Hungary, Slovakia close to deal on decades-long Gabčíkovo-Nagymaros HPP, Hungarian energy minister confirms

Hungary will not proceed with the construction of the hydropower dam at Nagymaros, the border town with Slovakia, Energy Minister Csaba Lantos told news site Index in a background briefing.

Slovak PM Fico expects deal with EU over sanctions against Russia on July 15, and threatens to continue blocking sanctions if none made.

Slovak populist Prime Minister Robert Fico expects an agreement between the European Union and Slovakia could be reached on Tuesday, July 15, over Slovakia lifting its veto of the EU’s 18th round of sanctions against Russia.

Slovakia seeks EU guarantees on Russian gas phase-out ahead of sanctions deal

Slovakia is pushing for firm guarantees from the European Commission and key EU member states over the future of its energy security, as it links this condition to its support for a fresh round of sanctions on Russian gas imports.

Trump hits EU, Mexico with whopping 30% tariffs

US President Donald Trump escalated his trade war with Mexico and Europe by slapping whopping 30% tariffs on both, after neither of them managed to cut a new trade deal before the July 9 deadline.

Tipping Point: when populations peak – Statista

As July 11 marks World Population Day, celebrating the approximate date that the world's population reached 5bn in 1987, we're taking a closer at one of the population trends that will affect many countries sooner or later in the 21st Century.

Slovak industry deepens its decline to 4% y/y in May

Climate change trebled heat deaths in European heatwave

New research showed that 65% of estimated excess deaths resulted from climate change increasing temperatures by 1°C to 4°C.

Slovakia blocks latest round of EU sanctions against Russia

Slovakia nearly eradicated Russian gas imports during the winter of 2022-23, but imports spiked following the return of the Fico-led government.

Earth experiences steady stream of heat records - Statista

Heat records have become commonplace in meteorological record-keeping, while new cold records have become few and far between, Statista reports.

Slovak opposition accuses government of siding with Hungary in ending Gabčíkovo-Nagymaros dispute

Slovak opposition parties accused the left-right cabinet of Prime Minister Robert Fico of securing favourable terms for Hungary by bringing the long-standing Gabčíkovo-Nagymaros hydroelectric power plant System dispute to an end.

Emerging Europe growth resilient despite global risks, wiiw says

Economies across Central, Eastern and Southeast Europe are set to maintain solid growth in 2025 and 2026 but face downside risks from Middle East tensions, the war in Ukraine and US trade policy.

Slovak MFA Blanár causes international outrage for his statements on forgiving Russia

Slovak Minister of Foreign Affairs Juraj Blanár has caused international outrage for his statement about the need to “find some way of cooperation and maybe also of forgiveness” to Russia.

EU eyes new Asian trade alliances to offset US trade war risks

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is pushing for closer ties with Asia as part of a new EU trade strategy to offset the growing trade war risks with the Trump administration and reforming the global trade system.

Europe swelters in historic heatwave

Record-breaking temperatures for the time of year are likely to occur across a large part of western Europe in the coming days as a historically unprecedented heatwave intensifies.

Czech real estate tycoon Vitek is reportedly mulling sale of his CPI empire

CPIPG is one of the largest real estate groups in Central Europe, with assets in all the V4 countries and Germany.

Slovak President Pellegrini backs postponement of new Nato spending target to 2035

Slovak President Peter Pellegrini has backed the postponement of the new Nato defence spending target of 5% of GDP to 2035.

Global uncertainty causes FDI to plummet in Emerging Europe

wiiw research blames crisis in German industry and the uncertainty surrounding Donald Trump’s second term as US president for sharp slowdown in FDI.

Proposed defence spending hike to 5% of GDP exposes divisions among Nato members

Russia hawks in Poland and the Baltic States are firmly behind plan to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP, while other members question new target.

COMMENT: Fico hints Slovakia won’t spend 5% GDP on Nato defence under his watch

Prime Minister Robert Fico said that Slovakia would not increase defence spending to 5% of GDP as demanded by Nato, as his country has better things to spend budget money on.

Slovak ultranationalist leader Danko stirs rows inside Fico’s ruling coalition with talk about Nato exit

Andrej Danko's seeks to boost SNS’ faltering popularity in the radical anti-establishment electoral waters with anti-Nato rhetoric.