Hungarian premier Viktor Orban, who supports Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu, endorsed the decision to ban pro-Palestinian rap group Kneecap from entering the country on “national security” grounds. Read more:.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Wednesday unveiled his new cabinet in a long-expected reshuffle, amid falling approval ratings and following his ally’s defeat in presidential elections. Read more:

Decades of forced sterilisations in Czechia and Slovakia reveal a shared legacy of abuse and a struggle to deliver justice. Read more: .Photo Sona Maletz

Orban’s government is struggling in the polls ahead of a general election, so is keen to strike an agreement it can present as a win. But the mooted deal could cost Slovakia tens of millions of euros, raising the question as to why Fico would agree to it.

The EU’s ‘Difficult Duo’ gives Brussels more headaches; Poland downgrades embassy in Budapest; and Babis vows to end Ukraine ammo initiative if he becomes Czech PM. Read more in our #DemocracyDigest: .

Poland plans to withdraw from the international treaty banning the use of anti-personnel mines, joining five other countries on Europe’s eastern flank including Ukraine, which argue that Russia’s invasion has made the ban untenable. Read more:

Slovak PM Fico says it is an “imbecile” proposal to ban Russian gas imports from 2028, but would accept “the best solution” to grant it an exception to continue its existing Russian gas delivery contract until scheduled end in 2034.

EU foreign policy chief Kallas says Slovakia blocked new (18th) sanctions package against Russia at today’s foreign affairs council in Brussels.

As it takes up the EU’s rolling presidency from July, Denmark is determined to ramp up the draconian Article 7 sanctioning procedure against Hungary. Yet, with a crucial general election set for April 2026, such a move could do more harm than good.

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The high-profile trial of Juraj Cintula, accused of attempting to assassinate Slovak PM Robert Fico, began this week in Banska Bystrica, central Slovakia. Read more in the newest #DemocracyDigest:.

There are growing calls to fund that, as well as continued defence spending, using the more than $300bn in frozen Russian state assets held in the West. Speaking at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 in Rome, Polish PM Tusk said "there will be no recovery without victory”.

Named contributors to fund so far are Italy, Germany, France, Poland and European Investment Bank. Ukraine will need over $500bn for reconstruction due to Russian invasion.

🧵 EU Commission chief von der Leyen announces creation of European Flagship Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, which will "leverage public money to bring large-scale private sector investments and help the rebuilding of the country”.

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This is a unique opportunity for journalists based in Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to report from the Balkans and gain deeper insights into the region.

The ‘rubber bones’, in Peter Magyar’s analogy, are the hot-button culture war policies that the ruling Fidesz party regularly tosses around like a dog’s toy. Read more:

The project is part of a wider policy of Viktor Orban’s government to invest significant taxpayer money in sports and cultural infrastructure in the regions of neighbouring countries where Hungarian minorities live.

With populist former PM Andrej Babis in pole position to win back power, concerns are being raised that Czechia could follow Hungary and Slovakia down the populist, pro-Russian path. That’s an unlikely scenario, say experts. Read more: