The Slovak government has unveiled a new fiscal consolidation package aimed at reducing the public finance deficit to 4% of GDP by 2026. The move comes amid growing concerns over Slovakia’s deteriorating fiscal position, with public debt projected to hit a record 62% of GDP this year – approximately €84 billion. The package seeks to raise €2.7 billion in 2026, with most measures set to take effect from 1 January 2026, pending parliamentary approval under an accelerated proc

In recent years, Europe has experienced democratic backsliding, where once-stable democratic institutions are increasingly undermined by authoritarian tendencies. As of mid-2025, this phenomenon has not only persisted but also become more institutionalized in several EU member states. The erosion of democratic norms poses serious challenges to political stability, economic prosperity, and the core values of the European Union. Democratic backsliding refers to the gradual weak

Germany is the biggest country by population and GDP in Europe and the EU; it is also a country embroiled in a political crisis that has made its so-called traffic light coalition crumble, with new elections scheduled for the 23rd of February. The conservatives of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU) are currently far ahead in the polls; however, even if they do win with the most optimistic of outcomes, they will still be forced to form a coalition government. The countri

The 2024 U.S. presidential election has profound implications for Ukraine's ongoing war efforts and geopolitical future. As the United States prepares for Donald Trump’s return to the presidency, concerns are mounting in Ukraine and beyond. Analysts, politicians, and particularly Ukrainian officials are closely watching for potential shifts in U.S. foreign policy that could alter the dynamics of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. A Presidency of Uncertainty for Ukraine Trump’s

Each election carries political risks; however, only a few can influence global developments to such an extent as the Presidential vote in the United States of America. With Donald Trump's election as the 47th American president, the worldawaits his future steps. Let’s take a closer look at the impact Mr Trump’s election on the CEE region, particularly the members of the Visegrad Group. Looking from a broader perspective, two topics are shared among the V4 countries, which ar

The unexpected nomination of Dick Schoof, a former intelligence chief, as the candidate for Prime Minister of the Netherlands following...

Filmmakers depend, sometimes with their lives, on having access to the most reliable information. And the underlying principles of risk intelligence approaches - research, pattern recognition, strategic thinking, and interview techniques – are surprisingly relevant and applicable to the context of creators of both fiction and documentary films. I was struck by this while working with a Ukrainian film crew recently. In late 2023, I interviewed Ukrainian director Roman Bondarch

The Belgrade-Budapest railway link is nearing its completion, with the Serbian part opening at the end of 2024 and the Hungarian part in...

Romania and Bulgaria have been trying to enter the Schengen Area for over ten years. The topic has now received renewed attention in...