Liam Nolan

Eastern Europe Reporter

The Hungarian parliament in Budapest today: benches of the governing Fidesz party (centre and right) remained empty during the session, called by the opposition (left)

Hungary's Fidesz MPs boycott meeting on Sweden's NATO bid

Members of parliament from Hungary's ruling Fidesz party have boycotted an opposition motion to vote on Sweden's bid to join NATO. Hungary remains the only member of NATO yet to ratify Sweden's application.

Europe • 05 Feb 24

Wives of Russian soldiers in Moscow's Red Square today laid flowers as part of their 'Way Home' campaign

Journalists arrested in Moscow at soldiers' wives protest

At least 20 journalists have been arrested by police while covering a protest in Moscow by a group representing the wives of Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine. The group want their husbands to return from the war almost 18 months after they were drafted.

World • 04 Feb 24

Demonstrators in the city of Kosice yesterday evening protest against Prime Minister Robert Fico's government

Why have 60,000 Slovaks taken to the streets?

An estimated 60,000 people took part in demonstrations yesterday across Slovakia to protest against a government plan to close an office that investigates high-level financial crime. Both the Slovak president and the European Parliament have expressed concerns about the proposed reforms.

Europe • 02 Feb 24

Mr Orban is opposed to using the EU's budget to allocate the €50 billion in economic support to Ukraine (file image)

Senior EU official denies plans to cut Hungary funding

A senior EU official has denied a report that the bloc is considering cutting funding to Hungary if it vetoes a €50 billion aid package for Ukraine. EU leaders are set to vote on the deal on Thursday at an EU Council summit.

Europe • 29 Jan 24

Holocaust survivors took part in the ceremony of the 79th anniversary of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp liberation

Liberation of Auschwitz remembered on 79th anniversary

Today marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day, 79 years since the liberation of the Nazi death camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau. Twenty survivors of the Holocaust were among those to attend this evening's commemoration at the site of the former camp.

Europe • 27 Jan 24

Mr Duda had originally pardoned the two politicians in 2015 (file image)

Polish president pardons jailed former politicians

Polish president Andrzej Duda yesterday pardoned two members of the former Law and Justice government who had started two-year prison sentences for abuse of power. It marks another clash between Mr Duda and the new centrist coalition government.

World • 24 Jan 24

Polish President Andrzej Duda (L) and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (R) shake hands this week at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw

Political power clash between Poland's govt, president

More than one month after Poland's new pro-EU coalition came to power, a number of disputes have erupted between the government and the country's conservative president, Andrzej Duda. The control of public media and the direction of rule-of-law legislation lie at the heart of the clash.

World • 21 Jan 24

Watch: When can Balkan countries realistically join EU?

Six countries from the Western Balkans have applied to join the EU during the past two decades. They include Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Serbia.

Europe • 17 Jan 24

The Taoiseach has spent the past two days meeting with leaders in Kosovo, Montenegro, and North Macedonia

Taoiseach says EU should admit new members this decade

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar met with the leaders of North Macedonia in the country's capital Skopje this afternoon, concluding a two-day tour of three Western Balkans countries.

Europe • 12 Jan 24

The Taoiseach will discuss EU membership, peace and security during his visit to Kosovo (File image)

Taoiseach in Kosovo for talks on EU membership

The Taoiseach is in Kosovan capital, Pristina, to meet the country's leaders and hold discussions on Kosovo's application for EU membership.

World • 11 Jan 24