As Germany opens a new chapter with an unprecedented three-party coalition led by Social Democrat Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the Central European Times analyses what the country’s new leadership could mean for the region. After a near-record term in office, Angela Merkel stepped down as German chancellor after 16 years
Lower value added tax (VAT) rates may be on the horizon for goods and services linked to mitigating climate change, like bicycles and solar panels sold in the European Union. Products contributing to digitalisation and health protection (like face masks) could also see reduced rates. EU finance ministers agreed to
The European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures’ (ESFRI), designed to integrate Europe on scientific research collaboration, recommends massive investment into nearly a dozen shared research facilities in Europe. According to it’s latest roadmap, published this week, over EUR 4bn should be dedicated to building 11 new labs, among them
The European Union is not happy with proposed US tax credits towards the purchase of electric vehicles (EVs), which it says would put European EV manufacturers at a disadvantage. An element of the Biden Administration’s Build Back Better Act which has passed in the US House but is being
An official visit of a Slovakia delegation to Taiwan is drawing the ire of China. Senior officials from Bratislava, who arrived on Sunday, are looking to deepen ties with the self-governed island nation, which China claims as its own territory. Another EU member state making a visit to Taiwan is
The G7 group of countries has issued a statement that aligns with the European Union’s recently unveiled Global Gateway Strategy, which aims to finance quality and sustainable infrastructure globally. The G7 Statement on Partnership for infrastructure and investment also commits to narrowing the existing investment gap. Through its strategy,
With Russian troops amassing at Ukraine’s eastern border, negative sentiments toward the Nord Stream 2 (NS2), both within Germany and among its allies in Central and Eastern Europe, are emerging, Newsweek writes. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are urging the incoming German coalition to reconsider the gas pipeline, which the
Slovenia, which holds the EU presidency, has released a progress report on the European Union’s draft artificial intelligence act (‘AIA’) on 29 November. Among the suggested modifications, EU member states would like to retain their national competence over AI affairs in terms of national security and military matters, and
In an unprecedented development, the EU will make significant investments in new small and medium-sized enterprises as part of the “Accelerator” programme launched by the European Innovation Council (EIC). Previously the EU has previously only issued grants or backed private investors, without taking ownership stakes. EIC director Jean-David Malo told
The heads of governments of the three Eastern Partnership countries at the front of the queue for EU membership are jointly urging a speeding up of the integration process. The visits of officials from Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine precedes the regular EU-Eastern Partnership (EaP) summit scheduled for 15 December 2021
The Slovak government announced plans to the build the country’s largest solar park on Monday. State nuclear company JESS will construct the renewable energy development near the Jaslovenske Bohunice nuclear reactors. The EUR 60 million investment will result in Slovakia’s largest solar power plant, spread over a105-hectare site.
Production of “green” hydrogen produced with renewable energy sources may be coming into focus for the European Union as a way to reduce CO2 emissions. EU officials say the cost of producing it should fall, if the gigawatt capacity of electrolysers is ramped up sufficiently. At an event in Brussels
Czechia’s President Milos Zeman officially appointed Petr Fiala as prime minister to lead a broad coalition of right-wing and centrist parties on Sunday, after his predecessor Andrej Babis lost the national elections in October. Fiala said his new coalition, expected to form mid-December, hopes to be a government of
In a surprise move on Thursday, Slovenia’s government, which holds the EU presidency, ended months of delays in appointing the country’s delegates to the European Public Prosecutors’ Office (EPPO). EU institutions had heavily criticised the hold-up. The Slovenian government is now arguing that the delay was “temporary” and
Romanian MPs overwhelmingly approved a grand coalition that includes historically bitter rivals the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Social Democratic Party (PSD) on Thursday. Former army general Nicolae Ciuca was also voted in as prime minister and will lead the three-party government, which also includes ethnic-Hungarian minority party the