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Analyses | | Marta Szpala

Romania trapped between the referendum and criticism from the EU

A referendum on the impeachment of President Traian Basescu will be held on 29 July in Romania. On 18 July, under pressure from the EU, the parliament changed the rules for holding the referendum and introduced a 50 per cent turnout…
Analyses | | Marta Szpala

New voting regulations in Albania too small a step on the way to the EU

The Albanian parliament adopted a new electoral code on 19 July. The adoption of new regulations in this area is one of the key conditions on which the EU has made granting candidate status to Albania dependent. The other requirements…
OSW Studies | | Jadwiga Rogoża, Agata Wierzbowska-Miazga, Iwona Wiśniewska

A captive island Kaliningrad between Moscow and the EU

The Kaliningrad region can be called a 'captive island', because of its specific geopolitical location - it is part of the Russian legal, political and economic space, yet it is geographically separated from the rest of the Russian…
Analyses | | Jadwiga Rogoża

Restrictions versus protests the government hinders opposition activity

  In recent weeks, the State Duma has passed a number of laws intended to serve as instruments for increasing state control over public activity, and which could be used to counteract opposition initiatives. Among other things, the…
Analyses | | Iwona Wiśniewska

Russia is a WTO member

On 21 July, President Vladimir Putin ratified the protocol on Russia's accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Formally, the process of the Russian Federation's accession to the organisation will end with it being entered on the…
Analyses | | Marek Matusiak

Tajikistan In Badakhshan the government fights with former field commanders

  On 24 July, Tajik power structures began special operations in the Gorno – Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) directed against local criminal groups linked to former field commanders from the civil war period (1992-1997), some of which…
Point of View | | Marek Matusiak

Georgian dilemmas Between a strong state and democracy

Since its 'Rose Revolution' of 2003, Georgia has become the most spectacular example in the CIS of the export of a Western economic policy model: an example of success in building up efficient state structures, a state which was not broken…
Analyses | | Tomasz Dąborowski

The breakdown of political order in Romania

Last week saw an escalation in the conflict between President Traian Basescu and the Victor Ponta government which has been in power since May this year. On 6 July, the parliamentary majority led to the president being suspended from duty…
Analyses | | Konrad Mazur

Shale gas reserves in Germany are estimated at up to 22 trillion cubic meters

The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources has presented a survey concerning potential deposits of shale gas in Germany, which had been ordered by the federal government. According to the survey, entitled ‘Shale gas…
Analyses | | Konrad Mazur

Negotiations between Germanys EON and Gazprom result in lower gas prices

E.ON, Germany’s largest energy company, announced on 3 July that a compromise had been reached with Gazprom concerning a reduction in price in the long-term contracts for the supply of Russian gas. This agreement was signed by Alexander…