Visegrad Insight Podcast

Wojciech Przybylskimoderates a discussion betweenMichaela Terenzani, SME's lead on the foreign news desk, and Eva Mihočková, Editor-in-chief of Foreign Policy SFPA and Marcin Król Fellow at Visegrad Insight, break down the results of Slovakia's presidential election where Peter Pellegrini won by tapping into the fears of the electorate and amplifying Moscow's disinformation narratives.

For a number of weeks, Viktor Orbán has been on the defensive, an unprecedented development in in the past 14 years. Who is Péter Magyar and why does he generate massive interest today? And is it bad or good news for the opposition?

Wojciech Przybylski interviews Bálint Ruff, a political strategist and a host of Vétó show on Partizán YouTube channel

Recommended reading: https://visegradinsight.eu/new-political-geometry-boosts-europes-defence/

Deputy Editor Adam Jasser talks to political scientist and Visegrad Insight Fellow Spasimir Domaradzki about the impact of the breakdown of Bulgaria's grand coalition in this special episode of our podcast.

Adam Jasser speaks with Paul Taylor, a freelance columnist for The Guardian and veteran Brussels think-tanker and journalist, about last week's EU summit. Key topics included the ongoing farmers' protests, as well as discussions on the prioritisation of defence matters on the agenda as leaders deliberated on how the EU could bolster its own industry while promptly extending aid to Ukraine.

Adam Jasser and Staś Kaleta discuss the context behind last week’s meeting between Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz and Donald Tusk, how their visions for Europe compare to Viktor Orbán’s plans to “occupy” Brussels, as well as Russia’s sham elections.

Wojciech Przybylski and Adam Jasser discuss President Duda and PM Tusk's US tour to celebrate 25 years of NATO enlargement. It is the first co-habitation trip, showing a sense of unity is possible even in the polarised Polish political environment, which can be inspirational for the domestic disagreements between Democrats and Republicans in Washington. This is all occurring as Poland starts to conceive having NATO nuclear deterrents on their soil.

Read https://visegradinsight.eu/is-poland-mulling-its-own-nuclear-deterrent/

Wojciech Przybylski and Albin Sybera discuss the Slovak Constitutional Court's partial rejection of PM Fico's judicial overhaul as well as the meeting between the Slovak and Russian foreign ministers.

Weekly Outlook -

https://visegradinsight.eu/hungarys-forint-sinks-on-economic-gloom-and-orban-pressure-on-central-bank/

Wojciech Przybylski and Galan Dall delve into the V4 summit in Prague, the 2nd anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and critical topics: securing Kyiv's success and the impact of US policy divergences on their strategic interests.

Weekly Outlook: https://visegradinsight.eu/long-delayed-v4-summit-in-prague-unlikely-to-end-disunity/

Editorial: https://visegradinsight.eu/ukrainians-your-fight-is-our-fight-we-are-mutually-indebted-editorial/

Wojciech Przybylskidiscusses with the former State Secretary on EU Affairs of Sweden, Lars Danielsson, how there can be a democratic and market-oriented, free liberal Europe without enlargement and how Poland's experiment with reversing illiberal state capture can be a paradigm for other countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

Weekly outlook link: https://visegradinsight.eu/navalnys-killing-shows-putin-senses-leeway-as-us-wavers-over-ukraine/

Managing Editor Galan Dall interviews Budapest-based political journalist and Visegrad Insight Fellow Iván László Nagy about the unfolding scandal which has pierced the Fidesz-regime's propaganda bubble and led to President Novak's resignation.

For more information, follow this link: https://visegradinsight.eu/hungarian-president-katalin-novak-resigns-the-full-story-behind-the-pardon-scandal/

In a special episode of Visegrad Insight, Adam Jasser talks to Zsolt Darvas, a renowned economist from Breugel, about the prospects of eurozone membership for the leading economies in CEE.

In today's episode, Galan Dall and Adam Jasser discuss reasons behind Hungary's surprising defeat at the EU summit over Ukraine funding, as Prime Minister Viktor Orbán seems to have finally lost all allies over his pro-Russian stance. Visegrad Insight editors also look at the broader implications of revelations that a Latvian member of the European Parliament is accused of being a  long-standing Russian intelligence asset.

Wojciech Przybylski and Galan Dall discuss the mounting pressure on Hungary from the West, the fiction of Orbán and Fico's illiberal "alliance", as well as the roadblocks in the US Congress preventing funding for Kyiv's defence.

https://visegradinsight.eu/chaotic-hypocrisy/

https://visegradinsight.eu/hungarys-isolation-deepens-before-eu-council-on-ukraine-funding/

In today's podcast, Deputy Editor Adam Jasser talks to Professor Barbara Brodzińska-Mirowska, a leading Polish political scientist, about the rocky transition of power in Poland as the new government seeks to consolidate its power ahead of local and European elections in the spring.

Adam Jasser and Galan Dall discuss the backdrop behind last week's protests in Warsaw, how they compare against the growing grassroots demonstrations in Slovakia as well as what support Ukraine can expect from Europe in the coming weeks and months.

Adam Jasser and Galan Dall discuss what to expect from the EU Council President's resignation and how autocratic leaders share the same playbook in European and American democracies.

We discuss the outcomes of the historical EU summit, which decided to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. Hungarian leader Viktor Orban dropped his threat to block the decision, mainly because a change of government in Poland left him isolated in the EU. Check more info on future EU values agenda at our foresight project page: https://visegradinsight.eu/eu-values-foresight/

Editors Galan Dall and Adam Jasser discuss the complexity behind Poland's delayed transition of power after the 15 October elections as well as the potential pathways forward for the new Polish government in obtaining the deeply sought-after transition funds.

Then, Wojciech Przybylski discusses the role civic education can play in Europe with Caroline Hornstein Tomic, co-founder of THE CIVICS Innovation Hub. With the malign influence of growing revisionist powers increasing every year, it is the state of civic education which will determine the resilience of our societies.

Link to Networking European Civic Education - https://nece.eu/nece-festival/programme-2023/

Link to EU Values Foresight - https://visegradinsight.eu/eu-values-foresight/

European Parliament elections and the haggling between EU political groups and governments over the leadership and priorities for the next four-year term will likely overshadow Hungary's EU presidency in the second half of 2024. This will reduce Budapest's impact on actual policy decisions.

This podcast is part of our #EUvalues foresight which outlines four possible foresight-driven scenarios for EU strategic policy. These scenarios stem from developments in the democratic security, economic and security arenas, as well as the state of transatlantic relations. Click the link below to learn more and download the report.

https://visegradinsight.eu/eu-values-foresight/

This podcast is co-funded by the European Union. The Foresight On European Values and Democratic Security programme is part of a 4-year framework partnership to support European networks, civil society organisations active at the EU level and European think tanks in Union values (CERV).

Adam Jasser interviews Wojciech Przybylski about the release of a new report, How European Democracies Are to Survive a New Trump Age,which outlines four possible foresight-driven scenarios for EU strategic policy. These scenarios stem from developments in the democratic security, economic and security arenas, as well as the state of transatlantic relations. Click the link below to learn more and download the report.

https://visegradinsight.eu/eu-values-foresight/

This podcast is co-funded by the European Union. The Foresight On European Values and Democratic Security programme is part of a 4-year framework partnership to support European networks, civil society organisations active at the EU level and European think tanks in Union values (CERV).

Albin Sybera discusses with Faris Kočan - assistant professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Ljubljana and author of the forthcoming book "Identity, Ontological Security and Europeanisation in Republika Srpska" - the recent EU enlargement report. The report attempts to balance the strategic need to integrate the Western Balkans (WB) and the reforms WB countries need to carry out. Interesting to note are the shared regional narratives prolific in the WB ahead of the 17 December elections in Serbia.

In today's podcast, Deputy Editor Adam Jasser interviews Dr Jakub Šrol of the Slovak Academy of Science about the results of a major survey on attitudes to democracy in Visegrad Four countries and Germany, which seem to have chimed well with the latest election results in Poland and Slovakia.

In today's podcast, Visegrad Insight Editors Wojciech Przybylskiand Adam Jasserzoom in on the likelihood that the EU report due this week will allow for the start of Ukraine's accession negotiations, which would be a huge political coup for Kyiv as it struggles to keep its war effort on track.

https://europeandemocracyhub.epd.eu/the-end-of-polands-illiberal-experiment/

In his pursuit of being the eternal EU rebel and Donald Trump's chief European acolyte, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán demonstrates glaring inconsistency by refusing to acknowledge Ukraine's right to defend itself against Russia and advocating a ceasefire while univocally supporting Israel's offensive in Gaza.

Editor-in-Chief Wojciech Przybylski analyses with the journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner how the outgoing government in Poland used unfair election tactics in the recent campaign and how these elections will be studied by pro-democratic forces wishing to turn back illiberal forces in Central and Eastern Europe.

EditorsGalan Dall and Albin Sybera discuss the controversial developments unfolding in Bratislava's next government in light of Viktor Orban's meeting with Vladimir Putin and the recent Polish elections.

Poland's victorious opposition may wait several weeks before it can form the government due to stalling by the outgoing government and its ally, President Andrzej Duda. Duda and the constitutional tribunal packed with political appointees will make it hard to pass legislation, Jakub Jaraczewski, a leading constitutional scholar, tells Visegrad Insight.

The large turnout shows the high level of engagement by Polish women, who, despite the rise in child benefit by the ruling Law and Justice, are afraid of getting pregnant because of cases where medical care is denied,  Amanda Coakley, award-winning journalist and Europe's Futures fellow at the IWM in Vienna, tells Visegrad Insight.

In today's episode, Deputy Editor Adam Jasser interviews Krzysztof Izdebski, a Visegrad Insight Fellow and policy officer at Batory Foundation, about the results of Poland's historic general election marked by the high turnout and mobilisation of young voters.

In this week's podcast, Visegrad Insight editors Wojciech Przybylski and Adam Jasser discuss the potential impact of the Polish parliamentary election next Sunday on the EU's ability to move forward with  its ambitious strategic agenda, including enlargement.

In today's podcast, Visegrad Insight editors Wojciech Przybylski and Adam Jasser discuss the outcome of the Slovak election, which may bring firebrand pro-Russia ex-Prime Minister Fico to power, as well as the potential impact of the huge weekend rally of Polish opposition supporters on the country's parliamentary vote on 15 October.

Our guest this week, Richard Giragosian of the Regional Studies Center in Yerevan, an independent think-tank, argues that Azerbajan's military takeover of Nagorno-Karabakh reflects the growing self-confidence of Baku and Russia's dwindling power in the South Caucasus. The West's passive approach so far must be replaced by a resolve to prevent another military attack by Azerbaijan on its democratic neighbour. 

In this week's episode, Wojciech Przybylski and Adam Jasser discuss the impact the Slovak and Polish elections could have on Ukraine's EU path as tensions between Warsaw and Kyiv escalate.

This week's guest is Beata Balogová,  an award-winning Slovak journalist, who gave her take on what the possible return of ex-PM Rober Fico may mean for Slovakia.

Click here for information on our State of Slovakia event or insert this url: https://visegradinsight.eu/event-state-of-slovakia-video-recap/

In this week's episode, Wojciech Przybylski and Adam Jasser discuss why migration will remain a policy issue for the EU and more acutely Central Europe, specifically in Hungary and Poland where both governments that are nominally anti-migration have been running visa-for-cash programmes.

This week's guest is Marjorie Castle, a professor at the University of Utah, who explains the need for right-wing populists to have international elites to fight against as well as their weaponisation of the enlargement process and the future of democracy.

In this week's podcast, Deputy Managing Editor Adam Jasser and Agnieszka Homańska discuss the launch of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor at the G20 meeting in New Dehli,  which seems to be a challenge to China's Belt and Road and its claim to lead the Global South. The podcast also gives an update on the election campaigns in Poland and Slovakia, as surveys indicate a very close race in both countries.

In this week’s podcast, Editor-in-ChiefWojciech Przybylski sits down with Volodymyr Omelyan, the Former Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine, to discuss the future of Ukraine: the costs of rebuilding the country, meeting the challenge of instability and tackling corruption through transparency.

Weekly Outlook by Adam Jasser and Miles R. Maftean: European Council President Charles Michel’s recent statement at the Bled Strategic Forum has opened up a Pandora’s Box of questions. He stresses that the EU should be ready to accept new members by 2030, feeling the already complex discussion. From a mysterious outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease that has killed seven people to alarm-induced train halts across multiple cities, Poland’s domestic security is under scrutiny. Authorities suspect intentional tampering with the water system and are investigating the digital stop messages sent to trains.

Special guest: Spasimir Domaradzki, Visegrad Insight Fellow, sits down with Adam Jasser to discuss the death of prominent Bulgarian businessman Alexey Petrov, and how murders in Bulgaria are another opportunity for former political elites to secure their background to make sure that some of the potential threats are eliminated.

Weekly outlook by Adam Jasser and Miles R. Maftean:Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy unexpectedly visited Denmark and the Netherlands on Sunday, expressing gratitude for their decision to supply Ukraine with approximately 40 U.S.-manufactured F-16 fighter jets. Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan travelled to Hungary to converse with Orban about their strategic alliance. As the September elections near, Slovakia’s political climate becomes more turbulent with the arrest of current and former intelligence heads.

Special guest: Leszek Jażdżewski, co-host of the Liberal Europe Podcast, sits down with Wojciech Przybylski to discuss what a strategically autonomous Europe might look like.

To hear more conversations on the topic, check out these two episodes from the Liberal Europe Podcast:

Weekly outlook by Adam Jasser and Wojciech Przybylski: The official Polish election campaign for the October 15 parliamentary vote is now in full swing. Jarosław Kaczyński, the leader of the ruling Law and Justice party, has levelled accusations against the opposition, branding them as traitors. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will visit Hungary on August 20 to discuss "security issues", a Hungarian government spokesman said.

Special guest: Piotr Łukasiewicz, Former Poland Ambassador to Afghanistan, sits down to discuss the importance of Wagner group mercenaries in Belarus from a military and political perspective.

Weekly outlook by Agnieszka Homanska and Wojciech Przybylski: President Duda is constitutionally obliged to announce the start of Poland’s election campaign by Sunday, with voting expected between 15 October and 5 November. Unofficial campaigning has already begun in Poland, with the ruling government party using a number of tricks to boost their campaign budgets. Threats to NATO’s Eastern Flank continue with hybrid aggression on the Belarus border.

Weekly outlook by Galan Dall and Miles R. Maftean: The situation in Ukraine is escalating, with recent gains on the battlefield in the Western Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions and a significant strike on the Chonhar bridge. An upcoming peace summit set for early August in Jeddah. Developments involving the Wagner Group near the Polish and Lithuanian borders spark heightened tensions across the Baltic states.

Weekly outlook by Miles R. Maftean and Adam Jasser: The extreme-right Spanish party, Vox, suffered a notable loss in the elections, leading to a hung parliament. Vox had the endorsement of right-wing leaders Viktor Orban from Hungary and Jarosław Kaczyński from Poland. Odesa’s Orthodox Cathedral was razed by Russian missiles, escalating the city’s bombardment. Kyiv threatens to halt all ships heading to the Black Sea. Poland, leading a group of five other Central and Eastern European nations, has called for extending a temporary EU ban on Ukrainian food and grain imports. The European Commission has filed a lawsuit against Poland over a controversial ruling by its Constitutional Court.

In this week's podcast, Editor-in-Chief Wojciech Przybylski and Deputy Managing Editor Adam Jasser discuss the outcome of the NATO Summit in Vilnius and Ukraine's counteroffensive, as well as take a deep look into Polish politics ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for October. The most recent polling suggests a possibly hung parliament, which could result in Warsaw's inability to take a leading role in EU and NATO affairs.

Weekly outlook by Galan Dall and Albin Sybera: Israeli-style security guarantees likely to be offered to Ukraine at the NATO Summit in Vilnius, as well as a "pathway" for Ukraine to join the alliance. President Zelenskyy's trip through Central Europe (CE) not only showcased Ukraine's adeptness in combating Russian disinformation narratives, but his speeches suggest an awareness of how these campaigns are targeting elections in CE.

Special guests - Editor-in-chief Wojciech Przybylski, Vice President Magda Jakubowska and Visegrad Insight Fellow Jan Farfal sit down with Visegrad Insight Fellow Pavel Havliček and Assistant to the Czech Deputy Minister of European Affairs Marek Bičan to discuss the urgency for EU enlargement.

Weekly outlook by Galan Dall and Wojciech Przybylski: As Sweden hands over the EU presidency to Spain, the first stop for Prime Minister Sanchez is a visit to Ukraine. The deception and theatre of the Wagner group moving to Belarus continue, with an already tense situation on the border of Belarus with their forced migration actions into Latvia, Poland, and Lithuania. One week before the NATO summit in Vilnius, the question remains about what will be offered to Ukraine regarding security guarantees. Poland and Hungary joined ranks and vetoed the EU's proposal for asylum, despite the demographic challenges in each country — a breakdown of what this means for the Polish election cycle in the coming months.

Special guest – Executive Assistant Agnieszka Homanska sits down with renowned British-Polish photographer Christopher Niedenthal to discuss some of his most famous photographs, from the Berlin Wall's fall to the Gdansk protests in 1989.

Weekly outlook by Miles R. Maftean and Adam Jasser: Yevgeny Prigozhin's rebellion and subsequent exile in Belarus spotlight Putin's weakening grip on power, amplified by Russia's war with Ukraine. The shift towards Belarus' President Lukashenka's role, who resolved the rebellion and now hosts Prigozhin, exhibits his growing significance in Putin’s scheme. Amid this turmoil, Ukraine’s struggle to quickly access international reconstruction funds, along with Slovak President Čaputová’s decision not to seek re-election and Jarosław Kaczyński’s reappointment as Poland’s deputy prime minister, highlight the escalating political complexity in the region.

Special guests – Marcin Krol Fellow Iván László Nagy sits down with political scientist Cat Mudde to discuss how Europe has incorporated populism rather than creating effective tools to mitigate its rise. Mudde highlights how the West’s promotion of liberal democracy is rooted in strategy, not ideology.

Weekly outlook by Miles R. Maftean and Wojciech Przybylski: Poland and Hungary amplified their objection to an EU asylum deal, wrongly labelling it as imposed migration from south to central Europe. Polish leader Jarosław Kaczyński proposed a referendum on the value in an attempt to boost his struggling election campaign. However, a poll revealed that just a third of Poles backed his challenging position. At the same time, 42% would accept the deal if it included financial aid for many Ukrainian refugees residing in Poland. Germany unveiled its long-delayed national security strategy. Tactical nuclear weapons have been deployed to Belarus, and Putin mused the possibility of using them if the war in Ukraine "threatened Russia's territorial integrity".

Special guests – Christopher Coker (Director, LSE Ideas) sits down with Editor-in-chief Wojciech Przybylski to discuss the situation between China and the West. They discuss the global struggle between democracy and autocracy in the global world.

Weekly outlook by Adam Jasser andMiles R. Maftean: Ukrainian forces have breached Russian lines in a counter-offensive amid severe ecological warfare showcased by the Kakhovka dam explosion. Polish President Duda discussed NATO’s Ukraine offer with French President Macron and German Prime Minister Scholz in Paris. A pending EU court ruling on June 15th will decide the legality of certain pre-2008 foreign currency loans by Polish banks. Banks may face costly write-offs if declared abusive, although Polish regulators assure their financial resilience.

Special guests – Sigita Struberga (Marcin Krol Fellow, LATO) and Matej Kandrik (Marcin Krol Fellow, Adapt Institute): Editor-in-chief Wojciech Przybylskisits down with our guests to discuss the Ukrainian counter-defensive and what this means for next month’s NATO summit in Vilnius.

Weekly outlook by Miles R. Maftean, Wojciech Przybylski, and Agnieszka Homanska: We unpack how an estimated 500,000 demonstrators have stormed Warsaw and other Polish cities in a unified outcry against the PiS party's escalating authoritarian tendencies. These gatherings, unprecedented since communism's downfall over three decades ago, signal a pivotal moment in Poland's political history. As the tussle between the PiS and PO parties intensifies, we're witnessing a distinct political polarisation. This dynamic threatens to limit the country's political landscape, forcing both right-leaning and left-leaning factions to choose sides in a heated, two-camp arena.

Special guest – Peter Balík (Minister for Investments, Regional Development and Informatization for Slovakia): Live at Globsec, our conversation with Minister Balík provides valuable insights into Slovakia's strategic utilisation of EU funds. In the upcoming months, the interim government will grapple with significant challenges, including the energy crisis and the ripple effects of Ukraine's refugee crisis. 

Weekly outlook by Adam Jasser, Miles R. Maftean and Wojciech Przybylski:Poland’s controversial new law, dubbed “Lex Tusk,” allows a government commission to ban individuals from holding public office. This measure has raised alarm bells in EU capitals and Washington, as it potentially hinders opposition candidates from running in upcoming elections. Read more on this Lex Tusk law in Wojciech Przybylski’s latest piece on Visegrad Insight. An EU proposal to strip Hungary of its EU presidency due to concerns over the rule of law and its controversial stances on Russia and Ukraine may inadvertently strengthen certain anti-EU narratives, potentially influencing future European Parliament elections. Erdogan’s victory in Turkey shows how strong his hold on the country is and how powerful the rhetoric of “making Turkey great again” resonates with voters despite economic hardships.

Read up on our foresight project on the future of EU 2024 Parliamentary Elections here.

Weekly outlook by Miles R. Maftean and Wojciech Przybylski: The pull between unity in the EU and unilateral action continues, with Hungary blocking the ammunition package for Ukraine and saying it will veto the EU’s 11th sanctions package against Russia. Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy continues his tour in the far East where the larger community of democracies stands firm and backs Ukraine, this time delivering more fighter jets for the potential counter-offensive likely to occur this year.

Special guest – Deborah Enix-Ross (President of the American Bar Association): The rule of law hinges on three critical elements - civics, civility, and global collaboration across the Atlantic. We sat down with the President of the American Bar Association to discuss her recent trip to Poland and the crucial role that all legal professionals play in upholding justice.

The latest tremors are shaking the illiberal union of Hungary and Poland. Major European powers are ramping up their support for Ukraine, dramatically underscored by Germany's generous packages announced during President Zelenskyy's recent visit to Berlin. Tensions rise in the first round of the Turkish elections, with Erdogan maintaining a slight lead over his rival Kilicdaroglu, leading to a runoff election on 28 May. In the second part of our podcast, we discuss the labyrinth of autocratic politics in Turkey. Our Deputy Managing Editor, Adam Jasser, exchanges views with Humeyra Pamuk(Reuters). They delve into the resilience of autocratic leaders, using Erdogan's current precarious lead as a point of departure.

The ongoing saga between the EU and Hungary over access to post-pandemic recovery funds continues. Hungary's legal tricks continue with complex judicial reforms added to a bill at the last minute. Historic elections are underway in Turkey. Tensions in the Polish ruling party coalition continue. In the second part of the podcast, Visegrad Insight's Agnieszka Homańska sits down with esteemed journalist Anne Applebaum to discuss the future of Crimea and democracy in the CEE region.

Outrage and condemnation from CEE after Chinese Ambassador Lu Shaye claimed former-Soviet states do not exist. Poland’s nationalist government is becoming increasingly erratic on the domestic and international scene as opinion polls show it may find it hard to retain power in the October elections after angering farmers, a key electorate, over Ukrainian grain imports. In the second part of the podcast, Editor-in-chief Wojciech Przybylski and Marcin Krol Fellow Jan Farfalsit down with Samuel Ramani(Royal United Services Institute) to discuss the changes happening in Russia and how Russian policy has changed since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

EU rejects the bans on Ukrainian grain imports introduced by Poland and Hungary. Hungary and Poland have been on opposite sides of the spectrum of reactions to Russia's war on Ukraine but remain aligned on their internal challenge to EU institutions. Reports mount of a bipartisan US Congress bill being drafted to sanction leading political figures in the Orbán's government. Last week, the US sanctioned three of the IIB's officials, including Russian Chairman Nikolai Kosov and Hungarian Deputy Chairman Imre Laszlocki. In the second part of the podcast, Editorial Director Miles R. Maftean sits down with Filip Konopczyński(Panoptykon Foundation) to discuss the European way to regulate artificial intelligence and emerging technologies and of the amended EU AI Bill aimed at curbing this potentially dangerous revolutionary tool.

The EU’s overall democratic security developments are impacted by the events in CEE countries. As the new EU Strategic Agenda is in preparation, the Visegrad Insight expert group scans for weak signals across multiple scenarios and recommends a relevant course of action. Editorial Director Miles R. Maftean and Deputy Managing Editor Adam Jasser discuss at length the first policy brief on the state of democratic security in the Visegrad countries as part of our Foresight on European Values and Democratic Security project co-funded by the European Union. European unity on defence and security in question. Security issues trump democratic security. Elections in Slovakia and Poland are on the horizon.

Polish veto of the combustion engine ban. Eight PMs from CEE write an open letter against the CEOs of the largest social media companies to do more to fight disinformation. European cohesion with the ammunition plan for Ukraine. How the indictment of former President Trump looks for the CEE community. In the second part of the podcast, Marcin Krol Fellow Jan Farfal sits down with Nikola Dimitrov, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, to discuss the future of EU enlargement in the context of a Europe shaped by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Russia says it will station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, a move seen in the West as yet another attempt at intimidation. Putin’s announcement seems to contradict the Russia-China statement from last week on the non-proliferation of nuclear arms. Putin visited his counterpart Xi Jinping and reports state that both sides made progress but did not conclude all agreements worth $165 billion. Berlin and Brussels has struck a deal for allowing the use of combustion engines. In the second part of the podcast, Editor-in-Chief Wojciech Przybylski sits down with Dalibor Rohac (American Enterprise Institute) to discuss the future of Europe and his latest book Governing the EU in an Age of Division. Rohac argues that a new approach is needed to the question of what the future holds for European peace - a more flexible and creative approach which involves picking and choosing attributes of the European project that can be extended to the Ukrainian project now.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping met for over four hours in the Kremlin on Monday, ahead of formal talks today during which they will “draw up a new blueprint for China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership,” according to Beijing’s readout. Zelensky's reaction to the Beijing-Moscow axis. The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin over his part in the unlawfully forced deportations of Ukrainian children to Russia. while Hungary blocks the EU from issuing a joint statement about the ICC’s arrest warrant for Putin, citing people familiar with the matter. Fears the International Investment Bank (IIB) serves as a Russian spy hub inside the EU. In the second part of the podcast, Editorial Director Miles R. Maftean sits down with Rushan Abbas, an Uyghur American activist and Executive Director of the nonprofit Campaign for Uyghurs, along with Abdulhakim Idris, Executive Director at the Center for (OI-GUR) Studies. They discuss the devastating impact the Chinese government has had on the Uyghur minority and the ongoing human rights abuses in China.

PiS kickstarts its value-laden campaign, with its new slogan "Poland is the Future!" New divisions will be created in this divisive election, with PiS continuing down the culture war angle with the latest defence over the legacy of John Paul II. Polish Sejm adopted changes to the electoral law which will increase the number of polling stations and provide free transport on polling day for elderly and disabled people. In the second part of the podcast, Editor-in-chief Wojciech Przybylskisits down with Ivan Krastev (IWM Vienna) to discuss the future of Europe in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Historic voter turnout in Estonia with the liberal Reform Party winning big. Polish opposition shuffles on the electoral lists. The main opposition parties, the centrist Civic Platform, The Left, the centrist Polska 2050, the agrarian PSL and Yes! For Poland!, agreed not to stand candidates against one another for the Senate to boost their chances against the ruling parties and its allies in the autumn's parliamentary elections. The dance between the main parties and the protagonists of the Polish scene - the Left vs. Donald Tusk. Pegasus surveillance revelations in Poland. Editorial Director Miles R. Maftean and Editor-in-chief Wojciech Przybylskidiscuss the latest news in CEE.

Hungary in headlines once again - the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is preparing for PM Viktor Orbán to visit Kyiv for the first time in years. The Parliament of Hungary will vote on the ratification of the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO, with Orbán's political theatre lurking in the background. What potential danger does this spell for Hungary's Visegrad relationships? Editor-in-chief Wojciech Przybylskiand Editorial Director Miles R. Maftean discuss the possible scenarios. In the second part of the podcast, we sit down with Dániel Bartha(Centre for Euro-Atlantic Integration and Democracy) for the latest reaction to the firing of hundreds of high-ranking Hungarian officers of the military and the current state of Hungarian defence.

Elections in Slovakia are set for 30 September, while Estonia and Lithuania prepare for elections on 5 March. The European Parliament voted in favour of more transparency in political advertising - what this means for upcoming elections and more. Ukraine's cabinet reshuffled - the Defence Minister will now be replaced by the Head of Ukraine Military Intelligence. The reshuffling occurs after a major corruption scandal involving the pricing of food purchases for the military embroiled the defence ministry. In the second part of the podcast, Editorial DirectorMiles Maftean sits down with Pavel Havlicek, Research Fellow at the Association for International Affairs (AMO), and breaks down what was at stake and what was accomplished during the 3 February visit of Ursula von der Leyen and most of her European commission visiting Kyiv. 

Petr Pavel secured the Czech Presidential office in a runoff vote interpreted as a referendum on Czech foreign policy. A significant win for Czech society, with a return to the spirit of decency and truth in politics. This is a striking resemblance to how President Zuzana Čaputová shaped her messages during a polarised debate when becoming the Slovak president. Wojciech Przybylski (Editor-in-Chief) and Martin Ehl (Visegrad Insight Senior Fellow) sit down to discuss the results and what's to come for Czechia. In the second part of the podcast, Editorial Director Miles R. Maftean talks with Sergej Sumlenny (European Resilience Initiative Center) about the recent developments of German arms delivery, its failed Russia policy, and the role industry plays in German foreign policy.

Retired General Petr Pavel scored a tight majority in the first round of the Czech presidential election on Saturday, coming ahead of former PM Andrej Babiš. The two are now poised to face each other in the second round of leadership in two weeks' time. Does this show the vibrant nature of democratic politics in Europe or is Czechia's democracy just lucky? A breakdown of the two candidates, with a spotlight on the black campaign of Babiš, along with specifying the nature of Czech presidency from the standpoint of its ceremonial and symbolic function. 

This week's episode is a precursor for next week's State of Czechia, a week-long discussion hosted by Visegrad Insight including 4 panels across 4 days with 12+ Czech thought leaders, experts, and politicians. Subscribe now with our discount codeCEEPOLITICSto register for the event: https://visegradinsight.eu/state-of-czechia/

Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski(Editor-in-Chief) and Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director)

The resilience of democracies in 2022 was clear after a bounce-back from post-COVID times. But key elections for 2023 in Czechia and Poland will test this resiliency. The disinformation narratives that will plague CEE - anti-NATO, anti-American, anti-EU sentiments. The key sectors that will continue to be targeted by disinformation in 2023. The fight in Ukraine continues, both on its own grounds and in EU institutions. Turbulent economic times ahead with unemployment expected to rise and a continued rise in inflation.

Four scenarios of potential future developments in the Central and Eastern European region are presented in this episode, with the December 5 foresight discussion event co-ordinated with the German Marshall Fund. The highlights of the panel discuss future perspectives of democracy, security and prosperity in the CEE space and the region’s potential future role in European integration and the Western security alliance.

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In December, Visegrad Insight held a week-long, foresight event bringing together experts, analysts and leading journalists to discuss the future of CEE in the context of the aftermath of the War in Ukraine. Here are the main highlights from the panel experts:

What if Ukraine wins?

Will the War Break Europe's Social Contract?

Will Europe Ever Be an Equal Partner to the US?

Who Joins First - Serbia or Ukraine?

Slovak cabinet is dismissed after losing a vote of no confidence and may join Bulgaria in seeing snap elections next year. The 18 billion euro aid package for Ukraine was approved. Polish and Hungarian governments nearly vetoed the 18 billion euro aid package. A rise of Pro-Russian political forces across CEE: Pro-Russian narratives echo in Bulgaria following the Schengen vote. 9th round of the sanctions package against Russia targets the strategic security sector. In the second part of the podcast, Foresight Editor Albin Sybera discusses the turbulent week in Slovakia, which ended with a successful no-confidence vote against Eduard Heger’s minority government. The rocky situation has left Bratislava in political turmoil and some suggest it could undermine democracy itself - to the point where a constitutional crisis may be looming in the near future.

The backlash of the Schengen vote, as Austria vetos the accession of Romania and Bulgaria in the Schengen zone, intensifies. How the national effects the international - domestic agenda of right-wing Austrian party FPO rejects Romania and Bulgaria for their political gains. Hungarian veto bypassed in regards to the 18 billion support to Ukraine. Alarm flags in Warsaw raised as diplomatic language shows the tensions between Budapest and Warsaw. In the second part of the podcast (13:50), Mary Kaldor, Professor Emeritus of Global Governance at the London School of Economics, reiterates the importance of human rights for NATO’s Strategic Concept. Is there a future for a European security architecture reflecting the Helsinki Agreement principles?

On November 30, Visegrad Insight hosted a public discussion on the Future of Europe in Brussels with Katalin Cseh(MEP for Hungary), Éric Maurice(Manager of the Brussels Office of the Fondation Robert Schuman), and Wojciech Przybylski(Visegrad Insight, Res Publica Foundation). These experts debate policy towards achieving energy security in Europe (1:37). From Monday, the EU’s ban for seaborne Russian oil is in force, along with a 60 USD per barrel price cap agreed with the G7 allies. Przybylski comments on how the Hungarian outlier related to support for Ukraine has distanced Visegrad partners (11:48) and the future of regional dialogue (19:07).

Central Europe’s reaction to the COP27 Summit has been lackluster yet divergent. Slovakia and Czechia lead the Visegrad Group in terms of political leadership on climate, while Hungary and Poland drag their feet on sustainability targets, as depicted by the latest climate change index. One overarching problem, Climate & Democracy Editor Michał Zabłocki and Foresight Editor Albin Sybera agree on, is breaking up the ownership beneficiary structure of dominant polluting corporations in the CEE — not least their control over the media environments.

The G20 and COP-27 summits have been overshadowed as Russia’s assault against Ukraine results in the first casualty on the soil of a NATO member after rocket or air defence missile debris kills two people in a Polish town bordering Ukraine. According to Wojciech Przybylski’s foresight, more collateral damage on the side of NATO can be expected as Moscow raises the stakes due to its faltering objectives on the battlefield. To read in more detail, see Przybylski’s piece here.

Our special guest this week is Zsuzsanna Szelényi, former Hungarian parliamentarian and the author of “Tainted Democracy, Viktor Orban and the Subversion of Hungary”. As a former Fidesz insider and then founder of an opposition party, Szelényi provides a concise yet captivating account of how the consensual set of rules between the Hungarian public and government has been undermined since the landslide victory of the ruling party in 2010. Hungary’s recent anti-corruption reforms —  half-hearted at best — are unlikely to undercut systemic corruption. If a post-Orbán point in Hungary’s history can be imagined, restoring the integrity of democratic institutions and sustainable economic growth would be vital first steps for democratic security. 

Ahead of key meetings and decisions on access to €5.8bn in Covid recovery funds for Hungary, Wojciech Przybylski and Edit Zgut-Przybylska explore the multi-layered negotiating game between Brussels and Budapest. With EU Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen expected to arrive in Budapest with a stamp of approval for Hungary’s recovery plan, the looming ‘rule of law’ conditionality mechanism is yet to be separated from conclusion to procedure. The ruling party in Poland, however, will be watching closely how and what type of agreement will be inked in Budapest.

Polling by Wall Street Journal shows Republican opposition to arming Ukraine is growing while support is becoming an increasingly partisan issue: 48% of GOP voters now say the U.S. is doing too much to help Ukrainians, up from 6% in the previous survey. While calls to drastically cut military and economic aid might be limited to a small circle of populist voices within the GOP faction, Visegrad Insight’s Editorial Director Miles R. Maftean warns not to underestimate the influence of the pro-MAGA contingency on national political debates. The potential shift towards isolationism in US foreign policy and Europe’s strategic response in this week’s episode.

Last week Xi Jinping consolidated complete control over the Chinese Communist Party and vowed to bring Taiwan's independence to an end, by all means necessary. A sense of danger is felt in Taipei as the country looks to Ukraine and Central Europe for experience in resisting a hostile takeover. Taiwan also announces new generous support for Ukraine through its CEE offices.

Against this backdrop, Visegrad Insight participated in the 11th Global Assembly of the World Movement for Democracy - a gathering of democracy fighters from around the world who come together to share experiences and reflect on their struggles against autocracies. It was the first international conference in Taipei since the end of the pandemic lockdown on the island, attended, among others, by Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwanese President and Joseph Wu, minister of foreign affairs, as well as Audrey Tang heading the ministry of digital affairs. We were also present at the Taiwan-Czechia-Ukraine Forum organised by the European Values Center for Security Policy – a Czech think tank with an office in Taipei.

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Yet another Prime Minister swap in the UK reminds of upcoming elections in Britain and the US – the two biggest military donors to Ukraine. According to Luke Cooper, author and senior research fellow at the LSE Ideas, the idea of a ‘long war’ in Ukraine risks becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. Adjustment of economic policy towards a war economy is needed to support the social needs of Ukrainians as Russia’s attacks on critical infrastructure intensifies and local production continues to shrink.The war is an opportunity for the furthering of the grassroots democracy movement borne out of the Maidan revolution, as different events have been in the face of authoritarian protectionism in Central and Eastern Europe.

Following the dismissal of Minister for EU Affairs Konrad Szymański less than a week after the firing of Prime Minister Morawiecki’s chief of staff, tectonic shifts in Polish politics are occurring. Polish businesses and the central bank also hit by the ‘hard-line’ crackdown on HR by state authorities. We ask legal expert and Marcin Król Fellow Krzysztof Izdebski what all this means for the likelihood of Warsaw receiving EU funds.

A human chain made up of thousands of students and teachers last week in Budapest is symbolic of Hungary’s bottom-up resistance to Viktor Orban’s domestic policies. As the Hungarian Forint hits historic low levels against the Euro, and price increases continue to shrink the purchasing power of Hungarians, the Fidesz government is likely to use any ammo available to deflect responsibility. Michał Zabłocki, Climate and Democracy Editor at Visegrad Insight, and Hungarian journalist Viktória Serdült tune in live from Budapest to unpack latest developments.

As European leaders meet for the first time under the new European Political Community format this Thursday in Prague, we take a close look at the diverse set of stakeholders participating in the political conversation over European affairs. In the bustling background, the second round of Czech Senate elections favour the ruling coalition despite earlier upset in local elections. Our esteemed guest this episode, historian of Central and Eastern European modern political thought Dr Michal Kopeček, explores the comparative ‘luck’ of the Czech democratic experiment among Central Europeans and explores the meaning of the populist upsurge in Czechia.

With a year to go until parliamentary elections, Polish opposition parties are in full campaign mode. Newcomer Polska 2050 party, also a member of Renew Europe grouping, is being led by Szymon Hołownia as a third way between Donald Tusk’s Civic Platform and the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party that offers a renewed focus on dusty topics like Poland’s adoption of the Euro. Meanwhile, Poland is unable to ditch the Visegrad cooperation format despite fundamental differences on support for Ukraine with its Hungarian counterpart — begging the question of what comes next for the V4?

We should have listened to the voices inside our Union – in Poland, in the Baltics, and all across Central and Eastern Europe, said Ursula von der Leyen in the recent State of the Union. But what does CEE have to say really? And is it one or several divergent voices? Based on a strategic foresight carried out in the past 12 months with CEE experts and opinion leaders Wojciech Przybylski explores the four scenarios that may determine the course of the European project and integration by 2030.

Download our latest foresight reportwith one month free access outlining four scenarios on the War and the Future of Europe.

Visegrad Insight podcast is back to digest the latest summer developments in CEE and Europe. This week we are joined by Anton Shekhovtsov, Director of the Austria-based Centre for Democratic Integrity and the author of a new report detailing the malign influence of Russian media abroad — ‘RT in Europe and Beyond’. As a small - but not insignificant wave of social protests begins to emerge in Central European cities - Shekhovtsov explains RT’s current mode of operations after EU sanctions, how the Kremlin’s disinformation campaign is expanding to Africa and future prospects for Russia’s propaganda arm to undermine Western support for Ukraine.

Sign-up for the official presentation on our latest foresight report outlining four scenarios on the War and the Future of Europe, this Thursday 15 September, at 11:30 AM CET.

European Parliament to debate and vote on the The Three Seas Initiative and discuss its challenges and opportunities. Slovak presidency in the Visegrad Group begins this week, prioritising some of the initiatives from the 3SI - interconnectedness and economy. Czech EU presidency kicks off with its obstacles. European grid operates plan to implement long-term plan to bring Baltic states into the European realm. What the EU member candidacy status really means for Ukraine.

In the second part of the podcast, Jana Juzová, Senior Research Fellow at the European Institute for European Policy in Prague, discusses the start of the Czech EU presidency and the Slovak presidency within the Visegrad Group, along with their plans and obstacles that these presidencies might be faced with.

Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (Editor-in-chief) and Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director).

NATO summit meeting takes place this week, with security in the region being the main important topic on the docket. The political dimension of CEE turmoil with Czech and Bulgarian governments in peril and the possibility of new elections in these countries. New research coming from Visegrad Insight on China’s digital footprint in CEE. A paradigm shift coming from internal developments of policy in CEE countries that alters a European policy - specifically the enlargement policy. The issue with framing the Ukraine crisis as “Peace vs. Justice”.

Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (Editor-in-chief) and Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director).

The challenges to the Three Seas Initiative - problems, opportunities, and proposals for the region. EU candidate status of Ukraine to be confirmed this week, coming after four EU leaders visited Kyiv last week and voiced their support for Ukraine. The shift towards strategic questions of security and resilience from the Russian aggression balanced with democratic ideals. Increasing role of Romanian security services as a blast from the communist past.

In the second part of the podcast, Andrew Michta, a Dean of the College of International and Security Studies at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, discusses the larger security architecture in the CEE region and the shift away from grand theory to the on-the-ground reality unfolding. The interview also previews what to expect from the NATO summit in Madrid at the end of June.

Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (Editor-in-chief) and Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director).

European Parliament adopts a resolution calling on the European Council to agree to start the process to revise the EU Treaties. European Commission pushes pushed forward the approval of recovery funds to Poland regardless of compliance with the rule of law and despite dissent within the College. EU leaders meet in Kyiv. Russian-led Paks nuclear power expansion received the soil stabilisation permit from the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority.

In the second part of the podcast, Emilia Sercan, an investigative journalist in Romania, discusses her hundreds of journalistic investigations which revealed the plagiarism of doctoral theses of high-ranking Romanian politicians, including Deputy Prime Minister Gabriel Opera and Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca.

Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (Editor-in-chief), Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director), and Kamil Jaronczyk (Managing Editor).

Insights from the GLOBSEC Forum meeting, notably missing key Hungarian and Polish representatives. The adoption of the Resilience Recovery plan comes at a (legal) price, as critics claim. Hungary attacks Ukraine on social media. Will the Visegrad format be forgotten when Czechia resumes the EU presidency? Common efforts in the Visegrad Group to increase candidate status for Ukraine minus Hungary. Planned cuts for public broadcasting and rumours of capturing political control in Czechia. PM Kallas in political turmoil as her party loses their coalition in Estonia.

In the second part of the podcast, Christine Karelska, a Future of Ukraine Fellow, discusses the role of sports diplomacy in the battle against Russia due to its unjustified invasion of Ukraine. She specifies what role FIFA plays and teases what's ahead in her series featuring several national Ukranian football players who are taking up the fight against Russia.

Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (Editor-in-chief) and Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director).

Ongoing summits in the EU and the focus on democratic security in Europe with a nod towards Ukraine and the Western Balkans. Gas prices lower for Hungarian-registered cars at the checkout, leading to a new type of petrol tourism. The launch of Future of Ukraine fellowship publication schedule for the upcoming week: sport diplomacy, pro-Russian insurgency parties in Ukraine, and territorial claims in Europe.

In the second part of the podcast, Krzysztof Izdebski, a Marcin Krol fellow and lawyer specialised in access to public information and re-use of public sector information, discusses the mirage of anti-corruption policies in Poland the unfulfilled promises to bring the state back to the people.

Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski(Editor-in-chief), Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director), and Kamil Jarończyk (Managing Editor)

The team summarises the time spent at the first Civil Society Forum based on a recommendation from a special report created by Visegrad Insight. We ask the larger questions in a search for a clarity of purpose for the Three Seas Initiative and what's in the future for it. Polish President Duda on a diplomatic offensive in Slovakia and Ukraine. Visiting Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová, Duda spoke about interconnections and possible Ukrainian membership to the EU. Polish-Ukrainian relationship grows stronger with further privileges for Ukrainians in Poland.

Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (Editor-in-Chief), Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director), and Kamil Jarończyk (Managing Editor).

A round-up of texts on the Conference on the Future of Europe. A pivotal moment in Germany foreign policy, as Ukraine certifies Germany to be the leader of Europe as of now. US will take up European demand of gas, with latest deal sealed with Bulgaria. Finnish-Baltic gas connection a highlight of energy policy in Europe moving away from Russia. Safeguarding democracy with militant measures in CEE - banning of the 'Z' symbol.

In the second part of the podcast, Wojciech Przybylskitalks with Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan on contemporary Russian migration after the invasion of Ukraine. What happens to Russians when they migrate away from Russia? A sociological picture is given on this latest phenomenon.

Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (Editor-in-Chief), Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director), and Kamil Jarończyk(Managing Editor).

On the 9th of May, Russian President Vladimir Putin holds his Victory Day Parade. Can Russia win this war? We survey our top experts for the answers. Future of Europe conference final report will be announced today. New sanctions on Russian oil have been postponed.

In the second part of the podcast, Editor-in-chief Wojciech Przybylski talks with Václav Štětka Principal Investigator of the Illiberal Project at Loughborough University and SabinaMihelj (co-investigator), Professor of Media and Cultural Analysis in the School of Social Sciences, Loughborough University on the illiberal turn in the region and the role of media, at a key point in time when the region is undergoing dramatic changes given populism, illiberalism, and democratic backsliding.

Speakers: Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director)

In this special episode, we kick-off our Future of Ukraine fellowship to help Ukrainian thought leaders continue their work and tell the untold stories of the war. We introduce you to the first round of our three fellows that we have selected: Vitaly Portnikov, Christine Karelska, and Bohdan Bernatskyi. The fellows detail their experience and what they will be working on during their fellowship.

Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (Editor-in-chief) and Tetiana Poliak-Grujić (Project Manager).

EU elections rules overhaul. Hungary and Slovakia has said it will not support a proposed European Union set of sanctions against Russian energy with no immediate alternatives available. The release of the 20th edition of the World Press Freedom Index shows differing paths for Visegrad countries, with Poland worsening and Slovakia, Czechia, and Hungary improving.

In the second part of the podcast, Pavel Havlicek, a Research Fellow at the Association for International Affairs (AMO) Research Centre, highlights some of the major foresights for the month of May, with a particular focus on security, 9th of May celebrations, and the future of the Eastern Partnership.

Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (Editor-in-chief) and Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director).

Incumbent President Emmanuel Macron wins a second term, eyes now on the parliamentary elections and its impact on the future of Central Europe. Ruling Slovenian Democratic Party led by PM Janša, conceded and was defeated by Robert Golob and his Freedom Movement. "War selfies" meetings continue in Ukraine. NATO countries meet in Germany to discuss Ukraine's long-term security needs, at the outset of Russia establishing more control on Southern Ukraine. Orban to amend constitution for the 10th time to expand emergency powers.

In the second part of the podcast, Petr Čermák, a Researcher at the Charles University in Prague, highlights the upcoming EU Presidency of the Czech Republic and its priorities towards the Western Balkans.

This podcast is part of the Visegrad Insight's Western Balkans Futures project that is supported by the International Visegrad Fund. Also participating in the project: Albanian Institute for International Studies (Albania), Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence (Serbia), EUROTHINK – Center for European Strategies (North Macedonia), Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Hungary), Prague Security Studies Institute (Czechia), Slovak Foreign Policy Association (Slovakia).

Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (Editor-in-chief), Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director), and Tetiana Poliak-Grujić (Project Manager).

Three outstanding Ukranian thought leaders are welcomed to the Viesgrad Insight team as the first cohort of Future of Ukraine Fellows: Bohdan Bernatskyi, Christine Karelska,and Vitaly Portnikov.Elections continue in France and Slovenia. The second phase of the Russian invasion of Ukraine moves forward. Spies from Lithuania in Belarus.

In the second part of the podcast, Ledion Krisafi, Researcher at the Albanian Institute for International Studies, discusses Albania's perspectives on EU integration. What are the potential scenarios for the country and its main challenges on the way to gain the EU membership? Listen for insights.

This podcast is part of the Visegrad Insight's Western Balkans Futures project that is supported by the International Visegrad Fund. Also participating in the project: Albanian Institute for International Studies (Albania), Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence (Serbia), EUROTHINK – Center for European Strategies (North Macedonia), Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Hungary), Prague Security Studies Institute (Czechia), Slovak Foreign Policy Association (Slovakia).

Speakers: Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director), Kamil Jarończyk (Managing Editor), and Tetiana Poliak-Grujić(Project Manager).

Future of Ukraine Fellowship funding continues with nearly 14,000 euros raised out of 20,000 - donate now to help Ukrainian thought leaders continue their work. The first presidential run-off elections in France and what it means for CEE. The EU goes to Ukraine. Controversial air siren tests in Poland on anniversary of Smolensk plane crash. Sweden and Finland debate joining NATO intensifies.

As the war in Ukraine rages for over a month now, we sit down with Tomáš Strážay, Director of the Bratislava-based Slovak Foreign Policy Association, to discuss its impact on the Western Balkans region. Will anything change in terms of the EU accession for the region and should we expect any destabilisation actions by Russia there? Listen to the podcast to learn more.

This podcast is part of the Visegrad Insight's Western Balkans Futures project that is supported by the International Visegrad Fund.

Also participating in the project: Albanian Institute for International Studies (Albania), Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence (Serbia), EUROTHINK – Center for European Strategies (North Macedonia), Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Hungary), Prague Security Studies Institute (Czechia), Slovak Foreign Policy Association (Slovakia).

Speakers: Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director), Kamil Jarończyk (Managing Editor), and Tetiana Poliak-Grujić (Project Manager).