China-CEE Institute

China-CEE Institute China-CEE Institute is CASS's first think tank independently registered in Europe.

China-CEE Institute was established by CASS, registered as a non-profit corporation in Budapest, Hungary. The Institute of European Studies, CASS is responsible for organizing and managing it. The China-CEE Institute will build ties and strengthen partnerships with academic institutions and think tanks in Hungary and other Central and Eastern European countries. It welcomes scholars and researcher

s in CEE countries to carry out joint research, field studies, seminars, lecture series, some training programs for younger students, translation, publication, etc. The China-CEE Institute has established the International Academic Committee and invited corresponding academicians and associate researchers. The Institute collaborates with academic institutions and Think Tanks from CEE countries, including a call for joint research.

has qualified for the World Cup in football, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico. In many count...
04/06/2026

has qualified for the World Cup in football, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico. In many countries, the news of the national team’s qualification for the World Cup goes beyond sports columns, and BiH is one of those countries. However, in BiH, the whole story goes beyond the phrase “national sport”, it has many dimensions – including socio-political and even soft-diplomacy dimensions – with the use of biblical metaphors, such as the small European country being David who defeated the favored Goliath, in this case the national team of multiple world champions, Italy.

However, Italy is not the only Goliath in this story. Beyond the immediate euphoria, the qualification of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the World Cup illustrates how sport can temporarily reconfigure a deeply fragmented political and social landscape. The victory over Italy national football team became a multilayered narrative – simultaneously a sporting achievement, a moment of collective identification, and an instrument of soft diplomacy that resonated from regional media to global outlets such as The New York Times. Through symbols, personal stories like that of Esmir Bajraktarević, and gestures of fair play embodied by Edin Džeko, the event transcended football and touched on themes of identity, memory, and international recognition. Ultimately, while the success cannot alter structural political divisions, it demonstrates the enduring capacity of shared emotional experiences to momentarily bridge them and reaffirm a sense of statehood and belonging.
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https://china-cee.eu/2026/05/18/bosnia-and-herzegovina-monthly-briefing-bih-qualifies-for-world-cup-football-bigger-than-politics/
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Faruk Borić

For over a decade in , there has been one main pillar of support for the political establishment to move forward, legit...
03/06/2026

For over a decade in , there has been one main pillar of support for the political establishment to move forward, legitimize, and anchor to power, namely the Reform. The major constitutional changes occurred in 2016, and the consequent establishment of several parallel structures of the “New Justice” has paved the way for dismantling the culture of impunity and demanding accountability from public officials. To date, the justice authorities have taken measures against influential individuals previously considered untouchable, creating political chaos that has deepened the internal divide within the opposition and thrown the ruling party into a circle of suspicion. Justice has stirred some elements of the establishment, and their affliction is impacting the country’s political life. Hailed by some and vilified by others, the new justice authorities are under political and public scrutiny.

The Justice Reform has been touted for years by the Albanian Prime Minister as a creation of his party and his governance. Edi Rama praised it as a byproduct of his commitment to eradicate corruption, and it was presented internationally as a success story. Until 2026, when the case of the Deputy Prime Minister threw years of advancement into question and all that had been stated and narrated for years took a different shape, the one of doubt and controversy from the very political establishment that created and endorsed it.
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https://china-cee.eu/2026/05/18/albania-monthly-briefing-the-justice-reform-at-a-crossroads-and-a-standstill/
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Marsela Musabelliu

Martina Šimkovičová’s tenure as ’s Minister of , appointed in October 2023, has been marked by intense criticism, wide...
02/06/2026

Martina Šimkovičová’s tenure as ’s Minister of , appointed in October 2023, has been marked by intense criticism, widespread protests, and accusations of conducting an “arts crackdown” designed to enforce ideological control. Nominated by the Slovak National Party (SNS), her actions have been described by critics as unprofessional, authoritarian, and aimed at dismantling independent cultural institutions in favor of a narrow, nationalistic vision. Recently, dozens of cultural projects across Slovakia have been thrown into uncertainty after the Arts Support Fund (FPU) abruptly cancelled all active multi-year grants – including those already under way, which resulted in other protests and “cultural mobilization”.

Slovakia’s defense sector has reached a historic milestone, with arms and ammunition exports more than doubling to €2.5 billion in 2025. This marks the highest level in nearly three decades and represents a massive surge—roughly 23 times higher—since the start of Ukraine crisis in 2022. Slovakia has become one of the world’s fastest-rising arms exporters relative to its total export share, outpacing traditional heavyweights like the United States and the Republic in recent growth metrics.
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https://china-cee.eu/2026/05/13/slovakia-monthly-briefing-current-issues-of-slovakia-criticism-of-ministry-of-culture-and-the-slovak-arms-industry-boom/
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Peter Csanyi

The war in the has caused disruptions in the global fuel market, leading to a dramatic price increase. In response to ...
02/06/2026

The war in the has caused disruptions in the global fuel market, leading to a dramatic price increase. In response to these events, the government has taken active and one of the boldest measures in the aimed at halting fuel price increases at stations. The CPN (“Cena Paliwa Niżej” – “Lower Fuel Prices”) package, introduced at the end of March, includes a temporary reduction in excise tax and VAT on fuel, as well as a daily updated maximum fuel price at stations. These solutions are supported by the main political parties and the Polish public, but many economic experts are critical, pointing out that these measures are primarily political in nature and could adversely affect the Polish economy and public finances in the long term. Reports from economic institutions indicate that the Polish economy may be more affected by the war in the Middle East than other countries.
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https://china-cee.eu/2026/05/13/poland-monthly-briefing-polish-government-introduces-temporary-maximum-fuel-prices-at-stations/
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Konrad Rajca

In 2026, energy prices in remain strongly influenced by geopolitical developments, which can make heating and transpor...
01/06/2026

In 2026, energy prices in remain strongly influenced by geopolitical developments, which can make heating and transport more expensive for households. At the same time, several national policy changes affect everyday finances. The minimum wage rose from €740 to €780, and the non-taxable minimum increased from €510 to €550, slightly improving the income of lower-paid workers. VAT[1] on bread, milk, poultry meat, and eggs was reduced to 12%, while excise duties on fuel, alcohol, to***co, and natural gas increased. Some daily services also became more expensive, including the price of a standard letter, which rose by 5 cents to €2.35. Overall, 2026 brings both higher earnings and higher living costs, influencing the financial situation of households across Latvia.
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https://china-cee.eu/2026/05/13/latvia-monthly-briefing-wages-and-prices-affecting-social-change-in-latvia-2026/
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Institute of Economics of the Latvian Academy of Sciences LZA Ekonomikas Institūts

Since the political transition of the country, the tenth free parliamentary elections were held in on April 12, 2026. ...
29/05/2026

Since the political transition of the country, the tenth free parliamentary elections were held in on April 12, 2026. The government, which had ruled the country for 16 years, did not receive sufficient political support to form a new government in May. Moreover, the opposition party, (referring to the second-largest river), won the election with an overwhelming two-thirds majority. Besides and Tisza, only the Our Homeland Movement qualified for the Hungarian Parliament this time. The briefing looks at the results and the interpretations of the Hungarian elections.
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https://china-cee.eu/2026/05/13/hungary-monthly-briefing-elections-in-hungary-the-results-of-the-parliamentary-elections-in-2026/
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Csaba Moldicz

Over the last months, has been quietly but effectively implementing a series of measures aimed to achieve the wholesom...
29/05/2026

Over the last months, has been quietly but effectively implementing a series of measures aimed to achieve the wholesome digital transformation of the country with an upgrade of infrastructure and applications in , , and . The latest aspect of this process of digital measures is related to social worries as well, i.e. protection of minors online. In this context, in March 2026, Greece implemented age verification procedures to protect children in online digital environments. The main platform introduced so far is the so-called Kids Wallet, a government-developed application used to verify the real age of the users. In this regard, Greece has become a pioneer among EU member-states in safeguarding a well-regulated access to the internet and in general enhancing a robust organized digital environment for major societal aspects.
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https://china-cee.eu/2026/05/13/greece-monthly-briefing-the-digital-transformation-of-greece/

This briefing examines three concurrent vectors of foreign policy that together indicate both continuity and recalibra...
29/05/2026

This briefing examines three concurrent vectors of foreign policy that together indicate both continuity and recalibration of ’s external orientation. The analysis shows that the is reinforcing a pragmatic, interest-driven diplomacy rooted in economic interdependence, ideological alignment with selected partners, and renewed regional engagement. Relations with , as demonstrated by the – meeting, remain structurally indispensable, particularly in industrial integration, energy coordination, and investment flows. At the same time, the restoration of Czech–Slovak intergovernmental cooperation reflects a deliberate return to politically aligned governance models, underpinned by shared positions on sovereignty, migration, and European policy. Finally, the trajectory of Czech– relations, as illustrated by Petr Macinka’s diplomatic activity, highlights a more explicitly ideological dimension, combining transatlantic coordination with alignment towards conservative political networks and pro-Israel engagement. Taken together, these developments suggest that Czech foreign policy is moving towards a hybrid model. This model combines economic pragmatism in relations with key EU partners, especially Germany, and non-Western partners with a selective ideological convergence in transatlantic relations and a revival of historically grounded regional partnerships. The resulting framework reflects an adaptive strategy shaped by domestic political change and shifting geopolitical conditions.
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https://china-cee.eu/2026/05/13/czech-republic-monthly-briefing-between-pragmatism-and-ideology-the-new-direction-of-czech-foreign-policy/
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Ladislav Zemánek

The party arena has remained relatively stable over the last 4 years. Some smaller new parties did emerge, but from wh...
28/05/2026

The party arena has remained relatively stable over the last 4 years. Some smaller new parties did emerge, but from what is to be expected, they will not become the strongest parties after the elections. One of the important element of the Slovenian international politics is its closeness and similarity between the political parties in Slovenia and their parties/political groups. Slovenian political parties have historically lacked resources and due to their were very rapid emergence and disappearence in the last decade and a half – since 2011 onwards – they did not have the capacity nor possibility to consolidate themselves and to develop strong and stable ideological foundations and perspectives. Thus, the question arisis, how much are the Slovenian political parties aligned with the political programmes of the European party groups.
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https://china-cee.eu/2026/04/29/slovenia-monthly-briefing-slovenian-party-programmes-and-their-relation-to-the-eu-party-programmes/

The beginning of the implementation of ’s Law on Foreigners in March 2026 has introduced new legal and administrative u...
27/05/2026

The beginning of the implementation of ’s Law on Foreigners in March 2026 has introduced new legal and administrative uncertainties affecting a segment of Serbian citizens residing in Kosovo. While the law itself was adopted earlier, its enforcement phase brings concrete obligations related to registration, residence, and legal status, thereby extending its impact into the broader political context of –Kosovo relations and the -facilitated normalization process. Notably, the response of Serbian authorities has remained limited and restrained, avoiding strong political escalation.

This development highlights a growing tension between ’s formal position on Kosovo as part of its sovereign territory and its increasingly pragmatic approach within the EU accession process. The absence of a more assertive reaction may reflect a strategic calculation aimed at preserving stability in the dialogue with Priština and maintaining alignment with EU expectations. At the same time, it raises questions about the extent to which the protection of Serbian citizens in Kosovo is integrated into Serbia’s broader foreign policy priorities.

In this context, the implementation of the Law on Foreigners illustrates a broader pattern in which normalization dynamics advance through incremental and often contested measures, while the balance between sovereignty claims, practical governance, and EU conditionality remains unresolved.
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https://china-cee.eu/2026/04/29/serbia-monthly-briefing-normalization-without-protection-the-political-implications-of-kosovos-law-on-foreigners-for-serbias-eu-accession-path/
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Ivona Lađevac

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