A new Globsec report published this week places Czechia among “mid-tier” countries on NATO’s eastern flank. Analyst Martin Sklenář says the country has solid foundations but slower political decision-making. At the same time, its defence industry remains a key pillar of European deterrence.

In Czechia, there is increasing debate about a proposed law from the Ministry of Culture that would abolish licence fees and change the funding of Czech public service media. As a result, they would be financed from the state budget instead. However, voices not only from the opposition and the leadership of Czech Radio and Czech Television themselves are raising concerns, viewing such a change as a threat to the stability and independence of Czech media.

Péter Magyar’s resounding victory in Hungary’s general elections –and the pending change-of-guard after Orbán’s 16 years in office - poses many questions. Is this a political reset –or just a new face? Who is Péter Magyar and what can Europe expect from Hungary’s incoming prime minister? Those are some of the questions I put to Viktor Daněk, deputy director of the Europeum Institute.

The NATO summit in Ankara has laid bare the growing political divide between the Czech president and the Babiš government. The president insists that he has the right to represent the country at the summit; the ruling coalition has made it clear he should stay at home.

The Czech Finance Ministry has started publishing daily maximum fuel prices as part of efforts to curb rising costs driven by global tensions. The move also includes limits on distributor margins and tax cuts on diesel. Jan Bureš, chief economist at ČSOB Bank says the impact may be limited and warns of possible unintended consequences.

As of this week, children in the Czech Republic have a new advocate: the country’s first officially appointed Children’s Ombudsman. The role is meant to strengthen the protection of children’s rights and give young people a stronger voice.

The Czech and Slovak governments met again on Tuesday after a three-year pause, signalling a renewed phase in bilateral relations. Political scientist Petr Kaniok says cooperation between the two countries remains strong in practical terms. However, he warns that the political dimension of the renewed ties sends a broader signal within the European Union.

Tensions between Czech politicians and the media have once again come to the fore. A joint statement signed by more than 20 prominent editors criticizes the approach of Andrej Babiš toward journalists. The rare joint statement highlights growing tensions between politics and the press. Reporter magazine editor-in-chief Michal Musil explains why he helped initiate it.

The sale of kratom in the Czech Republic has been subject to stricter regulations for four months now. Although it can currently only be sold by licensed shops, it was previously available, for example, in shopping centers. Despite the new rules, however, the substance remains widespread among young people in primary and secondary schools. One solution that municipal authorities are beginning to adopt is banning the consumption of kratom in public spaces.

The Czech government MPs are moving to change how public service media are funded. Their new proposal would exempt some groups from paying licence fees and could lead to their eventual abolition. Critics warn the shift could weaken both funding stability and editorial independence.