Central European Times

Central European Times

Ukraine, Moldova become EU accession candidates as Scholz sends Orban out of room for vote

Ukraine, Moldova become EU accession candidates as Scholz sends Orban out of room for vote

EU leaders voted to begin accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, at a historic summit in Brussels on Thursday 14 December. The EU meanwhile designated Georgia – also a former Soviet republic – as a candidate for membership, a significant shift in the EU’s level of engagement with post-Soviet states. President

Austria softens on Romania, Bulgaria in Schengen

Austria softens on Romania, Bulgaria in Schengen

1 min read Austria, Bulgaria, Romania

In recent months, Austria’s stance on Romania and Bulgaria’s Schengen Area accession has been shifting, particularly in terms of air travel. Now Austria has proposed a conditional easing of its stance via “Air Schengen,” an initiative that would allow passport-free air travel for these two countries while maintaining

Serbia to chair CEFTA trade group next year

Serbia to chair CEFTA trade group next year

Serbia will head up the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) in 2024 and boost regional connectivity and trade relations to benefit economies and people’s quality of life, Serbian Trade Minister Tomislav Momirovic said at the CEFTA Week 2023 conference in the Montenegrin capital of Podgorica on Thursday. With

Bulgaria's ITN wants to join ECR party family

Bulgaria's ITN wants to join ECR party family

Bulgarian populist formation There Is Such a People (ITN) has declared its intention to align with the centre-right European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) if it wins seats at the EU elections next June. Formed 2 years ago and currently polling at around 5%, ITN stands a real chance of securing

Hungary firm buys major stake in Auchan

Hungary firm buys major stake in Auchan

3 min read Hungary, Auchan, Lidl

Hungary’s Indotek Group acquired a 47% stake in the French grocery hypermarket chain Auchan last week. Group founder-owner Daniel Jellinek, one of Hungary’ s richest men, said Auchan could realistically now become a top-three player on the Hungarian retail market. It is currently the ninth largest retail chain in

CEE gets EU funds for cross-border 5G

CEE gets EU funds for cross-border 5G

The EU has selected seven projects to co-fund 5G transport corridors connecting regions throughout Europe, improving road, rail, inland waterways, and multimodal transport. They will support 5G infrastructure deployment over cross-border sections of 5G corridors and ensure service continuity when border crossing.  Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is well represented

Pfizer sues Poland over vaccine deal

Pfizer sues Poland over vaccine deal

1 min read Poland, Pfizer

US pharmaceutical firm Pfizer has initiated legal proceedings against the Polish government, asserting that it failed to fulfil payment obligations for some 60mn doses of its COVID-19 vaccine. The litigation, scheduled for its preliminary court hearing on December 6, centres around the contentious contract between Pfizer and the European Commission