From EU Standard Institutional Reform to Party Control – The transformation of Georgia’s Public Service

Eastern Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1581

7 April 2026

Nora Gigineishvili - Eastern Team

From EU Standard Institutional Reform to Party Control – The transformation of Georgia’s Public Service

Georgia’s foreign policy shift has resulted in multiple repressive and undemocratic measures aimed at suppressing the protests triggered by the decision to halt EU accession negotiations. The civil service became one of the targets of the coercive apparatus for systemic subordination, transforming it from an institution striving for alignment with European standards into an...

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Eastern Team

3 April 2026

- Eastern Team

Dr Grzegorz Gil Appointed Director of the Institute of Central Europe

Dr. Grzegorz Gil, an expert in international security, has been appointed Director of the Institute of Central Europe. He was appointed to the position by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, effective 1 April this year. Dr. Gil is a lecturer, commentator, and assistant professor in the Department of International Security at Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin. His research...

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Eastern Team

2 April 2026

- Eastern Team

40 Years After Chernobyl: Memory, Politics, and Popular Culture

The Chernobyl nuclear disaster changed the course of history, but it has also become deeply embedded in popular culture. It endures in the work of Nobel Prize laureate Svetlana Alexievich, in a TV series watched by millions, in video games, and—until recently—even as a tourist attraction. What does this mean for how we remember what actually happened? Dr. Marlena Gołębiowska...

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Eastern Team

1 April 2026

- Eastern Team

“Bratny. Hamlet rozstrzelany” – A Discussion on Emil Marat’s Book

Together with the “Brama Grodzka – Teatr NN” Centre and the HistoriaBEZKITU.pl portal, we invite you to another event in the “W Bramie o książce” series, devoted to Emil Marat’s book Bratny. Hamlet rozstrzelany (Wydawnictwo Czarne, Wołowiec 2024). Date: 17 April 2026, 6:00 p.m.Venue: Sala Czarna, “Brama Grodzka – Teatr NN” Centre, ul. Grodzka 21, Lublin The...

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Eastern Team

1 April 2026

- Eastern Team

Events

17 April 2026 We invite all those interested to take part in a one-day international workshop “Diasporic Strategies under Empire: Polish–Ukrainian Encounters in Manchuria”. ✦ ✦ ✦ 17 kwietnia 2026 A meeting in the „W Bramie o książce” series, devoted to Emil Marat’s book Bratny. Hamlet rozstrzelany.Moderation: Agnieszka Jaczyńska.Venue: „Brama Grodzka –...

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Eastern Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1576

31 March 2026

Jakub Olchowski - Eastern Team

Drones do not win wars

The war in Ukraine demonstrates the growing role of digital technologies, unmanned systems, and electronic warfare. The mass use of drones, supported by a developed IT sector and efficient institutional adaptation, has allowed Ukraine to effectively limit its opponent’s military advantage. At the same time, even the most advanced technological solutions do not eliminate the...

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Eastern Team

26 March 2026

- Eastern Team

PHOTO GALLERY: Discussion on “Dwie ojczyzny, dwa patriotyzmy” at the Polish Theatre

Tuesday’s (24 March) event devoted to Jan Józef Lipski and his essay Dwie ojczyzny, dwa patriotyzmy drew a large audience to the Polish Theatre in Warsaw. We are pleased to see that the topic continues to resonate and inspire shared reflection. Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to the engaging discussions—both during the panel and afterwards. Among those in...

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Eastern Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1571

25 March 2026

Michał Paszkowski - Eastern Team

The Crisis of Crude Oil Availability in Slovakia and Its Implications for the Regional Fuel Market

In 2026, liquid fuel tourism in Slovakia became one of the key manifestations of mounting tensions in the regional liquid fuel market, stemming from disruption on the crude oil supply side. Relatively low diesel prices – maintained despite the suspension of crude oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline, and the conflict in the Middle East – created strong demand-side...

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Central and South-Eastern Europe Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1568

24 March 2026

Szczepan Czarnecki - Central and South-Eastern Europe Team

Czech Republic: New Budget Amid Disputes over the Deficit and Defense Spending

On 11 March this year, the Parliament of the Czech Republic adopted the government’s budget bill for 2026, bringing to an end a three-month period of provisional budgeting. Despite opposition resistance—effectively deprived of any real influence over the final shape of the budget—the law was passed and subsequently signed on 20 March by President Petr Pavel, who at the same...

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Central and South-Eastern Europe Team

19 March 2026

- Central and South-Eastern Europe Team

IEŚ and ACAS Seminar: “The Northern Turn in Polish Geopolitical Culture”

On 19 March, a closed seminar titled “The Northern Turn in Polish Geopolitical Culture” was held at the War Studies University in Warsaw, organized by the Institute of Central Europe in Lublin and the Academic Center for Strategic Analysis (ACAS). During the seminar, IEŚ analysts Dr. Damian Szacawa and Piotr Oleksy presented an analysis of the significance of the “northern...

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