This is the second episode of a two-part series, where we look at the hopes and fears of countries in Central and Eastern Europe regarding the potential outcomes of German elections on 23 February. It is hosted byGoran Buldioski and includes special guestsMarzenna Guz-Vetter,Zuzana Lizcová,Péter Krekó,Tomás Strážay,Alina Inayeh,Vessela Tcherneva an…

This is the first episode of a two-part series, where we look at the current relations between Germany and countries in Central and Eastern Europe ahead of German elections on 23 February. It is hosted by Goran Buldioski and includes special guests Marzenna Guz-Vetter, Zuzana Lizcová, Péter Krekó, Tomás Strážay, Alina Inayeh, Vessela Tcherneva and …

In this episode, we look at a week of important gatherings on European defence, culminating with an Ursula Von der Leyen visit to Poland and the specially chosen port city of Gdansk. Related Weekly Outlook: https://visegradinsight.eu/eu-focus-on-security-in-gdansk-rutte-urges-war-readiness/

In this episode, we look at what to expect next in Slovakia in the wake of country-wide demonstrations – which saw 100,000 Slovaks protest against the government of Robert Fico – and ahead of another upcoming motion of no-confidence. We are joined by special guests Beata Balogová, editor-in-chief of SME daily, one of the most popular broadsheets in…

In this episode, we break down the Central European response to Donald Trump’s inauguration and why economic security will dominate much of this year and beyond.

In this episode, we explore the run-up to Donald Trump’s inauguration on 20 January, including the Baltic response to his comments on Greenland, and the Biden administration’s final US sanctions. We then look at growing signs that the Polish presidential race is heating up!

In this episode, we dive into Poland’s decision to uninvite Hungary from the gala opening of its EUCO Presidency – and why this is about far more than a political spat. Read more in the Weekly Outlook: https://visegradinsight.eu/tusk-slams-door-in-hungarys-face-to-kick-off-eu-presidency/

In this episode, the hosts offer their account of the pitfalls and triumphs of European democracy in 2024 and look ahead to 2025 - the year that will test the European Democracy Shield initiative in the making. References: Our latest EU Values Foresight report ⁠https://visegradinsight.eu/eu-values-foresight/2024-shielding-european-democracy/⁠ Europ…

In this episode, we delve into the murky waters of Democracy Information Manipulation and Interference (DIMI) in Europe. With Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's controversial trip to Moscow, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's meddling in Polish politics, and the traces of an illegal TikTok campaign in Romania, we ask the pressing question: wh…

Visegrad Insight editors Wojciech Przybylski and Staś Kaleta break down Viktor Orbán and Robert Fico’s recent dive into geopolitics and peace talks – and how long their influence might last. European Enlargement Fellow Jan Farfal then interviews Erik Jones, Director of the Robert Schuman Centre at the European University Institute, on EU strategy f…

Visegrad Insight editors Wojciech Przybylski and Staś Kaleta look at the decision of Romania’s constitutional court to rerun the country’s presidential elections – through the lens of our recent ‘Shielding European Democracy’ report. They then break down the latest Weekly Outlook, including Sergey Lavrov’s first visit to Europe since February 2022,…

In this episode, we explore Romania's election campaign, discuss the dilemma between foreign and domestic interference with insights from the latest EU Values report (Shielding European Democracy) and welcome back Alina Inayeh, Marcin Król Fellow, after a brief hiatus. URL: https://visegradinsight.eu/eu-values-foresight/2024-shielding-european-demo…

Visegrad Insight editors Wojciech Przybylski and Staś Kaleta break down our Weekly Outlook, including the surprise lead of a far-right candidate in Romania’s presidential elections, and the naming of presidential candidates in Poland. Europe Enlargement Fellow Jan Farfał then interviews Veton Surroi, a Kosovar Albanian publicist, politician and jou…

Visegrad Insight Editors Wojciech Przybylski and Staś Kaleta examine Warsaw’s place in European decision-making, what Joe Biden’s missile update changes for Ukraine, political dynamics in Slovakia - and the latest from our Weekly Outlook. URL: https://visegradinsight.eu/1k-days-of-war-poland-rallies-leaders-to-revamp-european-security/…

Wojciech Przybylski and Staś Kaleta discuss Central European reactions to Donald Trump's victory, Radosław Sikorski vs Rafał Trzaskowski in the ruling party primaries for the 2025 presidential race and more from our latest Weekly Outlook.

Visegrad Insight Editors Wojciech Przybylski and Staś Kaleta discuss Central European responses to Georgian elections, Donald Tusk's visit to Belgrade, the unofficial start of the 2026 election campaign in Hungary - and all the latest from our Weekly Outlook. URL: https://visegradinsight.eu/georgia-has-orbans-dream-come-true-eu-yet-to-respond/…

Visegrad Insight's Editor-in-Chief Wojciech Przybylski comments on voting results in Moldova, after Editor Staś Kaleta breaks down our Weekly Outlook – as the EU backs Donald Tusk’s migration plan, the Polish PM visits Belgrade and the V4 struggles to end its dependency on Russian oil. Then, Staś Kaleta and Stephanie Fenkart, Director at the Intern…

Visegrad Insight Editor-in-Chief Wojciech Przybylski and editor Staś Kaleta break down Tusk’s decision to seek legal provisions for member states to temporarily suspend asylum rights – as well as more news from our Weekly Outlook. Then, Staś Kaleta and Srdjan Cvijić, President of the International Advisory Committee of the Belgrade Centre for Secur…

Visegrad Insight Editor Staś Kaleta met with Margus Kolga, Director General at Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, at the Europe Future Forum to discuss the new role of Kaja Kallas, how Estonia and Ukraine can lead digitisation in Europe, increasingly close Baltic-Polish relations and wider security in the region.…

Visegrad Insight sat down with Alicja Bachulska and Janka Oertel, two of Europe’s leading experts on China and co-authors of The Idea of China, a book published by the European Council on Foreign Relations, to discuss the significance of the EU’s decision on EV tariffs and its impact on the EU’s geoeconomic strategy. Wojciech Przybylski interviews …

How Europe should navigate a renewed conflict in the Middle East? Visegrad Insight sat down with Florence Gaub, Director of the Research Division at the NATO Defense College in Rome and an acclaimed security expert leading foresight-based analysis of international relations, to discuss the shifting geopolitical alignments and consequences of the Mi…

Visegrad Insight Editor Staś Kaleta sits down with Rosa Balfour, Director at Carnegie Europe, during the Europe Future Forum to discuss the rising far-right in Europe, the EU’s changing position in the world and the role enlargement has therein – as well as lots more from the latest ⁠Weekly Outlook⁠. URL: https://visegradinsight.eu/austrian-far-rig…

Editor Staś Kaleta interviews Joséphine Staron, Director of Studies and International Relations at Synopia, to explore how France's new government, reliant on far-right support for a majority, may approach the EU's enlargement agenda.

Visegrad Insight Editor-in-Chief Wojciech Przybylski and Editor Staś Kaleta discuss differing opinions on Chinese EVs in central Europe ahead of a crucial vote this week, what the results of regional elections mean for Czechia – and lots more from the latest Weekly Outlook. url: https://visegradinsight.eu/a-fork-in-the-road-central-europe-split-on-…

Visegrad Insight contributing editor Albín Sybera sits down with Marcin Król Fellow Matej Šimalčík and Miroslava Pisklová, Research Fellow at the Slovak Foreign Policy Association, to discuss the bombshell dismissal of Michal Šimečka from his parliamentary post. He is then joined by Eduard Hulicius, Deputy Minister at the Czech Ministry of Foreign …

Visegrad Insight Editor-in-Chief Wojciech Przybylski and Jacques Delors Centre Deputy Director Thu Nguyen discuss the prospects of EU enlargement over the next five years, ahead of our Europe Future Forum next week. Staś Kaleta then joins to discuss increasingly illiberal practices in Slovakia – and lots more from our latest Weekly Outlook.…

Visegrad Insight editors Wojciech Przybylski and Staś Kaleta examine the ways in which autocrats from Poland, Hungary and Slovakia manipulate election processes, how Budapest has been helping to smuggle American equipment into Russia, why a Donald Tusk/Piotr Serafin duo could fill a vacuum in the EU – and lots more from our latest Weekly Outlook. U…

Wojciech Przybylski and Miles R. Maftean explore how disinformation actors exploit loopholes to fuel their operations and profit financially. They also discuss the European Union's escalating efforts to combat this growing threat, from new regulations under the Digital Services Act to high-stakes battles with tech giants like Meta or Twitter.…

Wojciech Przybylski and Visegrad Insight editor Staś Kaleta break down coverage of the Nord Stream drama, as well as the latest on the Kursk incursion, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to CEE, protests in Bratislava – and all the latest outlined in our Weekly Outlook. Weekly Outlook url: https://visegradinsight.eu/indian-pm-modi-visits-w…

Visegrad Insight editor-in-chief Wojciech Przybylski and editor Staś Kaleta discuss several strategic narratives at play around the world, relating to shifts in focus from the Middle East to Ukraine, a Kamala Harris-Tim Walz duo, defence plans in Poland and much more – as outlined in our Weekly Outlook. As the Paris games come to a close, not witho…

Wojciech Przybylski talks with Visegrad Insight editor Staś Kaleta about several of the critical developments shaping CEE politics this week, including mixed responses to an international prisoner exchange, weaponisation of gender controversies at the Olympics, Ukraine’s diplomacy with the Global South and much more – as outlined in our Weekly Outl…

Wojciech Przybylski talks with Visegrad Insight Fellow and Central European correspondent for Die Welt Philipp Fritz about Hungary's decision to allow Russians and Belarusians into their 'national card' programme, which European defence experts warn could lead to increased espionage or destabilising actions against EU democracies.…

Join Wojciech Przybylski and bestselling author and historian Jason Steinhauer as they explore how digital and social networks have disrupted history, the ways autocrats around the world exploit these disruptions and strategies to combat these non-democratic tactics. Jason Steinhauer's book - History, Disrupted: https://link.springer.com/book/10.10…

Wojciech Przybylski talks with Hungarian journalist Viktória Serdült about PM Viktor Orbán's meetings with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping as well as his success in forming the Patriots for Europe group in the EU parliament.

Galan Dall talks with Radu Albu-Comănescu, Lecturer in European Integration at the Babeş-Bolyai University, about the outcome of the French elections and what we can expect from this week's NATO summit in Washington.

Will there be a Mélenchon-isation in France; How deeply embedded are pro-Russian narratives in the DNA of the far-right? What will the outcomes of France's election mean for Central Europe? Wojciech Przybylski spoke with Isabelle Lasserre – the Diplomatic Correspondent of Le Figaro and Paul Taylor –Freelance columnist for The Guardian and a senior …

Pavel Macko, retired 3-star general, politician and analyst explains how security and political strategy can preserve democracy and freedom.

Wojciech Przybylski discusses with Marcin Król Fellow Alina Inayeh the impact of the Ukrainian Peace Summit as well as NATO's consideration of increasing their nuclear arsenal. Read Alina Inayeh's article: https://visegradinsight.eu/peace-eludes-burgenstock-key-takeaways-from-the-ukrainian-summit/

Galan Dall, Staś Kaleta and Luca Soltesz break down what the EP election results mean for Central Europe, explaining how Poland bucked the trend of surging far-right parties and why Hungary seems to finally have a viable alternative to the ruling Fidesz party. Then, Future of Ukraine Fellow Valeriia Novak explains which sectors of Ukraine's economy…

Magda Jakubowska, Wojciech Przybylski and Galan Dall discuss the shifting European political landscape in the run-up to the EP elections as well as what challenges will face the next parliament and EU council. Then, Marcin Król Fellow Bart Wieliński breaks down the successes and failures of the current Polish government before outlining what steps …

Wojciech Przybylski talks with Marcin Król Fellow Matej Šimalčik on Xi Jinping’s tour of Europe, comparing it to his visit from five years ago as well as the differences between his reception in Paris, Belgrade and Budapest. Read Šimalčik's text on the visit here: https://visegradinsight.eu/xi-jinping-in-europe-what-makes-his-trip-so-special/ Read …

How Ursula von der Leyen's and Donald Tusk's "Plan for Europe" speeches addressed the security threats from Russia and other autocratic powers, but failed to address the issue of democratic security and enlargement. By Wojciech Przybylski and Galan Dall Recommended reads: Wojciech Przybylski on Ursula von der Leyen speech in Poland: https://visegra…

Wojciech Przybylski and Albin Sybera discuss the differences between Czech and Polish countries in their 20-year history of EU membership. We also provide commentary on Sikorski's foreign policy priorities address and Macron's Sorbonne 2.0 speech. Links: Vladimír Špidla interview: https://visegradinsight.eu/if_not-for-the-european-union-central-eur…

Wojciech Przybylski sits down with Maria Simeonova, programme coordinator the Wider Europe programme and ECFR's Sofia office, to discuss the potential impact of the new EU Strategic Agenda 2024-2029 as well as the new trajectories mentioned in the leaked version of the agenda which has additional focus on democratic security and enlargement. Links …

Wojciech Przybylski moderates a discussion between Michaela 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 amplif…

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 channe…

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 industr…

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 Washin…