Page 3 - bne IntelliNews magazine February 2025

bne February 2025 Contents I 3
CENTRAL EUROPE
30 EU presidency passes from Putin-whispering Hungary to hawkish Poland
32 US sanctions key Orban ally for corruption
33 City of Budapest vows to exercise pre-emptive rights over plot for planned €5bn luxury project by UAE investor Eagle Hills
34 Lorinc Meszaros, Hungary's most powerful oligarch
37 Bomb threats to schools in Hungary traced to emails sent through Yandex platform, IT experts say
SOUTHEAST EUROPE
38 Russian presidential adviser warns Moldova may “cease to exist”
39 Turkey's Erdogan threatens to "cut off heads" of terrorist groups in Syria
40 Albania, Italy and UAE to build €1bn Adriatic subsea cable
41 Poll reveals dominance of far- right presidential candidates in Romania
EASTERN EUROPE
42 Russian gas transit through Ukraine ends, with Europe meeting the new year with 5% less gas
43 The war went badly for Ukraine in 2024
46 EU leaders brace for emergency summit if Hungary continues to block extension of Russian sanctions
47 Poland's Tusk warns of Russian airline bomb terror campaign, promises to speed Ukraine's EU membership
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OPINION
54 Trump’s annexation remarks risk reigniting Balkan border disputes
56 Gulf states court Russia but stop short of strategic shiftheadaches Trump Europe’s mounting problems
58 The EU’s Green Deal is a “policy disaster”
60 Trump demands Europe import more US LNG, as the EU proposes banning Russian LNG completely. Neither will happen.
62 Europe needs to start the fightback against Trump
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EURASIA now
48 Armenia approves EU membership bid further straining ties with Russia
49 Georgian Dream lashes out at “Global War Party” and “deep state” networks
52 Central Asian leaders look to expand mutual trade
53 Football talent Khusanov poised to become first Uzbek to play in English Premier League after Man City signing
64 Analysts expect ‘perfect storm’ of political risks in 2025
NEW EUROPE IN NUMBERS
67 Gas exports to Europe to boost Azerbaijan's growth over next decade
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