bne IntelliNews Newspaper 280417

bne:Newspaper Follow us on twitter.com/bneintellinews
Content:
2 Top Stories
4 The Regions This Week 8 Chart
9 Central Europe
12 Southeast Europe 14 Eastern Europe 16 Eurasia
18 Opinion
21 Lists24 Lists
April 28, 2017 www.intellinews.com
Russia, CEE hike military spending as tensions rise
bne IntelliNews
Countries in Central Europe made some of the largest increases in military spending between 2015 and 2016, according to a new report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), while Russia became the third highest defence spender worldwide.
The increase comes amid growing tensions be-
tween Russia and EU countries, especially the newer member states in the eastern part of
the bloc. Nato members in the region have also sought to raise their defence spending to the 2% of GDP stipulated by the alliance, due to both growing perceived threats from Russia and pres-
See page 2
EC launches infringement procedure against Hungary’s attack on university
bne IntelliNews
The European Commission has launched an infringement procedure against Hungary over amendments to its higher education law.
The legislation is widely perceived as specifically targeting the Central European University, which has aroused Prime Minister Viktor Orban's ire for offering a liberal education, and because it was
Prime Minister Viktor Orban (left) has proclaimed Hungary an "illiberal democracy", which is seen by critics as moving Hungary closer to Rus- sian President Vladimir Putin's type of regime.
founded by US-Hungarian financier and philan- thropist George Soros, who also funds various liberal NGOs in Hungary.
The attack on the US school has sparked mass condemnation and protests at home and abroad.
See page 3