The Dispatch

Poland and Ukraine pledge quick end to political friction

The leaders of Poland and Ukraine pledged on Monday to tackle a thorny political dispute that had hampered their critical wartime alliance and boost defence cooperation as Russia's invasion grinds…

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Polish president criticizes EU’s executive for blocking funds

WARSAW, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Polish President Andrzej Duda on Sunday criticized the European Commission for blocking EU funds in what he said was "an attempt to force Poland to…

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EU’s Reynders visits Poland to discuss restoring rule of law

WARSAW, Jan 19 (Reuters) - EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders visits Warsaw on Friday to discuss judicial reforms which could allow Poland access to billion of euros of EU funds…

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Hungary to limit visas for temporary workers from outside the EU

BUDAPEST, (Reuters) - Hungary will limit the number of visas issued to temporary workers from outside the European Union and also ban them from certain professions in a bid to…

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Ukraine aid: Hungary says it is far from agreement with EU

BUDAPEST, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Hungary is far from reaching an agreement with the European Union on aid for Ukraine, the Hungarian prime minister's chief of staff said on Thursday.…

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Austrian incest father, Josef Fritzl, could soon be eligible to apply for release

An Austrian man who held his daughter captive for 24 years and fathered seven children with her could be transferred from a unit for the criminally insane to prison where…

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Poland to change process for judges’ nominations with eye on EU funds

Polish Justice Minister Adam Bodnar outlined a bill that aims to correct the way judges are appointed as a first step in rolling back the previous nationalist government's judicial reforms…

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UPDATED: Former Polish minister starts hunger strike in prison

WARSAW, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Former Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski, who was detained and sent to prison on Tuesday following a conviction for abuse of power in a previous…

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Polish PM says president is obstructing justice in case of convicted MPs

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk accused President Andrzej Duda of obstructing justice after two lawmakers who are due to be taken to prison were seen at the presidential palace on…

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Slovak ruling coalition’s Pellegrini to run for president, sets vote for March

Slovak parliament speaker Peter Pellegrini on Monday called a presidential election for March and April this year and said he planned to run to replace retiring pro-western liberal opponent Zuzana…

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Polish security chief cannot rule out provocation in Dec airspace breach

WARSAW, (Reuters) - A top Polish security official said he could not rule out that the Dec. 29 breach of Poland's airspace by what Warsaw says was a Russian missile…

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Czechs extend controls on Slovak border until Feb. 2

PRAGUE, (Reuters) - The Czech government extended temporary controls on the country's border with Slovakia until Feb. 2, Interior Minister Vit Rakusan said, maintaining the measures set up to fight…

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Western navies step up protection of Baltic Sea critical infrastructure

Ten northern European countries, including the UK and Nordic states, are deploying ships to Baltic Sea to protect critical infrastructure against submarine sabotage, according to officials. The move is part…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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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