Europe - Central - CDE News - The Dispatch

UPDATED: Poland resumes ground search after Friday airspace breach

WARSAW, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Poland was renewing a search operation for elements of a suspected Russian rocket on Saturday, which it said had violated the country's airspace on Friday…

Read More Here

Unidentified object enters Poland from direction of Ukraine

WARSAW, Dec 29 (Reuters) - An unidentified aerial object entered the airspace of NATO-member Poland from the direction of the border with Ukraine on Friday morning, the Polish army's Operational…

Read More Here

Romania, Bulgaria agree partial Schengen entry with Austria

Romania and Bulgaria have reached an agreement with Austria to join Europe's open-borders Schengen area by air and sea from March 2024, with talks set to continue next year about…

Read More Here

Czech police patrol public areas, university lectures off after shooting

By Jan Lopatka PRAGUE, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Czech police tightened security around schools and other public buildings across the country and Prague's Charles University cancelled all lectures and events…

Read More Here

Czech Republic in shock after unprecedented mass shooting at Prague university

By Jan Lopatka and Jason Hovet A 24-year-old Czech student shot dead his father, then killed 14 people and wounded 25 others at his Prague university on Thursday before possibly…

Read More Here

UPDATED: Hungary’s Orban in talks with European conservatives ECR group as European election nears

BUDAPEST, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Hungary's ruling Fidesz party is in talks with the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR) but will decide which grouping to join only after the…

Read More Here

Polish parliament votes for court reform resolution

WARSAW, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Poland's parliament voted for a resolution seeking changes in the National Council of the Judiciary (NCJ), as the new government attempts to undo reforms by…

Read More Here

Hungary ready to lift objection to Bulgaria’s Schengen entry

BUDAPEST, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Hungary will lift its objection to Bulgaria joining Europe's passport-free Schengen zone after the Bulgarian parliament formally confirms its scrapping of an extra tax on…

Read More Here

EU troublemaker Orban victorious at home, isolated in Brussels

By Krisztina Than and Andrew Gray Hungary's Viktor Orban was quick to get on the airwaves at home on Friday, telling Hungarians how he vetoed financial aid to Ukraine and…

Read More Here

Sea change for Poland as Donald Tusk sworn in as PM

WARSAW, Dec 13 (Reuters) - New Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government was sworn in by the president on Wednesday, the final step in a transfer of power that marks…

Read More Here

Hungary sticks to its stance on opposing EU membership talks with Ukraine -PM Orban

Hungary will stick to its stance that the EU must not start membership talks with Ukraine but should aim for a strategic partnership instead, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in…

Read More Here

Donald Tusk appointed Polish PM, setting stage for warmer EU ties

Poland's parliament backed Donald Tusk to become prime minister on Monday, ending eight years of nationalist rule and putting the country on track for a thawing of relations with the European…

Read More Here

Austria makes conditional ‘Air Schengen’ offer to Bulgaria, Romania

VIENNA, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Austria, which has led opposition within the European Union to Romania and Bulgaria joining the Schengen open-travel area, said on Monday it was willing to…

Read More Here

All eyes on Polish parliament as Tusk set to become PM

By Alan Charlish and Pawel Florkiewicz ARSAW, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Former European Council President Donald Tusk is expected to be appointed prime minister of Poland on Monday, during a…

Read More Here

Slovak FinMin: we are on Greek path in terms of rising debt

(Reuters) - Slovakia is on a Greek path in terms of rising debt and interest rates and turning the trend will be tough, the country's new finance minister Ladislav Kamenicky…

Read More Here

UPDATED: Hungary’s ruling party submits resolution opposing Ukraine’s EU accession talks

BUDAPEST, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Hungary's ruling party submitted a resolution to parliament on Wednesday, calling on the government not to support the start of talks on Ukraine's EU accession…

Read More Here

US envoy slams Hungarian govt for ‘disregarding’ interests of NATO allies

BUDAPEST, (Reuters) - The U.S. envoy to Budapest sharply criticised the Hungarian government on Tuesday for "disregarding" the interests of its NATO allies and strengthening ties with Russia at a…

Read More Here

Hungary’s Orban to meet Macron ahead of EU summit

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will meet French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Thursday, his press chief said, ahead of an EU summit at which talks on Ukraine's joining the bloc and financial…

Read More Here

Poland expands border controls with Slovakia to curb illegal immigration

WARSAW, (Reuters) - Poland will extend temporary controls on its borders with Slovakia until Jan. 2, 2024, in response to continuing efforts by migrants to enter from Slovak territory. Slovakia…

Read More Here

Hungary’s Orban says EU should first sign strategic partnership accord with Ukraine

BUDAPEST, Dec 1 (Reuters) - The European Union should first sign a strategic partnership agreement with Ukraine instead of starting membership talks with the country, Hungary's Viktor Orban said on…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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,…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here