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EU flags fly outside the headquarters of the European Commission on Feb. 23, 2022, in Brussels, Belgium. 

Economics

Energy

Politics

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Brexit, COVID-19 and the Ukraine crisis have increased the influence of southern and eastern EU members to the detriment of traditionally more influential countries in the north.

The EU's Shifting Balance of Power

Russia

Hungarian President Katalin Novak (L) and Polish President Andrzej Duda on May 17, 2022, in Warsaw, Poland.

Just as the Ukraine war motivated Sweden and Finland to abandon their neutrality, it could reconcile the European Union with two of its most problematic member states.

Will the War in Ukraine End the Polish-Hungarian Alliance?

The Ukraine Conflict

Divided EU Foreign Policies

Assessments

Guidance

Kenya

Costa Rica

China

Serbia

Ukraine

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban speaks on stage during a campaign rally for his ruling Fidesz party in Szekesfehervar, Hungary, on April 1, 2022. 

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: Kenya Presents Its National Budget, Hungary and Serbia Hold Elections

Snapshots

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki (left) welcomes his Hungarian counterpart, Viktor Orban, ahead of a meeting in Katowice, Poland, on June 30, 2021. 

European Disintegration

The ECJ ruling marks a key step in the bloc’s institutional push for leverage against Euroskeptic member states like Poland and Hungary. 

EU’s Top Court Upholds Linking Funding to Respecting the Rule of Law

Senegal

Brazil

Cambodia

Myanmar

France

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) greets Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Nov. 14, 2019, in Brasilia, Brazil, on the sidelines of a BRICS summit. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro will visit Russia on Feb. 14-17 in an effort to boost relations between the two countries.

The Fight for Russia’s Borderlands

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended Stratfor articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: An EU-AU Summit, the German Chancellor in Ukraine and Russia

A shredded EU flag flutters in the wind on March 1, 2016, in Brussels, Belgium. 

Poland and Hungary’s recent disputes with Brussels have reignited questions about the future of both countries’ EU membership -- as well as the future of the bloc itself.

Poland and Hungary Renew Concerns About EU Disintegration

EU: Regional Blocs

United Kingdom

People wait to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at a community center in Latvia on March 30, 2021. 

Environment, Science & Technology

Variations in infection rates, vaccine rollouts and public skepticism will impede the bloc from reaching its goal of inoculating 70% of adults by July.

In the Race to Herd Immunity, Can the EU Make Up for Lost Time?

COVID-19

The Fate of the Eurozone

United States

Venezuela

Israel

Turkey

Nurses train in the COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic at the University Hospital in Coventry, England, on Dec. 4, 2020, prior to the beginning of the actual vaccination campaign.

The Weekly Rundown: A Possible Election in Israel, COVID-19 Vaccines' Progress

Media

Podcasts

In this episode of the Essential Geopolitics podcast, Emily Donahue speaks with Stratfor senior Europe analyst Adriano Bosoni about the EU budget, the coronavirus relief fund and the fight over a strong rule of law. 

Essential Geopolitics: Is the EU in Trouble?

A pedestrian wearing a face mask walks past Christmas-themed window displays inside Burlington Arcade in London, the United Kingdom, on Nov. 23, 2020.

To boost economic activity and avoid protests, governments are trying to soften some lockdown measures ahead of the busy shopping season.

Can Europe Save the Holidays From COVID-19?

Czech Republic

Slovakia

Netherlands

German Minister of State for European Affairs Michael Roth speaks on the screen during a virtual EU press conference in Brussels, Belgium, on Nov. 17, 2020. 

Hungary and Poland’s move to veto an EU spending package could delay the disbursement of much-needed funds to the bloc’s struggling economies. 

A Rule of Law Dispute Threatens Europe’s Economic Recovery 

Estonia

Latvia

Lithuania

Bulgaria

Croatia

Romania

Austria

Slovenia

A satellite image shows Europe at night.

Military & Security

The U.S. and the Balance of Power

The move shows the White House remains committed to its security and economic engagements in the region, with an eye on countering China and Russia. 

The U.S. Ramps Up Financial Support to Central and Eastern Europe

Security

The New Silk Road

The European Commission approved Hungary's request to amend contracts with Russia's state-owned Rosatom to allow for the construction of two new 1.2-gigawatt water-water energetic reactors (VVERs) at its Paks nuclear power plant, Reuters reported on May 25.

Hungary, Russia: Brussels Greenlights Hungary's Nuclear Expansion Contract With Russia

The Polish government announced that it had reached a deal with the Ukrainian government to lift a ban on the transit of Ukrainian agri-food products announced on April 15, Reuters reported on April 18. 

Poland, Hungary, Ukraine: Warsaw Announces Deal to Lift Ban on Ukrainian Agri-Food Products

The governments of Poland and Hungary announced bans on grain and other food imports from Ukraine to protect local producers on April 15, the Financial Times reported April 16.

Europe: Poland and Hungary Announce Bans on Ukrainian Agri-Food Exports, Bulgaria and Slovakia to Follow

Finland

Sweden

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the leader of Hungary's ruling Fidesz party, Mate Kocsis, said they would both back a vote for Finland's accession to NATO, Politico reported on March 17.

Finland, Sweden: Turkey, Hungary to Ratify Finland's NATO Bid, but Delay Sweden's Bid

Hungary vetoed the approval of a new EU package of financial aid for Ukraine on Dec. 6, prompting the postponement of three other key votes on the agenda, including the introduction of a minimum 15% corporate tax rate, Euronews reported Dec. 6.

EU, Hungary: Budapest Vetoes EU Financial Aid Package to Ukraine, Delaying Other Key Financial Decisions

The Hungarian government proposed to the European Union extensive domestic judicial reforms that largely revolve around strengthening the National Judicial Council by giving the supervisory body more oversight powers, operational independence and funding, Politico reported Nov. 7.

Hungary: Government Promises Judiciary Reforms to Unlock EU Funds

The European Commission proposed freezing 7.5 billion euros ($7.5 billion) of Hungary's cohesion funding over rule of law violations, although the proposal would allow Hungary to receive the funding if upcoming legislation addresses Brussels' concerns about corruption, Politico reported Sept. 18.

Hungary: Brussels Increases Pressure With Cohesion Funding Freeze

Hungarian refiner MOL said it paid Russia's transit fee to Ukraine to resolve a dispute that has halted oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline's southern leg since Aug. 4, Reuters reported Aug. 10.

EU, Russia: Druzhba Pipeline to Restart as Hungarian Refiner MOL Pays Russia's Transit Fee

Afghanistan

Algeria

Antigua and Barbuda

Luxembourg

South Sudan

A view of the Register in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Angola

Argentina

Armenia

Australia

Bahrain

Covering an area that spans the entire width of the continent beginning at the Sahara Desert and ending at the southernmost tip of South Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa is home to countless cultures, languages, religions, plants, animals and natural resources.

Barbados

Benin

Egypt

Maldives

Malta

Belize

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Brunei Darussalam

India

Iran

North Macedonia

Tajikistan

Bhutan

Bolivia

Burkina Faso

Iraq

The President palace in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

The administrative center of the Gakh region of Azerbaijan, located at the foot of the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus, on the river Kurhumchai.

Burundi

Nepal

Cameroon

Canada

Georgia

Jordan

Pakistan

Mir Castle in the Minsk region of Belarus.

Cabo Verde

Chile

Federated States of Micronesia

Kuwait

Liechtenstein

Sri Lanka

Central African Republic

Colombia

Fiji

Lebanon

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Chad

Indonesia

Libya

Comoros

Cuba

Japan

A horse grazes in front of Kara-Kul lake in the Chon-Ak-Suu valley, 300 kilometers southeast of Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.

Morocco

Cote d'Ivoire

Denmark

Dominica

Kiribati

Moldova

Oman

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Dominican Republic

Laos

Palestinian Territories

Djibouti

Ecuador

Holy See (Vatican City)

Malaysia

Qatar

El Salvador

Equatorial Guinea

Greece

Marshall Islands

Saudi Arabia

Eritrea

Grenada

Mongolia

Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe located in the heart of the Pannonian Basin, a major agricultural area. Two major rivers cross the country from north to south: the Danube and the Tisza. Flat, fertile lands and rivers that facilitate trade explain why Hungary emerged as a regional power in the late ninth century; the combination also explains why Hungary attracted invaders. In fact, Hungary fell under partial Ottoman occupation between the 16th and 17th centuries, and then came under Habsburg rule. By the late 19th century, Hungary was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire along with Austria.    Hungary's modern borders were defined after World War I, when the country lost 70 percent of its territory and almost 60 percent of its population to its neighbors. The new borders led to a series of territorial and ethnic disputes that have not been fully solved. During the Cold War, Hungary was a Soviet satellite. Like most of its neighbors, Hungary joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004.    Hungary is an exports-oriented, high-income economy, and one of the main receivers of foreign direct investment in Central Europe. Its main trade partners are in the European Union, and the country is a net receiver of EU cohesion funds. However, in recent years the Hungarian government has been critical of some aspects of EU integration, and has so far decided not to join the eurozone. Hungary is also interested in keeping close ties with its Central European neighbors in the Visegrad Group, which also includes Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. While Hungary's main policy goal since the end of the Cold War has been to integrate into Western economic and security organizations, Budapest also seeks good ties with Russia, from whom it purchases most of its natural gas.    After five centuries of being under the influence of bigger powers, Hungary's main geopolitical goal is to achieve as much autonomy as possible and to keep its options open, especially during times of competition between greater powers.

SITUATION REPORTS

Hungary, Russia: Brussels Greenlights Hungary's Nuclear Expansion Contract With Russia

Poland, Hungary, Ukraine: Warsaw Announces Deal to Lift Ban on Ukrainian Agri-Food Products

Europe: Poland and Hungary Announce Bans on Ukrainian Agri-Food Exports, Bulgaria and Slovakia to Follow

Finland, Sweden: Turkey, Hungary to Ratify Finland's NATO Bid, but Delay Sweden's Bid

EU, Hungary: Budapest Vetoes EU Financial Aid Package to Ukraine, Delaying Other Key Financial Decisions

Hungary: Government Promises Judiciary Reforms to Unlock EU Funds

Hungary: Brussels Increases Pressure With Cohesion Funding Freeze

EU, Russia: Druzhba Pipeline to Restart as Hungarian Refiner MOL Pays Russia's Transit Fee

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