and European allies to strengthen the Transatlantic alliance. Meanwhile, a direct encounter with Russian President Vladimir Putin on 16 June next week is likely to deliver a stern warning to Russia about its activities that seek to undermine the West. On the eve of the visit, Central Europe has been off the radar: what does the region expect from the Biden visit and how will it approach the Biden administration? Michał Baranowski, Director of the Warsaw Office of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, sheds his light on Central Europe's relation with President Biden. In this episode, we also discuss US sanctions on Bulgaria, a papal visit to Hungary and the recovery plans submitted by the EU Member States. Central Europe pushes to revive democracy: https://visegradinsight.eu/ces-push-to-revive-democracy/ Borisov and his cronies have lost US patronage: https://visegradinsight.eu/borisov-and-his-cronies-have-lost-us-patronage/ Russia's image projection in Central Europe: https://visegradinsight.eu/russia-central-europe-rejects-disregard-justice/ Slovenia brings manipulation and extremism to mainstream EU politics: https://visegradinsight.eu/embroiled-in-scandals-janez-jansa-slovenia/ #UnitedStates #Biden #Russia #NATO #EU #G7 #Putin #Hungary #Bulgaria #RRF…
Europe is keen to leave years of turbulence in the Transatlantic relationship behind, as US President Joe Biden is set to visit the continent later this month. With a number of important elections in France and Germany and the Conference on the Future of Europe in the next few years, what are the prospects for rebuilding the democratic alliance and how crucial are regional formats such as NATO and the Three Seas Initiative in strengthening Transatlantic bonds? Europe Programme Director at the International Republican Institute Thibault Muzuergues addresses several of these strategic questions, part of his upcoming book Europe champ de bataille . In this episode, we also discuss the separate threat of prosecutorial scrutiny for the Czech and Polish prime ministers, the chances of a possible new, conservative and identitarian European political family and the role of religion in Central Europe. Monthly foresight: Biden’s European Tour Exudes Optimism: https://visegradinsight.eu/bidens-european-tour-exudes-optimism/ Viktor Orbán Beefs Up Support in Neighbouring Slovakia: https://visegradinsight.eu/viktor-orban-beefs-up-support-in-neighbouring-slovakia/ The Conference on the Future May Divide Europe: https://visegradinsight.eu/conference-on-the-future-may-divide-europe/ Thibault Muzuergues' Europe champ de bataille: https://www.editionsbdl.com/produit/europe-champ-de-bataille/ #Biden #EU #NATO #Putin #Salvini #V4 #Christianity #Orban #United States #Germany #France #Bulgaria #Czechia…
With Belavia airplanes forced to return and European airlines avoiding the Belarusian airspace, the first implications of Alyaksandr Lukashenka's air piracy are immediately clear. While the fate of Roman Protasevich remains unclear, there has been a clear voice from the EU and Transatlantic unity on this grievous matter. Yet, it remains to be seen whether this serious breach of international law will also have repercussions for relations with Russia? Maria Ciupka and Wojciech Przybylski discuss the implications of the piracy case as well as other news stories related to Czech-Polish dispute over the Turów coal mine and Czech surplus deaths because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the second half of the episode you can hear excerpts of a discussion with Joerg Forbrig (German Marshall Fund of the United States) and Serge Kharytonau (iSANS) concerning the hijacking of the Ryanair flight and the kidnapping of Roman Protasevich by the Belarusian regime. How to co-opt the Conference on the Future of Europe: https://www.politico.eu/article/conference-on-the-future-of-europe-suggestions/ Air piracy by KGB must be a game-changer: https://visegradinsight.eu/air-piracy-by-kgb-must-be-a-game-changer/ Online discussion: Joerg Forbrig and Serge Kharytonau on air piracy by Belarus: https://visegradinsight.eu/subscribers-event-international-response-to-belarusian-air-piracy/ #Belarus #piracy #Protasevich #Lukashenka #KGB #Russia #EU #Biden #Poland #Czechia #COVID19 #Turnów #climatechange…
Earlier this month, the leaders of nine countries from Central and Eastern Europe met during the Bucharest Nine virtual summit. They were also joined by NATO's Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg as well as United States President Joe Biden. With an increasingly palpable number of regional groupings to discuss shared interests, what makes the Bucharest meeting on security and particularly NATO's Eastern Flank stand apart? H.E. Ovidiu Dranga, the outgoing Romanian ambassador to Poland, sheds his light on the discussions in Bucharest, the Polish-Romanian bilateral relationship and the prospects of the Three Seas Initiative. In the first half of the episode, we discuss a vote of no-confidence in Czechia, the 'Polish Deal' dividing the opposition, disagreements in the Slovak governing coalition and Gergely Karácsony's run as PM candidate for the united Hungarian opposition. NATO’s Eastern Flank Summit in Bucharest: https://visegradinsight.eu/natos-eastern-flank-summit-in-bucharest/ The Unseen Experience of Physical and Sexual Violence in Central Europe: https://visegradinsight.eu/unseen-experience-of-physical-and-sexual-violence-in-central-europe/ Searching for a Common European Response: https://visegradinsight.eu/searching-for-a-common-european-response/ #V4 #Hungary #Poland #Czechia #Slovakia #Romania…
The Conference on the Future of Europe that commenced earlier this month brings the question of Central Europe's contribution to European integration back to the forefront. How much of the spirit of 1989 remains in the face of democratic backsliding, authoritarian tendencies and economic unsettlement? We discuss recent Bucharest nine meeting with focus on the NATO's eastern flank, provide commentaries on the Future of Europe, upcoming election strategies, a split of the opposition in Poland and revisit a story about NGOs under threat of further curtailment. Also, Visegrad Insight Fellow Radu Albu-Comănescu explains what underlies Central Europe's not so favourable predicament and how it can start to rethink and rebuild society at home and emerge victorious in the fight for pluralism and democracy. Rebuilding Central Europe's lost relevance: https://visegradinsight.eu/rebuilding-central-europe-lost-relevance-in-european-integration/ The potential of a V4-Nordic coalition: https://visegradinsight.eu/connecting-v4-regional-expert-networks/ Only five countries expelled Russian spies after Vrbětice: https://visegradinsight.eu/russian-spies-prague-czechia-only-five-countries-expel/ #V4 #CentralEurope #FutureofEurope #COVID19 #vaccines #1989 #EUintegration…
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
Once a year, the European University Institute in Florence brings together high-level EU representatives and leading thinkers to reflect on the critical challenges for the Union in the upcoming years. With attention increasingly focused on the Conference of the Future of Europe, a bottom-up perspective should also be taken into account as part of the conference exercise. What can Central Europeans contribute to the future of European integration and what role does civil society play in the process? We speak to Antonia Carparelli about the Future of Europe conference, its purpose and stakeholders. She is a European Commission official, adviser on economic affairs and lecturer at the Lumsa University in Rome. We also discuss with Junior Fellow Maria Ciupka recent developments in the region, including some that curtail NGO activities in Poland. The EU should never let crises go to waste: https://visegradinsight.eu/never-let-crises-go-to-waste/ The chances for Bulgaria's anti-post-communist revolution: https://visegradinsight.eu/bulgaria-chances-for-anti-post-communist-revolution/ #EU #futureofEurope #civilsociety #NGOs #Poland #ordoiuris #Bulgaria #elections…
The Polish Constitutional Court recently ruled in a controversial judgement that Human Rights Ombudsperson Adam Bodnar should be removed from his position after the expiry of his five-year term. In the absence of a chosen successor, Bodnar has continued his work supporting and intervening on behalf of Polish citizens as stipulated by the Polish Constitution. With the departure of one of the last independent senior officials appearing imminent, what are the prospects for human rights in Poland? Is the Polish rule of law assault indicative of a wider challenge in Central Europe? Adam Bodnar joins the Visegrad Insight podcast as this week's special guest. We also discuss electoral news in Rzeszów with wider implications and look ahead at future parliamentary votes in Czechia and Hungary. Contested court forces removal of the Polish ombudsman: https://visegradinsight.eu/contested-court-forces-removal-of-the-polish-ombudsperson/ Less convincing illiberal narratives: https://visegradinsight.eu/illiberal-narratives-less-convincing/ The first 100 days of Joe Biden's presidency - debate with MEPs: https://visegradinsight.eu/discussion-with-meps-on-eu-us-relations-at-100-days-of-bidens-presidency/ #ombudsperson #adambodnar #Poland #Hungary #Czechia #Slovakia #V4 #ruleoflaw…
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
V4 governments quickly put out a joint statement in support of Czechia's expulsion of 18 Russian diplomats following an intelligence services investigation into Russian spy involvement in an ammunition warehouse blast in 2014. While the statement was communicated quickly after the news broke, coordinating a common V4 position on other aspects concerning Russia has been difficult - especially in relation to the armed conflict in Ukraine. In this week's episode, we discuss each V4 country stance following the latest incident and unpack the significance of a joint statement condemning all activities aimed at threatening the security of Central Europe. CEE adds diplomatic pressure on the Kremlin: https://visegradinsight.eu/cee-to-add-diplomatic-pressure-on-kremlin/ Russia encircles the CEE gas market and bullies Ukraine: https://visegradinsight.eu/russia-encircles-cee-gas-market-bullies-ukraine-energy/ #V4 #Russia #Czechia #Poland #Hungary #Slovakia #NATO #Ukraine…
Democratic opposition leader Sviatlana Tikhanouskaya is in Vienna ahead of the international conference on Belarus organised by Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg. European Commission sends letters to Hungary and Poland saying that problems with independence of the judiciary, failure to tackle corruption and a deficient public procurement system pose a risk to the bloc’s financial resources; this can be interpreted as an informal step towards triggering the conditionality mechanism which allows Brussels to withhold funds over rule of law concerns. Bulgaria’s victorious ‘We Continue the Change’ party speeds up coalition talks with three other parties, meanwhile, Czechia’s efforts to form government slowed down by President Miloš Zeman. This week we host Rémy Bonny — Executive Director at Forbidden Colours, an EU-wide advocacy group for LGBQTI groups — for a discussion on the recently leaked document which revealed that 76 billion euros in EU funds are being blocked due to LGBTQ+ discrimination in Poland.…
Poland, Lithuania and Latvia facing an intensified security and humanitarian crisis at the border with Belarus. Alyaksandr Lukashenka's hybrid tactic of smuggling migrants to the EU's external border is on top of the agenda at international forums like the UN Security Council, NATO and the EU. Poland and Lithuania are mulling the invocation of Article 4 to allow permanent consultation with NATO allies. Warsaw is also considering freezing the Europe-Asia freight of goods flowing through Belarus (Polish port of Malaszowicze controls 90 per cent of all European freight) but remains unlikely to incur costs alone and therefore waiting on EU-wide support. Russia meanwhile is amassing troops on the border with Ukraine, adding even more pressure on the Eastern Flank. Exits polls grant the victory of Sunday's elections in Bulgaria to newcomer ‘We Continue the Change’ party. We discuss with Ognyan Georgiev, editor of Bulgaria’s leading business publication Capital and Marcin Król fellow at Visegrad Insight, the current projections favouring the centrist party headed by the finance and economic ministers of the caretaker government. Is the Harvard-educated duo up to the task of brokering a coalition government capable of reversing the tide of democratic backsliding in the country? Are we to expect a shift in Sofia's approach vis-a-vis Macedonia or accession to the Eurozone?…
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
Hungary is the only EU member (and second NATO ally, after Turkey) to be snubbed by US President Joseph Biden’s Summit for Democracy in December. Poland faces two hearings from the EU's legal bodies: a verdict from the European Court of Human Rights on the Extraordinary Audit Chamber of the Polish Supreme Court and the National Council of Judiciary, as well as another ruling on the Turów coal mine dispute with Czechia. Warsaw is offering the Czechs 50 million euros in ‘financial contribution’ in hopes of brokering an agreement. Bulgarian parliamentary and presidential elections are on Sunday — incumbent President Rumen Radev is the favourable candidate while the new party headed by finance and economy minister of the caretaker government, ‘We Continue the Change’, is gathering potential to break the country’s political deadlock. Scott Cullinane, Helmut Schmidt fellow at the German Marshall Fund, breaks down the testimonies on democratic backsliding in Hungary and Poland delivered last week at a Congressional hearing of the Helsinki Commission; including the advocacy for a reassessment of US ‘force posture’ vis-a-vis Poland and NATO suggested by Heather Conley, head of the German Marshal Fund think tank. Special addition episode on the potential for conflict escalation in Bosnia delivered by Visegrad Insight’s Programme Manager Tetiana Poliak-Grujić. To understand why the political crisis is becoming more and more inflammable with the potential of undermining all post-Balkan-War stability efforts in the region, she speaks with Professor Miloš Šolaja from the University of Banja Luka (BiH) and Marta Szpala from the Centre of Eastern Studies (PL). This conversation is part of the Visegrad Insight's Western Balkans Futures project that is supported by the International Visegrad Fund . Other participants of the project: Albanian Institute for International Studies (Albania), Foundation BFPE for a Responsible Society (Serbia), EUROTHINK – Center for European Strategies (North Macedonia), Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Hungary), Prague Security Studies Institute (Czechia), Slovak Foreign Policy Association (Slovakia).…
Bulgarians will elect both the president and the parliament in less than two weeks. Incumbent President Rumen Radev’s chances of re-election remain favorable while opinion polls show that the new and small centrist party (‘We Continue the Change’) led by the ministers of economy and finance from the caretaker government is the second most popular behind Boyko Borissov’s GERB party. Romanian Prime Minister Florin Cîțu’s government ousted by a motion of no confidence over inefficient spending of EU recovery funds and a dire pandemic situation at home; previous minister of defense chosen as the caretaker, but he too is unlikely to survive yet another vote of no confidence. This makes president Klaus Iohannis the only stable element in Romanian politics. Poland meanwhile refuses to pay-up fines imposed by the ECJ, making ambiguous promises to reform its judiciary. Slovakia’s energy independence potentially under threat: Hungarian state-owned company is a front-running bidder for minority shares in what is the country's second-largest energy producer. Weronika Grzebalska, sociologist and analyst at Institute of Political Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences, talks to Visegrad Insight about the proposed bill to reform Polish defense forces and how the opposition can capitalize on non-military defense issues ignored by the ruling PiS party.…
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
Non-EU countries especially vulnerable to Gazprom’s policies of cutting gas supply to Europe. Moldova, under severe strain to make it through a cold winter, has introduced a 30-day state of emergency to allow purchase of gas through alternative means. Initially failing to secure a long-term contract with the Russian gas giant (unlike Hungary), two Moldovan representatives are on their way to Moscow in hopes of brokering a deal by the end of this month. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country is ready to supply additional Russian gas at a discounted transit fee — it is unclear if Moscow will bite until the Nord Stream 2 pipeline is up and running. Historic moment in Strasbourg as majority of the European Parliament took a harsh stance against Poland’s rule of law troublemaking. European Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen continues to urge Warsaw to comply with the ECJ’s ruling that calls for the dissolution of the disciplinary chamber. David Sassoli and the European Parliament are planning to sue the Commission if the latter does not invoke the conditionality mechanism against Poland by 2 November. Chris Walker, Vice President for Studies and Analysis at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), talks with Visegard Insight on the main global challenges facing democracies and the liberal world order. How are authoritarian states re-writing the operating language of key international institutions like the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)? With what degree of success? Tune in to find out. Read more from Chris Walker here .…
Latest on the Council of Europe as Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki presents Poland’s position on the controversial rule of law ruling by its constitutional court to the European Parliament. The EU’s top court has also begun the long-awaited hearings on the bloc’s rule of law mechanism - a clause Warsaw and Budapest are expected to contest legally. Morawiecki’s time and efforts in Strasbourg likely to be spent on convincing others that EU funds should not be withheld on such a basis, a position shared by outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Hundreds of coal miners and energy workers rally in Sofia to protest against closure of coal plants in Bulgaria. Job insecurity is further fueled by fear of a huge spike in in heating bills this winter as the continent faces a shortage of gas supply. Ukraine accuses the Russian gas giant Gazprom of sending less gas to Europe than specified in the current transit contract. Czechia, facing significant budget constraints, seeks financial compensation from the Turow coal mine dispute as the European Commission is expected to send Warsaw a formal payment request in penalty fees. Péter Márki-Zay, a conservative candidate with no party affiliation, beats Klára Dobrev in Hungary’s opposition primaries. Márki-Zay is not just an underdog backed by most of the opposition camp, but an experienced local politician with a clean slate running against the corrupt practices of the ruling Fidesz party. As shown by Czech elections, the centre-right is becoming a powerful counterforce to the populist right in the region. At the sidelines of the sixteenth annual Riga Conference, Visegrad Insight Editor-in-Chief Wojciech Przybylski sits down with the chairwoman of the Latvian Transatlantic Organisation, Žaneta Ozolin̦a, to discuss the preparation, execution and theme of this year’s conference. Ozolin̦a elaborates on recent panel topics like Afghanistan, women in peace and security, and technology.…
In Czechia SPOLU beats Andrej Babis’s ANO with a slight majority of the votes, but President Miloš Zeman will likely grant the right to form a government to the biggest single party which is ANO. Situation is complicated by a deterioration in the 77-year-old Zeman’s health, currently left in intensive care. Budapest liberal mayor Gergely Karácsony drops out of the opposition race, instead choosing to endorse the centre-right Péter Márki-Zay: the third-ranked candidate in first round of the primaries and now the only candidate to stand against Klára Dobrev. Meanwhile demonstrations across Poland, seen as a massive cry-out against the ruling party’s conflict with Brussels over the supremacy of EU law, gathers more than 100,000 people in Warsaw alone. Romain Le Quiniou, managing editor at Euro Créative, a French think tank focused on the CEE region, talks to Visegrad Insight about the French consideration of Central European perspective as France strives to take the lead on Europe’s strategic autonomy. More dialogue, the development of alternative diplomatic tools (i.e. think tanks) and reinforcement of interpersonal links between France and the CEE is needed to reach a more common understanding on the future of the continent.…
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
Cross-border investigation of one of the biggest leaks of financial documents, the Pandora Papers, has exposed the tax haven secrecy and tax avoidance of world leaders from Moscow to Amman. Perhaps with little surprise Czech PM Andrej Babiš made the shortlist of the high-net-worth individuals implicated. This comes just days before crucial elections where his ANO party has so far led in support ratings. Will the revelations influence undecided voters? Wojciech Przybylski and Kamil Jaronczyk weigh in. Three major Polish media outlets launched an investigation of their own thoroughly examining positions awarded in state-owned or controlled public companies. The findings shed light on how such posts are distributed based on the level of loyalty to the ruling party rather than merit - a sign of nepotism within the PiS echelons. Government coalition in Slovakia remains shaky as the leader of the nationalist party is accused of abusing power to drop prosecution charges against a corrupt Slovak politician. Klára Dobrev, wife of former Hungarian PM Ference Gyurcsány, remembered for his corrupt past, outperforms others in Hungary’s opposition primaries. An interview with Senior Associate at Visegrad Insight Marcin Zaborowski explores Central Europe’s reaction to the AUKUS fiasco. What does strategic autonomy mean for the region, EU Battlegroups and more in this week’s podcast.…
Conference in Budapest gathers a global alliance of notable conservatives while opinion polls in the V4 indicate a positive outlook for Visegrad cooperation despite nationalist strategies of ruling parties that deviate from the original ethos of the format. France stirs up discussion on European strategic autonomy after recent submarine row with US, UK and Australia - a sensitive subject for Central European countries that rely heavily on security guarantees from Washington. 4 dead bodies found on the Polish-Belarusian border sheds light on the humanitarian crisis at EU’s external border. Pushback of migrants from both sides and Warsaw remains reluctant to accept assistance from the EU's Frontex. Constitutional Tribunal to decide on the relationship between European and Polish law. European Commission continues to withhold recovery funds from Hungary, Poland and Czechia on similar grounds of insufficient rule of law, transparency and good governance.…
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
Polish political scene hits a plateau as opinion polls indicate a stalemate in terms of support for the government versus the opposition. Bulgaria heads into third parliamentary elections this year with its electoral cycle in limbo. Czech President Miloš Zeman remains hospitalized which means the fate of Andrej Babiš being re-elected Prime Minister may be on the line. Politicians like Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán use Pope Francis’s visit to the CEE to carve out political dividends while the national agenda of local bishops in the region as well as their lack of conviction in the Pope's conservative credentials carries over tensions from the Vatican.…
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
CEE returns to school with some of the slowest vaccine rollouts among EU countries. Elections In Poland are postponed this year due to a declared state of emergency, but the political scene remains far from stable. The Polish government is likely to use the crisis on the border with Belarus to improve chances of survival while President Andrzej Duda is expected to veto the LexTVN law to salvage relations with the US. Simultaneously, the Zapad 2021 exercises are spooking Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, but over-exaggerated narratives may play into the hands of Belarus and Russia. Meanwhile, divisive issue over Afghanistan reinvigorates political campaigns of populist parties like ANO in Czechia and SDS in Slovenia. The fate of PM Janez Janša’s SDS party — currently leading in popularity polls — is undecided due to the alienation of the opposition and potential cracks in the ruling party ahead of parliamentary elections. Czech PM’s Andrej Babiš’s ANO party no longer trails behind the rival liberal Pirates party. Euroscepticism, hard-line immigration stance and allegiance to Hungary’s PM Viktor Orbán has formed a grand narrative that attempts to define Central Europe in opposition to its western neighbours.…
Yesterday Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelensky met in Washington, the first visit of Ukraine’s president’s to DC in 4 years. Ukraine’s concerns over Nord Stream 2 were one of the topics on the agenda. In today’s podcast episode, we asked Wojciech Jakóbik, energy analyst and editor-in-chief of Biznes Alert, about gas shortages, GAZPROM’s record earnings, controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline, and their implications for energy security in CEE. Meanwhile, Poland introduces a state of emergency on the border with Belarus to block migrants from the Middle East from entering the country. Marta Górczyńska, human rights lawyer, walks us through what's actually going on in the border town of Usnarz Gorny, and explains how the Polish government derogates international rights of refugees currently stuck at the Polish-Belarusian border.…
In this week's episode, we summarise the highlights and the downfalls of Central and Eastern European politics from the past week. Topics include: Crimea Platform, vaccination rates in the V4, Janez Jansa's peculiar foreign policy comments, Babis-Zeman row over Russia-friendly advisor, Poland media law, & more. Tune in to stay in the CEE-know.…
The severe situation in Afghanistan has been the focal point of global media and public opinion throughout the last week. Meanwhile politicians in Central Europe are going about their business as usual. In this episode, Wojciech Przybylski and Marysia Ciupka summarise the so-far response of the CEE states toward the crisis in Afghanistan, talk about what will happen to the controversial media law in Poland, and wonder what future awaits Czechia following the October 2021 elections.…
What has been achieved by the Belarusian democratic opposition in the past year, following the fraudulent presidential election in August 2020? What has changed and what changes are yet to happen? Is Lukashenka losing his confidence and what’s happening on the Belarus-Lithuania border? In this week’s episode, we speak with Hanna Liubakova, Belarusian journalist and Atlantic Council Fellow; Franak Viačorka, senior advisor to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya; and Michal Potocki, Polish journalist and expert on Ukraine and Belarus, and recently and editor of Polish book project supporting journalists in Belarus.…
More trouble in Hungarian electoral campaign for the Orban government’s “strategic calmness” in response to Russian invasion of Ukraine. Soviet-made drone flies over Hungary and crashes in Croatian capital, Zagreb, with a 120 kilo bomb on board. Former PM Donald Tusk travels to Hungary to endorse Peter Márki-Zay. How the Hungarian poor pay for the rich in terms of tax burden. Yavoriv training ground in Ukraine attacked by eight Russian missiles, 25 kilometers from the Polish border. The second half of the podcast gathers some highlights from Visegrad Insight's State of Hungary Conference . In it, you’ll hear about the state of Hungarian democracy, politics, and defense. The expert panelists are: Andras Bozoki (Central European University), Edit Zgut (Polish Academy of Sciences), Tamás Csiki Varga (Institute for Strategic and Defense Studies), Weronika Grzebalska (Polish Academy of Sciences) and Péter Siklósi (Defence Advisor of the Hungarian Permanent Delegation to NATO). Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (editor-in-chief), Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director), Kamil Jarończyk (Managing Editor).…
Slovakia's surprising turn to NATO. European states debate sending old Russian aircraft to Ukraine. On Friday, Viktor Orban claimed, ‘We’re caught in the crossfire between major geopolitical players’ and accused Poland of provoking Moscow by pushing Ukraine’s independence from Russia. As European and American press how ask whether Putin is really "sick", we discuss the psychology behind Putin - and what Ukrainians have known for many years. The second half of the podcast highlights one of the panels from Visegrad Insight's State of Hungary Conference on foreign policy, trade, and alliances. Daniel Hegedus (the German Marshall Fund of the U.S.) and Dalibor Rohac (American Enterprise Institute) discuss the degree and quality of Hungary's inclusion in global alliances. Hungary's multi-vector foreign-policy is highlighted and zeroes in on the Orban regime's domestic and international narrative that challenged the Western alliance network for Hungary. Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (editor-in-chief), Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director), Kamil Jarończyk (Managing Editor).…
All eyes are on Ukraine as fighting rages on for the fifth day after Russia invaded. Western allies have united in opposition to Putin's attacks, marking a turning point in German foreign policy and defense. The Visegrad Insight team gives a broad overview of the military, humanitarian, diplomatic and disinformation response of Central and Eastern European countries. Read the full outlook here . Marcin Król Fellow Oksana Forostyna and Visegrad Insight Project Manager Tetiana Poliak-Grujić give their perspectives and insights into the situation unfolding in Ukraine. What more can be done in order to stop the war? The discussion on why a no-fly zone over Ukraine is needed now gives a stark answer. This podcast is part of the Visegrad Insight's Western Balkans Futures project that is supported by the International Visegrad Fund . Also participating in the project: Albanian Institute for International Studies (Albania), Foundation BFPE for a Responsible Society (Serbia), EUROTHINK – Center for European Strategies (North Macedonia), Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Hungary), Prague Security Studies Institute (Czechia), Slovak Foreign Policy Association (Slovakia). Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (editor-in-chief), Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director), Kamil Jarończyk (Managing Editor), Tetiana Poliak-Grujić (Project Manager).…
Tensions continue to rise in Ukraine. Lukashenko seeks to legitimize his rule by amending the constitution through a referendum in Belarus. Disinformation surges on in CEE fueled by low levels in trust in governmental officials and institutions. Rule of law crisis in Poland continues. Radomir Kračković , journalist at TV Vijesti from Montenegro, discusses the fight against corruption and organized crime in the region. How are Western Balkans countries doing in terms of tackling corruption? Who is succeeding in the region? Do international partners have any role in the process? This podcast is part of the Visegrad Insight's Western Balkans Futures project that is supported by the International Visegrad Fund . Also participating in the project: Albanian Institute for International Studies (Albania), Foundation BFPE for a Responsible Society (Serbia), EUROTHINK – Center for European Strategies (North Macedonia), Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Hungary), Prague Security Studies Institute (Czechia), Slovak Foreign Policy Association (Slovakia). Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (editor-in-chief), Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director), Kamil Jarończyk (Managing Editor), Tetiana Poliak-Grujić (Project Manager).…
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) is coming out with a ruling on the rule of law mechanism which was challenged by Poland and Hungary. After the ruling, the Commission will have to decide how to proceed with the mechanism. This while the election campaign in Hungary ramps up with the opposition fighting an uphill battle. Relevant text of the week: https://visegradinsight.eu/orban-already-preparing-steps-for-after-ecj-ruling/ Merili Arjakas , Marcin Król Fellow at Visegrad Insight, outlines how digital security has become such an important topic for Estonia and more.…
France tries to ensure leadership once more in the European transatlantic relationship. Hungarian election to be observed by a full-scale OSCE election observation. Orbán’s organisational and electoral clientelism. The political landscape of the Beijing olympics. Read our new special report on the possible Russian invasion of Ukraine and how nine CEE countries will respond: https://visegradinsight.eu/new-report-russian-invasion-of-ukraine/ Ian Brzezinski , senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, answers whether the Three Seas Initiative is forever locked to the original 12 countries—and more. Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (editor-in-chief), Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director), Kamil Jarończyk (Managing Editor).…
NATO's constraints on Russia and the Baltics readiness to defend the alliance. NGOs in Hungary call for a full-scale OSCE election observation. Czech Republic's plans for the EU Council Presidency are discussed. The team previews this month's outlook featured on Visegrad Insight. Zoran Necev from the Institute for Democracy "Societas Civilis" — Skopje, North Macedonia, speaks about efforts to enhance cooperation between V4 and Western Balkans, as well as new trends in the Western Balkans’ accession to the EU, also in light of the French EU presidency. Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (editor-in-chief), Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director), Kamil Jarończyk (Managing Editor), Tetiana Poliak-Grujić (Project Manager). The conversation is part of Visegrad Insight’s #Western Balkans Futures project that is supported by the International Visegrad Fund . Also participate in the project: Albanian Institute for International Studies (Albania), Foundation BFPE for a Responsible Society (Serbia), EUROTHINK – Center for European Strategies (North Macedonia), Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Hungary), Prague Security Studies Institute (Czechia), Slovak Foreign Policy Association (Slovakia).…
Tensions continue to escalate in eastern Ukraine and allied responses are divided—most European countries are sending weapons and aid to Ukraine but Germany has sustained, going as far as blocking Estonia from sending German-made weapons. In #CEE news, the Czech Republic is likely to leave two Russian lead cooperation banks, and Slovakia is divided by Russian propaganda circling around the U.S.-Slovak defence treaty, requiring the intervention of the President. Editor-in-chief Wojciech Przybylski details the latest in the Pegasus Scandal and how this could break the majority held by the ruling Law and Justice party in Poland. In the second part of the episode, Visegrad Insight’s Editorial Director—Miles R. Maftean—speaks with Tomasz Kasprowicz on the grim news revolving around cryptocurrency. A sharp fall in cryptocurrency prices hit the market after Russia announced a potential ban on the use and mining of cryptocurrency. Is it the latest Russian response to the U.S., as the Federal Reserve just released a long-awaited discussion paper on the possibility of creating a digital version of the U.S. dollar? And where does the Central and Eastern European region align its own interests?…
Disagreement persists between China and Lithuania, as EU leaders scramble to come to Lithuania’s defence with a meaningful response. NGOs in Hungary fear impartial and unfair elections will take place on April 3 and call on the OSCE to send a full mission to the country. Visegrad Insight’s new Editorial Director— Miles R. Maftean —discusses the strengthening of #RoExit sentiments and highlights the alarming, increasingly dangerous rhetoric growing in Romania through Alina Bârgăoanu’s text. In the second part we have a special edition episode that focuses on Hungary’s role in the region’s accession to the EU delivered by Visegrad Insight’s Programme Manager Tetiana Poliak-Grujić . She talks to Ferenc Németh from the Budapest-based Institute for Foreign Relations and Trade (IFAT) who offers his insights on Viktor Orban's EU enlargement to Western Balkans advocacy efforts. Given the very little progress the countries have made on their way to joining the EU, what’s behind Orban's policy? This podcast is part of the Visegrad Insight's Western Balkans Futures project that is supported by the International Visegrad Fund . Also participating in the project: Albanian Institute for International Studies (Albania), Foundation BFPE for a Responsible Society (Serbia), EUROTHINK – Center for European Strategies (North Macedonia), Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Hungary), Prague Security Studies Institute (Czechia), Slovak Foreign Policy Association (Slovakia).…
NATO and the US at the negotiation table across the Kremlin this week, with both sides seeking dialogue but reserving optimism for any potential breakthrough. Hungary continues to block ministerial-level talks between the North Atlantic Alliance and Kyiv over minority rights of ethnic Hungarians in southwestern Ukraine, while Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has received re-election endorsement and praise for strongman leadership from former US President Donald Trump. Hungary’s illiberal tendencies, however, are contributing to growing division within the Visegrad Group, says new Czech EU Affairs Minister Mikuláš Bek.…
Enduring legacy of Czech Republic's first president Václav Havel commemorated on his 10 year death anniversary on Saturday as Czechia’s new foreign minister promises to revive the era of values-driven policy seen during Havel’s years. Meanwhile, Lithuania’s principled foreign policy approach is met with Chinese resistance consisting of diplomatic intimidation as well as pressure on EU companies to ditch Lithuanian suppliers. Polish President backtracks on promise to reject the controversial lexTVN legislation, says he will review the bill more carefully. MEP Miriam Lexmann, Brussels Program Director at the International Republican Institute Joanna Rohozińska and Visegrad Insight Editor-in-Chief Wojciech Przybylski take stock of Biden’s Summit for Democracy and draw conclusions on future expectations for Central Europe in a discussion moderated by Andrea Pipino, Europe editor at Internazionale. This podcast is part of a project co-funded by the European Parliament aimed at encouraging debate on democratic security in the Visegrad region.…
Olaf Scholz picks Warsaw as the third European capital to visit in his new capacity as German Chancellor while French President Emmanuel Macron is in Budapest to sit-in on a meeting with PMs of the Visegrad countries. No representatives of the Belarus government at the upcoming EU's Eastern Partnership summit but democratic opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya warmly greeted in Brussels at the sidelines.…
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
Special edition episode dedicated to the most recent protests against a potential lithium mine in Serbia delivered by Visegrad Insight’s Programme Manager Tetiana Poliak-Grujić. She talks to Marko Savković, Executive Director of Foundation BFPE for a Responsible Society from Belgrade who explains their background and potential effect, which can be beyond expected. Will the seemingly monolith Serbian government stand against what looks like just an ecological protest? This podcast is part of the Visegrad Insight's Western Balkans Futures project that is supported by the International Visegrad Fund . Also participate in the project: Albanian Institute for International Studies (Albania), Foundation BFPE for a Responsible Society (Serbia), EUROTHINK – Center for European Strategies (North Macedonia), Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Hungary), Prague Security Studies Institute (Czechia), Slovak Foreign Policy Association (Slovakia).…
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
Europe’s right-wing populist leaders convened in Warsaw ahead of Biden’s Summit for Democracy, vowing to pursue closer cooperation in the European Parliament but ultimately falling short of establishing a new, coherent political party. Russia’s military activities on border with Ukraine heightens threat perception in the West as Biden and Putin schedule a videoconference for Tuesday. Péter Márki-Zay, prime ministerial candidate nominated by Hungary’s united opposition for the April 2022 elections stops by to talk with Visegrad Insight as part of a working trip to Warsaw, outlining what a victory of the opposition would entail compared to the continuation of Viktor Orbán’s ‘one-party state’ system. As a summary of that visit Wojciech Przybylski chats with Zoltan Kesz, Central European Affairs podcaster and political adviser to Márki-Zay, on the future of Hungarian politics and strategic direction of the campaign. More about the meeting with Péter Márki-Zay here .…
NATO and EU leaders tour the Baltics to address security challenges on the border with Belarus. Allies have expressed solidarity with Lithuania, Latvia and Poland ahead of the NATO foreign minister meeting in Riga. The crisis, however, remains far from over as NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warns that people are still trying to enter the bloc illegally from Belarus. More questions arise rather than were answered after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s press conference marathon with journalists last week. As Western security agencies sound the alarm over Russian troop build-up at the border with Ukraine, Zelenskyy confirms to receiving information over an alleged coup attempt involving one of the most powerful Ukrainian oligarchs Rinat Akhemetov. Visegrad Insight Editor-in-Chief Wojciech Przybylski re-unites with Richard Youngs, senior fellow at Carnegie Europe, after a panel discussion on Central Europe and Biden’s Summit for Democracy at the Open Eyes Economy Summit in Kraków. Youngs elaborates on his latest book that explores the shortcomings and successes of democratic resilience in the face of illiberal populism, the Conference on the Future of Europe, the Visegrad Pact of Free Cities, digital activism and more in this week’s interview.…
A Differentiated rather than a Divided Country On 12 July, more than 20.5 million votes were cast in the Polish presidential election by just over 30 million registered citizens. Many observers claimed that the result of this neck-to-neck race is a turning point for Poland and its role in Europe. Is it true that the votes for the two candidates were distributed across an East-West divide of the country? Or is the Polish electoral divide more complicated than meets the eye? Wojciech Przybylski, Editor-in-Chief of Visegrad Insight, discusses the Polish Presidential Election Result with Ben Stanley, Associate Professor at the Centre for the Study of Democracy (SWPS University). Watch the video of the discussion: https://visegradinsight.eu/presidential-election-voting-behaviour-poland/ Read more about the Polish presidential race: https://visegradinsight.eu/poland-presidential-race-last-mile/ #Poland #presidentialelection…
In 2015, Poland ratified the Istanbul Convention on gender equality and combating violence against women. Now, Poland's government appears set to withdraw from this Council of Europe convention over its supposed promotion of 'gender ideology' and alleged threats to a 'pro-family identity'. Earlier this year, the Hungarian parliament blocked ratification of the convention, raising similar concerns. Together with Magda Jakubowska, Vice President of the Res Publica Foundation, and Kerry Longhurst, Jean Monnet Professor at Collegium Civitas, we discuss the meaning of the convention and what is the plight of women and gender equality in Central Europe. Read a recent special report on Human Security: https://visegradinsight.eu/human-security-in-central-europe/ Read the #WomenAreNATO special edition of Visegrad Insight: https://visegradinsight.eu/womenarenato/ #genderequality #domesticviolence #V4 #istanbulconvention…
Our interview with a former director of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on recent tensions around the US Agency for Global Media that oversees projects like Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty around the world. Thomas Kent is a specialist in international reporting, Russian affairs and journalistic ethics. He joined Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in June 2016, after a career of more than 40 years at The Associated Press and has left the office by August 2018. Most recently, he was AP’s standards editor, responsible for the fairness and accuracy of the news agency’s content in text, photos, video, audio, interactives and on social networks. He also served with AP as international editor, World Services editor, Moscow bureau chief, Brussels-based correspondent for European institutions and NATO, chief of operations in Tehran during the Iranian revolution, correspondent in Sydney, Australia, and Hartford, Connecticut, and foreign desk editor in New York. He founded the “Create Your Own Ethics Code” project for the Online News Association. He has written and spoken worldwide on journalistic ethics, including ethical issues for such new journalistic platforms as virtual reality and automated newswriting. An advisor to the Ethical Journalism Network, Kent has been a board member of the Organization of News Ombudsmen, a Pulitzer Prize juror in international reporting and an advisor to the Society of Professional Journalists on revisions to its ethics code. He was raised in Shaker Heights, Ohio, holds a degree in Russian and East European Studies from Yale University and speaks Russian, French and Spanish. He has taught and advised at Columbia University since 1996. More on this topic: https://visegradinsight.eu/journalism-as-a-service/ https://visegradinsight.eu/hungary-lacking-information-sovereignty/ https://visegradinsight.eu/we-need-to-be-more-than-right/…
With a few days left before the second round of the Polish presidential election, Andrzej Duda and Rafał Trzaskowskiego are trying to appeal to both undecided voters and supporters of different camps. With incredulous promises about additional social spending for mothers, an eco-charter and a row over adoption by same-sex couples, the final stretch is in full swing. With a vote that is too close to call, what scenarios could play out after Sunday? Just published: Wojciech Przybylski's international perspective on this election: https://visegradinsight.eu/poland-presidential-race-last-mile/ Read the latest articles about Poland: https://visegradinsight.eu/tag/poland/ #WyboryPrezydenckie #Poland…
On 1 July, Poland took over from Czechia the annual rotating presidency of the Visegrad Group (V4). The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an exceptional couple of months for the Czech presidency, even though there was a lot of work and initiative on the V4's relationship with Germany as well as the Eastern Partnership policy of the EU. Will the Polish presidency continue this agenda or rather focus on other issues? Wojciech Przybylski speaks on these matters with Vít Dostal, who is Research Center Director at the Association for International Affairs (AMO) in Prague. Read the latest analysis about the Visegrad Group: https://visegradinsight.eu/tag/v4/ Read Vit Dostal's article Coronavision for Central Europe: https://visegradinsight.eu/coronavision-for-central-europe-better-future/ #V4 #EaP2030 #Germany #Czechia #Poland…
Four days before the Polish presidential election, Andrzej Duda meets with US President Trump in an attempt to shore up his electoral base. Recently, Trump indicated his willingness to cut the presence of US troops in Germany and move some of these soldiers to Poland. This sparked debate in Germany about its security interests as well as the country's relationship with the region. Who is Central and Eastern Europe's best friend: the United States or Germany? This episode tackles Transatlantic relations, security and the Polish presidential election. Read more about the US and Central Europe: https://visegradinsight.eu/not-turn-blind-eye-us-central-europe/ The latest analysis on Germany's partnership with the region: https://visegradinsight.eu/germany-complicated-sometimes-ambivalent-partner/ #transatlantic #CentralEurope #security…
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
Whether it is the Visegrad Group (V4) or the Three Seas Initiative, there is no absence of regional initiatives for consultation or cooperation within the European framework. We discuss the most recent meeting of the V4 leaders, how they align on the European Recovery Fund, and also focus on questions of energy security, innovation and cross-border infrastructure projects in the region. More on the Three Seas Initiative: https://visegradinsight.eu/estonia-and-the-three-seas-initiative/ Read the latest analysis about the V4: https://visegradinsight.eu/tag/v4/ #V4 #recoveryfund #3SeasInitiative…
With a large number of organisations and a plethora of activities, civil society appears to be thriving in Central Europe. At the same, shrinking civic space and financial instability are threatening the independence and future of the sector. Civil society needs to ready itself for a bumpy ride in the next couple of years but has the agency and chance to remake itself with the help of technology and a new generation of leaders. More on the report: https://visegradinsight.eu/civil-society-futures/ Read the latest analysis about civil society: https://visegradinsight.eu/tag/civil-society/…
While the recovery fund announced by the European Commission is only the beginning of a lengthy political discussion, it has reinvigorated the budgetary negotiations and encourages a reflection on the long-term future of the EU. More on the subject: https://visegradinsight.eu/tag/multi-annual-financial-framework/…
In this episode we discuss the unity of regions of Europe and their relative power in the EU. We also talk about disinformation spread through public media and how to tackle that problem. Finally, we explain the state of play in the EU budget negotiations including ideas and positions of Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. https://visegradinsight.eu/ad-hoc-regionalism-v4/ https://visegradinsight.eu/disinformation-home-hungary/ https://visegradinsight.eu/time-to-tax-eu-covid-19/ https://visegradinsight.eu/the-other-frugal-four-v4-eu-budget/ Budget, MFF, disinformation, information sovereignty, Visegrad Group, V4, EU, Hungary, Poland…
Despite COVID19 PiS government did not cancel the vote but the election did not take place anyway. Ahead of a new electoral campaign, we explain the political dynamics with a spotlight on Rafał Trzaskowski who is joining the race
More than a thousand protesters were detained during the latest demonstration on Sunday 8 November against the authoritarian regime of Alexander Lukashenko. Without dialogue between the state and society about a democratic transition but instead a hardening of the regime, how will the opposition movement keep momentum in the upcoming months? We speak at length about recent events in Belarus, European and transatlantic efforts to support the democratic movement as well the all-present Russia factor with Joerg Forbrig , Senior Fellow and Director for Central and Eastern Europe at the German Marshall Fund of the United States in Berlin. This episode is part of the Eastern European Futures (EaP2030) project supported by the German Marshall Fund of the U.S. - Black Sea Trust. Read our scenarios for the Eastern Partnership region: www.visegradinsight.eu/EaP2030/ What role do women play in the protests? Find out in ‘From Beauty Queens to Freedom Fighters’: https://visegradinsight.eu/women-belarus-beauty-queens-freedom-fighters/ #Belarus #protests #Germany #EU #Russia #UnitedStates…
In a crowded electoral season, two elections caught our attention this week: the race to determine the next United States president and heated parliamentary elections in Georgia. While mail-in ballots are still being counted across the Atlantic, we discuss recent analyses on Visegrad Insight on the Trump administration, its impact on Central Europe and what to expect from the next administration. To understand events in the South Caucasus, we asked Stefan Meister , Head of the Heinrich Böll Foundation Tbilisi Office, to provide a critical perspective on the Georgian election results and the wider Eastern Partnership (EaP) context. This episode is part of the Eastern European Futures (EaP2030) project supported by the German Marshall Fund of the U.S. - Black Sea Trust: www.visegradinsight.eu/EaP2030/ Find Wojciech Przybylski’s analysis on Central Europe and the next US president here: https://visegradinsight.eu/central-europe-already-embraces-the-next-us-president/ #Georgia #EaP2030 #Elections2020…
Central Europe’s younger generations are not deeply engaged in both the political system and civil society, according to different studies. We speak with Zuzana Papazoski , Resident Director of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in Poland, concerning public opinion research done by NDI on young people’s attitudes to the political environment and liberal democratic institutions. This is a special episode in the context of the New Europe 100 Forum event “Graduating into the Future” taking place this week. The Forum focuses on young people with an entrepreneurial mindset and an interest in politics and society, bringing them together with top thinkers, influential politicians and entrepreneurs from the region. Read NDI country reports on youth attitudes here: https://www.ndi.org/publications?country=-1®ion=1040 Find out more about the next New Europe 100 Forum events: https://ne100.org/ #V4 #youth #politics #digital #innovation #education…
The Three Seas Initiative (3SI) is an ambitious initiative supported by 12 EU member states who seek to improve north-south connectivity by means of energy, digital, and transportation structure. Earlier this week in Tallinn, a number of declarations were made at a joint 3SI meeting by the countries involved, however, how much can the initiative deliver to meet high expectations in the upcoming years? We discuss the general significance of such a cross-country initiative and the particular importance of 3SI for some Central European countries with Jiří Schneider , a policy analyst and a former Czech Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs as well as former Executive Director at Aspen Institute Central Europe. New Europe 100 Forum Agenda: https://ne100.org/download/840/ 100 free tickets, register by 25 October: https://forms.gle/G9QnzD7sykNhtFn9A #3SI #ThreeSeasInitiative #Czechia #NE100…
While only one-third of seats were up for grabs, the verdict of the Czech Senate elections was crystal clear: governing party ANO (YES) managed to secure only one seat and its left-wing social-democratic coalition partner ČSSD went from 10 seats down to zero. The opposition parties performed well in the elections, both for the Senate and at the regional level, an encouraging sign for their prospects in next year’s parliamentary elections. How should we understand the outcome of the October vote and what can we anticipate of Czech politics in the upcoming months? We talk to Pavel Havlíček of the Czech Association of International Affairs (AMO) about the result of the elections and the possible implications for Czech foreign policy. Zuzana Stuchlíková, Associate Research Fellow at Europeum, explains to us what are Czechia's foreign policy priorities in the EU but also with particular reference to the rule of law. Finally, we discuss scenarios for Czechia with Martin Ehl, a Chief Analyst at the Czech daily newspaper Hospodářské noviny. Read Pavel’s electoral analysis for the German Marshall Fund: https://www.gmfus.org/blog/2020/10/13/electoral-litmus-test-survival-czechias-government Find recent articles about Czechia on Visegrad Insight: https://visegradinsight.eu/tag/czechia/ #Czechia #elections #foreignpolicy #EU…
Parliamentary elections in Lithuania are scheduled to take place on 11 and 25 October 2020. Vilnius has been a strong supporter of the Belarusian people in their protests against Lukashenko. Recently, Lithuania also welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron for an eye-catching visit. What are the reasons behind Lithuania’s growing importance in the wider region and to what degree will the upcoming elections shift foreign policy priorities? We speak with Monika Bičkauskaite, Programme Assistant at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, about the stakes in the election and Lithuania’s changing role in the EU. Visegrad Insight’s Senior Associate Marcin Zaborowski puts the upcoming elections in a wider foreign policy perspective. Read Monika’s recent article on Lithuania in the EU: https://www.gmfus.org/blog/2020/09/28/can-lithuania-become-eu-regional-leader-midst-belarus-crisis Recent publications about Lithuania on Visegrad Insight: https://visegradinsight.eu/tag/lithuania/ #Lithuania #EU #Belarus…
The latest eruption of fighting all across the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but mostly populated by ethnic Armenians, risks challenging a long-held status quo in the Southern Caucasus. Currently one of the longest-lasting disputes in Europe, the renewed border clashes and the high death toll will put a fragile ceasefire (in place since 1994) in question. With major regional interests at stake (Russia, Turkey, Iran) and after years of unfruitful attempts at reconciliation, how can belligerents Azerbaijan and Armenia return from the brink of an all-out war? We speak with Polish journalist Anna Zamejc about the historical origins and present-day context of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We also discuss regional perceptions of recent events and possible scenarios with Richard Giragosian of the Yerevan-based Regional Studies Center as well as Zaur Gasimov, a researcher at the East European and Russian History the University of Bonn. Scenarios for the recent outbreak of open warfare: https://visegradinsight.eu/brace-for-impact-scenarios-for-nagorno-karabakh/ Azerbaijan's realignment in favour of a Turkic alliance: https://visegradinsight.eu/azerbaijan-turkey-short-term-trump/ #Armenia #Azerbaijan #Turkey #Russia #EaP2030…
While the state independent media environment is dire in Hungary, not all hope is lost for the rest of Central Europe. In spite of economic challenges for smaller national media outlets and risks of political polarisation contaminating quality reporting, there are a number of tools and options available to reporters, editors and publishers to weather the current storm. We speak with Aida Kaisy of the Ethical Journalism Network about her recent investigations of the media environment in the region and how trust in journalism can be (re)built. Who is responsible for the free press? How illiberals are taking advantage of COVID-19: https://visegradinsight.eu/who-is-responsible-for-the-free-press/ Read the latest report of the Ethical Journalism Network about Hungary: https://ethicaljournalismnetwork.org/resources/publications/building-trust-in-journalism-hungary #V4 #informationsovereignty #journalism #media…
Despite public statements by V4 ministers to coordinate actions and keep borders open, the recent spike in COVID-19 is set to spoil the party. With Czechia placed on the list of “red zone” countries by Slovakia just days after the Slavkov format meeting between the two countries and Austria, this may be the beginning of a return to stricter border controls and even temporary lockdowns. After an eventful summer, we look at the main topics that are driving the agenda of the V4 countries in the upcoming months. Read about Slovakia’s measured political action: https://visegradinsight.eu/slovakia-treats-covid19-pandemic-unlike-the-v4/ Recent recent articles on the V4 region: https://visegradinsight.eu/tag/v4/ #V4 #Czechia #Slovakia #Hungary #Poland #COVID19…
With an agreement between Serbia and Kosovo signed in Washington to strengthen economic ties between the two Western Balkan countries, Donald Trump appears to have sealed a much-needed foreign policy success. Is it a “major breakthrough" in his words or rather a small symbolic step in normalising ties – also between Kosovo and Israel? In this week’s episode, we speak with Ivan Vejvoda, a Permanent Fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences and a former Senior Vice President for Programs at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, about the impact of the recent US-initiated signing ceremony. Find out what a Joe Biden victory could mean for the Balkans: https://visegradinsight.eu/balkans-biden-restoring-americas-role/ Read more about the Western Balkans: https://visegradinsight.eu/tag/western-balkans/ #Serbia #Kosovo #Trump #Israel…
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
Three years of Donald Trump presidency have not been easy on Europe nor on Transatlantic relations, with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic having exacerbated the EU-US partnership. Trump's bad instincts, which we saw in the first term, would be multiplied several times in the second term. We speak with Anthony L. Gardner, a former US Ambassador to the EU under President Barack Obama who has recently published a book entitled Stars with Stripes: The Essential Partnership between the European Union and the United States. This podcast features also Marcin Zaborowski, senior associate at the Visegrad Insight and editor in chief of Res Publica Nowa, who comments on the book. Material for this podcast has been recorded before summer as part of an exclusive Visegrad Insight Breakfast meeting for senior diplomats, experts and journalists from Europe and the USA. All the Bad Instincts - Interview with Anthony L. Gardner, a former U.S. Ambassador to the European Union by Julia Jabłońska https://visegradinsight.eu/all-the-bad-instincts-trump-transatlantic-relations/ Stars with Stripes book https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9783030348205 More on Visegrad Insight Breakfasts https://visegradinsight.eu/visegrad-breakfasts/ Tags: USA, EU, Trump, Central Europe…
Carlo Masala, full professor for International Politics at the Bundeswehr University Munich, lecturer at the University of Munich and member of the senate of Munich School of Political Science, discusses the present German perspective on CEE. Our guest speaker is hosted by Philipp Fritz, foreign correspondent for Welt and Welt am Sonntag, reporting from Poland, Ukraine and the Baltic States. This recording comes from an exclusive Visegrad Insight Breakfast held on 4 June 2020 on Zoom for a select group of diplomats, experts and journalists from the region. We are sharing the first part of the meeting, while the further discussion was off-the-record. More on this topic: https://visegradinsight.eu/germany-complicated-sometimes-ambivalent-partner/ Germany, security, Carlo Masala, CEE, Russia…
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Visegrad Insight Podcast
Last Sunday, Belarus witnessed one of the largest protests in its recent history, following a presidential election that was neither free nor fair. While Alexander Lukashenko faces widespread calls to resign, his main opponent Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is prepared to act as the national leader in what could be a peaceful transition. With strong civil society mobilisation set to continue in the near future, we discuss a more than eventful week and also look at likely future scenarios for Belarus. Read the Eastern European Futures scenario-based report: https://visegradinsight.eu/eap2030/ Find out more about the Kremlin’s strategy towards Belarus: https://visegradinsight.eu/belarus-kremlin-scenariosraising-the-stakes/ #Belarus #Lukashenko #EaP2030…
How do authoritarian international actors build relations with the V4 governments and what type of tools do they have their disposal to alter perceptions and policies? MapInfluenCE focuses particularly on China’s influence on Czechia, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia, its means of cooperation and coercion, but has recently started to map links with other authoritarian regimes. We speak with Ivana Karásková, a researcher at the Association for International Affairs (AMO.cz) and a founder and leader of the project, about the main findings and the next steps. Find our latest analysis about China and the V4 here: https://visegradinsight.eu/tag/china/ Read more about MapInfluenCE: https://mapinfluence.eu/en/ #China #EU #V4…
Ahead of Belarusian presidential election we spoke with David Marples, a distinguished professor at Alberta University and one of the best experts in Belarus, to describe the main trends for the country and outline potential developments in a short and medium term perspective. This recording is part of our exclusive video chat series called Visegrad Insight Breakfast where experts, diplomats and senior journalists continuously engage in off-the-record discussion on the region but sometimes speakers allow to have their introductions recorded and shared further. Further reads: https://visegradinsight.eu/eap2030/ Read David Marples' analysis of the latest developments before the election: https://visegradinsight.eu/belarus-year-something-different-russia/ Find out more about Belarusian political parties and their Kremlin partners: https://visegradinsight.eu/belarus-russia-no-equal-partnership/ Tags: Lukashenko, Belarus, Eastern Europe…
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