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Czech premier’s support will back him against protests

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CZECH REPUBLIC

Widespread concern over the state of Czech democracy has been fuelled by European Commission auditors’ reports pointing to possible conflicts of interest between Babis’s official…

New Slovak government will rely heavily on compromise

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SLOVAKIA

Smer-SD has agreed to form a coalition with three other parties -- the Slovak National Party (SNS), Most-Hid and Siet -- which passed the 5% threshold to enter parliament at…

Schengen enlargement may be delayed further

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ROMANIA/BULGARIA

Austria vetoed both countries’ accession, ignoring the European Commission’s positive recommendation. The Netherlands opposed only Bulgaria’s entry. Schengen’s non-enlargement…

Radical nationalists could upset new Slovak government

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SLOVAKIA

Incoming Prime Minister Robert Fico’s gradual adoption of nationalism, aversion to migration and conspiracy theories have jeopardised Slovakia’s reputation as a reliable partner…

EU’s Visegrad Four will not continue in current format

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EU

Poland may have resolved its rule-of-law dispute with the EU, whereas part of Hungary’s ‘cohesion’ funds are frozen. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has driven a wedge between Poland…

EU presidency will show up Romania’s peripheral status

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ROMANIA

The presidency will put Romania's isolation in the spotlight. It has no backers in the EU prepared to overlook its escalating retreat from democratic and reform commitments, and…

Politics may underpin UK-Rwanda asylum deal

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UK/RWANDA

Under the deal, some persons seeking asylum in the United Kingdom would be flown to Rwanda and their asylum claims processed there -- for leave to remain in Rwanda. In return…

East-west EU divides will persist under new Commission

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EU

CEE influence in the new Commission.

Davutoglu departure may unravel Turkey-EU deal

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TURKEY

Davutoglu had claimed credit for the EU abolishing its visa requirement for Turks travelling to Europe as a pay-off for Turkish cooperation in stemming the flow of migrants to…

Progress on EU-Swiss deal remains a distance away

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EU/SWITZERLAND

Political divisions in Switzerland have put the deal on hold. By threatening some of Switzerland's existing privileges, the Commission is seeking to increase the pressure for the…