KEW talks

Peter Pellegrini emerged victorious in the second round of presidential elections in Slovakia. Yet, it's apparent that the true beneficiary is the populist Prime Minister, Robert Fico. A shift towards a more Russia-friendly political stance, coupled with Euroscepticism, has now gained solid ground. Tomáš Strážay of the Slovak Foreign Policy Association expresses concerns, but amidst the apprehension, there remains a glimmer of optimism.

A project Protecting EuropeanValues. The podcast was co-funded by the European Commission.

What does "strategic communication" really mean? What is the current state of strategic communication in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland? Kristína Šefčíková from Prague Security Studies Institute and Adam Lelonek, International Republican Institute "The Beacon Project" discuss weaknesses and the best practices of strategic communication in the region.

Andreas Metz, Director for Public Affairs at the German Eastern Business Association, highlights Germany's pivotal role in Europe's support for Ukraine. Emphasizing the necessity of collaboration with Poland in the realm of international relations, Metz suggests that Europe must be ready for the increasingly unpredictable nature of American support for Ukraine. Furthermore, he underscores the importance of Kyiv undertaking necessary reforms to align with EU standards. Metz asserts that Ukraine requires swift reforms rather than a hasty shortcut to EU membership.

This podcast has emerged as a result of the project "Czech-Polish Cooperation in Eastern Europe at the Turn of New Opportunities" implemented by the Association for International Affairs (AMO) in Prague and College of Eastern Europe (KEW) and was supported by the Czech-Polish Forum.

In their paper, Pavel Havlíček of the Association for International Affairs in Prague and Adam Balcer from the College of Eastern Europe argument that the Czech Republic and Poland have the potential to serve as a central political nexus for the entire region. In the podcast, Havlíček, the Czech expert, emphasizes the shared political positions between Prague and Warsaw, particularly on issues such as Russian aggression in Ukraine and other pivotal European matters. As the collaboration between the two capitals deepens over time, it holds the promise of not only garnering support from other regional capitals for the collective benefit of stakeholders within the EU and NATO frameworks, but also marginalizing detrimental policies of Hungary's Viktor Orban.

This podcast has emerged as a result of the project "Czech-Polish Cooperation in Eastern Europe at the Turn of New Opportunities" implemented by the Association for International Affairs (AMO) in Prague and College of Eastern Europe (KEW) and was supported by the Czech-Polish Forum.

Agnieszka Bryc from Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń explain why Russia might be thinking that it is winning the war against the West. Ukraine is only a part of a broader strategy aimed at challenging the current world order. In addition, by supporting i.a., far right and populist tendencies, Kremlin is waging a cognitive warfare against the West.

The podcast was produced as a part of the 5th German-Polish Round Table on the Eastern Europe.
Project partners: Kolegium Europy Wschodniej, Zentrum Liberale Moderne and Austausch e.V., co-funded by Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Warszawaand Fundacja Współpracy Polsko-Niemieckiej/Stiftung Für Deutsch-Polnische Zusammenarbeit.

The European Union has opted to commence accession talks with Ukraine. Iryna Solonenko, a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Liberal Modernity, underscores the challenging and intricate nature of these negotiations, emphasizing the presence of numerous difficult technical hurdles. She also highlights Ukraine's readiness to undertake essential reforms for full EU integration. At the same time, Solonenko advocates for a transformation within the EU itself to facilitate the enlargement process. Expressing hope, she envisions the end of the war in Ukraine before the conclusion of negotiations, thereby paving the way for the country's accession to the EU.

The podcast was produced as a part of the 5th German-Polish Round Table on the Eastern Europe.
Project partners: Kolegium Europy Wschodniej, Zentrum Liberale Moderne and Austausch e.V., co-funded by Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Warszawaand Fundacja Współpracy Polsko-Niemieckiej/Stiftung Für Deutsch-Polnische Zusammenarbeit.

Speaking on the role of Russian-language independent journalism, Barbara von Ow-Freytag said that media outlets have to find a way to get through to people in Russia itself, with their audiences often having to resort VPNs or piggybacking through an available service in Russian territory.

Independent outlets provide a window of objectivity in a media landscape which is dominated by Kremlin-backed propaganda. Funding independent media such as Meduza and Dozhd’ [«Дождь»]https://tvrain.tv/ “re-empowers independent thinking [and] gives hope,” says von Freytag.

Apart from larger media organizations, there are a number of grassroots projects also taking hold. Not everyone in Russia supports the Putin regime, not least representatives of the country’s numerous ethnic minorities such as the Buryats and Kalmyks in Siberia and the Caucasus respectively.

A new podcast project called “Govorit Respublika_” [«говоритреспублика _»]https://www.instagram.com/re.public_speaking/ hopes to help “redefine and rediscover identity because there has been a systemic Russification of all the places where ethnic minorities are” in the words of Barbara von Ow-Freytag, who adds that these young journalists “want a future Russia that respects their cultural rights, their language rights and their minority rights.”

The podcast was produced as a part of the 5th German-Polish Round Table on the Eastern Europe.
Project partners: Kolegium Europy Wschodniej, Zentrum Liberale Moderne and Austausch e.V., co-funded by Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Warszawaand Fundacja Współpracy Polsko-Niemieckiej/Stiftung Für Deutsch-Polnische Zusammenarbeit.

Olha Nykorak, Human Security Coordinator at Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, presents the reciprocal benefits of Ukraine's integration into NATO. The deepening collaboration between the partners is evident in the transformation of the NATO-Ukraine Commission into the NATO-Ukraine Council. Furthermore, Ukraine's military is aligning itself with NATO standards, presenting a valuable contribution in exchange for the Alliance's support in the ongoing conflict against Russian aggression.

The podcast was produced as a part of the 5th German-Polish Round Table on the Eastern Europe.
Project partners: Kolegium Europy Wschodniej, Zentrum Liberale Moderne and Austausch e.V., co-funded by Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Warszawaand Fundacja Współpracy Polsko-Niemieckiej/Stiftung Für Deutsch-Polnische Zusammenarbeit.

Hungary's Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, faces a formidable challenge as he navigates a complex situation he created. His reliance on European funds to sustain his political influence clashes with the EU's insistence on reforms that pose a direct threat to his government's stability. Compounding this, Orban's pro-Russian stances have eroded trust among his Western partners.

The recent removal of Law and Justice from power in Poland further complicates Orban's situation. Zsuzsanna Vegh, a visiting fellow at the German Marshall Fund, describes the evolving situation. Hungary's government increasingly resorts to illiberal and authoritarian methods to consolidate power. This includes the potential cracking down on civil society organizations and manipulating public opinion through media control.

A project Protecting EuropeanValues. The podcast was co-funded by the European Commission.

Alina Koushyk, serving as a Representative for National Revival in the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus, underscores the shared goals of Belarusians and Ukrainians. Their struggles for freedom from Russian colonialism and commitment to European integration are intricately linked. Koushyk further outlines various potential future scenarios, emphasizing the active involvement of Western partners in supporting Belarusian democratic forces.

The podcast was produced as a part of the 5th German-Polish Round Table on the Eastern Europe.
Project partners: Kolegium Europy Wschodniej, Zentrum Liberale Moderne and Austausch e.V., co-funded by Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Warszawaand Fundacja Współpracy Polsko-Niemieckiej/Stiftung Für Deutsch-Polnische Zusammenarbeit.