Central Europe / News
Hungary sets out 2026 budget blueprint with ambitious 4.1% growth target
Hungary's National Economy Minister has unveiled the main figures from the 2026 budget draft, while revising some of the 2025 budgetary targets.
Saab to open aerospace R&D hub in Budapest
The new centre will support high-end research and engineering tied to Gripen fighter jet programme, which has underpinned Hungary's air defence for over two decades.
LIBE’s fact-finding delegation in rule of law visit met with hostility from Hungarian officials
A delegation from the European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE) has wrapped up a three-day fact-finding mission in Budapest amid renewed concerns over Hungary's democratic standards and judicial independence.
US removes Orban key ally from sanctions list "as it no longer aligns with US foreign policy interests”
Reversal comes three months after Antal Rogan was blacklisted under the Global Magnitsky programme for his alleged central role in systemic corruption.
EU is discussing plan to sidestep Hungary’s veto on renewing sanctions
The EU is discussing a plan to sidestep Hungary’s veto on renewing sanctions that boils down to not holding the biannual vote to renew them. Under EU rules if the sanctions are not renewed the measures currently in place remain in effect.
Five Polish presidential candidates excluded from TV debate after final list of 13 contestants published
Poland’s National Electoral Commission (PKW) confirmed the final list of 13 candidates who will compete in the May 18 presidential election, but a scandal broke out after five were excluded from a presidential TV debate.
Polish opposition slams “brutal” Tusk for revoking broadcaster licence
The Polish opposition slammed Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk for riding roughshod over freedom of speech principles after a Warsaw court revoked the licence of the TV Republika and wPolsce 24 independent conservative broadcasters.
Chinese state media spotlights Hungary’s cost-of-living crisis in rare rebuke
Hungarian families are being squeezed by Europe's fastest-rising living costs, according to a rare and striking report aired over the weekend by CGTN, the international arm of China’s state-controlled media.
US energy envoy urges Europe to lock in long-term LNG deals with American suppliers at Budapest LNG summit
The United States is ramping up diplomatic efforts to expand its liquefied natural gas exports to Europe, with a clear objective of regaining energy dominance on the global stage.
Hungarian parliament passes controversial constitutional overhaul, reinforcing conservative agenda
Parliament has passed the 15th amendment to the country's constitution, enshrining a string of hardline conservative provisions seen as further alienating Hungary from Western liberal norms.
Bosnia risks air traffic shutdown over unpaid debt
The bank accounts of Bosnia's air navigation body have been frozen and its four airports face closure if a debt to Slovenian company Viadukt remains unpaid.
New study reveals extent of Russian disinformation targeting Emerging Europe
'Pravda network' targeting regions of geopolitical interest for the Kremlin with negative impact on democracy and regional stability.
Hungary's Viktor Orban discusses energy issues with Erdogan in Ankara
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for bilateral talks in Antalya, which focused on energy issues and developing bilateral economic, military and defence cooperation.
Fidesz launches full-scale assault against Tisza Party MEP over EU funds suspension comment
Hungary's ruling party is seeking to deflect blame for the continued suspension of EU funds by singling out a recent remark made by Kinga Kollar, an opposition MEP of the Tisza Party.
S&P revises Hungary’s outlook to negative, citing stagflation risks and fiscal slippage
Standard & Poor’s has revised Hungary’s sovereign credit outlook from stable to negative, warning that increasing fiscal slippage and persistent inflation could threaten macroeconomic stability ahead of the 2026 parliamentary elections.
UPDATE: Hungary blocks EU sanctions on Serbia's deputy PM
Vulin claims Hungary and Slovakia have blocked EU sanctions on him after he made a series of controversial remarks in the European Parliament earlier this week.
Hungary's leading retailer mulls contingency plan in wake of government-mandated margin cap
Hungary's second-largest retailer Spar, incurred a loss in 2024 for the third consecutive year, weighed down by windfall taxes and state-imposed price measures that have hit its bottom line.
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Slovak opposition parties gain majority in polls as populist PM Fico doubles down attacks on NGOs
Slovakia’s opposition parties would secure a parliamentary majority, according to the April poll by NMS agency. The country’s largest opposition party, centrist Progressive Slovakia, leads the polls with 23.2%, ahead of PM Robert Fico's Smer.
US interim envoy flags energy diversification as key priority for Orban government in first public address
In his first public appearance in Budapest, US chargé d'affaires Robert Palladino stated that American diplomacy under a Trump administration would steer clear of "activism".
Hungary's Q1 budget deficit widens to 62% of full-year target, central bank warns of impact of trade war
Hungary's cash flow-based budget deficit reached HUF831.2bn (€2bn) last month, bringing the Q1 gap to HUF2.55 trillion, or 62% of the full year target, according to preliminary data from the National Economy Ministry.