The Dispatch

EU’s Breton tells Hungary to suspend discriminatory fuel prices – EU document

EU industry chief Thierry Breton told Hungary to suspend discriminatory fuel pricing against vehicles with foreign licence plates or risk being taken to court, according to a European Commission letter…

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Ryanair urges Hungary to scrap new tax on airline passengers

BUDAPEST, June 8 (Reuters) - Ryanair RYA.I called on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government on Wednesday to scrap what it called a "misguided" new tax levied on departing passengers as part of efforts…

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Polish banks team up to create protection scheme

June 8 (Reuters) - The biggest commercial banks in Poland have teamed up to create a protection scheme to help ensure their liquidity and solvency, the banks said on Tuesday. Alior Bank ALRR.WA,…

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EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Majaland Warsaw, POLAND

An aerial view of 'Majaland Warsaw' by the Plopsa Group, the second largest theme park in Poland in Goraszcze near Warsaw, Poland .. The year-round facility offers entertainment for families…

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EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Debrecen, Hungary

Phacelia, a honey-bearing plant that is very popular with bees and an excellent catch crop, is seen in a field near Debrecen, Hungary. From one hectare of phacelia, bees can…

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EU competition regulators to investigate Czech state aid for 3 TV operators

BRUSSELS, June 3 (Reuters) - EU competition regulators on Friday expressed concerns about 18 million euros ($19.3 million) in Czech state aid for three digital terrestrial TV operators and launched an investigation…

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Slovakia says hardest hit by Russia oil sanctions, expects solidarity

PRAGUE, June 3 (Reuters) - Slovakia said on Friday it would be hardest hit by European Union sanctions on Russian oil and it expected solidarity from Brussels to mitigate the impact. The…

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Hungary hopes for EU recovery fund deal by end of 2022

BUDAPEST, June 3 (Reuters) - Hungary hopes to reach an agreement with EU authorities by the end of the year on gaining access to billions of euros worth of pandemic…

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EU approves Polish recovery plan, but no payouts before judiciary fixed

The European Commission on Wednesday approved billions of euros in COVID-19 economic recovery funds for Poland, but the money will not flow until Warsaw makes reforms to the judiciary, the…

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Hungary holds up EU sanctions package over Patriarch Kirill

Hungary is holding up the finalization of the European Union's sanctions package against Russia, insisting on the removal of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill from the…

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New centre-left government for Slovenia

Slovenia's lawmakers approved a new centre-left government of Prime Minister Robert Golob, who leads a new party and replaced populist premier Janez Jansa promising to make people proud. Fifty-three deputies…

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Polish manufacturing sector shrinks on Ukraine war hit -PMI

WARSAW, June 1 (Reuters) - Poland's manufacturing sector contracted for the first time in almost two years in May, a survey showed on Wednesday, as supply-side delays, high inflation and market instability…

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US troops to be stationed permanently in Poland

The United States is preparing to deploy a permanent military force in Poland in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to media reports in the Polish media. News of the…

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Polish Parliament approves judicial reforms to unblock EU funds

Poland's Parliament on Thursday voted in favour of a bill that will replace a contested disciplinary chamber for judges with a new body, clearing the way for the country to…

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Poland terminates Yamal gas pipeline agreement with Russia

WARSAW, May 23 (Reuters) - Poland decided to terminate an intergovernmental agreement with Russia on the Yamal gas pipeline, Polish Climate Minister Anna Moskwa said on Twitter on Monday. "Russia's aggression against…

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Italian Carabinieri break up international gang targeting the elderly

The Italian Carabinieri Corps (Carabinieri Reggio Calabria), supported by Europol, dismantled a criminal organisation involved in a number of criminal activities including fraud, sexual exploitation and money laundering. The investigation…

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Polish lawmakers reach compromise on court reform with eye on EU funds

WARSAW, May 20 (Reuters) - Lawmakers from Poland's ruling coalition agreed to judicial reforms the government says will unblock billions of euros in European Union funding, helping an economy grappling…

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Photo Story: Moon sets behind the Tatra Mountains in Poland

The moon sets behind the Tatra Mountains, in southern Poland. Via EPA-EFE/Grzegorz Momot

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Hungary looks to boost domestic ownership in more key sectors

BUDAPEST, May 18 (Reuters) - Hungary should boost domestic ownership in more key sectors in addition to banking, media and energy, a cabinet minister-designate said on Wednesday, signalling more pressure on foreign…

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Austria’s neutral status here to stay, foreign minister says

BERLIN, May 18 (Reuters) - The foreign minister of Austria said his country would retain its neutral status even as EU allies Sweden and Finland overhauled decades-long foreign policy stances to apply…

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Hungary’s place is in the EU – at least for the next decade: PM Orban

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Monday raised the spectre of an "era of recession" in Europe as the continent grapples with surging energy costs and rising inflation due to…

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U.S. Treasury’s Yellen to push Poland on global minimum tax implementation

WARSAW, May 16 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will thank Poland for hosting millions of Ukrainian war refugees on Monday, but she has another goal for meetings in Warsaw: persuading…

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Hungary’s new president condemns Putin’s ‘aggression’, plans trip to Warsaw

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary's President Katalin Novak at her inauguration ceremony on Saturday condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and said her first trip would take her to Poland, in an…

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Six people confirmed dead in Slovenia chemical plant blast

May 13 (Reuters) - Six people were confirmed dead after an explosion at a chemical plant in southeastern Slovenia, state news agency STA reported on Friday. The explosion occurred on Thursday in…

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Poland’s PM says Vladimir Putin ‘more dangerous than Hitler or Stalin’

Vladimir Putin is more dangerous than Adolf Hitler or Joseph Stalin, the Polish prime minister has warned, while calling for the destruction of the Russian president’s “monstrous ideology”. Poland’s leader…

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Hungary says EU’s oil embargo proposal still unacceptable

BUDAPEST, May 11 (Reuters) - Russian shipments via pipelines should be exempted from planned European Union oil sanctions against Moscow that, in their current form, would destroy Hungary's economy, its Foreign Minister…

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WATCH: Russian ambassador doused in red by anti-war protesters in Poland

The Russian ambassador to Poland was doused in a red substance on Monday by people protesting against the war in Ukraine as he went to lay flowers at the Soviet Military Cemetery in Warsaw to…

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Jill Biden will meet Ukrainian refugees in Romania, Slovakia on Mother’s Day

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - United States first lady Jill Biden left Washington on Thursday for a whirlwind tour of Romania and Slovakia to highlight the U.S. commitment to Ukrainian refugees over…

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Austria’s current account swings to deficit for first time in two decades

VIENNA, May 6 (Reuters) - Austria's current account balance swung to a deficit in 2021 for the first time in 20 years as coronavirus-related travel restrictions hurt tourism badly and Austrian investments…

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Kremlin says Poland might be a source of threat

May 6 (Reuters) - Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that there was hostile rhetoric coming out of Poland, and that Warsaw could be "a source of threat". Poland has led…

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UPDATED: Hungary cannot support new EU sanctions against Russia in present form -PM Orban

BUDAPEST, May 6 (Reuters) - Hungary cannot support the European Union's new sanctions package, which includes an embargo on oil imports, in its present form, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday.…

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International donor conference in Poland raises $6.5 billion for Ukraine

A high-profile international fundraiser for war-torn Ukraine is being held in Warsaw on Thursday. The event, called the High-Level International Donors’ Conference for Ukraine, will take place at the National Stadium…

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3.16 million refugees from Ukraine entered Poland so far

Poland has taken in more than 3.16 million refugees fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Polish Border Guard agency reported on Thursday. "Since February 24, a total of 3,163,000 people have crossed into Poland from Ukraine," it said in a tweet. On Wednesday, around 25,000…

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UPDATED: Slovakia, seeking exemption, wants three-year transition for EU’s Russian oil embargo

May 4 (Reuters) - Slovakia wants a three-year transition period for it to phase in the European Union's proposed oil embargo on Russia, Economy Minister Richard Sulik said on Wednesday. Slovakia, highly…

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EU may offer Hungary, Slovakia exemptions from Russian oil embargo

The European Commission may spare Hungary and Slovakia from an embargo on buying Russian oil, now under preparation, wary of how dependent the two countries are on Russian crude, two EU officials…

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Most Poles support providing Ukraine with heavy weapons: poll

The majority of respondents in Poland - 64.5 percent, answered positively to the question of whether NATO countries should transfer heavy offensive weapons to Ukraine, an SW Research poll for…

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Poland ready to help Germany import non-Russian oil

WARSAW, April 27 (Reuters) - Poland is ready to help Germany import non-Russian oil, its climate minister Anna Moskwa said on Wednesday, as its Western neighbour aims to find alternative to Russian…

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Environmentalist party leads in Slovenia’s election with 35.8% of vote -exit poll

LJUBLJANA (Reuters) - The Environmentalist Freedom Movement party looked on course to win Slovenia's parliamentary election on Sunday as an exit poll by the Mediana agency showed the party leading…

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Ukrainians return home from Poland for special Easter

Maria Verbyana, 19, moved to Warsaw to escape Lviv, Ukraine, a month ago amid the threat of Russian bombings. But, as Orthodox Easter approaches on Sunday, she could not imagine…

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At least one miner dead, six trapped after tremor in Polish coal mine

WARSAW, April 24 (Reuters) - One miner was confirmed dead after a tremor at the Borynia-Zofiowka coal mine in Poland, and rescuers are still trying to reach six more underground, mine owner…

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Slovenia’s populist PM faces close election race against environmentalist party

LJUBLJANA, April 24 (Reuters) - Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa hopes to shake off criticism of his record on democracy and media freedoms to win a fourth term in a parliamentary election…

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Almost three million refugees have fled Ukraine for Poland

More than 2.9 million refugees have fled Ukraine to Poland since the war began on 24 February, the Polish Border Guard has said. More people entered Ukraine from Poland (23,800)…

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No deal yet in Polish air traffic row that could leave planes grounded

Poland failed to reach agreement with air traffic controllers on Friday in a dispute over pay and conditions, a trade union spokeswoman said, moving airlines closer to what European authorities…

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Warsaw mayor asks for more support, coordination on Ukraine refugees

The international community and Poland's government need to coordinate better and provide more support directly to local governments and charities helping Ukrainian refugees in Poland, Warsaw's mayor said. "We need…

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Slovenia reportedly sending tanks to Ukraine in a weapon swap

Germany is working on a three-way swap via Slovenia that would see heavy equipment sent to Ukraine. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the priority was to ensure Ukraine quickly…

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Photo Story: Slavic Festival at Krakus mound in Krakow

People dressed in Slavic costumes and members of the public take part in the Rekawka Slavic Festival at Krakus mound in Krakow, Poland. After a two-year break caused by the…

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Photo Story: A particular house in Makowiska, Poland

Polish artist Maciej Chesiak (R) and his wife Jenifer Penroz (L) pose in front of a house in the shape of a teapot in Makowiska village, north-central Poland, 20 April…

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Four dead after probable methane explosion in Polish coal mine

WARSAW, April 20 (Reuters) - Four people died and seven were missing in a coal mine in southern Poland, a senior government official said, after what the mine's owner described as a…

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Austria says Ukraine war is swelling deficit back to EU’s 3% limit

VIENNA, April 20 (Reuters) - The Ukraine war's negative impact on economic growth and associated costs such as reducing dependence on Russian natural gas have forced Austria to increase its budget deficit…

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Poland declines to take or pay for more COVID-19 vaccines for now despite contract

Poland will not take or pay for more doses of COVID-19 vaccine under the European Union's supply contract, its health minister said on Tuesday, setting the stage for a legal battle with manufacturers.…

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Photo Story: Easter market in Opole, Poland

Colourful easter eggs on display at the 45th Easter Market, traditionally held on Palm Sunday at the Opole Village Museum in Opole - Bierkowice, Poland. Via EPA-EFE/KRZSZTOF SWIDERSKI

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Poland has so far welcomed 2.76 million refugees from Ukraine

Poland has taken in nearly 2.76 million refugees fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Polish Border Guard agency reported on Friday. "Since February 24, a total of 2,757,000 people have crossed into Poland from Ukraine," it said in a tweet. On Thursday, 26,800 refugees from…

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