US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet in Anchorage, Alaska, on 15 August

CEE leaders split over Trump-Putin summit in Alaska without Zelenskyy

While Hungary and Slovakia welcomed the diplomatic efforts, fellow Visegrad Four members Poland and Czechia joined the Baltic states in rejecting any settlement that bypasses Ukrainian sovereignty.

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The Deloitte Building in Budapest, Hungary

Geopolitical cohesion key driver of EU trade - Deloitte report

“For Europe, analysis of the historical data shows that a 1% drop in geopolitical alignment is associated with a corresponding 1% decline in trade intensity,” Deloitte observed.

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A software developer engrossed in work at a multi-monitor workstation

CEE developers offer better value than Western Europe

Research by TechBehemoths shows that strong education systems, multilingual talent pools and EU-level legal protections keep CEE competitive for global tech outsourcing and nearshoring.

Balkan economies are weighing the costs of the American-European trade compromise.

Balkan economies weigh cost of US-EU tariff 'compromise'

The World Bank forecasts regional growth of 3.1% in 2025, and finance ministries say cushioning the tariff shock will be essential to meeting that target. However, regional industry groups are warning of mounting pressure on Balkan economies.

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The Latvian capital of Riga from St Peter's Church

Latvia unveils plan to close FDI gap with Estonia, Lithuania

Latvia lags its Baltic peers on investment intensity and credit availability, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas in Mazeikiai, north-west Lithuania

Lithuanian gov’t collapses after PM resigns over EU funds scandal

“I carried out my duties in good faith, but I cannot allow this situation to paralyse the work of the government,” Paluckas told members of the press after tendering his resignation in Vilnius, south-east Lithuania.

The ferry terminal in Swinoujscie, northwest Poland

As Poland strikes oil, Hungary, Serbia plan pipeline to bypass EU energy restrictions

The discovery is among the most significant conventional oil finds in Central and Eastern Europe in the last decade, analysts said. Enerdata noted the resource scale could elevate Poland’s upstream profile within the EU, while World Oil called it a “strategic breakthrough in the Baltic basin”.

Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US President Donald Trump on 26 May, 2019, at the Mobara Country Club in Chiba, Japan

EU, US agree to 15% tariff rate, averting Trump trade war

European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen agreed a new trade deal with US President Donald Trump at Turnberry, south-west Scotland, on 27 July, setting a ceiling of 15% on tariffs for EU goods and averting a wider transatlantic escalation.

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Soldiers with the laptop at a New Zealand millitary operation

Dan gov’t confirms Russian election hacking, citing NATO, EU

Romania’s 2024 presidential elections marked the first instance of a national vote annulled due to foreign interference within the EU, the European Commission noted. The episode has triggered renewed calls in the EU and NATO for enhanced cybersecurity capacity and democratic resilience across CEE.

Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl‑Reisinger speaks to members of the press

Austria should consider NATO membership - Meinl‑Reisinger

Finland and Sweden abandoned their long-standing neutrality and joined NATO in 2023 and 2024 respectively, citing heightened security threats from Russia. Austria, bordered by NATO members Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia, is increasingly the odd one out in Central Europe’s defence landscape.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk talks to supporters

Polish gov’t creates economy superministry in major cabinet reshuffle

The model reflects past moves in Hungary and Romania to centralise economic power, often justified as way to improve implementation. Poland’s approach, however, appears more technocratic, with few political figures outside the prime minister and foreign minister elevated.

The building of Podgorica Airport in Montenegro

Korean airport consortium wins Montenegro's highest ever PPP

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol welcomed the agreement as a “milestone in regional partnership”, and said it reflected growing bilateral cooperation in strategic infrastructure sectors.

The European Commission building in Brussels

EC unveils EUR 2tn 2028-34 budget draft, tilting funding model towards CEE countries

The EC is expected to present the proposal formally as part of its mid-term budget review later this year. The plan must be approved unanimously by all 27 member states and endorsed by the European Parliament. Opposition is expected from net contributor countries and regions facing cuts.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the Ukraine Recovery Conference

Poland, Czechia, Baltics lead Ukraine recovery push, Hungary, Slovakia reject plans

CEE contributions include cross-border logistics, public-private coordination platforms, and green recovery initiatives. Regional forums such as the Three Seas Initiative are also expected to play a larger role in financing and implementation.

The flags of Poland and the European Union waving in the wind

Poland leads EU funding recipients with EUR 123.3 bn in long‑term budget draft

The European Commission (EC) published long-term budget allocation plans on 17 July, showing Poland set to receive the highest national allocation under the 2028-34 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), totalling EUR 123.3bn.

Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob speaks at the NATO summit

Slovenia cancels NATO referendum amid rising defence cost backlash

The Slovenian referendum cancellations should stabilise Golob’s coalition, ahead of national elections in 2026. However, the episode reflects wider unease across CEE, as rising military costs challenge domestic politics and expose diverging visions of NATO’s future.

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