Czechia

The EU's Digital COVID Certificate reached another milestone on Tuesday (1 June) with the go-live of the technical system at the EU level, followed by seven member states that started rolling out their certificates.

Romania's Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu is attending today an informal meeting of the European Union heads of diplomacy (Gymnich format) in Lisbon, Portugal, under the Portuguese presidency of the EU Council.

Tirana – The foreign ministers of Slovenia, Austria and the Czech Republic, Anže Logar, Alexander Schallenberg and Jakub Kulhanek, stressed the role of EU enlargement to the Western Balkans as they met senior Albanian officials in Tirana on Sunday, a day after visiting neighbouring North Macedonia.

Paris – The NGO Reporters without Borders (RSF) has urged authorities in Slovenia and the Czech Republic to stop exerting political pressure on public media, and to safeguard their independence in line with Council of Europe (CoE) recommendations from 2012.

The EU has so far been hesitant to show support for either side in the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict for fear of jeopardising the peace process. EU foreign ministers will hold an extraordinary videoconference on Tuesday (18 May) in search of a common position.

Eastward bound

Sources say it was a kidnap threat against his family during a deal in Russia that sent Kellner into hiding. Before that, his story was much easier to read.

Kellner began gathering his economic and political clout in much the same way as his peers across the region - using smart but often sharp practices during the transition to capitalism.

About 60 demonstrators, mostly Poles living in the Czech Republic, joined a protest against an abortion ban law and to support women's rights in Poland, in Prague, Czech Republic, 18 January 2018. EPA-EFE/MARTIN DIVISEK

Photo Illustration: Pixabay / AndyLeungHK

Reporters Without Borders, RSF, released its annual Press Freedom Index report on Tuesday with a warning that media freedom has deteriorated across the world during the coronavirus pandemic, with governments using the crisis to assert more control over the press.

Brussels – The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess the proposed acquisition of Slovenian maker of prefabricated construction elements Trimo by the Irish Kingspan Group. It is concerned that the transaction may reduce competition and lead to price increases.

The Slovak-born Babis is well aware that a delivery of Sputnik V just helped depose the prime minister of his mother country, but he's also eyeing his rapidly dwindling popularity ahead of the Czech elections in October and the likelihood that he'll have to rely on Zeman's Machiavellian manoeuvres if he wants to head the next government.