IES Commentaries | Institute of Central Europe

Central and South-Eastern Europe Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1694

4 September 2026

Spasimir Domaradzki - Central and South-Eastern Europe Team

The introduction of the euro and inflation in Bulgaria

Nine months after the introduction of the euro in Bulgaria, inflation continues to follow an upward trend. The legal and institutional measures proposed by the government have so far failed to produce results. The sources of rising prices should be sought both in the unstable international situation and in the ineffective actions of Bulgarian institutions during the introduction...

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Eastern Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1693

3 September 2026

Michał Paszkowski - Eastern Team

U.S. Sanctions and the Insolvency Proceedings of Romania’s Petrotel Refinery

Romania’s Petrotel refinery, owned by the Russian energy company Lukoil, entered into insolvency proceedings at the end of August 2026. The decision of the Ploiești Tribunal, which has jurisdiction over Prahova County, followed nearly a year of inactivity at the facility after Lukoil was placed under U.S. sanctions in the autumn of 2025. State supervision over the assets as...

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Eastern Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1689

28 August 2026

Bartłomiej Krzysztan | Michał Paszkowski - Eastern Team

The Middle Corridor perspective: opportunities and challenges

After 2022, political momentum behind the development of the Middle Corridor gained pace. While it is a project with considerable potential in transport, economic and energy terms, its actual expansion and competitiveness are dependent on a multitude of challenges and risks. In the energy sphere, the corridor’s importance lies primarily in diversifying supply routes for...

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Eastern Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1682

14 August 2026

Robert Rajczyk - Eastern Team

András Baka – the New President of Hungary

On August 2026, the National Assembly elected the 8th president of Hungary since 1990. András Baka will take office eight days after the election results are announced – on August 19th, the day before Hungary’s national holiday – St. Stephen’s Day (Szent István napja). The newly elected president’s term, according to the provisions of the 17th amendment to the...

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Central and South-Eastern Europe Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1681

13 August 2026

Agata Domachowska - Central and South-Eastern Europe Team

Serbia – United States: Strengthening bilateral relations

The inauguration of the US-Serbia Strategic Dialogue in July 2026 represents an important step in the development of bilateral relations since Aleksander Vučić came to power. The establishment of a permanent consultation mechanism indicates the readiness of both sides to strengthen cooperation in the fields of energy, security, new technologies, and science. At the same time,...

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Eastern Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1679

11 August 2026

Michał Paszkowski - Eastern Team

Operation of refineries in Central Europe during a period of low water levels on the Danube

Low water levels on the Danube have caused logistical disruptions to fuel transportation in Central and South-Eastern Europe. Reduced barge loading capacity has forced some deliveries to be redirected to rail and road transport, increasing both costs and pressure on inventory levels. Despite these difficulties, the main refineries located along the Danube continue to operate...

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Eastern Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1674

3 August 2026

Michał Paszkowski - Eastern Team

Impact of Low Water Levels in the Danube on Electricity Generation in Europe

At the end of July 2026, record-low water levels in the Danube, combined with heatwaves and drought, constrained the operation of power plants in Central and South-Eastern Europe. The crisis demonstrated that even stable energy sources, including nuclear power plants, are vulnerable to the effects of extreme weather events and limited availability of water used for cooling. Within...

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Eastern Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1673

29 July 2026

Jakub Bornio | Agata Tatarenko - Eastern Team

The Coalition of the Willing and changes in Europe’s security architecture: Implications for Central and Eastern Europe

On 13 July 2026, another summit of the so-called Coalition of the Willing was held in Paris. The consolidation of this format constitutes yet another indication of a changing approach to organising security in Europe. Flexible forms of cooperation bringing together states willing to undertake concrete military commitments are growing in importance, regardless of the formal...

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Baltic Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1672

28 July 2026

Aleksandra Kuczyńska-Zonik - Baltic Team

Green Shield – Natural Infrastructure for Security. Part 3 – Finland and Romania

The examples of Finland and Romania demonstrate that natural ecosystems can serve multiple functions in security policy. In Finland, natural landscape elements have been integrated into defence planning, while in Romania, the Danube waterways can be used for military transport or to create alternative routes for exporting goods. While the potential of natural security...

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Eastern Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1670

24 July 2026

Jakub Olchowski - Eastern Team

Ukraine: the price of centralisation of power

The reshuffle of Ukraine’s government in July 2026 proved to be much more than a personnel change. The dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov triggered the largest political crisis since the beginning of the full-scale war, revealing the growing tensions between state efficiency and the logic of concentrating power in the presidential center. These events could have...

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