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Slovakia Faces a New Energy Reality
For more than sixty years, Russian natural gas flowed into Europe through Ukraine. On January 1, that era ended. Kyiv chose not to renew its transit agreement with Moscow, cutting off a major pipeline route that supplied countries like Slovakia, Hungary and Austria.
The shutdown is meant to hit Russia financially, but it also creates economic pressure across Central Europe. Many small business owners, already struggling with post-war energy prices, now fear another round of increases.
In Bratislava, we met Tereza, who runs a small yoga studio. Her monthly gas bill is nearly one thousand euros. After two years of rising energy costs, she says another spike could force her to close.
Slovakia says its gas storage is stable for now, but experts warn a severe winter could tighten supplies. The government is searching for new fuel sources, including gas from Azerbaijan and U.S. LNG imported via Poland, but these alternatives come at much higher prices.
Slovakia’s former foreign minister says the bigger issue is cost. Without Russian transit fees, the country loses more than five hundred million dollars a year. He warns that the burden will ultimately fall on consumers and small businesses.
Across Europe, this marks a deeper shift. The continent has cut its dependence on Russian energy from forty percent before the war to just eight percent today. But the transition is expensive, and families are feeling it in their monthly bills.
From the Slovakian capital, this report looks at how one decision at a border crossing in Ukraine is reshaping daily life hundreds of kilometers away.
### Hashtags
#Slovakia #EnergyCrisis #Ukraine #RussianGas #Bratislava #EUenergy #NaturalGas #PabloGutierrez #CGTNEurope
The shutdown is meant to hit Russia financially, but it also creates economic pressure across Central Europe. Many small business owners, already struggling with post-war energy prices, now fear another round of increases.
In Bratislava, we met Tereza, who runs a small yoga studio. Her monthly gas bill is nearly one thousand euros. After two years of rising energy costs, she says another spike could force her to close.
Slovakia says its gas storage is stable for now, but experts warn a severe winter could tighten supplies. The government is searching for new fuel sources, including gas from Azerbaijan and U.S. LNG imported via Poland, but these alternatives come at much higher prices.
Slovakia’s former foreign minister says the bigger issue is cost. Without Russian transit fees, the country loses more than five hundred million dollars a year. He warns that the burden will ultimately fall on consumers and small businesses.
Across Europe, this marks a deeper shift. The continent has cut its dependence on Russian energy from forty percent before the war to just eight percent today. But the transition is expensive, and families are feeling it in their monthly bills.
From the Slovakian capital, this report looks at how one decision at a border crossing in Ukraine is reshaping daily life hundreds of kilometers away.
### Hashtags
#Slovakia #EnergyCrisis #Ukraine #RussianGas #Bratislava #EUenergy #NaturalGas #PabloGutierrez #CGTNEurope
Hungary and Austria Clash Over Local Border Barriers
In eastern Austria, the small town of Schattendorf has triggered a cross-border dispute after installing electronic barriers at its local crossing with Ágfalva, Hungary. Residents say the move violates the EU’s principle of free movement and has made daily commuting nearly impossible.
Hungarian workers who used the route for years now leave one car on the Hungarian side, walk across, and keep a second car waiting in Austria. Many say the added cost and time have become unsustainable. A civil lawsuit filed against the municipality argues the barriers are unlawful and financially damaging, especially since the road was partially funded with EU money.
Local organizers in Ágfalva say the restrictions have no place inside the Schengen Zone. The attorney leading the case, Peter Taller, hopes a court ruling expected at the end of November will not only deliver compensation but also set a precedent that prevents other towns from creating similar restrictions.
Since the barriers went up, Hungarian drivers must apply for a crossing permit costing 173 dollars, with no guarantee of approval. Taller argues the municipality has exceeded its authority by effectively enforcing immigration controls.
The case could also influence a second challenge scheduled for next summer before Austria’s Constitutional Court, where the goal is to remove the barriers permanently. Taller and his team are already preparing another lawsuit against Germany over extended border checks that have remained in place for nine years.
At the heart of the dispute is the principle of free movement, one of the cornerstones of European integration. Residents on both sides say that principle is now being tested.
Report from Agfalva, Hungary.
### Hashtags
#Austria #Hungary #Border #Schengen #EUnews #FreeMovement #PabloGutierrez #CGTNEurope #Agfalva #Schattendorf
Hungarian workers who used the route for years now leave one car on the Hungarian side, walk across, and keep a second car waiting in Austria. Many say the added cost and time have become unsustainable. A civil lawsuit filed against the municipality argues the barriers are unlawful and financially damaging, especially since the road was partially funded with EU money.
Local organizers in Ágfalva say the restrictions have no place inside the Schengen Zone. The attorney leading the case, Peter Taller, hopes a court ruling expected at the end of November will not only deliver compensation but also set a precedent that prevents other towns from creating similar restrictions.
Since the barriers went up, Hungarian drivers must apply for a crossing permit costing 173 dollars, with no guarantee of approval. Taller argues the municipality has exceeded its authority by effectively enforcing immigration controls.
The case could also influence a second challenge scheduled for next summer before Austria’s Constitutional Court, where the goal is to remove the barriers permanently. Taller and his team are already preparing another lawsuit against Germany over extended border checks that have remained in place for nine years.
At the heart of the dispute is the principle of free movement, one of the cornerstones of European integration. Residents on both sides say that principle is now being tested.
Report from Agfalva, Hungary.
### Hashtags
#Austria #Hungary #Border #Schengen #EUnews #FreeMovement #PabloGutierrez #CGTNEurope #Agfalva #Schattendorf
Romania’s Election
Crisis
Romania is facing one of its most turbulent political moments in decades. The country’s Constitutional Court has annulled the first round of the presidential election after a declassified intelligence report linked the rapid rise of far-right candidate Calin Georgescu to a coordinated foreign influence campaign.
Officials say Russian state-backed actors used TikTok to promote Georgescu through unmarked paid content, violating Romanian election laws. The same report revealed more than eighty-five thousand hacking attempts targeting Romania’s electoral systems, raising fears about cyberattacks and outside interference.
The ruling has forced the government to schedule a new election date, likely sometime next year. In the meantime, protests have erupted in Bucharest, with thousands demanding transparency and a full investigation. Pro-Western candidate Elena Lasconi condemned the ruling as illegal and dangerous, warning that it undermines the core of Romania’s democracy.
Romanian prosecutors have now opened a computer crimes investigation linked to Georgescu’s campaign, while the European Commission has ordered TikTok to preserve any election-related data and explain its role within twenty-four hours.
International reaction has been swift. The United States and NATO allies are closely watching developments, worried that a shift toward nationalism or Russian influence could threaten regional stability. Romania plays a key strategic role on NATO’s eastern flank and is central to support efforts for Ukraine.
As the country awaits a new election date, many Romanians fear their democratic future is at stake.
Report from Bucharest.
### Hashtags
#Romania #Election2024 #Bucharest #CalinGeorgescu #ElenaLasconi #EU #NATO #TikTok #Disinformation #Russia #Democracy #PabloGutierrez #CGTNEurope
Syrian Migrants Dangerous EU Journey
Along the Czech and Slovak border, the journey for many Syrian migrants is becoming more dangerous by the day. Czech police have released dashcam video showing a high-speed chase involving a van carrying nearly two dozen migrants who failed to stop at a border checkpoint. Minutes later, the vehicle crashed in a residential area.
Police rescued twenty-one injured Syrians, including five children, and detained two suspected smugglers. The incident comes as Czechia reinforces its border controls, reacting to what authorities say is a twelve-hundred percent rise in illegal crossings this year.
Those who make it through often end up at Prague’s main train station, where volunteer groups provide food, clothing, and first aid. Many migrants describe long journeys through Turkey, Greece, Hungary, Slovakia, and into Czechia. Some show broken phones they say were smashed by Hungarian border guards. Others describe repeated attempts to cross, often without food or water.
Despite tighter controls, Czech police have detained more than two hundred migrants in the past week and arrested more than twenty suspected smugglers. Officials say the flow continues, driven by war, economic collapse, and the hope of reaching safer countries in Western Europe.
Report from South Moravia and Prague.
### Hashtags
#Czechia #Slovakia #Migrants #SyrianRefugees #Border #Europe #SouthMoravia #Prague #MigrationCrisis #CGTNEurope #PabloGutierrez
Police rescued twenty-one injured Syrians, including five children, and detained two suspected smugglers. The incident comes as Czechia reinforces its border controls, reacting to what authorities say is a twelve-hundred percent rise in illegal crossings this year.
Those who make it through often end up at Prague’s main train station, where volunteer groups provide food, clothing, and first aid. Many migrants describe long journeys through Turkey, Greece, Hungary, Slovakia, and into Czechia. Some show broken phones they say were smashed by Hungarian border guards. Others describe repeated attempts to cross, often without food or water.
Despite tighter controls, Czech police have detained more than two hundred migrants in the past week and arrested more than twenty suspected smugglers. Officials say the flow continues, driven by war, economic collapse, and the hope of reaching safer countries in Western Europe.
Report from South Moravia and Prague.
### Hashtags
#Czechia #Slovakia #Migrants #SyrianRefugees #Border #Europe #SouthMoravia #Prague #MigrationCrisis #CGTNEurope #PabloGutierrez
Bulgaria A Country Stuck in Political Deadlock
Bulgaria heads to the polls on April 2 for the fifth parliamentary election in just two years. Political instability has become the norm, and analysts say this vote may once again fail to produce a stable majority. Another fragile coalition is likely.
The race is dominated by two rival blocs. GERB, led by former prime minister Boyko Borisov, is running on a message of stability despite past corruption scandals. Their main challenger is the centrist, anti-corruption alliance We Continue the Change and Democratic Bulgaria, led by former ministers Kiril Petkov, Assen Vasilev, and Hristo Ivanov.
The Movement for Rights and Freedoms remains a consistent force, while the far-right Revival party continues to grow by tapping into pro-Russia sentiment and public frustration with the political crisis.
Key issues shaping the vote include the war in Ukraine, corruption, and the rise of radical anti-EU parties. Polls show GERB and the reformist coalition tied at about 26 percent each, with DPS and Revival close behind.
As Bulgarians prepare to vote once again, the country still faces the same question: can a stable government finally emerge?
#Bulgaria #Elections #BulgarianPolitics #Europe #EU #BalkanNews #CGTN #PabloGutierrez #GERB #PPDB #DPS #Revival #Ukraine #Corruption #EasternEurope
The race is dominated by two rival blocs. GERB, led by former prime minister Boyko Borisov, is running on a message of stability despite past corruption scandals. Their main challenger is the centrist, anti-corruption alliance We Continue the Change and Democratic Bulgaria, led by former ministers Kiril Petkov, Assen Vasilev, and Hristo Ivanov.
The Movement for Rights and Freedoms remains a consistent force, while the far-right Revival party continues to grow by tapping into pro-Russia sentiment and public frustration with the political crisis.
Key issues shaping the vote include the war in Ukraine, corruption, and the rise of radical anti-EU parties. Polls show GERB and the reformist coalition tied at about 26 percent each, with DPS and Revival close behind.
As Bulgarians prepare to vote once again, the country still faces the same question: can a stable government finally emerge?
#Bulgaria #Elections #BulgarianPolitics #Europe #EU #BalkanNews #CGTN #PabloGutierrez #GERB #PPDB #DPS #Revival #Ukraine #Corruption #EasternEurope
Slovakia’s Healthcare on the Brink
Slovakia is facing a critical moment. More than 3000 doctors have signed resignation letters, warning that without real reforms, better funding, and the fulfillment of past government promises, the country’s healthcare system could collapse at the start of the new year. Hospitals say the impact would be immediate, with surgeries, emergency care, and routine treatments at risk.
Doctors accuse the government of breaking a 2022 agreement that promised wage increases, improved training, and upgrades to hospital infrastructure. Instead, key commitments were rolled back, and the promised 9.7 percent salary increase was reduced to 6.4 percent. Many doctors say they are overworked in underfunded hospitals, facing outdated equipment and worsening conditions.
Healthcare economist Martin Smetana warns that Slovakia is headed toward its largest medical crisis in decades. Nearly 20 percent of young doctors leave the country after graduation, and hospitals are already understaffed. Patients are worried too, describing long wait times, too few beds, and a system that has been deteriorating for years.
If the resignations take effect on December 31, over half of Slovakia’s hospital doctors could walk out. Negotiations are stalled, and doctors say the next move belongs to the government. For now, hospitals and patients brace for uncertainty as the clock ticks toward a deadline that could define the future of Slovak healthcare.
#Slovakia #HealthcareCrisis #DoctorsStrike #SlovakiaNews #Europe #EU #Bratislava #CGTN #PabloGutierrez #HealthWorkers #Hospitals #MedicalStaff #PublicHealth
Doctors accuse the government of breaking a 2022 agreement that promised wage increases, improved training, and upgrades to hospital infrastructure. Instead, key commitments were rolled back, and the promised 9.7 percent salary increase was reduced to 6.4 percent. Many doctors say they are overworked in underfunded hospitals, facing outdated equipment and worsening conditions.
Healthcare economist Martin Smetana warns that Slovakia is headed toward its largest medical crisis in decades. Nearly 20 percent of young doctors leave the country after graduation, and hospitals are already understaffed. Patients are worried too, describing long wait times, too few beds, and a system that has been deteriorating for years.
If the resignations take effect on December 31, over half of Slovakia’s hospital doctors could walk out. Negotiations are stalled, and doctors say the next move belongs to the government. For now, hospitals and patients brace for uncertainty as the clock ticks toward a deadline that could define the future of Slovak healthcare.
#Slovakia #HealthcareCrisis #DoctorsStrike #SlovakiaNews #Europe #EU #Bratislava #CGTN #PabloGutierrez #HealthWorkers #Hospitals #MedicalStaff #PublicHealth
Hungary Breaks with ICC During Netanyahu Visit
Hungary is pulling out of the International Criminal Court just as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives in Budapest. The ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza. As an ICC member, Hungary would normally be required to act on that warrant. Prime Minister Viktor Orban says it will not. He argues the court has become political and that Hungary is no longer willing to cooperate.
The government also points to a legal gap. Hungary ratified the Rome Statute in 2001 but never wrote it into national law, and officials say that leaves no path to enforce ICC warrants. International lawyers disagree, saying war crimes fall under broader international law.
The move raises questions inside the European Union. Brussels supports the ICC, and Hungary’s withdrawal adds to long-running tensions with the bloc. It may also complicate Hungary’s relationship with China. Beijing supports a two-state solution in the Middle East and has criticized civilian suffering in Gaza. Hungary, however, is doubling down on its alliance with Israel, with both leaders calling the ICC biased.
For now, Hungary stands firm. No arrest, no cooperation, and soon, no ICC.
Hashtags
#Hungary #Budapest #ICC #Netanyahu #Israel #Gaza #EU #China #InternationalLaw #Politics #PabloGutierrez #CGTNEurope
The government also points to a legal gap. Hungary ratified the Rome Statute in 2001 but never wrote it into national law, and officials say that leaves no path to enforce ICC warrants. International lawyers disagree, saying war crimes fall under broader international law.
The move raises questions inside the European Union. Brussels supports the ICC, and Hungary’s withdrawal adds to long-running tensions with the bloc. It may also complicate Hungary’s relationship with China. Beijing supports a two-state solution in the Middle East and has criticized civilian suffering in Gaza. Hungary, however, is doubling down on its alliance with Israel, with both leaders calling the ICC biased.
For now, Hungary stands firm. No arrest, no cooperation, and soon, no ICC.
Hashtags
#Hungary #Budapest #ICC #Netanyahu #Israel #Gaza #EU #China #InternationalLaw #Politics #PabloGutierrez #CGTNEurope
Europe Rethinks Its Future as Tariff Deadline Nears
Europe is treating this moment as a wake-up call. EU finance ministers are in Warsaw with only 90 days to strike a deal with the United States before new tariffs hit. The pause was granted by President Trump, but it is temporary, and Europe now has to decide how to protect its economy.
For the first time, the Swiss president is inside an EU finance meeting. Switzerland is not an EU member, but after being hit with a 31 percent tariff, Bern is suddenly moving closer. Swiss president Karin Keller-Sutter spoke directly with Trump and top EU leaders before making this trip, a sign that Switzerland may be rethinking its long tradition of keeping Brussels at arm’s length.
At the same time, the UK’s chancellor Rachel Reeves is in Warsaw pushing for deeper security cooperation. She wants Britain involved in a proposed European rearming fund worth more than 160 billion dollars. With the U.S. stepping back from its old role in Europe, both Switzerland and the UK are recalculating how to protect their economies and their borders.
EU ministers say that if talks with Washington fail, the bloc will retaliate. A deal could follow the EU’s proposal for zero tariffs on industrial goods, but no agreement is guaranteed. Countries also warn that any response must be coordinated or it could distort the single market.
What is clear is that Europe is reassessing its economic model and its security strategy at the same time. With tariffs looming and defense budgets rising, this moment is reshaping Europe’s relationships with the U.S., Switzerland, and the UK.
Hashtags
#Europe #EU #Switzerland #UK #Tariffs #Trade #Economy #Defense #Warsaw #Trump #KarinKellerSutter #RachelReeves #PabloGutierrez #CGTNEurope
For the first time, the Swiss president is inside an EU finance meeting. Switzerland is not an EU member, but after being hit with a 31 percent tariff, Bern is suddenly moving closer. Swiss president Karin Keller-Sutter spoke directly with Trump and top EU leaders before making this trip, a sign that Switzerland may be rethinking its long tradition of keeping Brussels at arm’s length.
At the same time, the UK’s chancellor Rachel Reeves is in Warsaw pushing for deeper security cooperation. She wants Britain involved in a proposed European rearming fund worth more than 160 billion dollars. With the U.S. stepping back from its old role in Europe, both Switzerland and the UK are recalculating how to protect their economies and their borders.
EU ministers say that if talks with Washington fail, the bloc will retaliate. A deal could follow the EU’s proposal for zero tariffs on industrial goods, but no agreement is guaranteed. Countries also warn that any response must be coordinated or it could distort the single market.
What is clear is that Europe is reassessing its economic model and its security strategy at the same time. With tariffs looming and defense budgets rising, this moment is reshaping Europe’s relationships with the U.S., Switzerland, and the UK.
Hashtags
#Europe #EU #Switzerland #UK #Tariffs #Trade #Economy #Defense #Warsaw #Trump #KarinKellerSutter #RachelReeves #PabloGutierrez #CGTNEurope
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