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Economy

We need a strong and more unified European Union

In recent years I have been asked a lot why I chose to stay in Hungary, why I entered politics and why I did not pursue a career abroad like many of my compatriots. Indeed, I could have a more comfortable life full of opportunities far away from the poisonous political climate of Hungary. I…

Emerging Europe’s new political fault-lines are the same as those in Western Europe – and this is a good sign

Clichés about Central and Eastern Europe are probably as common in the press as jokes in Boris Johnson’s speeches. And although their repertoire might look repetitive to many, their themes actually vary over time. Thus, the image of the Polish plumber invading Western Europe and lowering hard-working westerners’ wages, although still commonplace in much of…

The year in emerging Europe

We started the year with a bang, proclaiming Romania, then led by prime minister Viorica Dancila, unready to take on the presidency of the Council of the European Union.It earned us the opprobrium of the country’s ruling Social Democratic party (PSD), who demanded we publish a right to reply. We politely refused, instead asking for…

Why are judges from across Europe protesting in Poland?

Judges from at least 14 European countries will march in Warsaw on January 11 in defence of the rule of law in Poland, as the Polish Senate considers a law which would significantly erode judicial independence.Judges are expected to join the march from the Netherlands, Austria, Greece, Germany, Hungary, Croatia, Portugal, Denmark, France, Italy, Norway,…

Serbia’s campaign to reduce the number of countries which recognise Kosovo is working

It’s been nearly two years since a UN member state (Barbados, in February 2018) last recognised Kosovo as an independent country. In that time, 13 countries which had previously recognised the former Serb province revoked their recognition: many as a result of a concerted, global Serb campaign to undermine Kosovo’s independence.While the states which have…

Emerging Europe still has much work to do to improve LGBTI rights, but it’s not all bad news

Amid rising hate speech and crime, vulnerable people across Europe – particularly in the east of the continent – find themselves disconnected from the popular story of the region’s success in securing LGBTI rights, a major new human rights review has found.The 10th edition of the ILGA-Europe’s Annual Review details the human rights situation of lesbian, gay, bisexual,…