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.
Central European Times
From record R&D to CERN: Slovenia’s innovation surge
Slovenia has more than doubled its public R&D spending in a decade, to nearly 0.9 % of GDP, the highest share in CEE, an Erste Bank Research report published on 6 August found.
Fico: Ukraine will ‘have to pay dearly’ at Trump-Putin talks
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said Ukraine would bear the cost regardless of the outcome of a planned summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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 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.
Baltic exports face testing times under US tariff cap
Brussels‑based think tank Bruegel estimates that the average US tariff on EU goods will rise to 15.2%. Although that average masks significant differences - it underscores the new baseline confronting Baltic exporters.
V4 braces for new US tariffs
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that the duties could cost Poland more than USD 2bn and hurt agriculture and manufacturing, although he called the compromise deal a “lesser evil” to a threatened 30% tariff.
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 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.
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”.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.