Central European Times - Central European Times (Page 5)

Illustration of the geographical representations of Poland and Romania, being connected by a bridge

Polish investors step up Romania acquisitions

3 min read Maspex, Purcari, Rainbow Tours, Zabka, Prime Label, Grafoprint, Three Seas Initiative

Romania’s appeal for Polish investors includes its EU membership, consumer base, and steady economic growth, according to analysts.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik

Orbán receives Dodik, despite international warrant

1 min read

The meeting took place despite an active arrest warrant issued in March by Bosnia and Herzegovina’s (BiH) state court, following Dodik’s February conviction for defying rulings by the international envoy overseeing the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement.

New MOL oil well in west Hungary ups domestic output

2 min read MOL, Hungary, Somogysamson, Szazhalombatta, Russia, Croatia, Janaf, Druzhba, Serbia, erste

The Som-8 well is Hungary’s first meaningful local oil addition since 2019. National demand averaged 167,000 bpd in 2024, while domestic crude output stood closer to 23,000 bpd, according to industry data.

Lithuania steps up defence as ex-CIA chief cites Russian threat

3 min read David Petraeus, CIA, Vladimir Putin, Ukraine, Lithuania, Germany, NATO, Belarus, Kaliningrad, Andris Spruds, Enhanced Forward Presence, PBS Group, czechia, Poland, EU

“If Ukraine falls, Lithuania is next. That’s not speculative. It’s consistent with everything Putin has said and done,” Petraeus said.

CEE auto industry powers exports, stalls on e-mobility

3 min read Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, ev, auto, UN, WTO, Bevs, AFIR

While Romania, Bulgaria and Serbia continue to attract foreign capital, structural delays in electrification and infrastructure risk diminishing long-term value, according to the International Trade Centre (ITC) Trade Map.

Karol Nawrocki and family in the Polish presidential election second round

Nawrocki elected Polish president, cementing power of veto for right-wing

3 min read Nawrocki, Trzaskowski, Poland, PiS, KO, Tusk, Duda, European Commission

The result will extend Law and Justice (PiS) party influence over the presidency and its continued obstruction of the "big tent" pro-EU governing Civic Coalition (KO) led by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

Building of the China's General Administration of Customs

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

3 min read China-CEEC Expo, China, CEE, CEEC, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Wine, Dairy, agriculture, grain, meat, logistics, Energy, Shen Yiqin, Belt and Road, AI, robotics, Aviation, Lithuania, czechia, Slovakia, Estonia, European Commission

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.

CEE’s minimum wage surge spooks small business groups

2 min read Eurostat, Poland, North Macedonia, minimum wage, Romania, Bulgaria, czechia, Slovakia, Croatia, Estonia, 800 Plus, Hungary, Hungarian Chamber of Commerce, Portugal

Nominal minimum wages in Romania and Bulgaria have more than doubled in the last decade, with the sharpest growth before 2020. Czechia and Slovakia now apply EU-aligned benchmarks for annual adjustments.

Estonian gov’t inks record deals for Rail Baltica construction

2 min read rail baltica, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Tallinn, Riga, Vilnius, Merko Ehitus, KMG Inseneriehituse, Connecting Europe, Kristen Michal, European Court of Auditors, Ernst & Young

Rail Baltica has faced repeated delays, cost inflation and uneven progress across national segments.

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

2 min read Russia, Orban, von der Leyen, REPowerEU, Jourova, European Union, Centre for Research on Energy, Defence, Energy, EU, V4 & Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Politics

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

Centrist takes first round of Poland’s presidential election, to face nationalist in runoff vote

2 min read Duda, KO, Nawrocki, PiS, Trzaskowski, Tusk, EU, Poland, Politics, V4 & Romania

Centrist Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski narrowly won in the first round of Poland’s presidential election, setting up a closely contested runoff on 1 June. With 99.75% of votes counted, Trzaskowski, backed by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s centrist Civic Coalition (KO) secured 31.3% on 18 May

Viktor Orbán, the Prime Minister of Hungary, gives a speech

Hungary proposes law to blacklist foreign-funded NGOs, media

1 min read Viktor Orban, Tisza, Transparency International Hungary, Russia, Peter Magyar, Sovereignty Protection Office, Hungarian Helsinki Committee, Fidesz, Foreign agents law, Amnesty International Hungary, Hungary, V4 & Romania, Politics

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

Nicusor Dan celebrates his election victory

Dan wins Romanian presidency, calming EU fears over ultranationalist Simion

3 min read Fidesz, George Simion, Hunor Kelemen, Maia Sandu, Nicusor Dan, Orban, UDMR, Ursula von der Leyen, Hungary, Politics, Romania, V4 & Romania

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.

China's BYD makes Budapest regional HQ

2 min read BID, China, HIPA, Wang Chuanfu, European Union, Business, Economy, Energy, Hungary, Politics

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD on 15 May signed an agreement with the Hungarian government to relocate its European headquarters to Budapest's 11th District, alongside two major research and development projects. The announcement marks the latest phase in BYD's European expansion. Hungary's government

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

2 min read ECB, PP, GERB, eurozone, Rumen Radev, UniCredit, European Commission, Bulgaria, Economy

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