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Chinese rail giant CRRC's Portuguese subsidiary withdrew from a consortium to provide trams to metro project in Lisbon after EU foreign subsidies regulation probe - replaced by a Polish company

Story to follow with Xiaofei Xu

Artificial intelligence (AI) can help track inflation risks in real time. A new ECB model based on machine learning informs experts how likely it is that inflation will be much higher or much lower than they expect link.europa.eu/6DkYW3

Imagine if this Orbán-loyal figure were treated in Brussels the way EU officials have been treated in Orbán’s Hungary: constant attacks, crude rhetoric, and open hostility. Instead, colleagues assess his performance professionally and with restraint. That contrast says everything.

Keep this post. It will be, in a few months, a good opportunity to discuss why journalists are hired or not and what they know about the subjects they pretend to analyse... #Hungary @srm-lemonde.bsky.social

Czech government moves to scrap public media fees, sparking independence fears The reform marks one of the most significant changes to Czech public broadcasting in the post-communist era

Czech government moves to scrap public media fees, sparking independence fears

PROFILE: Magyar, the driven challenger standing on the brink of victory Magyar came out the system itself to become Orbán’s nemesis 

PROFILE: Magyar, the driven challenger standing on the brink of victory

HUNGARY: record turnout for historic day of democratic destiny "I am here to win," said Orbán

HUNGARY: record turnout for historic day of democratic destiny

MEPs warn of ‘serious risks’ to Hungary election A letter sent to Ursula von der Leyen denounces “potential Russian interference operation” in Hungary and “state-led intimidation,” raising concerns about the fairness of the upcoming vote.

A letter sent to Ursula von der Leyen denounces “potential Russian interference operation” in Hungary and “state-led intimidation,” raising concerns about the fairness of the upcoming vote. #EuropeNews

Graphic with a photo of the Hungarian Parliament building and the key information on the 1-day academic workshop "Hungary 2026: Elections, Institutions, Participation": on 16 April online and in Budapest. Registration: via jti.titkarsag@tk.hu

Join us for a one-day workshop following the Hungarian elections and examining electoral processes and democratic dynamics within the EU:

👉 Further details: www.reconstitution.eu/news/news-de...

📍 ELTE Centre for Social Sciences, Budapest / ONLINE
📅 16.04.2026
✉️ Registration: jti.titkarsag@tk.hu

The EU’s inability to act in unison is exposing a systemic paralysis, nine diplomats, officials, lawmakers and experts told POLITICO.

We take you inside the renewed fight over the bloc’s veto system 👇

🔗 www.politico.eu/article/eu-f...

🇺🇸🇭🇺 According to Bloomberg, during today's meeting between J.D. Vance and Orban, the parties will announce an agreement between Hungary and the US to purchase American oil worth ~$500 million.

This move will be presented as a victory for Orban to strengthen his authority ahead of the election.

Hungary is at a crossroads. Which way will it turn if Viktor Orban loses?

Hungary is at a crossroads. Which way will it turn if Viktor Orban loses?

“Sinister” and “Unacceptable”: Europe Responds to the Kremlin Hotline Investigation - VSquare.org European and Ukrainian leaders respond to our joint report that Hungary’s foreign minister was doing his Russian counterpart’s bidding while the Hungarian government clings to claims of sovereignty.

💥Multiple legal and intelligence experts in Hungary have pointed out that Péter Szijjártó’s activities may be prosecutable under the Hungarian Penal Code’s provisions on espionage against European Union institutions on behalf of a third country.

Lessons for the world from tiny Hungary A regime loved by MAGA may soon lose power. That matters

Any new government will struggle to unravel Orbanism’s tentacular grip over Hungary. The first step, however, is the most crucial: defeating Viktor Orban

Leaked phone call reveals how Orbán’s Hungary and Fico’s Slovakia helped Russian oligarchs – EUobserver - Bytes Europe A leaked audio from a major international investigation published on Tuesday (31 March) reveals Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó discussing the

Leaked phone call reveals how Orbán’s Hungary and Fico’s Slovakia helped Russian oligarchs – EUobserver

https://www.byteseu.com/1910040/

A leaked audio from a major international investigation published on Tuesday (31 March) reveals Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó discussing the …

How Hungary sidesteps Europe’s fraud watchdog Viktor Orbán’s government has returned just 18% of funds flagged by the EU’s anti-graft body

The swine is stealing money.

OLAF launched 87 investigations targeting Hungary between 2015 and 2024 and recommended judicial proceedings in 52 cases.

www.ft.com/content/8973...

Orbán Will Lose Hungary’s Election in Two Weeks—If It’s Clean Péter Magyar is a seemingly unstoppable force—but don’t expect the embattled Orbán to give up without a fight.

"Were Hungary a functioning democracy, the handwriting foretelling Orbán’s demise would have been on the wall months ago. But Hungary is hardly a democracy at all." H. David Baer on the upcoming Hungarian elections:

Five EU governments found to ‘consistently’ dismantle rule of law Exclusive: Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy and Slovakia actively pursue regressive policies, watchdog finds

🚨🚨 Grim news: Governments in five EU MS are “consistently and intentionally” eroding the #ruleoflaw, Europe’s leading civil liberties group has warned, while democratic standards are deteriorating in six more, including historically strong democracies. 🧵
www.theguardian.com/law/2026/mar...

US senators aim to sanction Hungary over obstructing Ukraine aid Bipartisan bill from Shaheen and Tillis comes as Prime Minister Viktor Orbán holds up €90bn loan to Kyiv

💥A bipartisan pair of US senators are set to introduce legislation calling for sanctions to be imposed on senior Hungarian officials involved in obstructing aid to Ukraine.

Hungary charges journalist after claims minister was in touch with Moscow Investigative reporter Szabolcs Panyi covered story alleging foreign minister had passed information to Sergei Lavrov

#Hungary: The Hungarian government has filed charges against one of 🇭🇺 most prominent investigative journalists @szabolcspanyi.bsky.social, who has recently revealed multiple Russian influence operations aimed at boosting Orban’s re-election.

We express our full support for Szabolcs Panyi.

Talks on EU’s €1.8T budget hinge on Hungarian election Another victory by long-time PM Viktor Orbán could throw a wrench in the bloc’s efforts to secure a budget deal by the end of 2026.

"The Hungarian leader has threatened to veto any budget that links EU payments to democratic requirements. Brussels, meanwhile, is keen to approve a proposed text that includes such guarantees ahead of a crucial 2027 presidential election in France."
@politico.eu
www.politico.eu/article/talk...

Call between POLITICO journalist and EU official was intercepted and published online “Our internal reviews have found no evidence that any devices, networks or systems have been compromised,” POLITICO says in email to staff.

POLITICO launched a security review after a private telephone conversation between one of its reporters and an EU official about issues connected to Hungary and Ukraine was apparently intercepted and the recording published online.

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Hungary election winner will have to rein in social spending, S&P says: S&P Global has warned that the winner of Hungary's upcoming April 12 parliamentary election will be compelled to reduce social spending to stabilize state finances, citing risks to economic recove… https://ranked.news/378806?u=b

The Brief – Europe can’t unsee the Iranian threat Even if they sit on the fence, Europeans are in the firing line. And the threat is only growing

The Brief – Europe can’t unsee the Iranian threat

“The news that Orbán’s people inform Moscow about EU Council meetings in every detail shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who has backed Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar in the election, wrote on X on Sunday.

📖 Boekenweek 📖

With everything happening right now, books remain, for me, a source of perspective, offering glimpses into different worlds.

In honour of Boekenweek (‘book week’) in the Netherlands, I thought I’d share the books currently on my bedside table.

And you, what are you reading?

Norway should reapply to become an EU member in light of their shared security challenges — namely #Russia — the leader of the country’s conservative opposition party told @politico.eu. The oil-rich Nordic nation applied to join the EU in 92, but the bid was rejected in a referendum two years later.

The EU’s Hungary problem won’t be solved even if Viktor Orbán is ousted The bloc’s foremost troublemaker could lose April’s election, but the headaches he’s caused will not necessarily disappear with him

The EU’s Hungary problem won’t be solved even if Viktor Orbán is ousted

"No oil, no money," Orban tells Ukraine “No oil. No money.” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban continues to take a hard line on dropping his veto on the disbursement of the €90bn EU loan agreed in December, as Brussels comes up with a face saving solution to end the impasse.

“No oil. No money.” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban continues to take a hard line on dropping his veto on the disbursement of the €90bn EU loan agreed in December, as Brussels comes up with a face saving solution to end the… Bne IntelliNews #Ukraine #Hungary #Orban #EuropeanUnion #EUloan

Fake papers? Real problem!

Document fraud isn't an isolated crime - it’s a gateway to money laundering, trafficking, and terrorism. 🛂

Frontex works with national authorities to ensure detection is based on science, not guessing. 🇪🇺🛡️

#StrongerTogether #EUSecurity