In the Media

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.

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.

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.

The European Union has signed a trade agreement with Indonesia. However, it will not be easy for European exporters to break into this rapidly growing market, where they will face strong competition from China and the US. The agreement must now undergo an approval process by the member states. Filip Křenek, EUROPEUM Institute analyst commented for Seznam Zprávy.

It was supposed to shake the European complacency about its own economic performance and initiate radical change. The subject is the report by Mario Draghi, former president of the European Central Bank, which was published exactly one year ago. The report was commented on by Viktor Daněk, Executive Deputy Director and head of the Prague office of the EUROPEUM Institute.

The European Union Council's proposal, called "Chat Control," aims to combat the spread of child pornography. However, it has sparked fierce controversy. More than 700 technology experts and academics from across Europe have criticized it in an open letter. According to them, Chat Control would interfere with users' privacy and is also technically problematic.Viktor Daněk, Executive Deputy Director and Head of the Prague Office of the EUROPEUM Institute, commented for the ČT24 Newsroom.

The Czech Republic’s successful effort to deliver more than a million artillery shells to Ukraine has drawn criticism from the populist party leading in the polls, according to Politico. The situation was commented on by Martin Vokálek, Executive Director and Head of the Brussels Office of the EUROPEUM Institute.

Former PM Andrej Babiš wants to cancel Prague’s ammunition initiative, but critics warn that would harm both Prague and Kyiv. The situation was commented on by Martin Vokálek, Executive Director and Head of the Brussels Office of the EUROPEUM Institute.

The debate about the future of the European automotive industry has intensified in recent weeks. The key question is: will the goal to end the sale of new combustion engine cars by 2035 remain in force? Or will the European Commission yield to pressure, as it did earlier this year when it eased the 2025 emission targets for car manufacturers? The European automotive industry faces a fundamental choice. While the world is betting on electromobility, Europe is seeking compromises. Commentary by Filip Křenek, analyst at the EUROPEUM Institute.

Where the European Union will head in the coming year was revealed by Ursula von der Leyen in her anticipated speech. The Commission President's address to the Members of the European Parliament on Wednesday was met with both applause and booing. The situation was commented on by Filip Křenek, an analyst from the EUROPEUM Institute.

A year ago, one of the most important economic documents of our time caused a stir in Europe. Professor Mario Draghi identified the weaknesses of the European economy and outlined a path for the EU to escape the slow decline in the shadow of China and the USA. Since then, European analysts have presented one strategy after another, but their real impact has so far been limited. The topic was commented on by Filip Křenek, an analyst at the EUROPEUM Institute.