Orbán Orders Courts to Halt Lawsuits Against Government
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has issued a decree ordering courts to drop lawsuits against his government related to the solidarity contribution imposed on local municipalities. Citing a state of emergency linked to the war in Ukraine, the decree mandates that the contribution, deemed constitutional by Hungary's Constitutional Court, cannot be legally disputed, effectively halting ongoing legal actions from Budapest. This move has raised concerns about judicial independence and democratic backsliding in Hungary.
European Commission seeks to strengthen cancer patients' rights
The European Commission is advancing initiatives to enhance cancer patients' rights, including the 'right to be forgotten,' while advocating for €90 billion in public health funding. This push comes amid concerns over disparities in access to cancer medicines, as highlighted by a European Parliament debate where Malta was noted for having only 16% of cancer medicines reimbursed by its national health service, compared to 100% in other EU countries.
Eurozone inflation drops to 1.7% in January
Eurozone inflation fell to 1.7% in January, down from 1.9% in December and below the European Central Bank's (ECB) 2% target, according to Eurostat's flash estimate. This marks the lowest inflation rate in over a year, driven by a significant decline in energy prices, which dropped by 4.1% year on year. The ECB is expected to maintain its deposit facility rate at 2% during its upcoming meeting on February 5, 2026, as core inflation remains slightly above target at 2.2%.
