Visegrad Insight Podcast

Insights from the GLOBSEC Forum meeting, notably missing key Hungarian and Polish representatives. The adoption of the Resilience Recovery plan comes at a (legal) price, as critics claim. Hungary attacks Ukraine on social media. Will the Visegrad format be forgotten when Czechia resumes the EU presidency? Common efforts in the Visegrad Group to increase candidate status for Ukraine minus Hungary. Planned cuts for public broadcasting and rumours of capturing political control in Czechia. PM Kallas in political turmoil as her party loses their coalition in Estonia. In the second part of the podcast, Christine Karelska, a Future of Ukraine Fellow, discusses the role of sports diplomacy in the battle against Russia due to its unjustified invasion of Ukraine. She specifies what role FIFA plays and teases what's ahead in her series featuring several national Ukranian football players who are taking up the fight against Russia. Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (Editor-in-chief) and Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director).

Ongoing summits in the EU and the focus on democratic security in Europe with a nod towards Ukraine and the Western Balkans. Gas prices lower for Hungarian-registered cars at the checkout, leading to a new type of petrol tourism. The launch of Future of Ukraine fellowship publication schedule for the upcoming week: sport diplomacy, pro-Russian insurgency parties in Ukraine, and territorial claims in Europe. In the second part of the podcast, Krzysztof Izdebski, a Marcin Krol fellow and lawyer specialised in access to public information and re-use of public sector information, discusses the mirage of anti-corruption policies in Poland the unfulfilled promises to bring the state back to the people. Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (Editor-in-chief), Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director), and Kamil Jarończyk (Managing Editor)

The team summarises the time spent at the first Civil Society Forum based on a recommendation from a special report created by Visegrad Insight. We ask the larger questions in a search for a clarity of purpose for the Three Seas Initiative and what's in the future for it. Polish President Duda on a diplomatic offensive in Slovakia and Ukraine. Visiting Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová, Duda spoke about interconnections and possible Ukrainian membership to the EU. Polish-Ukrainian relationship grows stronger with further privileges for Ukrainians in Poland. Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (Editor-in-Chief), Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director), and Kamil Jarończyk (Managing Editor).

A round-up of texts on the Conference on the Future of Europe. A pivotal moment in Germany foreign policy, as Ukraine certifies Germany to be the leader of Europe as of now. US will take up European demand of gas, with latest deal sealed with Bulgaria. Finnish-Baltic gas connection a highlight of energy policy in Europe moving away from Russia. Safeguarding democracy with militant measures in CEE - banning of the 'Z' symbol. In the second part of the podcast, Wojciech Przybylski talks with Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan on contemporary Russian migration after the invasion of Ukraine. What happens to Russians when they migrate away from Russia? A sociological picture is given on this latest phenomenon. Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (Editor-in-Chief), Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director), and Kamil Jarończyk (Managing Editor).

On the 9th of May, Russian President Vladimir Putin holds his Victory Day Parade. Can Russia win this war? We survey our top experts for the answers. Future of Europe conference final report will be announced today. New sanctions on Russian oil have been postponed. In the second part of the podcast, Editor-in-chief Wojciech Przybylski talks with Václav Štětka Principal Investigator of the Illiberal Project at Loughborough University and Sabina Mihelj (co-investigator), Professor of Media and Cultural Analysis in the School of Social Sciences, Loughborough University on the illiberal turn in the region and the role of media, at a key point in time when the region is undergoing dramatic changes given populism, illiberalism, and democratic backsliding. Speakers: Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director)

In this special episode, we kick-off our Future of Ukraine fellowship to help Ukrainian thought leaders continue their work and tell the untold stories of the war. We introduce you to the first round of our three fellows that we have selected: Vitaly Portnikov, Christine Karelska, and Bohdan Bernatskyi. The fellows detail their experience and what they will be working on during their fellowship. Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (Editor-in-chief) and Tetiana Poliak-Grujić (Project Manager).

EU elections rules overhaul. Hungary and Slovakia has said it will not support a proposed European Union set of sanctions against Russian energy with no immediate alternatives available. The release of the 20th edition of the World Press Freedom Index shows differing paths for Visegrad countries, with Poland worsening and Slovakia, Czechia, and Hungary improving. In the second part of the podcast, Pavel Havlicek, a Research Fellow at the Association for International Affairs (AMO) Research Centre, highlights some of the major foresights for the month of May, with a particular focus on security, 9th of May celebrations, and the future of the Eastern Partnership. Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (Editor-in-chief) and Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director).

Incumbent President Emmanuel Macron wins a second term, eyes now on the parliamentary elections and its impact on the future of Central Europe. Ruling Slovenian Democratic Party led by PM Janša, conceded and was defeated by Robert Golob and his Freedom Movement. "War selfies" meetings continue in Ukraine. NATO countries meet in Germany to discuss Ukraine's long-term security needs, at the outset of Russia establishing more control on Southern Ukraine. Orban to amend constitution for the 10th time to expand emergency powers. In the second part of the podcast, Petr Čermák, a Researcher at the Charles University in Prague, highlights the upcoming EU Presidency of the Czech Republic and its priorities towards the Western Balkans. This podcast is part of the Visegrad Insight's Western Balkans Futures project that is supported by the International Visegrad Fund. Also participating in the project: Albanian Institute for International Studies (Albania), Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence (Serbia), EUROTHINK – Center for European Strategies (North Macedonia), Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Hungary), Prague Security Studies Institute (Czechia), Slovak Foreign Policy Association (Slovakia). Speakers: Wojciech Przybylski (Editor-in-chief), Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director), and Tetiana Poliak-Grujić (Project Manager).

Three outstanding Ukranian thought leaders are welcomed to the Viesgrad Insight team as the first cohort of Future of Ukraine Fellows: Bohdan Bernatskyi, Christine Karelska, and Vitaly Portnikov. Elections continue in France and Slovenia. The second phase of the Russian invasion of Ukraine moves forward. Spies from Lithuania in Belarus. In the second part of the podcast, Ledion Krisafi, Researcher at the Albanian Institute for International Studies, discusses Albania's perspectives on EU integration. What are the potential scenarios for the country and its main challenges on the way to gain the EU membership? Listen for insights. This podcast is part of the Visegrad Insight's Western Balkans Futures project that is supported by the International Visegrad Fund. Also participating in the project: Albanian Institute for International Studies (Albania), Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence (Serbia), EUROTHINK – Center for European Strategies (North Macedonia), Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Hungary), Prague Security Studies Institute (Czechia), Slovak Foreign Policy Association (Slovakia). Speakers: Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director), Kamil Jarończyk (Managing Editor), and Tetiana Poliak-Grujić (Project Manager).

Future of Ukraine Fellowship funding continues with nearly 14,000 euros raised out of 20,000 - donate now to help Ukrainian thought leaders continue their work. The first presidential run-off elections in France and what it means for CEE. The EU goes to Ukraine. Controversial air siren tests in Poland on anniversary of Smolensk plane crash. Sweden and Finland debate joining NATO intensifies. As the war in Ukraine rages for over a month now, we sit down with Tomáš Strážay, Director of the Bratislava-based Slovak Foreign Policy Association, to discuss its impact on the Western Balkans region. Will anything change in terms of the EU accession for the region and should we expect any destabilisation actions by Russia there? Listen to the podcast to learn more. This podcast is part of the Visegrad Insight's Western Balkans Futures project that is supported by the International Visegrad Fund. Also participating in the project: Albanian Institute for International Studies (Albania), Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence (Serbia), EUROTHINK – Center for European Strategies (North Macedonia), Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Hungary), Prague Security Studies Institute (Czechia), Slovak Foreign Policy Association (Slovakia). Speakers: Miles R. Maftean (Editorial Director), Kamil Jarończyk (Managing Editor), and Tetiana Poliak-Grujić (Project Manager).