Sebastian Schäffer on Asharq News about EUCO and Ukraine

IDM Director Sebastian Schäffer spoke on the Arabic-language television channel Aharq News about the results of the European Summit held in Brussels on 21 March regarding the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. The Saudi Arabian TV station also invited a speaker from Moscow, who started by expressing his frustration about his frozen pension fund with Citi Bank. Schäffer stated that it is interesting to hear that suddenly rule of law is demanded, while the Russian Federation has violated international law in Ukraine for more than a decade now.  

The legal possibilities of using Russian frozen assets in the EU to finance weapons for Ukraine among other things is currently debated among the Heads of State or Government in the Belgian capital. There seems to be a broader consensus, at least among the German political parties, to use the interest resulting from those assets, which adds up to around three billion euros per year.  

While it is only natural that decisions among 27 sovereign countries take longer, time is not on the side of Ukraine. However, the Russian Federation is not as united as the result of the presidential “elections” might suggest. Schäffer said that there are signs of the biggest manipulations in Russia for nearly 25 years. Vladimir Putin would of course still have won, but by a much lesser margin.  

The guest from Moscow argued that the economy of the Russian Federation is strong despite the sanctions and has been transformed to outproduce the West; he also declared that the attacks on his country from Ukraine will only further unite the Russian population behind Putin. The IDM Director responded that this might be the case, but even with the uncertainty of the support coming from the United States and the possibility of Trump returning to the White House next year, the EU member states have at least started to recognise the need to do more. As the Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas suggested, if every country provides at least 0.25 percent of its gross domestic product for military aid, the Ukrainians could outstrip Russia.  

Schäffer further mentioned that with all the lamenting coming from Moscow, we should not forget that the Kremlin heinously attacks the civilian population in Ukraine each and every day, causing death and destruction. They are solely responsible and have to face the consequences. 

Watch the video (in Arabic) here.

How likely is Armenia to join the EU?

Experts comment for ED News on a possible membership application from Yerevan, among them IDM Director Sebastian Schäffer.

You can read the whole article here.

The article is also available in Azerbaijani.

Daniel Martínek on the recent worrying developments in Slovakia

Daniel Martínek (IDM) analyses Slovakia’s recent democratic decline under the new government coalition led by SMER party. Robert Fico’s return marks systemic changes, including dismantling the Special Prosecutor’s Office and ideological battles eroding democratic institutions. With international isolation looming and media crackdowns, President Čaputová emerges as a democratic bulwark. The upcoming presidential election becomes pivotal, determining Slovakia’s democratic trajectory amidst Fico’s power grab. 

Read the article in German on DerStandard: Slowakei: Robert Ficos Comeback und der Niedergang der Demokratie 

Read the article in English on Eastblog: In the Shadows of Illiberalism: Slovakia’s Democratic Struggle under Fico’s Resurgence 

IDM Director Sebastian Schäffer at DW News on the situation in Transnistria

On 28 February 2024, a congress in the Moldovan breakaway region of Transnistria asked Moscow for support. A day later, the Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the Federal Assembly, fuelling speculations over a response or even recognition from the Kremlin. Before the speech, IDM Director Sebastian Schäffer spoke with DW News and stated that he is not very concerned about a possible development on the ground, as this would currently be impossible from a logistical point of view. As the Moldovan President Maia Sandu stated during an interview at a summit held in Albania yesterday, “Moldova is safe today, thanks to the bravery of the Ukrainian soldiers”. If the overall situation changes, this could also have implications for Chișinău. Nevertheless, despite the historic sentiment in Transnistria towards the Soviet Union as well as the Russian language, economic factors should also be taken into account, Schäffer stated. Over the past decade, more goods are exported to the EU than to the Russian Federation. In the medium term, dependency on gas and electricity supply – which is still vital for Moldova coming mainly through the Transnistrian region – will also be alleviated due to countermeasures imposed after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Vigilance is required, but fear of an escalation is still premature according to the IDM Director.

Péter Techet über den Mafiastaat und Clan-Loyalität im Orbáns Ungarn für „taz“

In der bundesdeutschen Tageszeitung „TAZ“ schrieb Péter Techet, wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter des IDM, einen Meinungsartikel anlässlich des aktuellen Skandals in Ungarn (infolge des Rücktrittes der Staatspräsidentin) über die Enthüllungen eines Fidesz-Insiders über das Regime als „Familienunternehmen“. Techet meint, dass Ungarn ein postkommunistischer Mafiastaat sei: Das Orbán-Regime sei nicht durch eine Ideologie, sondern durch die pure Clan-Loyalität zusammengehalten.

Der Artikel kann hier gelesen werden.

Sebastian Schäffer for Fair Observer: Make Sense of the New Central Europe and the EU

Sebastian Schäffer discussed about what is going on in Central Europe with Fair Observer since the region has seen a rise in populist, nationalist political parties that seemingly stand against the values of the EU. Member states like Hungary are even backsliding on democracy. Hungary has blocked some financial aid from entering Ukraine as it enters its third year of war with Russia.

You can watch the whole interview here.

 

Péter Techet über die Folgen des Rücktrittes der ungarischen Staatspräsidentin für ARTE

In den Abendnachrichten des deutsch-französischen Kultursenders ARTE sprach Péter Techet, wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter des IDM darüber, ob der Rücktritt der ungarischen Staatspräsidentin und die Kritik eines ehemaligen Fidesz-Insiders die Macht von Viktor Orbán gefährden können.

Das Statement kann hier auf Deutsch (nach 8:00) oder auf Französisch (nach 7:47) angeschaut werden.

Péter Techet über den Mafiastaat in Ungarn

In der italienischen Tageszeitung „Domani“ wurde auch Péter Techet, wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter am Institut für den Donauraum und Mitteleuropa über den aktuellen Skandal in Ungarn befragt, der infolge des Rücktrittes der Staatspräsidentin Katalin Novák erfolgte. Ein Insider der Fidesz-Partei packte in einem Interview aus: Das Regime funktioniere wie ein Mafiastaat, wo Angst herrsche und alles kontrolliert werde. Techet meinte für „Domani“, dass der Fidesz-Insider ein Regime beschrieb, „in dem das Stockholm-Syndrom vorherrscht: Jede, sogar diejenigen an der Spitze der Macht, werden kontrolliert und misshandelt, der Staat funktioniert wie eine Familienmafia“.

Der Artikel (hinter Paywall) kann in Italienisch hier gelesen werden.

Péter Techet über das ungarische „Gesetz zum Schutz der Souveränität“

In der aktuellen Ausgabe der Schweizer Monatszeitschrift „Religion und Gesellschaft in Ost und West“ analysiert Péter Techet die Gründe und die Gefahren des „Gesetzes zum Schutz der Souveränität“, das im Dezember im Budapester Parlament verabschiedet wurde. Techet stellt dar, wie und warum die Regierungsparteien die Opposition mit rechtlichen Mitteln einschränken wollen. Der ganze Artikel ist hier zu lesen.

Milliarden für die Ukraine: EU-Gipfel in Brüssel

Die Historikerin Daniela Apaydin vom Institut für den Donauraum und Mitteleuropa (IDM) beurteilt die Erwartungen an den EU-Sondergipfel an diesem Donnerstag in Brüssel. Dabei geht es um die Frage: „Wie geht es weiter mit der EU-Unterstützung für die Ukraine?“

Sehen Sie sich das Interview hier an.