Austria remains in political limbo after coalition talks collapse, chancellor to quit
Austria could be set for snap elections after Chancellor Karl Nehammer said he will resign both as chancellor and the leader...
OTP wins big at CEE bank of the year awards
Hungarian banking group OTP’s subsidiaries in Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovenia were ranked as the best banks in their respective countries...
RegioJet CEE’s best rail operator – T&E report
Czechia’s RegioJet is the top-performing rail operator in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) for cost and quality, according to the latest...
Poland to focus on security, regional cooperation during upcoming EU rotating presidency
Polish government representatives outlined the key priorities for its six-month stint holding the presidency of the Council of the EU from...
Bulgaria, Romania to join Schengen free travel area
Romania and Bulgaria are set to become full members of the Schengen Area on 1 January, a significant milestone in their...
Poland leads CEE on media subscriptions – Reuters institute report
Digital news consumption in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is transforming, driven by evolving audience habits, technology adoption, and growing mistrust...
Slovenia tightens border as EU pledges migration revamp
Slovenia has announced an increase in border controls with Croatia and Hungary, citing national security and escalating concerns over irregular migration, particularly linked to developments...
Romania voids Russia-linked presidential ballot
Romania’s Constitutional Court (CCR) annulled the country’s presidential election on Friday, 6 December after the emergence of evidence of Russian interference in...
FDI paints rosier picture for Poland, Romania – OECD report
Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries are still navigating post-pandemic economic challenges amid newer geopolitical tensions, according to the Economic Outlook...
Czech ministers consider euro adoption
A new report on the pros and cons of euro adoption from the Czech National Economic Council (NERV) warns that joining...
Statistics Austria sees prosperity in decline
Austria's economy has contracted for the sixth quarter in a row, and there has been an almost continuous decline in industrial...
Romanian ruling party wins House elections to stem political crisis
Romania’s ruling centre-left party came first in parliamentary elections, according to preliminary results, one week after the surprise victory of a...
Forint tumbles after Moody’s downgrade
The Hungarian forint plummeted to a near-historic low against sterling on Monday morning, with a British pound buying HUF 501.5. For...
Poland world’s biggest gold buyer in Q2, Q3
Poland was the world’s largest gold buyer in the second and third quarters of 2024, and central banks across Central and...
Central banker proclaims Romania’s ‘economic miracle’
Romania's GDP per capita, measured in purchasing power parity relative to the EU average, has surged from 25% in the early...
Populist surge in Romanian presidential election sees PM humbled
Romania's presidential election race delivered a shock result on Sunday, 24 November, as far-right, pro-Russia independent Calin Georgescu won the first...
New EU Commission readies for pivotal term
European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen looks set to push through her new team of commissioners and executive vice-presidents...
Poland, Latvia, Lithuania ink drone MOUs with Taiwan
The Taiwanese government-backed drone supply chain alliance on Friday, 15 November signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Polish-Taiwanese Chamber...
Incoming Lithuanian PM prioritises defence
Lithuania’s new Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas plans to increase the country's defence spending to 3.5% of GDP in response to security...
EU assesses candidates’ progress in ten country reports
The European Commission (EC) analyses the accession prospects of all ten prospective members of the EU in a new set of...
CEE secures EUR 1.4bn in AI funding in 2023-24
Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is a rising force in artificial intelligence (AI) and startups in the region raised EUR 1.4bn...
Teltonika drops EUR 3.5bn ‘dream’ project in Vilnius
Teltonika has announced it is halting the construction of its EUR 3.5bn High-Tech Hill park in Vilnius over delays in securing...
Hungary’s energy strategy has left it vulnerable to electricity price speculators – report
Hungary’s electricity market has become a focal point for speculative trading, driven by a combination of renewable energy imbalances and the...
CEE mulls ramifications of Trump’s victory on trade, defence, environment
As Donald Trump officially declared his victory in the US election, he received congratulations from numerous Central and Eastern Europe (CEE)...
PKN Orlen CEE’s top firm on Coface 500 list
Poland is the dominant country in the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) business landscape, with 184 companies listed among the region's...
‘Budapest Declaration’ signed as Orban hosts EU summit
European leaders committed to developing a defence industry base and enhancing EU competitiveness at an informal European Council summit in the...
EU, South Korea expand security, defence links
The EU and the Republic of Korea formalised a comprehensive Security and Defence Partnership in Seoul, on Monday, 4 November, days...
To the victor go the spoils – the big winners and losers of Trump’s second presidency – CET op-ed
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, no stranger to political brinkmanship, went all in on Donald Trump's election victory: a win that...
Moldova pivots to EU in presidential vote
Moldovan President Maia Sandu defeated her pro-Russian rival Alexandr Stoianoglo by around 55% to 45% in the presidential second-round vote on Sunday, 3 November. While...
Estonia dominates top-30 regional startup list
A new list spotlighting the fastest-growing startups in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) shows Estonia as the clear leader in the...
CEE countries take sides in aftermath of Georgia’s disputed election
In the wake of the parliamentary elections in Georgia held on 26 October 2024, international reactions ranged from congratulations to expressions...
Globsec lays out proposals to bolster CEE’s cyber security in new report
The EU requires an in-depth exploration of its security needs, focusing on digital resilience, cyber threats, and countering disinformation, according to...
Lithuania’s Social Democrats defeat conservatives in parliamentary elections
Lithuania’s centre-left Social Democrats (SD) emerged as the clear leaders in the country’s second round of parliamentary elections on Sunday 27...
Romania oks EUR 150mn strategic infrastructure investment at Port of Constanta
Romania has approved “technical-economic indicators” for an over RON 750mn (EUR 150.8mn) rail construction project at the country's largest port Constanta,...
Bulgarian election delivers hung parliament
Bulgarian ex-prime minister Boyko Borissov’s conservative, pro-EU GERB (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria) party garnered approximately 25% of the votes...
Poland’s eSky finalises Thomas Cook buyout
Polish online platform eSky Group has acquired the world’s oldest travel agent, Britain's Thomas Cook, for up to GBP 30mn, after...
Moldovans vote ‘yes’ to joining EU in tight ballot
In a knife-edge referendum that laid bare Moldova's internal divisions and heightened geopolitical tensions, the country's voters backed constitutional changes aimed...
CEE sidesteps ‘middle-income trap’ – ING analysis
Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) economies have largely overcome the so-called middle-income trap, but face challenges around sustainable growth and convergence...
Albania opens first EU-accession chapters
Albania’s bid to join the EU gained momentum at the latest intergovernmental conference that marked the opening of formal EU accession...
China, CEE strengthen strategic ties at summit
The sixth China and Central and Eastern European Countries Local Leaders' Meeting concluded on 16 October with a firm commitment between...
CEE’s evolving e-commerce landscape
Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is catching up with Western Europe for e-commerce, but unique regional challenges and opportunities are shaping...
Serbian MPs vote against lithium mining ban, as Rio Tinto project edges closer
Serbian MPs voted down the enactment of a ban on lithium and boron exploration on Thursday, 10 October. An opposition-tabled House...
EU okays Polish EUR 1.2bn state-aided energy-storage project
The European Commission (EC) has greenlit Poland's USD 1.2bn scheme for projects to increase electricity storage capabilities to foster the transition...
Croatia, Serbia bring back national service
Croatia and Serbia have both announced plans to reintroduce compulsory military service, saying it is necessary to strengthen national defence due...
As EU slaps new tariffs on Chinese BEVs, VW rolls out ‘gamechanging’ electric vehicle
The European Commission (EC) has announced that it will impose additional import tariffs on Chinese battery electric vehicles (BEVs) following a...
CEE rescue teams rally to flood-hit Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is receiving crucial assistance from across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) as well as the EU, as...
EU pushes Romania to modify energy price caps
The EU has called on Romania to amend its energy price-capping scheme, urging the government to allow gas and electricity producers...
‘Poland’s 7/11’ plans IPO, regional expansion
Zabka is planning an initial public offering (IPO) on the Warsaw Stock Exchange on 17 October, as Poland’s leading convenience shop...
Mishandling of immigration has propelled a party with direct Nazi roots into power in Austria – CET Opinion
The outcome of Austria’s election is undeniably historic—not just for Austria, but for the whole European Union. The Freedom Party of...
Austrian far-right FPO party wins election
Austria’s far-right Freedom Party (FPO) has won a landmark victory, claiming the largest share of votes and ending 20 years of...
Babis wins Senate seats, but Fiala retains control
Czech opposition party ANO, led by former prime minister Andrej Babis, scored a significant victory in Saturday’s elections for the country's...
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland to ask EU to cofund ‘Baltic Defence Line’
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland are seeking EU financial support for a coordinated network of military fortifications along their borders with...
Czech ‘crisis manager’ Sikela to helm EU’s answer to China’s Belt and Road Initiative
Czechia's former industry minister and crisis manager Jozef Sikela has been appointed to lead the EU’s EUR 300bn Global Gateway Strategy,...
Poland set for key budget role, as EU names commissioner-designates
After months of negotiations with EU member states, European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen revealed the lineup for her...
MOL inks gas exploration deal in Azerbaijan
Hungary's MOL Group, along with its joint venture partners, has signed commercial agreements to advance the development of significant gas reserves...
Intel postpones EUR 4bn Polish factory plan
US firm Intel has decided to delay its semiconductor plant project near Wroclaw, west Poland, until 2026 due to the company's...
Korean firm to build EUR 16bn Czech nuclear plant
South Korea’s Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) will lead Czechia's largest-ever investment project when the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE)...
Slovakia hikes VAT to among EU’s highest
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Wednesday, September 18, reversed decades of opposition to tax hikes as his government amended VAT...
CEE think tank envisages ‘pivotal role’ for region
The incoming EU administration should ensure that countries in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) lever more influence in the bloc, Slovakia-based...
Poland leads CEE wave of UK legacy firm buyouts
Polish online platform eSky’s GBP 30mn (EUR 35.5mn) purchase of Thomas Cook from China’s Fosun Tourism Group signals a broader westward...
CEE braces for further flooding, as Storm Boris wreaks havoc
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk declared a state of disaster and confirmed that 1,600 people have been evacuated in Klodzko, south-west...
Orlen inks deal to secure LNG supplies to Poland, Baltics
Poland’s strategic energy giant PKN Orlen has signed a five-year exclusive deal with Lithuanian energy terminal operator KN Energies to up...
Lufthansa mulls AirBaltic purchase – report
Deutsche Lufthansa AG is looking into acquiring a stake in AirBaltic before the Latvian state-owned airline launches an initial public offering...
Von der Leyen pledges more EU on Balkans visit
European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen announced further EU flood recovery funding and reiterated the EU’s commitment to addressing climate...
Saudi Arabia launches new business chamber to focus on CEE
Saudi Arabia has launched a new business council to deepen its economic ties with Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and tap...
Rheinmetall to build EUR 180mn factory in Lithuania
Germany’s Rheinmetall will spend more than EUR 180mn on an ammunition manufacturing facility in Lithuania, the Lithuanian Economy and Innovation Ministry...
BiH completes largest ever infrastructure project
Financed with a EUR 5mn EU grant and a EUR 100mn loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB), the nearly 1km-long...
Croatia returns incumbent in landslide presidential election vote
Croatian President Zoran Milanovic secured a decisive re-election victory, defeating his conservative challenger in a run-off election on Sunday, 12 January...
Checks remain at Romania-Hungary rail border
Although Romania joined the Schengen free travel area at the beginning of 2025, international trains are still running on unchanged schedules...
Hungary gov’t merges telcos into major player
Telco 4iG’s One Hungary brand launched this month, combining Digi Hungary and Vodafone Hungary into a single, state-backed telco, after a...
Romania leads CEE for EV adoption
Electric vehicle (EV) adoption across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) remains uneven, with significant variations between countries in the region, according...
Poland begins EU presidency with Orban snub
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he will prioritise security, defence and support for Ukraine while strengthening sanctions on Russia, at...
Austria remains in political limbo after coalition talks collapse, chancellor to quit
Austria could be set for snap elections after Chancellor Karl Nehammer said he will resign both as chancellor and the leader...
OTP wins big at CEE bank of the year awards
Hungarian banking group OTP’s subsidiaries in Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovenia were ranked as the best banks in their respective countries...
RegioJet CEE’s best rail operator – T&E report
Czechia’s RegioJet is the top-performing rail operator in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) for cost and quality, according to the latest...
Poland to focus on security, regional cooperation during upcoming EU rotating presidency
Polish government representatives outlined the key priorities for its six-month stint holding the presidency of the Council of the EU from...
Bulgaria, Romania to join Schengen free travel area
Romania and Bulgaria are set to become full members of the Schengen Area on 1 January, a significant milestone in their...
Slovenia tightens border as EU pledges migration revamp
Slovenia has announced an increase in border controls with Croatia and Hungary, citing national security and escalating concerns over irregular migration, particularly linked to developments...
Poland leads CEE on media subscriptions – Reuters institute report
Digital news consumption in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is transforming, driven by evolving audience habits, technology adoption, and growing mistrust...
FDI paints rosier picture for Poland, Romania – OECD report
Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries are still navigating post-pandemic economic challenges amid newer geopolitical tensions, according to the Economic Outlook...
Statistics Austria sees prosperity in decline
Austria's economy has contracted for the sixth quarter in a row, and there has been an almost continuous decline in industrial...
Czech ministers consider euro adoption
A new report on the pros and cons of euro adoption from the Czech National Economic Council (NERV) warns that joining...
Romania voids Russia-linked presidential ballot
Romania’s Constitutional Court (CCR) annulled the country’s presidential election on Friday, 6 December after the emergence of evidence of Russian interference in...
Forint tumbles after Moody’s downgrade
The Hungarian forint plummeted to a near-historic low against sterling on Monday morning, with a British pound buying HUF 501.5. For...
Romanian ruling party wins House elections to stem political crisis
Romania’s ruling centre-left party came first in parliamentary elections, according to preliminary results, one week after the surprise victory of a...
Central banker proclaims Romania’s ‘economic miracle’
Romania's GDP per capita, measured in purchasing power parity relative to the EU average, has surged from 25% in the early...
Poland world’s biggest gold buyer in Q2, Q3
Poland was the world’s largest gold buyer in the second and third quarters of 2024, and central banks across Central and...
New EU Commission readies for pivotal term
European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen looks set to push through her new team of commissioners and executive vice-presidents...
Poland, Latvia, Lithuania ink drone MOUs with Taiwan
The Taiwanese government-backed drone supply chain alliance on Friday, 15 November signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Polish-Taiwanese Chamber...
Populist surge in Romanian presidential election sees PM humbled
Romania's presidential election race delivered a shock result on Sunday, 24 November, as far-right, pro-Russia independent Calin Georgescu won the first...
Incoming Lithuanian PM prioritises defence
Lithuania’s new Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas plans to increase the country's defence spending to 3.5% of GDP in response to security...
Teltonika drops EUR 3.5bn ‘dream’ project in Vilnius
Teltonika has announced it is halting the construction of its EUR 3.5bn High-Tech Hill park in Vilnius over delays in securing...
Hungary’s energy strategy has left it vulnerable to electricity price speculators – report
Hungary’s electricity market has become a focal point for speculative trading, driven by a combination of renewable energy imbalances and the...
CEE secures EUR 1.4bn in AI funding in 2023-24
Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is a rising force in artificial intelligence (AI) and startups in the region raised EUR 1.4bn...
EU assesses candidates’ progress in ten country reports
The European Commission (EC) analyses the accession prospects of all ten prospective members of the EU in a new set of...
CEE mulls ramifications of Trump’s victory on trade, defence, environment
As Donald Trump officially declared his victory in the US election, he received congratulations from numerous Central and Eastern Europe (CEE)...
‘Budapest Declaration’ signed as Orban hosts EU summit
European leaders committed to developing a defence industry base and enhancing EU competitiveness at an informal European Council summit in the...
EU, South Korea expand security, defence links
The EU and the Republic of Korea formalised a comprehensive Security and Defence Partnership in Seoul, on Monday, 4 November, days...
PKN Orlen CEE’s top firm on Coface 500 list
Poland is the dominant country in the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) business landscape, with 184 companies listed among the region's...
To the victor go the spoils – the big winners and losers of Trump’s second presidency – CET op-ed
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, no stranger to political brinkmanship, went all in on Donald Trump's election victory: a win that...
Moldova pivots to EU in presidential vote
Moldovan President Maia Sandu defeated her pro-Russian rival Alexandr Stoianoglo by around 55% to 45% in the presidential second-round vote on Sunday, 3 November. While...
Estonia dominates top-30 regional startup list
A new list spotlighting the fastest-growing startups in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) shows Estonia as the clear leader in the...
Globsec lays out proposals to bolster CEE’s cyber security in new report
The EU requires an in-depth exploration of its security needs, focusing on digital resilience, cyber threats, and countering disinformation, according to...
CEE countries take sides in aftermath of Georgia’s disputed election
In the wake of the parliamentary elections in Georgia held on 26 October 2024, international reactions ranged from congratulations to expressions...
Lithuania’s Social Democrats defeat conservatives in parliamentary elections
Lithuania’s centre-left Social Democrats (SD) emerged as the clear leaders in the country’s second round of parliamentary elections on Sunday 27...
Bulgarian election delivers hung parliament
Bulgarian ex-prime minister Boyko Borissov’s conservative, pro-EU GERB (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria) party garnered approximately 25% of the votes...
Poland’s eSky finalises Thomas Cook buyout
Polish online platform eSky Group has acquired the world’s oldest travel agent, Britain's Thomas Cook, for up to GBP 30mn, after...
Romania oks EUR 150mn strategic infrastructure investment at Port of Constanta
Romania has approved “technical-economic indicators” for an over RON 750mn (EUR 150.8mn) rail construction project at the country's largest port Constanta,...
CEE sidesteps ‘middle-income trap’ – ING analysis
Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) economies have largely overcome the so-called middle-income trap, but face challenges around sustainable growth and convergence...
Albania opens first EU-accession chapters
Albania’s bid to join the EU gained momentum at the latest intergovernmental conference that marked the opening of formal EU accession...
China, CEE strengthen strategic ties at summit
The sixth China and Central and Eastern European Countries Local Leaders' Meeting concluded on 16 October with a firm commitment between...
Moldovans vote ‘yes’ to joining EU in tight ballot
In a knife-edge referendum that laid bare Moldova's internal divisions and heightened geopolitical tensions, the country's voters backed constitutional changes aimed...
EU okays Polish EUR 1.2bn state-aided energy-storage project
The European Commission (EC) has greenlit Poland's USD 1.2bn scheme for projects to increase electricity storage capabilities to foster the transition...
Serbian MPs vote against lithium mining ban, as Rio Tinto project edges closer
Serbian MPs voted down the enactment of a ban on lithium and boron exploration on Thursday, 10 October. An opposition-tabled House...
CEE’s evolving e-commerce landscape
Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is catching up with Western Europe for e-commerce, but unique regional challenges and opportunities are shaping...
Croatia, Serbia bring back national service
Croatia and Serbia have both announced plans to reintroduce compulsory military service, saying it is necessary to strengthen national defence due...
CEE rescue teams rally to flood-hit Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is receiving crucial assistance from across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) as well as the EU, as...
EU pushes Romania to modify energy price caps
The EU has called on Romania to amend its energy price-capping scheme, urging the government to allow gas and electricity producers...
As EU slaps new tariffs on Chinese BEVs, VW rolls out ‘gamechanging’ electric vehicle
The European Commission (EC) has announced that it will impose additional import tariffs on Chinese battery electric vehicles (BEVs) following a...