Babiš

Andrej Babiš is returning to the European stage at a time when decisions are being made in Brussels regarding hundreds of billions of euros. The main topics at the EU leaders’ summit will be the financing of Ukraine, the shape of the next seven-year budget, and the future enlargement of the EU. For Seznam Zprávy, the situation was commented on by Martin Vokálek, Executive Director and Head of the Brussels Office at the EUROPEUM Institute.

Andrej Babiš is preparing to return to the helm of the Czech government — and with him comes a prominent and unpredictable player in European politics. His ambitions to reshape the EU, promises to withdraw from the migration pact or the emissions trading system, and his emphasis on personal ties between heads of state once again raise the question of whether he will align himself with leaders like Robert Fico and Viktor Orbán, or whether he will ultimately, and perhaps surprisingly, follow the more moderate course of his predecessor, Petr Fiala. For the Seznam Zprávy news podcast 5:59, Viktor Daněk, Deputy Executive Director and Head of the Prague Office at the EUROPEUM Institute, spoke on the topic.

Andrej Babiš is seeking to attend the December European Council summit in Brussels, which would mark his symbolic return to the European political stage. The summit represents an important personal and political test of how European leaders will receive him after his comeback. The article was commented by Martin Vokálek, Executive Director and Head of the Brussels Office of the EUROPEUM Institute.

The electoral success of Babiš’s ANO movement in the Czech Republic prompted a strong reaction from its partners in the European Parliament. The Patriots for Europe group, which ANO has been part of since last year, portrayed it as evidence of the growing support for this faction across the European Union. Martin Vokálek, Executive Director and Head of the Brussels Office of the EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Aktuálně.cz.

The upcoming presidential elections in the Czech Republic are also being noticed by foreign media. Our researcher Klára Votavová commented on the circumstances of the election for Foreign Policy, saying that Zeman's presidency has brought scepticism towards Europe. A victory of Andrej Babiš, she said, would then mean a strengthening of the presidential office.

Our director Zdeněk Beránek spoke about the relations between Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and his Hungarian counterpart Victor Orbán. Both are harsh critics of the EU institutions. However, the defeat of Babiš in recent parliamentary elections could hurt relations between the capitals.

Aktuálně.cz cited work of our researcher Vít Havelka in its article about the attitude of Czech Prime Minister Babiš towards EU budget.

Vít Havelka voiced himself about the current situtation in the Czech republic and protests against the prime minister Babiš and the ministre of justice Marie Benešová.

Martin Michelot speaks about relations concerning Babiš, Brussels and Prague.

Our director Vladimír Bartovic spoke in the Studio 6 on Wednesday 27th of June about the foreign policy of the newly appointed government.

Our Vít Havelka has commented the absence of V4 PM's at the Brussels summit on migration.

Our Christian Kvorning Lassen commented on the differences between the natures of populisms in individual countries.