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Andrej Babiš’s victory could raise concerns in Brussels, but analysts believe the outcome will depend on his future cabinet. Despite his alliance with Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, Babiš is viewed as a pragmatist rather than a hardline eurosceptic, making a sharp turn in Czech foreign policy unlikely. Martin Vokálek, executive director and head of the Brussels office of the EUROPEUM Institute, commented on this for European Newsroom.

According to Brussels analysts, Andrej Babiš's victory would not be a positive sign for the EU, but the nature of his cabinet will be decisive. Although he is compared to Viktor Orbán, experts describe him as a pragmatist rather than a radical Eurosceptic, which suggests that Czech foreign policy may not undergo a fundamental change. Martin Vokálek, executive director and head of the Brussels office of the EUROPEUM Institute, commented on this for České Noviny.

Is there a risk that the Czech Republic could leave the European Union or NATO under the government of the ANO movement and Andrej Babiš? It is unlikely, but Kateřina Konečná and the Stačilo! coalition, which continues to push for a referendum on withdrawal from both organizations, are emerging as potential partners for Babiš's government. Martin Vokálek, Executive Director and Head of the Brussels Office of the EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Blesk Zprávy.

Despite positive economic statistics, dissatisfaction and a feeling of powerlessness prevail among Czech voters. This atmosphere may contribute to the return of 71-year-old Andrej Babiš to the forefront of politics. Viktor Daněk, Executive Director and Head of the Prague Office of the EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Weekendavisen.

Despite controversy, former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš still has a chance to return to the head of the government. According to critics, this could push the Czech Republic towards an authoritarian model based on the Hungarian example. There are even concerns that the country could question its membership in NATO and the European Union. Martin Vokálek, Executive Director and Head of the Brussels Office of the EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Web.DE.

The Czech parliamentary elections may be dominated by the movement of former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. One of his main promises is to end the program that enabled Ukraine to obtain millions of artillery shells. The question remains whether he would actually push through this plan if he wins the election. Martin Vokálek, executive director and head of the Brussels office of the EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Forbes Ukraine.

In 2023, the Green Europe Team of the Institute for European Policy EUROPEUM started a series of debates focused on communicating the topic of green transformation to the Czech public. The aim is to develop public debate and support journalists and civil society in informed discussions about climate change and climate policies. In its first year, the Prague Climate Academy focused on sustainability in transportation (decarbonizing road transport in connection with electromobility and the sustainability of transportation in Prague). In 2024, it continued with the topic of adapting cities to climate change and discussing the impacts of heatwaves on cities. The year 2025 brings the perspective of resilience, with a discussion of current trends in global temperature rise and extreme weather events, including their impacts on urban infrastructure and public health.

These evaluation documents, prepared within the Platform Revolution project, address the challenges and opportunities faced by European countries in implementing the new EU Platform Work Directive, particularly with regard to worker classification and the presumption of employment.

The migration pact will come into force in June next year. The Ministry of the Interior therefore plans to recruit dozens of new experts and set up a training center, drawing the necessary funds from European funds. The decision on the projects will be made at the beginning of the year. By then, however, parliamentary elections will have taken place in Czechia, and the parties that have a chance of forming a government are already declaring that they will reject the migration pact. Viktor Daněk, Executive Deputy Director and Head of the Prague Office of the EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Novinky.cz.

You're invited to a public recording of the Café Evropa podcast! Artificial intelligence is changing the rules of the game across many fields, and language professions are among the most affected. Is AI replacing translators, interpreters, and language teachers, or is it opening up new opportunities for them instead? Join us on Friday, September 26 for a discussion on whether learning languages still makes sense in the age of AI, or whether it's becoming just an old-fashioned pastime. We look forward to seeing you!

The European Union budget is set to rise to two trillion euros, but its impact will be limited due to high debt and inflation. A significant portion of the funds are earmarked for regional equalization, which Czechia has been drawing on for a long time. However, these subsidies will gradually decrease. Filip Křenek, an analyst at the EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Seznam Zprávy.

We meet at Skauťák every last Thursday of the month to talk about current European topics! European Thursdays are a space for everyone interested in Europe and for connecting with people from institutions, ministries, and organizations. Come and enjoy open discussion and friendly networking! The next meeting will take place on Thursday, August 28 at 5:00 PM at Skauťák. Join us for an open discussion with Tomáš Kopečný, the Czech Government’s Envoy for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, who will present a provocative hot take on Europe and our place in it.