Europeum

ČRo Plus | What convinced Viktor Orbán to veto financial aid to Ukraine?

February 02, 2024

Listen to the interview with Žiga Faktor, deputy director and head of our Brussels office, about what convinced Viktor Orbán not to veto financial aid to Ukraine?

E15 | The dispute over money for Ukraine is coming to a head. The security of the whole continent is at stake, warns an expert

February 01, 2024

The presidents and heads of government of the European Union countries will try to secure additional financial and military aid to Ukraine in the amount of 50 billion euros (about 1.2 trillion crowns) at their extraordinary meeting starting on Thursday in Brussels. This has been blocked by Hungary since last December. Vít Havelka, a senior research fellow, answers why this summit could be a turning point.

FORUM 24 | Michel's (ir)responsible departure and Orbán at the head of the European Council? Election fight begins in Brussels

January 28, 2024

The announced departure of Charles Michel from the European Council immediately became the focus of discussions across Brussels and the member states. Our Deputy Director and Head of the Brussels Office Žiga Faktor commented on several key issues related to the future functioning of the EU.

ČT24 | Twenty years of the Czech Republic in the European Union - From behind the scenes in Brussels

January 24, 2024

What are the differences in perception between the EU capital and the Czech Republic? Our deputy director Viktor Daněk explained how the daily reality in Brussels differs from ours and what the work of a journalist looks like.

RTVS | The European Parliament strongly condemned Hungary

January 19, 2024

On Thursday, the European Parliament condemned the Hungarian government's deliberate, continuous and systematic efforts to undermine the fundamental values of the European Union. The resolution, which was supported by 345 MEPs, expresses deep concern at the further erosion of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights in Hungary. What are the main reasons why the European Parliament has expressed its so far strongest reservations against Hungary? Žiga Faktor, director of our Brussels office and deputy director, commented on RTVS.

TN Nova | MEPs agree that Orbán's government is against the fundamental values of the EU

January 19, 2024

According to the resolution adopted by MEPs, Hungary should not receive any more EU money until it proves that it has corrected its shortcomings regarding the rule of law and human rights. They also agreed that Viktor Orbán's government is a threat to the values of the European Union. Žiga Faktor, head of the Brussels office of the EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy, discussed the issue.

ČRo Plus | Petition of MEPs calls for Hungary to lose its voting rights in the EU Council

January 15, 2024

120 MEPs signed a petition demanding that Hungary loses its voting rights. They argue that the EU's decision-making capacity is nearly blocked because of Hungary's approach. One of the main friction points is financial aid to Ukraine. Žiga Faktor, director of our Brussels office and deputy director, commented on the issue for ČRo Plus.

Radiožurnál | MEPs have run out of patience with Hungary. They are demanding that it loses its voting rights

January 15, 2024

Because of Hungary's blocking of funding for Ukraine, a number of MEPs have called for the suspension of Hungary's voting rights in the EU Council. 120 lawmakers across different factions have joined the petition. Our Brussels office director and deputy director Žiga Faktor provided his expert commentary on the issue.

E15 | Europe is terrified of Orbán at the head of EU institutions. It must speed up the selection of a new "EU president"

January 13, 2024

The first media storm around the European Parliament elections was unleashed by the head of the European Council, Charles Michel, when he unexpectedly announced last weekend that he was going to run for the European Parliament himself in June and, if successful, would resign early from his current post. However, this means that unless the EU27 quickly agrees on his successor, the powers of the "European president" will pass to EU troublemaker Viktor Orban, whose Hungary will hold the EU presidency from the summer. Our head of the Brussels office, Žiga Faktor, commented for E15 on the likelihood of this happening and what it would mean for the functioning of the EU.

ČT24 | The upcoming European Parliament elections

January 02, 2024

The European Parliament is one of the key institutions of the European Union, yet the turnout in elections of its members in the Czech Republic has been extremely low for a long time. Our Deputy Director and Head of the Brussels Office Žiga Faktor analysed the upcoming European elections and their Czech dimension on ČT24.