Russia

The European Union has been economically lagging behind its competitors in recent years. The plan to jump-start it is to cut red tape, make it easier to do business or bet on artificial intelligence and energy self-sufficiency. Filip Křenek, project coordinator and analyst at the EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Televizní noviny.

As part of the EU's broader strategy to reduce energy dependence on Russia and strengthen energy security, a proposal has been put forward to ban Russian gas imports to all 27 EU Member States, including the Czech Republic and Poland. The move is part of a response to geopolitical tensions and Russia's aggression against Ukraine, which has exposed the vulnerability of the European energy sector. How do the ten countries, including Poland and the Czech Republic, justify this proposal? Viktor Daněk, deputy director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Czech Radio Plus.

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico describes the decision of Ukraine, which is resisting the Russian invasion for the third year, to stop gas transit from Russia as a threat to Slovakia. Despite the announced end of gas transit, his government has not prepared Slovakia for this situation. It is negotiating both with Moscow over supplies from Russia and with the European Commission. Martin Vokálek, executive director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented for morning news on Czech Radio Plus.

The "Resilient Europe" conference, held in Prague in October 2024, brought together leading experts from across Europe to share their experiences and best practices in dealing with threats such as Russian disinformation, hybrid warfare tactics that seek to destabilize democratic institutions and undermine public trust. This policy paper summarises the main findings of the conference into three main categories: hybrid threats, information manipulation in digital space and strategic communications. These categories encompass the wide range of measures taken by European states and institutions to ensure democratic resilience, and the paper further identifies the most pressing challenges and opportunities for future efforts. Summarised by Jonáš Syrovátka of the EUROPEUM Institute, Veronika Víchová of the Centre for an Informed Society and Nikoleta Nemečkayová of the Association for International Affairs.

The Soviet Union was far from a superpower when the Cold War began. Faced with unmatched American power, Stalin chose to pursue a cautious approach instead of direct military confrontation to exert Soviet influence. While Russia today poses a completely different threat from its Soviet predecessor, Vladimir Putin does share similar geopolitical challenges. Read the commentary of EUROPEUM Institute Associate Research Fellow Hugo Blewett-Mundy for EUobserver.

North Korea entered the war against Ukraine on Russia's side. Kiev expects an appropriate response from its partners. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyj, there is evidence that not only workers but also military personnel are heading to Russia from North Korea. EUROPEUM Associate Research Fellow Tereza Novotná commented on the situation for Sestry.eu.

Moldova is likely to insert a European identity and a pro-European course into the preamble of its Constitution, according to the preliminary results of yesterday's referendum. The Kremlin, which according to the Moldovan government supported the opponents of the referendum, has already questioned the vote. Žiga Faktor, deputy director and head of EUROPEUM Institute's Brussels office, commented for ČRo Plus.

Viktor Orbán has recently stirred controversy in the EU by allowing Russian and Belarusian citizens to enter Hungary without controls. This move, which simplifies their movement within the Schengen Area, has raised concerns about security threats and pressure on European states. What impact might Orbán's policy have on Europe's security, and how are EU institutions responding? Viktor Daněk, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute, discusses the situation for Deník N.

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has shattered the post-Cold War international order built upon East-West interdependence and cooperation. The European Union (EU) - which had tried to pursue a strategic relationship with Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 - must now adapt to the geopolitical reality of Russian neo-revisionism. Hugo Blewett-Mundy, an Associate Research Fellow at EUROPEUM Institute, identifies four areas where the EU's policy towards Russia could evolve to confront this emerging security situation in Europe.

European Union has approved its fourteenth package of sanctions against Russia, specifically targeting 116 additional individuals. Whom will the new package of sanctions affect the most? How effective have previous packages been so far? Martin Vokálek, Executive Director of EUROPEUM Institute, answered these questions live for TN Live.

The luxury Alpine hotel Bürgenstock on the shores of Lake Lucerne in Switzerland will host the largest peace conference on Ukraine to date this coming weekend. Leaders and diplomats from nearly 90 countries will be there to seek ways to end the worst armed conflict in Europe since the Second World War. The ambitious event has been accompanied by criticism over the non-participation of Russia, China and US President Joe Biden. Even so, experts say the summit could be an important first step towards peace. Žiga Faktor, deputy director and head of the Brussels office of EUROPEUM Institute, describes the possibilities the conference will offer for e15 journal.

Ninety countries and organizations confirmed their participation in the Peace Summit focusing on the war against Ukraine in Switzerland. The United States will be represented by Vice President Kamala Harris, China refused to participate and Russia was not invited. What are the key goals of the summit? Why did China decide not to come? Researcher at EUROPEUM Institute Tereza Novotná commented for Ukrainian-Polish online outlet Sestry.eu.