Romania must deepen ties with Black Sea allies to safeguard offshore gas projects that will position it as the European Union’s largest natural gas producer by 2027, shielding them from escalating Russian threats. This imperative underpins the draft National defence strategy for 2025–2030, released on 12 November. The EU and...
Affluent Chinese, Turks top the list of beneficiaries of Greece’s Golden Visa program
For years, Greece’s scheme has been among the most accessible in the EU, with a minimum property investment of €250,000. Greece’s Golden Visa program, officially known as the Greek Residence Permit by Investment, is a residency-by-investment scheme launched in 2013 amid the country’s severe debt crisis. Designed to attract foreign...
Serbia will sign an agreement with Alstom for the construction of the first metro line
The Serbian president announced that Serbia will sign an agreement with Alstom for the construction of the first metro line. In a three-hour working dinner at the Élysée Palace on 13 November, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić secured commitments from French President Emmanuel Macron for Belgrade’s first metro line, a cutting-edge...
Czech PM-elect refuses to sell business empire amid conflict-of-interest row
Billionaire populist Andrej Babiš insists he will meet legal obligations before taking office but does not explain how. Andrej Babiš, the self-proclaimed “Trumpist” billionaire who won last month’s Czech election, has refused to sell his huge business empire, but insisted he will resolve a conflict of interest that threatens to...
Orbán claims Hungary exempt from U.S. oil sanctions as long as Trump remains president
“No sanctions while Trump and I are in power” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced on November 10 that Hungary has secured what he called a “permanent exemption” from U.S. sanctions on Russian oil imports. Writing on Facebook after his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, Orbán declared:...
Czech President calls on NATO to respond to Russia’s airspace violations
Czech President Petr Pavel has urged NATO to take a firmer stance against repeated Russian violations of Allied airspace, saying that Moscow is deliberately testing the alliance’s readiness and resolve. During a visit to the Karlovy Vary region on November 11, the former NATO general declared that Russia’s provocations “cannot...
The Cyprus “golden passports” filled party coffers
New revelations show that six political parties received a total of €650,000 in donations from individuals connected to the now defunct scheme. The Cyprus “golden passport” scandal continues to unfold. New revelations show that six political parties received a total of €650,000 in donations from individuals connected to the controversial...
Bulgaria’s pro-Russian MPs head to Moscow as Lukoil row deepens
The leader of Vazrazhdane, Kostadin Kostadinov, announced that the delegation would hold talks with former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Representatives of Bulgaria’s pro-Russian force are on their way to Moscow – again. The leader of Vazrazhdane, Kostadin Kostadinov, announced that a party delegation will travel to Russia for talks with...
Bulgaria beefs up security at Lukoil facilities to prevent sabotage
Officials said that the preventive steps are in response to incidents at the company’s sites in several European countries. Bulgarian authorities announced that they are providing additional security for facilities of strategic importance belonging to the Russian oil giant Lukoil, including the Burgas refinery and oil depots across the country....
Russia ready to sell Serbia’s NIS refinery amid US sanctions
The move marks a rare Russian concession amid Western pressure on Moscow’s European energy footholds. Russia’s Gazprom Neft and Gazprom have formally notified the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of their willingness to relinquish control of Serbia’s majority-Russian-owned oil giant NIS to a third party, as crippling...