In the Media

Sunday’s parliamentary elections in Hungary marked a turning point; the end of the Orbán era is redrawing the European map. What does the loss of an ally mean for Andrej Babiš, and what are the implications of Péter Magyar’s victory for the European Union? Martin Vokálek, Executive Director and Head of the Brussels Office of EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Seznam Zprávy.

How does Hungary’s next prime minister, Péter Magyar, intend to govern? What does Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s electoral defeat mean for the European Union? Viktor Daněk, Deputy Executive Director and Head of the Prague Office of EUROPEUM Institute, commented on the results of the Hungarian parliamentary elections for ČRo Plus.

The ETS 2 system will raise fuel prices. Without government preparation, people in regions who rely on cars for their commute will feel the impact the most. The European Fit for 55 package sets rules aimed at reducing emissions by 55 percent by 2030 and achieving climate neutrality by 2050. One of the main tools for achieving these goals is the ETS 2 system, which will introduce fees for fossil fuel emissions in the heating and transportation sectors starting in 2028. Analyst Rebeka Hengalová from the EUROPEUM Institute emphasized the need for systemic changes in an interview with EU Brief.

The revelation that Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó shared confidential information from EU negotiations with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed what many had suspected: Hungary is an unreliable partner that other EU member states do not trust. How will this scandal affect the future functioning of the European community? Martin Vokálek, Executive Director and Head of the Brussels Office of EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Voxpot.

The summit of European Union member state leaders in Brussels has cast the bloc in a realistic light—it knows what steps it wants to take, but at the same time is reaching the limits of its decision-making capacity amid several parallel crises and two wars with a direct impact on Europe. Martin Vokálek, Executive Director and Head of the Brussels Office of EUROPEUM Institute, commented on the summit’s topics for TASR. According to him, the key point is that the EU is no longer trying to maintain unity at any cost.

Eurozone finance ministers met in Brussels to discuss the impact of oil prices and the uncertainty surrounding the situation in the Middle East. Martin Vokálek, Executive Director of EUROPEUM Institute and head of its Brussels office, commented on ČT24 on the subsequent meeting of finance ministers from all European Union member states, where, in addition to energy, the financing of Ukraine and efforts to further integrate European financial markets were also discussed.

The European Commission has unveiled long-awaited measures to strengthen European industry and keep pace with China in the field of so-called clean technologies. In an evening news program on Radiožurnál, Rebeka Hengalová, a researcher at EUROPEUM Institute, discussed what the Industrial Accelerator Act entails and what protections it will provide for so-called green products manufactured in the EU.

Martin Vokálek, Executive Director and Head of the Brussels Office of EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy, summarized European leaders' responses to events in Iran for ČRo Plus.

Little is being done to avert Europe's economic decline. According to Filip Křenek, an analyst at the EUROPEUM Institute, member states must accept that some of them will have companies of global significance and others will not. Otherwise, Europe will not be able to remain competitive. He added what would be beneficial for the Czech Republic for Seznam Zprávy.

Since the attack and damage to the Druzhba oil pipeline at the end of January, Hungary and Slovakia have been cut off from Russian oil. The leaders of both countries, who maintain good relations with Vladimir Putin, accuse Ukraine of delaying repairs to the pipeline. Viktor Daněk, Executive Deputy Director and Head of the Prague Office of the EUROPEUM Institute, commented on the series of accusations and threats for the French daily Les Echos.

By the end of 2026, the European Union will introduce a unified digital identity for citizens and businesses. The EU Digital Identity Wallet will allow users to store official documents, sign contracts, and verify their identity across member states with just a few clicks. The initiative aims to reduce bureaucracy, cut costs, and remove barriers within the single market, while also raising concerns about data protection and the potential pressure to make the system widely mandatory. The article was commented on by Filip Křenek, analyst at the EUROPEUM Institute.

U.S. President Donald Trump has escalated pressure on Europe through tariff threats and explicit challenges to Greenland’s sovereignty. The European Union is now weighing a response that balances diplomacy with tougher countermeasures, including the potential use of its so-called economic “bazooka.” Experts warn that without a confident and united stance, Europe risks further weakening transatlantic relations and its own global standing. Commented on by Martin Vokálek, Executive Director and Head of the Brussels Office of the EUROPEUM Institute.