Is mass tourism affecting Central Europe?
Since their accession to the EU 15 years ago, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic have become more accessibleContinue Reading
Category: Insight
Germany and the Visegrad Group: It’s complicated
Brno, Czech Republic – In February, the four Visegrad Group (V4) leaders met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel to markContinue Reading
The ups and downs of Hungarians’ integration in Slovakia
Slovakia has many minorities living within its borders, from the historic Hungarian community in the south, to Ruthenians in theContinue Reading
Multi-speed Europe, or the Visegrad Group’s key conundrum
Multi-speed Europe, EU core, two-speed integration… All of these terms refer to one of the most debated ideas of EuropeanContinue Reading
The uncertain future of energy in Central Europe
In Central Europe – or among V4 countries –, energy security is becoming increasingly complex, with individual countries taking differentContinue Reading
The Czech Republic’s schizophrenic relation with the euro
Prague, Czech Republic – By many accounts, the Czech Republic has a lot to gain by adopting the euro. ButContinue Reading
Czech Republic, China’s Gateway to Europe (3/3): The fallout
Once one of the most vocal critics of China, the Czech Republic performed a diplomatic U-turn in recent years toContinue Reading
Czech Republic, China’s Gateway to Europe? (2/3): Broken promises
Years after Prague and Beijing decided to move closer to each other and increase their bilateral ties, the over-arching feelingContinue Reading
Czech Republic, China’s Gateway to Europe? (1/3): The honeymoon
Prague, Czech Republic – Overthrowing the all-powerful German neighbor, China became in 2010 the first market of Škoda, the CzechContinue Reading
Steve Bannon flounders in Europe’s illiberal heartland
Prague, Czech Republic – Steve Bannon, the chief architect of ‘America First’, came to Central Europe hoping to find theContinue Reading
Hungary: Why is the Trianon Treaty so controversial?
Budapest, Hungary – More than a hundred years after it was signed, the 1920 Trianon Peace Treaty remains one ofContinue Reading
Czech xenophobia on the rise (3/3): There’s more to it than meets the eye
Prague, Czech Republic – Last year, Lidl unveiled in the Czech Republic its new advertisement leaflet featuring – among otherContinue Reading
Czech xenophobia on the rise (2/3): Meet the resistance
Prague, Czech Republic – Hostility towards foreigners, immigrants and ethnic minorities is on the rise in the Czech lands. AlthoughContinue Reading
Czech xenophobia on the rise (1/3): Meet the ‘foreigners’
Prague, Czech Republic – Hostility towards foreigners, immigrants and ethnic minorities is on the rise in the Czech lands. AlthoughContinue Reading
Poland plans to increase minimum wage in 2019. Then what?
Krakow, Poland – The Polish government proposed to increase the minimum wage by 7% next year, bringing it to 2.250Continue Reading
EU funds and Central European strongmen: no honey, no money?
Brussels, Belgium – Today, the European Commission will unveil its propositions for the next multi-annual financial framework, thus kicking-off monthsContinue Reading
Kafka and Cronenberg, two artists, one vision of monstrosity
Prague, Czech Republic – Kafkaesque. The expression is on everyone’s lips. It brilliantly defines last century’s tragedies and disenchantment; itContinue Reading
Central Europe and the EU: a love-hate relationship?
Brussels, Belgium – Member of the European Union since 2004, the Czech Republic ranks among the most Eurosceptic countries ofContinue Reading
George of Poděbrady: A European visionary in 15th century Bohemia?
Prague, Czech Republic – It would be far too pretentious and misleading, if not outright dishonest, to credit one singleContinue Reading