IEŚ Commentaries | Institute of Central Europe

Baltic Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1164

Michał Paszkowski - Baltic Team

Romania: ambitious plans for natural gas exports

Romania, through the implementation of the Neptune Deep project, has the opportunity to become the largest producer of natural gas among the countries of the European Union. The development of the Domino and Pelican South fields could be an essential element in strengthening the energy security not only of Romania but also of Central European countries. The increased availability...

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Baltic Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1163

Michał Paszkowski - Baltic Team

Hungary: energy cooperation with Caspian Sea countries

Russia in Hungary’s energy policy. For many years, Hungary’s energy policy has been directed toward close cooperation with the Russian Federation. Importantly, the outbreak of the war in Ukraine and the subsequent EU sanctions did not fundamentally lead to a reorientation of mutual political and economic relations. Crude oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline, as well as...

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Visegrad Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1162

Aleksandra Poznar - Visegrad Team

The Sovereignty Protection Office in Hungary – a threat to media freedom?

The Hungarian government has been systematically taking steps to tighten control over the media and limit funding for opposition parties for over a dozen years. An example of such measures is the adoption of the Law on the Protection of National Sovereignty by the Hungarian National Assembly in December 2023. Under this act, a new state administration body, the Office for the...

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Visegrad Team

IEŚ Commentaries Brief 1160

Jakub Bornio | Aleksandra Poznar - Visegrad Team

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s official visit to Russia

On 5 July 2024 Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and representatives of the Hungarian government made an official visit to Russia, where they met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the official part of the meeting, they discussed both Hungarian-Russian bilateral relations and the international situation. V. Orbán, although not delegated to represent the entire...

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Visegrad Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1159

Jakub Bornio | Aleksandra Poznar - Visegrad Team

Hungarian Prime Minister’s first visit to Kyiv since the outbreak of war

On 2 July 2024, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán paid an official visit to Kyiv for the first time in 12 years. It was also the first time since the outbreak of the full-scale war with Russia, where high-level government talks were held. The visit also included a meeting between V. Orbán and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. They primarily discussed the issues of...

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Baltic Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1149

Michał Paszkowski - Baltic Team

Lithuania: a new vision for national energy security by 2050

In Lithuania, the government has adopted a new energy security strategy with a vision extending to 2050. The document, known as the National Energy Independence Strategy, is currently awaiting parliamentary approval. This new strategy is expected to enhance energy independence and enable the export of surplus electricity. The energy transition process is anticipated to accelerate...

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Baltic Team, Visegrad Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1135

Jakub Bornio | Damian Szacawa - Baltic Team, Visegrad Team

Finland’s response to the Russian Federation’s provocations regarding the change of maritime borders in the Baltic Sea

On 22 May 2024, the Russian Federation presented a draft that could lead to the revision of the internal waters boundary in the Baltic Sea. Despite its removal from the agenda of the legislative work of the Russian Duma, the proposal has nevertheless caused considerable concern among neighbouring states due to the potential revision of bilateral and multilateral agreements...

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Eastern Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1134

Jakub Olchowski - Eastern Team

The West’s military aid for Ukraine – crisis management in lieu of strategy

Unlocking the aid package for Ukraine by the United States will stabilize the front line and halt Russian advances, but it will not lead to a breakthrough in the war nor to Ukraine regaining the strategic initiative. Western support is scattered, unsystematic and often driven by ad hoc political considerations. Taking into account Russia’s resources and actions, aid for Ukraine...

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Baltic Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1133

Michał Paszkowski - Baltic Team

Slovakia: prospects for natural gas supplies from Azerbaijan

The Russian-Ukrainian war has initiated a strategic shift in Slovakia, moving away from the reliance on natural gas supplies from the Russian Federation. In this new geopolitical context, Slovakia’s challenge lies in securing alternative sources of this commodity, rather than in developing infrastructure, which has already been established over the years and currently...

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Baltic Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1129

Marlena Gołębiowska - Baltic Team

The Blue Economy in Poland and the Baltic States

The blue economy is a concept of sustainable use of marine, ocean, and coastal resources aimed at supporting economic development while caring for the environment. In Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, this part of the economy generates over 5 billion EURof annual value added and employs over 200,000 workers. The blue economy also plays an important role in achieving the...

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Baltic Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1124

Michał Paszkowski - Baltic Team

Moldova: potential problems with electricity availability in 2025

Moldova finds itself in a unique situation regarding electricity availability, which is sourced almost entirely from its breakaway region of Transnistria (which is not recognised by the majority of the international community). Energy is supplied from the Cuciurgani-Moldavskaya GRES (MGRES) power plant, which does not pay for natural gas from the Russian Federation. The planned...

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Baltic Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1113

Michał Paszkowski - Baltic Team

Imports of commodities and petroleum products from the US to Poland and the Baltic States

The Russian Federation’s aggression toward Ukraine has led Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia to cease the importation of commodities and petroleum products from Russia. This has resulted in a gap that has been filled by imports from other sources, including the United States of America. Collaboration with the US influences energy security and holds political significance...

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Eastern Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1107

Piotr Oleksy - Eastern Team

Gagauzia – a Russian destabilisation tool

The authorities of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia display openly pro-Russian attitudes and seek to deepen relations with the Russian Federation. Protests are organised during the visits of representatives of the authorities of the Republic of Moldova to the region. Gagauzia, controlled by the Ilan Șor political group, has become the most important Russian tool used...

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Baltic Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1105

Marlena Gołębiowska - Baltic Team

The Weimar Triangle: new-old cooperation horizon

The Weimar Triangle, a platform for cooperation between France, Germany, and Poland, is gaining importance as a forum for dialogue on security issues in Europe. The recent meetings of this format show a determination to strengthen trilateral cooperation, including through the extension of activities into new areas such as protection against disinformation or building social ties,...

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Baltic Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1103

Michał Paszkowski - Baltic Team

War in Ukraine: Kyiv’s efforts to ensure the availability of petroleum products

The ongoing war that began in 2022 has brought about significant changes in Ukraine’s energy market. In late 2023, the government in Kyiv introduced measures to bolster the country’s energy security by establishing a system of crude oil and petroleum products reserves. While work on the relevant legislation had been underway for years, it was the war and Ukraine’s attainment...

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Baltic Team, Visegrad Team

IEŚ Commentaries Brief 1102

Łukasz Lewkowicz | Marlena Gołębiowska - Baltic Team, Visegrad Team

The Three Seas Initiative after the Vilnius Summit: security first

On 11 April 2024, the 9th summit of The Three Seas Initiative (3SI) occurred in Vilnius. The 3SI is a regional cooperation format initiated in 2016 and developed by the heads of Central European countries. A key objective of the initiative is to stimulate the development of energy, transport, and digital infrastructure. There are currently 13 EU Member States participating in 3SI,...

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Baltic Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1093

Aleksandra Kuczyńska-Zonik - Baltic Team

Shelters in Lithuania. Catching up

Over the last two years, due to the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war, Lithuania has amended the law on crisis management and civil protection. A review of existing collective protection facilities was carried out and activities to create new shelters were intensified. The current infrastructure, adapted to provide temporary protection for the population in times of emergency or war,...

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Eastern Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1084

Jakub Olchowski - Eastern Team

The case of Valerii Zaluzhnyi – a symptom of growing political tensions in Ukraine

The dismissal from the post of commander-in-chief of General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, very popular in Ukrainian society and the armed forces, caused a great stir, which was then intensified by the information that he was appointed ambassador to Great Britain. In Ukraine, it is widely believed that Zaluzhnyi’s dismissal was the result of concerns of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and...

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Eastern Team

IEŚ Commentaries Brief 1083

Hanna Bazhenova - Eastern Team

Valerii Zaluzhnyi: Future Diplomat or Politician?

On 7 March 2024, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the candidacy of former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) Valerii Zaluzhnyi for the vacant post of Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Following the president’s announcement, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba confirmed that...

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Baltic Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1079

Michał Paszkowski - Baltic Team

Lukoil plans to sell its refinery in Bulgaria

For years, companies from the Russian Federation have been acquiring attractive energy assets around the world, including in Central European countries. The introduction of EU sanctions following Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine has restricted the operations of some of these companies. This is the situation with the Burgas refinery in Bulgaria, owned by the...

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Baltic Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1076

Marlena Gołębiowska - Baltic Team

Proposals for new fiscal rules in the EU: the perspective of Central European countries

The reform of public finance architecture in the European Union focuses on solutions that, on the one hand, will allow member states to ensure long-term financial stability, but on the other hand, will not stifle economic growth and the planned reforms and investments in strategic areas. Of particular importance from the point of view of Central European countries is the proposal...

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Baltic Team, Visegrad Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1075

Jakub Bornio | Damian Szacawa - Baltic Team, Visegrad Team

Sweden in NATO: Relevance for Central and Eastern Europe

On 7 March 7 2024, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and the state’s Foreign Minister Tobias Billström handed over the accession documents to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who, as representative of the Washington Treaty depositary state, officially announced that Sweden had become the 32nd member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. Sweden’s presence in...

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Baltic Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1074

Aleksandra Kuczyńska-Zonik - Baltic Team

Security as a priority in Polish-Lithuanian relations

Poland and Lithuania have significantly strengthened their political relations recently, as numerous official visits at the highest level have reflected. Lithuania was visited by the Foreign Minister of Poland, Radosław Sikorski, then President Andrzej Duda, Speaker of the Sejm Szymon Hołownia, and Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Representatives of both countries have confirmed...

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Baltic Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1071

Michał Paszkowski - Baltic Team

Natural gas demand decline in the Baltic countries in 2023

The Baltic countries have recorded another consecutive year of declining natural gas demand in 2023. Initially, such a situation was related to the COVID-19 pandemic and high commodity prices on exchanges in Europe (the result of price manipulation by Russia in 2021 and then the Russian-Ukrainian war in 2022). It is now expected that the projected economic growth in 2024 and the...

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Baltic Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1055

Michał Paszkowski - Baltic Team

Crude oil terminals in Central European countries in the era of the shift away from Russian commodities

There are six crude oil terminals in the Central European countries of the European Union, supplying a total of sixteen refineries, several of which are located outside the EU. Due to the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war, these terminals have been unloading tankers from countries that have not previously supplied crude oil to these refineries, or if they have, sporadically, in 2023....

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