At its February meeting, the Monetary Policy Council decided to maintain the benchmark interest rate at the current level of 5.75% for the fourth consecutive months. The decision was in line with market consensus. The Polish central bank. Photo by Rafał Guz/PAP

– Hungarians should immediately agree to Sweden's accession to NATO; it is worth assembling a coalition to exert positive pressure on Hungary on this issue, said the Deputy Prime Minister, head of the Ministry of National Defense, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, at Tuesday's press conference.

Poland ranks second among the countries with the lowest unemployment rate among all European Union countries (in December 2023 it was 2.7 percent). The Czech Republic is in third place with a result of 2.8 percent. According to Eurostat, both countries are also among the countries with the lowest youth unemployment.

EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell suggested on Monday in Warsaw that member states consider a temporary pause in weapon exports to countries, excluding Ukraine.

In 2023, specialized mobile teams of Czech engineers, chemists, medics, and snipers trained nearly a thousand Ukrainian soldiers in Poland. The EU-led mission will continue this year as well. According to the commander of the first rotation, Captain Pavel Kinc,  the joint preparation is also beneficial for the Czech soldiers.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg expressed confidence on Friday that Hungary's parliament would swiftly ratify Sweden's accession to the military alliance when it reconvenes at the end of February. - Sweden's membership will make NATO stronger and us safer - emphasized the head of the Alliance. - I hope that Hungary's ratification of Sweden's application to NATO is only a matter of time.

The unemployment rate in Hungary rose to 4.4% in October-December 2023, up from 3.9% in the corresponding period of the previous year. According to KSH the highest unemployment rate was in Northern Hungary (7.3%), and the lowest in Central Transdanubia (2.2%).

On Monday, the Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk and the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy committed to addressing longstanding political disputes that have impeded their crucial wartime alliance. They also pledged to enhance defense cooperation as Russia's invasion of Ukraine approaches its third year.

"We will strengthen military cooperation. We will hold joint military exercises.

Slovakia rejects the admission of Ukraine to NATO and is prepared to veto the country's accession if necessary, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico told public radio station RTVS on Saturday. He also announced his meeting on Wednesday with the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, during which he will convey Slovakia's negative position regarding Ukraine's NATO membership.

Almost every child's dream will come true for Polish elementary school students: From April, they will no longer be assigned homework. According to the Polish Minister of Education Barbara Nowacka, children should rest during their free time. Subsequently, the government ban may extend to secondary schools as well.