Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán took over the EU Council presidency less than a month ago, but he has already managed to provoke the EU institutions and most member states with his unauthorized "peace" mission to Russia and China. During this mission, he presented himself as a representative of the European Union, despite having no authority to do so. European politicians have responded to this situation with initial retaliatory measures. How will Viktor Orbán proceed? What strategies and tactics might the Hungarian Prime Minister use during his presidency? Oszkár Roginer-Hofmeister, a research fellow at EUROPEUM Institute, commented on this for e15.
Show moreJozef Síkela has been nominated by the Czech government for the position of European Commissioner. What was crucial for the decision? And why was Danuše Nerudová not nominated, even though Ursula von der Leyen requires both a female and male candidate? What is the timeline now? Viktor Daněk, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute, answers these and other questions for ČT24.
Show moreIn an article for the international magazine The Diplomat, Tereza Novotná, an Associate Research Fellow at EUROPEUM Institute, analyzes NATO's new direction, focusing on the Indo-Pacific region. The alliance aims to keep American engagement, curb Russian aggression, and limit China's influence, with strengthening cooperation with partners like South Korea being crucial for ensuring global stability. The article also includes recommendations for enhancing these relationships.
Show moreRussian oil from Lukoil still isn’t flowing through Ukraine to Slovakia and Hungary. In June, Ukraine unilaterally decided to ban the transit of Lukoil oil through its territory, as the company was added to its sanctions list. Slovakia and Hungary have turned to the European Commission for help in resolving the issue. What can the EU do about this situation? What role does the Association Agreement with Ukraine play in resolving this dispute? Viktor Daněk, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute, comments on the situation.
Show moreIs Jozef Síkela still the favorite for the post of the Czech EU Commissioner? Which portfolio would be most desirable for the Czech Republic? How likely is it that a defense commissioner position will be created? Viktor Daněk, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute, comments for CNN Prima News.
Show moreVeronika Vrecionová was elected as the Chair of the Committee on Agriculture and Luděk Niedermayer as the Vice-Chair of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. Does this signify a strengthening or weakening of the Czech position? In which committees will the Czech MEPs be active? How significant is the "cordon sanitaire" of the Patriots for Europe political group? And isn't this isolation of the Patriots for Europe a limitation of democracy? Viktor Daněk, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute, discusses this topic in an interview for ČT24.
Show moreMost European Union states have decided to boycott the Council meeting in Budapest. This decision is a reaction to Orbán's "peace mission", during which he met with Russian President Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and former US President Trump under the banner of the Hungarian presidency without any mandate from the EU. Will EU criticism slow Orbán down in his next steps? Can Hungary's presidency be revoked? Does EU foreign policy even need to be unified? The situation is commented on by Viktor Daněk, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute.
Show moreAfter being approved by the European Parliament, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is starting to assemble her team of commissioners. Some countries have already submitted their candidates, but many are still pending, including the Czech Republic. In Czechia, discussions about potential candidates are ongoing, with additional names being proposed alongside those suggested by the STAN political party. Viktor Daněk, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute, comments on the situation for Czech News Agency.
Show moreHow could the strengthening of the far right in the European Parliament manifest in practice? How strong and influential could the political group Patriots of Europe become? Could it affect decision-making at the level of the European Council? What developments can we expect in the European Commission under von der Leyen's leadership? Žiga Faktor, Deputy Director and Head of the Brussels Office of EUROPEUM Institute, answered in an interview for FORUM24.
Show moreThe European agency Frontex has released data on the number of migrants arriving in the European Union. This year, it recorded a third less migrants who have entered the Union illegally compared to last year. What are the reasons behind the decrease in migrant numbers? Did the failed agreement between the United Kingdom and Rwanda have an impact? Will the recently approved migration pact, which will come into effect in two years, also help? Viktor Daněk, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented on this for Novinky.cz.
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