Central European Times

Central European Times

China deepens CEE links on agro, rail, as bilateral trade climbs 6.3%

China deepens CEE links on agro, rail, as bilateral trade climbs 6.3%

China's trade with Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) reached USD 142.3bn in 2024, marking a 6.3% year-on-year increase, surpassing China's overall foreign trade growth rate by 2.5 percentage points, according to China's General Administration of Customs. The total marked a 4.

Hungary, Slovakia resist EU's energy, budget reforms amid growing east-west schism

Hungary, Slovakia resist EU's energy, budget reforms amid growing east-west schism

Hungary and Slovakia have emerged as the most vocal opponents of two of the EU’s most consequential reform proposals: plans to phase out Russian energy imports and to overhaul the bloc’s long-term budget to prioritise defence, climate and digital transition. EU mulls ban of new Russian energy contracts

Hungary proposes law to blacklist foreign-funded NGOs, media

Hungary proposes law to blacklist foreign-funded NGOs, media

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's ruling Fidesz party submitted on Tuesday, 13 May a bill that would allow the government to monitor, penalise and potentially ban organisations receiving foreign funding and categorised as threats to national sovereignty. The draft law would expand the powers of the Sovereignty Protection

Dan wins Romanian presidency, calming EU fears over ultranationalist Simion

Dan wins Romanian presidency, calming EU fears over ultranationalist Simion

Independent pro-EU candidate Nicusor Dan won Romania’s presidential election on Sunday, 18 May, defeating far-right challenger George Simion in a runoff vote. The result represents a holding of the political centre after months of polarised campaigning, easing tensions in Brussels and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Dan secured 53.

Bulgaria’s euro debate intensifies as pro-EU opposition pushes January adoption date

Bulgaria’s euro debate intensifies as pro-EU opposition pushes January adoption date

Bulgaria’s pro-European opposition has tabled a declaration committing the country to join the Eurozone on 1 January 2026, challenging the government to reaffirm its commitment to its deadline, amid suggestions of a referendum on the issue. The We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) coalition, called for Parliament to restate

Romania powers up its largest EV hub to support EU Green Deal transport targets

Romania powers up its largest EV hub to support EU Green Deal transport targets

In a new step in the cleaner transport transition, OMV Petrom has inaugurated Romania's largest electric vehicle (EV) hub with 34 charging points of up to 400kW on the A1 motorway near Miercurea Sibiului, central Romania. The site is located on the Rhine-Danube Corridor - one of Romania’

Estonia climbs to second in global press freedom rankings, Czechia makes top ten

Estonia climbs to second in global press freedom rankings, Czechia makes top ten

Estonia has surged to second place in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, its best-ever result and the highest ranking among EU countries. Estonia's ranking in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index is the highest ever achieved by a Central and Eastern European (CEE) country since the index&

Far-right Simion wins first round of Romania's presidential rerun, to face Bucharest mayor in runoff vote

Far-right Simion wins first round of Romania's presidential rerun, to face Bucharest mayor in runoff vote

Far-right leader George Simion surged to a clear lead in the first round of Romania’s presidential election rerun, taking 40.9% of the vote ahead of the 18 May runoff that could reshape the country’s entire political trajectory. Simion, leader of the ultranationalist Alliance for the Union of