Europe – Central

Polish president to swear in government; opposition condemns ‘farce’

WARSAW, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Poland's president will on Monday swear in members of a government that will likely only last until December, in what opposition parties say is a…

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European countries tighten borders

The European Union is dealing with an increase in legal and illegal arrivals by migrants, prompting some member states to temporarily re-introduce border controls within what is normally a zone…

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Romanian prosecutors ask to investigate former PM over vaccine contracts

BUCHAREST, (Reuters) - Romanian anti-corruption prosecutors asked parliament and the president to allow a criminal investigation into former prime minister Florin Citu and two former ministers for suspected abuse of…

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Romania is not ready to uphold same-sex couples’ rights – PM

BUCHAREST, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Romanian society is not ready to uphold the rights of same-sex couples in line with a European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling, leftist Prime…

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Hungary’s ruling party submits bill on ‘protecting national sovereignty’

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's ruling Fidesz party submitted a bill on "protecting national sovereignty" to parliament on Tuesday to defend against what it called undue political interference by foreign persons or…

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UPDATED: EU Commission president ‘unfazed’ by Hungarian billboard campaign

The European Commission’s chief spokesperson, Eric Mamer, declined to directly criticise a new Hungarian government campaign which includes billboards depicting commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Open Society Foundations…

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Hungary’s Orban seeks to stir support with survey questioning EU policies, Ukraine membership

APEST, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Hungary's government sent out a survey to its citizens on Friday questioning whether the European Union should allocate more funds to Ukraine or grant it…

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Hungary to hike minimum wage by 15% as govt seeks economy boost

BUDAPEST, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Hungary's employers and trade unions have reached a deal on minimum wages on Thursday with a 15% hike in the minimum wage to take effect…

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Poland, seeking to tap EU funds, to ask to join EU prosecutor’s office

By Alan Charlish WARSAW, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Poland will tell the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) that it wishes to join in the first weeks after a new government…

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Hungary government to relaunch ‘golden visa’ programme

BUDAPEST, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Hungary's government has submitted the outlines of a new "golden visa" programme to parliament as part of a draft bill regulating immigration from third countries…

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New Slovak government eyes tax, spending hikes, slow deficit reduction

Slovakia's new government plans to raise multiple taxes, including on banks, to fund pension and other spending rises and slowly cut the euro zone's highest budget deficit under a programme…

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Parliamentary session heralds new start for Polish politics

Poland's parliament meets for the first time on Monday since an election in which an alliance of pro-European Union parties won a majority, heralding a new start for Polish politics.President…

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Hungary flags ‘sovereignty’ bill to target foreign influence

Hungary's ruling party will submit a bill to parliament next week to set up an office which will probe activities that threaten the country's sovereignty, such as foreign funding of…

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Hungary’s Orban says EU must not start membership talks with Ukraine

BUDAPEST, Nov 10 (Reuters) - The EU must not start membership talks with Ukraine, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told state radio on Friday, stressing this was Hungary's "clear stance" on…

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New Slovak government rejects final military aid package for Ukraine

Nov 8 (Reuters) - Slovakia's new government rejected on Wednesday a previously drafted plan to donate rockets and ammunition to Ukraine, following through on a pledge by incoming Prime Minister…

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Poland election: how and when will a new government be formed?

By Marek Strzelecki WARSAW (Reuters) - Polish President Andrzej Duda said on Monday Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will have a chance to form a new government after his Law and…

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Slovak PM Fico: no obstacles to private weapons exports

Nov 6 (Reuters) - Slovakia's new Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has pledged to halt the country's military aid for neighbouring Ukraine, said on Monday he had no intention of…

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Polish president to announce new PM on Monday

WARSAW, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Polish president Andrzej Duda will announce his decision on appointing a new prime minister after last month's election on Monday evening, an aide to the…

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Warm weather keeps migratory cranes in Hungary longer

By Krisztina Fenyo and Krisztina Than HORTOBAGY, Hungary, (Reuters) - The plains of eastern Hungary have seen a record number of cranes staying over in unusually warm weather this autumn,…

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Photo Story: High-wheel cyclists gather for Prague’s Mile race

Participants, wearing historical attire, ride on high-wheels before the traditional 'Prague Mile' race in Prague, Czech Republic, on Saturday. The Czech high-wheel bicycles club was founded in 1880, and its…

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Poland extends Slovakia border controls amid migration concern

Poland has extended temporary controls on its border with Slovakia until Nov. 22 in an apparent response to continuing efforts by migrants to enter from Slovak territory. The number of…

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Putin ally warns ‘enemy’ Poland: you risk losing your statehood

A top ally of President Vladimir Putin warned Poland on Thursday that the NATO member state was now considered a "dangerous enemy" by Russia and could end up losing its…

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Photo Story: International Space Station (ISS) passes in front of the Moon

The International Space Station (ISS) passes in front of the Moon as captured from Filakovo, southern Slovakia, on Wednesday 01 November 2023. Via EPA-EFE/PETER KOMKA

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Romania and Bulgaria report bird flu as Europe faces new wave of virus

Romania and Bulgaria have reported outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza among poultry, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) said, as Europe faces a seasonal upturn in the deadly…

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Slovakia’s Fico calls for guarantees on EU aid to Ukriane

Oct 27 (Reuters) - New Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has told other European Union leaders that 50 billion euros in EU aid to Ukraine should include guarantees that the…

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Hungary’s PM Orban: EU’s strategy on Ukraine ‘has failed’

BUDAPEST, Oct 27 (Reuters) - The European Union's strategy with regards to the war in Ukraine "has failed" and the bloc should create a plan B as the Ukrainians will…

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UPDATED: Slovakia’s Fico will not support more military aid to Ukraine at EU summit

Oct 26 (Reuters) - Slovakia's newly appointed Prime Minister Robert Fico will not back further military aid for Ukraine nor support further sanctions against Russia at his first European Union…

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Slovak ex-pm Fico to take government reins for fourth time on Wednesday

(Reuters) - Slovakia's president will appoint a new government on Wednesday led by three-time leftist prime minister Robert Fico, who won a Sept. 30 election with pledges to end military…

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Polish opposition ready to take power, says Tusk

Poland's mainstream opposition parties said on Tuesday they are ready to take power, as they seek to increase pressure on the president to make a quick decision on appointing their…

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EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Gorzow Wielkopolski, Poland

A picture taken with a drone shows children playing at a water fountain as they attempt to cool off on a hot day in Gorzow Wielkopolski, western Poland. Via EPA-EFE/LECH…

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EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Bran, Romania

Bran castle, in Bran village, 173 km north from Bucharest, Romania. The Teutonic Knights, a religious Catholic order founded by German crusaders in Palestine in the late twelfth century, received…

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Photo Story: Slovenia tightens security at border with Croatia and Hungary

Slovenian police officers check vehicles at the Obrezje-Bregana border between Slovenia and Croatia crossing near Obrezje village, Slovenia, 21 October 2023. Slovenia on Saturday deployed police on border crossings with…

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Slovakia president sets condition to appoint ex-PM Fico’s cabinet

Slovak President Zuzana Caputova will only appoint a cabinet led by pro-Russian former prime minister Robert Fico if he changes his nominee to be environment minister, her office said. The…

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Austrian ex-chancellor Kurz goes on trial for perjury

VIENNA, (Reuters) - Austria's conservative former chancellor Sebastian Kurz went on trial for perjury on Wednesday in a case separate from the corruption investigation that forced him from office but…

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UPDATED: Photo Story: Five-year-old boy stabbed to death in Poznan, Poland

Polish police and medical staff arrive to the scene of a stabbing incident at the Lazarz district in Poznan, western Poland, 18 October 2023. A five-year-old boy was stabbed in…

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Poland election: how and when will a new government be formed?

By Marek Strzelecki WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland could face weeks or months of uncertainty following Sunday's election showed the incumbent Law and Justice (PiS) remaining the largest party but losing…

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Poland, EU’s biggest poultry producer, reports bird flu outbreak

Poland, the European Union's largest poultry producer, has reported an outbreak of the highly contagious H5N1 bird flu virus among poultry in the northern part of the country, the World…

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Poland’s ruling nationalists lose majority in election, final results confirm

Poland's ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party won most votes in Sunday's national election but fell short of a majority, final official results showed on Tuesday, confirming that the liberal,…

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Slovakia’s populist ex-PM Fico seals coalition deal for new government

Slovak former prime minister Robert Fico and his SMER-SSD party signed a coalition deal on Monday to form a new government expected to go slow on cutting high deficits and…

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Polish nationalists PiS on brink of losing power, exit poll shows

Poland's incumbent Law and Justice (PiS) party was narrowly ahead in Sunday's general election, exit polls showed, but the liberal opposition appeared to secure a majority, raising the possibility of…

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Poland holds high-stakes election amid rows over democratic rule

By Justyna Pawlak WARSAW, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Poles vote on Sunday in a parliamentary election the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) hopes will earn it an unprecedented third term…

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Romanian troops boost NATO’s peacekeeping mission in Kosovo

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO said that more than 130 troops from Romania had reinforced its Kosovo Force (KFOR) peacekeeping mission following the worst violence in northern Kosovo for years. The…

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Poland set for high-stakes election amid disputes over EU, democracy

By Alan Charlish Poles elect a new parliament on Sunday Ruling nationalists PiS tipped to win but to lack majority Opposition leader says PiS wants to take Poland out of…

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As election nears, Polish PM warns of ‘Islamic fighters’ among migrants

WARSAW, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Islamic militants will be among migrants heading for Europe as a result of the conflict in Israel, Poland's prime minister said on Thursday, as his…

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Poland to extend border controls with Slovakia

WARSAW, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Poland will announce on Thursday that it intends to extend temporary controls on its border with Slovakia, Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski said. "Today we will…

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Two dead, six injured as car carrying illegal migrants crashes in Hungary

BUDAPEST, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Two people died and six were injured in southern Hungary near the Serbian border on Thursday when a car carrying illegal migrants hit a tree…

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Role of women in society at stake in Polish election

In 2021, a young woman came to a hospital in eastern Poland to get an abortion: she was suffering from severe mental distress because the fetus she was carrying had…

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Poland, Hungary evacuate citizens from Israel

WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland is sending military planes to evacuate its citizens from Israel, Polish President Andrzej Duda said, after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel. "We are sending…

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Poland election turns Germany into punchbag, straining Western alliance

Ruling Polish nationalists mine old resentment dating to war Fighting for re-election, they accuse Germany of meddling Quarrel hits Western efforts to aid Ukraine against Russia Berlin being careful to…

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Undeterred by border checks, illegal migrants arrive in Slovakia

By Krisztina Than NITRA, Slovakia (Reuters) - Illegal migrants kept arriving at a police registration centre in southern Slovakia this week, as border controls imposed by the government appeared not…

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Poland election campaign polarised by anxiety over migration

By Marek Strzelecki, Kuba Stezycki and Kacper Pempel Border village grappling with surge in illegal migrants Villager: 'They'll walk in like ants' if vigilance wanes Ruling nationalists mining migration fears…

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Slovakia halts Ukraine aid

Slovakia’s caretaker government said it has halted sending further military aid to Ukraine as political parties that oppose such support are in talks to form a coalition following last weekend’s…

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Poland’s ruling party leads in opinion poll before Oct vote

WARSAW, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Poland's ruling nationalists are in the lead ahead of October 15 parliamentary elections, according to a poll published on Wednesday. The Law and Justice party…

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Slovakia tightens controls on Hungary border as migrant arrivals rise

By Radovan Stoklasa SKALITE, Slovakia (Reuters) - Slovakia moved on Wednesday to impose temporary controls on its border with Hungary over a rising number of illegal migrants, after Poland, the…

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UPDATED: Czechs, Poles start checks on border with Slovakia, Austria to follow suit

PRAGUE/WARSAW (Reuters) - The Czech Republic and Poland took coordinated action to introduce checks along their borders with Slovakia to curb illegal migration and smuggler activity, prompting Austria to follow…

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Poland’s ruling party leads in opinion poll before October vote

WARSAW, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Poland's ruling nationalists are in the lead ahead of Oct. 15 parliamentary elections, according to a poll published on Monday. The Law and Justice party…

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Slovakia’s Fico: border checks with Hungary a priority for new government

BRATISLAVA, (Reuters) - Slovakia needs to restart border controls with Hungary to stem the flow of illegal migrants, election winner Robert Fico said, flagging the issue as one of his…

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