Central Europe Monitor
?? Country: Poland
All Civilian Airports to Be Made Suitable for Military Use
?? Date: February 28, 2025
Defense Minister W?adys?aw Kosiniak-Kamysz announced in a press conference his intention to make all civilian airports in Poland suitable for military use. He referenced the airports in Kraków and Warsaw, which are already capable of dual-use operations. The immediate reason for these transformations is the changed security situation due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which has now lasted for three years.
?? Media Coverage in Hungary:
?? Total Mentions: 17
?? Mentions Over Time:
?? Breakdown by Media Type:
(Source: OBSERVER Media Monitoring)
?? Country: Czech Republic
Major Modernization Plan Announced for Prague’s Main Airport
?? Date: March 1, 2025
A modernization program set to take place over the next decade has been launched for Václav Havel International Airport in Prague. Both terminals will be renovated, parking capacity will be rebuilt, and the airport’s energy supply will also be modernized. The total cost of the project is approximately 90 million Czech korunas (slightly over 3.5 million euros). The most significant element of the plan is the integration of the airport into the railway network.
?? Media Coverage in Hungary:
?? Total Mentions: 1
?? Mentions Over Time:
?? Breakdown by Media Type:
(Source: OBSERVER Media Monitoring)
?? Country: Slovakia
Swastikas Found on Graves in One of Slovakia’s Oldest Jewish Cemeteries
?? Date: Februray 28, 2025
The town of Humenné in eastern Slovakia is home to one of the country’s oldest Jewish cemeteries. Juraj Levicky, a member of the Jewish community in Pre?ov, was visiting the cemetery with a British journalist last week when they discovered Nazi symbols, including swastikas, graffitied on gravestones. The police have launched an investigation, and the damage caused by the vandalism is estimated at a minimum of 2,000 euros.
?? Media Coverage in Hungary:
?? Total Mentions: 0
(Source: OBSERVER Media Monitoring)
?? Country: Romania
African Swine Fever Reported in Timi? County
?? Date: February 28, 2025
Cases of African swine fever were last week in the town of Periam (Perjámos) in Timi? County. Authorities took immediate action, ordering the culling of at least 30,000 pigs and the establishment of a 10-kilometer safety zone.
?? Media Coverage in Hungary:
?? Total Mentions: 1
?? Mentions Over Time:
?? Breakdown by Media Type:
(Source: OBSERVER Media Monitoring)
17-Year-Old Bucharest Student Suspected of Terrorist Threats by the FBI
?? Date: March 3, 2025
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) suspects a 17-year-old student from Bucharest of sending bomb threats to hundreds of institutions, including schools and hospitals, across the United States and Europe. The student had previously been on the radar of Romanian authorities, and the U.S. is now seeking his extradition. The decision on this matter will be made by the Bucharest Court of Appeal.
?? Media Coverage in Hungary:
?? Total Mentions: 30
?? Mentions Over Time:
?? Breakdown by Media Type:
(Source: OBSERVER Media Monitoring)
?? Country: Bulgaria
Bulgaria Commemorated the Treaty of San Stefano on March 3
?? Date: March 3, 2025
The Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78 created the possibility of at least a partial restoration of Bulgarian statehood. The first peace treaty ending the war was signed in San Stefano on March 3, establishing a Bulgarian state on a much larger territory than today. However, the Berlin Congress later that year reduced Bulgaria’s territory and granted it only autonomy within the Ottoman Empire instead of full independence. Despite this, March 3 remains Bulgaria’s Independence Day and is a national holiday celebrated across the country.
?? Media Coverage in Hungary:
?? Total Mentions: 0
(Source: OBSERVER Media Monitoring)
Sunflower Oil Crisis Could Lead to Factory Closures in Bulgaria
?? Date: March 3, 2025
Bulgaria has traditionally been an exporter of sunflower seeds, with a significant industry built around their cultivation. The ongoing war in Ukraine has disrupted markets, yet Bulgaria continued to export sunflower oil even during this period. However, the extremely poor 2024 harvest has resulted in a shortage of sunflower seeds. Additionally, import restrictions due to protests have prevented Bulgaria from sourcing supplies from Ukraine, as was common in previous years. The shortage now threatens factory closures and significant price increases in retail markets.
?? Media Coverage in Hungary:
?? Total Mentions: 1
?? Mentions Over Time:
?? Breakdown by Media Type:
(Source: OBSERVER Media Monitoring)
?? Country: Croatia
Croatia Commemorates the Birth of Its First Female Journalist, Marija Juri? Zagorka
?? Date: March 2, 2025
Marija Juri? Zagorka was the first professional female journalist in Croatia. She was born on March 2, 1873, in Negovec, near Vrbovec. Her family initially did not support her ambitions, and her career began with an anonymous article. She later became a political journalist, reporting from Budapest and Vienna. Throughout her life, she wrote about 20 novels, including one of the first crime novels in Croatian, and was a strong advocate for women's rights. She passed away in 1957 in Zagreb. In recent years, academic interest in her work has grown, and since 2007, "Marija Juri? Zagorka Days" have been held to raise awareness of her cultural impact.
?? Media Coverage in Hungary:
?? Total Mentions: 0
(Source: OBSERVER Media Monitoring)
Historical Museum Zone Opens at Zagreb’s International Airport
?? Date: March 3, 2025
The Croatian History Museum and Franjo Tu?man International Airport have collaborated on a new museum zone recently opened in the airport’s passenger area. The exhibition, titled “Stars of Croatian History – The Sky is the Limit – Get to Know Them!”, aims to showcase the contributions of prominent figures from Croatian history, culture, and science.
?? Media Coverage in Hungary:
?? Total Mentions: 1
?? Mentions Over Time:
?? Breakdown by Media Type:
(Source: OBSERVER Media Monitoring)
70% of Young Croatians Unable to Buy or Rent Their Own Home
?? Date: March 2, 2025
Croatia faces a severe housing crisis, particularly affecting young people under the age of 31. Seventy percent of them are unable to buy or rent their own home. A study commissioned by Social Democrat MEP Marko Ve?ligaj found that those who own property mostly acquired it through inheritance. The majority of young people under 31 still live with their parents, often paying little or no rent. In the survey, 73% of respondents stated that government intervention is necessary to address the issue.
?? Media Coverage in Hungary:
?? Total Mentions: 2
?? Mentions Over Time:
?? Breakdown by Media Type:
(Source: OBSERVER Media Monitoring)