Romania has approved “technical-economic indicators” for an over RON 750mn (EUR 150.8mn) rail construction project at the country’s largest port Constanta, east Romania, scheduled for completion in two years. The Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) country has plans to transform Constanta into a key Black Sea logistics hub,
Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) economies have largely overcome the so-called middle-income trap, but face challenges around sustainable growth and convergence with Western European living standards, Dutch multinational banking and financial services corporation ING bank found in a study that looked at key development trends in Poland, Hungary, Czechia, Romania
Albania’s bid to join the EU gained momentum at the latest intergovernmental conference that marked the opening of formal EU accession talks in Luxembourg on Tuesday, October 15. The talks focused on the first cluster of chapters known as the “fundamentals,” which include human rights, rule of law, and
The sixth China and Central and Eastern European Countries Local Leaders’ Meeting concluded on 16 October with a firm commitment between the Asian country and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) officials to deepening strategic cooperation across sectors such as trade, agriculture, and technology. The two-day summit, held in Yantai, Shandong
In a knife-edge referendum that laid bare Moldova’s internal divisions and heightened geopolitical tensions, the country’s voters backed constitutional changes aimed at securing EU membership on Sunday, 20 October, with 50.46% voting in favour and 49.54% against. On the morning of the vote, Moldovan President Maia
The European Commission (EC) has greenlit Poland’s USD 1.2bn scheme for projects to increase electricity storage capabilities to foster the transition to a net-zero economy under the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework (TCTF). The move, approved on October 3, 2024, will aid Poland’s shift away from fossil
Serbian MPs voted down the enactment of a ban on lithium and boron exploration on Thursday, 10 October. An opposition-tabled House motion had suggested amending the Mining and Geological Research Act but was rejected by 128 MPs opposed, while 84 supported the change and 2 abstained. The Serbian Parliament is
Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is catching up with Western Europe for e-commerce, but unique regional challenges and opportunities are shaping its growth trajectory, according to the European e-Commerce Report 2024. Central Europe Many CEE countries still experience uneven digital development, as compared to Western Europe where higher internet penetration
Croatia and Serbia have both announced plans to reintroduce compulsory military service, saying it is necessary to strengthen national defence due to growing regional uncertainties, largely driven by the war in Ukraine. Croatia moves to meet NATO commitments Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic’s coalition in August announced plans to
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is receiving crucial assistance from across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) as well as the EU, as rescue teams help tackle the aftermath of severe floods and landslides that hit large parts of the country on Friday, 4 October. Torrential rain has caused rivers to overflow
The EU has called on Romania to amend its energy price-capping scheme, urging the government to allow gas and electricity producers to set their own prices. The request came in the form of a letter, with Romania expected to respond within two months. The letter marks the first step of
The European Commission (EC) has announced that it will impose additional import tariffs on Chinese battery electric vehicles (BEVs) following a vote among member states on Friday, 4 October, after a year-long investigation. The EC, which suspects China of undercutting European carmakers by subsidising its EV industry, wrote that it
Zabka is planning an initial public offering (IPO) on the Warsaw Stock Exchange on 17 October, as Poland’s leading convenience shop chain expands into Romania and elsewhere in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The IPO could raise as much as PLN 6.45bn. The IPO is set to be
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland are seeking EU financial support for a coordinated network of military fortifications along their borders with Russia and Belarus. “The security situation demands comprehensive defences,” Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said, adding that “the Baltic Defence Line supports NATO’s forward defense and is vital
Czechia’s former industry minister and crisis manager Jozef Sikela has been appointed to lead the EU’s EUR 300bn Global Gateway Strategy, the bloc’s riposte to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Sikela will oversee infrastructure investments aimed at countering the BRI by forging strategic international partnerships.
The outcome of Austria’s election is undeniably historic—not just for Austria, but for the whole European Union. The Freedom Party of Austria (FPO) is not the first far-right party to gain power in the EU in the 21st-Century, nor will it be the last, but it is unique
Austria’s far-right Freedom Party (FPO) has won a landmark victory, claiming the largest share of votes and ending 20 years of dominance by the centre-right People’s Party (OVP). Led by Herbert Kickl, the FPO secured 28.8% (which translated to 56 seats, up 25), pipping Austrian Chancellor Karl
Czech opposition party ANO, led by former prime minister Andrej Babis, scored a significant victory in Saturday’s elections for the country’s upper house the Senate, winning 8 of 27 seats up for grabs. Despite ANO’s gains, the ruling coalition, led by Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, retained
Hungary’s MOL Group, along with its joint venture partners, has signed commercial agreements to advance the development of significant gas reserves in Azerbaijan’s Azeri-Chirag-Deepwater Gunashli (ACG) field. MOL, the third-largest shareholder in the ACG field after SOCAR and BP, is working within an amended production sharing agreement framework
After months of negotiations with EU member states, European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen revealed the lineup for her second term’s College of Commissioners on Tuesday 17 September from Strasbourg. The centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) secured the largest share, with 15 of the 27 commissions,
US firm Intel has decided to delay its semiconductor plant project near Wroclaw, west Poland, until 2026 due to the company’s worsening global financial situation, the Polish Digital Affairs Ministry announced on Monday, 17 September. The ministry said Poland remains committed to semiconductor investments and plans to use its
The incoming EU administration should ensure that countries in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) lever more influence in the bloc, Slovakia-based think tank Globsec writes in a new report on the interests and security of CEE nations and increasing Europe’s global influence from 2024-29. “Until now, Central and Eastern
South Korea’s Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) will lead Czechia’s largest-ever investment project when the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) country expands its nuclear power plant in Dukovany, south Czechia, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on Friday 20 September. A central part of Czechia’s long-term
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Wednesday, September 18, reversed decades of opposition to tax hikes as his government amended VAT laws, effective 1 January, 2025. As recently as April, the leader of Slovakia’s nominally left-wing Smer-SD party, positioned himself as a champion of low-income earners, saying “I oppose
Deutsche Lufthansa AG is looking into acquiring a stake in AirBaltic before the Latvian state-owned airline launches an initial public offering (IPO), insider sources told Bloomberg. Talks are still in the early stages, and no final decision has been made regarding the investment, said the sources, speaking to the news