Europe
Hungary’s policy shift may not cost Orban domestically
Orban’s control of most media will allow him to ‘spin’ his about-face on EU funding for Ukraine and probably NATO too
HungaryUkraine will fight Russia with fewer resources
Ukraine’s army chief General Valery Zaluzhny has outlined his vision for fighting with diminished resources
UkrainePolish opposition’s combative tactics may cost votes
The opposition attempt to invalidate legislation has led the government to threaten early elections raising its majority
PolandUK Central Bank will be cautious about early rate cuts
The Bank of England has left rates on hold but the vote was split, with two members favouring a rate rise and one a cut
United KingdomDigital euro will launch but perhaps later than 2027
Plans for the digital euro see a 2027 launch but the ECB still needs to win support from commercial banks and citizens
InternationalFood price growth is on track to ease slowly in 2024
The global food price index fell in January, led by lower prices for maize and meat but with rice prices still high
InternationalBelgium should survive surge of Flemish far right
The far-right party which wants to dissolve Belgium is leading in the polls ahead of June’s federal election
BelgiumEasing euro-area CPI points to rate cuts later in 2024
Inflation was little changed at 2.8% last month but core inflation dropped to 3.3%; high food prices remain a concern
International
