Russia

The head of our Brussels office Žiga Faktor gave an interview to the British Gazette. In the interview they compare how the Czech Republic and Slovenia are dealing with the legacy of populist governments.

Michal Hrubý, our Research Fellow, commented on the topic of the Czech EU Presidency in an article for the news server E15 in which he addresses the issue of gas from Russia. The article also compares the situation with 2009, when the Czech Republic held the EU Council Presidency for the first time.

Our researcher Michal Hrubý wrote an article for Lidové noviny about the impact of the sixth package of sanctions against Russia, which includes an import embargo on Russian oil. In his article, he outlined the current situation on the oil market and the position of the majority of the European Union states.

Our research fellow Michal Hrubý gave an interview to Lidovky.cz on the topic of oil imports to Europe and exceptions to the embargo. In the interview, he also describes the compromises in the negotiations on the form of the embargo.

Our Associate Research Fellow Zuzana Stuchlíková gave an interview for Slovak TV TA3. Zuzana Stuchlíková talks about the process of approving the latest EU sanctions package against Russia and the ban on Russian oil imports. She discusses how the negotiations went, how the exemptions for Central Europe will work, what it means for fuel prices and what will happen next.

The newly announced possibility of gas extraction in the North Sea will not solve the current situation. "In the medium and long term, it is only one of many solutions to diversify resources. But the question is whether it will have a significant impact on the European gas market and European independence." However, raw material extraction projects in the EU must be supported.

We would like to invite you to the next debate in the EU± series, this time on the topic "Germany's position on the Russian war in Ukraine". How does German aid to Ukraine compare to other allies? What is the content of the German Zeitenwende? How will the change in Germany's approach to foreign policy translate into European foreign and security policy? Can Germany be expected to lead on security issues as it does in economy?

The EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy, the Balkans Policy Advisory Group (BiEPAG) and the European Fund for the Balkans (EFB) invite you to a public conference on the Balkans and its politics at the event entitled: Consequences of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine for the Western Balkans: Challenges and Opportunities for the Czech Presidency. The debate will take place on 11 May 2022 at 18:30 at Impact Hub K10, Koperníkova 10, Prague 2 - Vinohrady, 120 00.

Our researcher, Kateřina Davidová, commented for Aktuálně.cz on the latest package of sanctions against Russia by the European Union. According to her, the biggest impact on the Russian economy would be the restriction or ban on the purchase of mineral resources from the largest European customers or even from the whole European union. The best alternative to these energies would be to switch to renewable energy sources, says Kateřina Davidová.

Žiga Faktor, a research fellow from our Institute and the head of our Brussels office, together with Irena Jenčová from the Euractiv portal, spoke in a Radio Slovakia discussion about sanctions against Russia, the unacceptable demands of the Kremlin, and the search for a way for Europe to replace Russian gas and oil. Will economic pressure force Moscow to come to the negotiating table and declare a ceasefire in Ukraine? Would not greater diplomatic engagement by the United States or China help?

Christian Kvorning Lassen, Deputy Director and Head of Research at our Institute, together with other experts, spoke to the online news server E15.cz and described possible scenarios of how the war in Ukraine could end. The article thus describes five possible scenarios - both the more optimistic ones for Ukraine and the less favourable ones.

Our researcher Jana Juzová commented for Euractiv on how Serbia's ambiguous position is affecting its EU accession process. Serbia is one of the few European countries, that has refused to join the anti-Russian sanctions, even though it has supported Ukraine's territorial integrity and promised to help refugees. The role taken by this Western Balkan country is not surprising, as it has been teetering between the EU and Russia for the last decade. In the accession process, according to our researcher, Serbia's current position towards Russia is not the biggest problem, as Serbia also faces other shortcomings for EU integration.