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Central Europe
May 5, 2017 www.intellinews.com I Page 12
of service. The commission has given Hungary one month to respond to its formal notification, rather than the usual two – a sign that both the EU and EPP leadership are taking the matter seriously.
Orban and his government maintain that the is- sue of CEU is purely legal. But CEU’s Ignatieff, writing in the National Post on May 3, said at no time has the education minister “informed us what these offences are and he ignores the fact that his own department has informed us in writing that we are in conformity with Hun- garian regulations. To claim otherwise, with- out a shred of evidence, is defamatory.”
Hungarian officials also continue to rail against its founder George Soros, and is pushing new legislation on foreign-funded NGOs at the same time. “If the government wishes to conduct a vendetta against George Soros, the founder of our institution, CEU cannot stop them, but we have every right to refuse to be taken hostage,” wrote Ignatieff.
The CEU controversy is a part of a wider offen- sive by Orban against foreign-funded civil society organisations, note analysts at Teneo Intelligence. “While Fidesz’s approach resonates well with its electorate, rumbling disputes with the EU will continue to weigh on Hungary’s international pro- file,” writes Andrius Tursa.
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March 31, 2017 www.intellinews.com
Bulgaria’s kingmaker parties to hold GERB
to ransom
bne IntelliNews
The centre-right Citizens for European Develop- ment of Bulgaria (GERB) might have won the snap parliamentary elections held on March 26, but the party is heading for tough negotiations with possible partners to gain a large enough majority to form a government, and will most likely be forced to make big compromises to stay in power.
Central Europe starts to tot up Brexit fallout
bne IntelliNews
Central European states expressed regret that the UK is leaving the EU as London triggered the Ar- ticle 50 withdrawal clause on March 29. They also quickly moved to start totting up the direct costs.
The economic effects of Brexit on Central Eu- rope are hard to pinpoint given the wide range of
Two smaller groups in the parliament – the na- tionalist United Patriots coalition and the populist Volya (Will) party – have already said they will pre- sent a united front in talks with GERB. They have also indicated they are willing to work with the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), the runner-up in
See page 2
TmhaejoVrispeogwreardsr.egion will be hard hit by the loss of their closest ally amongst the bloc's
potential scenarios under which the UK will exit. However, most suggest the damage will be limited by modest direct trade ties.
In political terms, the Visegrad region will be
See page 3