Institute of Central Europe/IES Commentaries

IES Commentaries

Eastern Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1647
24 June 2026
Jakub Olchowski - Eastern Team

Ukraine’s Growing Importance as a “Security Provider”

The war with Russia has transformed not only the Ukrainian armed forces but also Ukraine’s position in the European security system. Thanks to the dynamic development of its defence industry, military technologies, and unique experience gained on the battlefield, Ukraine is increasingly positioning itself not as a recipient of Western aid, but as a partner capable of...

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Public History and Memory Politics Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1645
19 June 2026
Agata Tatarenko - Public History and Memory Politics Team

Why Are We Still Talking About the Visegrad Group? Hungary’s Proposal for Expanding Central European Cooperation

The Visegrad Group summit scheduled for 23 June 2026 in Budapest may mark the beginning of a new debate on the future of regional cooperation in Central Europe. While Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has announced plans to revive cooperation within V4, he has simultaneously proposed expanding the framework to include Austria, Croatia, Romania, Slovenia and possibly Germany....

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Eastern Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1640
16 June 2026
Bartłomiej Krzysztan - Eastern Team

Armenia after the Elections: A Strategic Pivot and Prospects for Peace

Elections in Armenia are most often portrayed from an international perspective as a contest between the pro-Western government and the pro-Russian opposition. Similarly, the prospects for restructuring the country’s security architecture and its long-term geostrategy are interpreted in this two-dimensional manner. Nevertheless, the outlook for further regional change is far...

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Eastern Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1637
8 June 2026
Bartłomiej Krzysztan - Eastern Team

Elections in Armenia: Nikol Pashinyan Remains in Power

On Sunday, 7 June, parliamentary elections were held in Armenia, with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s party, the Civil Contract, securing victory for the third time in a row. This result is likely to mean a continuation of the political course adopted by Armenia in recent years, in both foreign and domestic policy. Nevertheless, the results confirm deep social polarisation,...

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Eastern Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1632
2 June 2026
Michał Paszkowski - Eastern Team

Czechia’s Efforts to Strengthen National Fuel Security

In recent years, Czechia’s oil sector has come under significant geopolitical and infrastructure-related pressure, prompting the government to take steps to strengthen national fuel security. These measures have focused on phasing out Russian crude oil, diversifying supply sources, expanding transmission infrastructure, and increasing the role of the state in stock management...

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Baltic Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1627
28 May 2026
Marlena Gołębiowska - Baltic Team

Eesti.ai – the next stage in Estonia’s digital transformation

Estonia launched Eesti.ai in 2026 – a programme in which the adoption of artificial intelligence is treated as an instrument of economic policy. The declared goal is ambitious: to double labour productivity by 2035 and increase GDP by 50% within ten years. The approved pool of fifteen flagship projects operationalises this ambition, while at the same time opening up a number of...

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Baltic Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1625
26 May 2026
Jakub Bornio - Baltic Team

The United States Is Making Decisions Regarding Its Military Contingents in Europe: Six Implications for Poland

The decision to suspend the deployment of a rotational contingent of the United States Armed Forces to Poland has brought to light structural deficiencies in bilateral relations. The uncertainty generated by this decision merely exemplifies the broader challenges inherent in the asymmetrical Polish-American partnership. Improving the condition of these relations requires Polish...

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Eastern Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1620
19 May 2026
Michał Paszkowski - Eastern Team

Reconfiguring Gas Security in Southern Europe

In recent years, the architecture of energy security in the countries of Southern Europe has undergone a significant transformation, driven by supply shocks and shifts in the international environment. A region that for decades depended heavily on energy supplies from Russia is now playing an increasingly important role as a transit and balancing area for new natural gas flows...

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Eastern Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1615
13 May 2026
Michał Paszkowski | Andrzej Szabaciuk | Jędrzej Jander - Eastern Team

Ukrainian Strikes on Targets Deep Inside the Territory of the Russian Federation

In the ongoing war, Russia has consistently targeted Ukraine’s energy sector. In response—and as part of a strategy aimed at reducing the aggressor’s financial revenues from energy exports—Ukraine has increasingly shifted its kinetic operations towards Russian energy infrastructure, including refineries, crude oil terminals, transhipment facilities, and pipelines. In the...

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Eastern Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1607
4 May 2026
Jakub Olchowski - Eastern Team

Ukraine after Orbán’s defeat – restraint and waiting

Péter Magyar’s victory and Viktor Orbán’s defeat were greeted with cautious optimism in Ukraine. While the disappearance of one of Kyiv’s main critics within the EU opens up new opportunities for cooperation, reactions from politicians and experts remain reserved. From a Ukrainian perspective, this represents not a breakthrough, but rather a correction to Budapest’s...

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