Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called on European leaders to increase their defence spending while maintaining close ties with the US, before an emergency summit of European leaders in Paris on Tuesday, 18 February. US President Donald Trump’s decision to attempt to negotiate a peace deal on Ukraine with
The Munich Security Conference ended on a cautiously positive note for EU candidate countries Albania and Montenegro on Sunday, 16 February. After a tumultuous 3 days, EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos namechecked Albania and Montenegro as “front-runners” for EU accession during a roundtable discussion, adding that their negotiations could be
Greece is poised to become a key player in the EU’s efforts to secure critical raw materials (CRMs) due to its richness in minerals such as nickel and magnesium, making it a strategic asset for a Europe increasingly focused on supply chain autonomy. The Balkan country is already a
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski stressed the necessity of European involvement in any peace talks involving Russia and Ukraine, at a meeting in Paris on 12 February, arguing that a fair deal with strong security guarantees is essential for lasting peace. Poland inks open letter with other major EU powers
Poland’s economy emerged as a regional standout in 2024, recording a GDP growth of 2.9%, significantly outpacing its Central and Eastern European (CEE) peers, according to an ING Bank analysis that cited Poland’s StatOffice. While other CEE economies fell short of expectations, Poland’s economic expansion was
German companies are considering ramping up investments in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), with 55% expecting the region’s economic significance to grow in the next 5 years, according to the “German CEE Business Outlook 2025” report by auditor KPMG. The survey analysed the economic prospects and business strategies of
Leaders from Central and Eastern (CEE) countries Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were among the signatories of an invitation to ex-NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg to draw up a white paper on regional defence collaboration, ahead of the alliance’s summit scheduled in The Hague, the Netherlands, in June. Stoltenberg will
Kosovo’s parliamentary elections saw Kosovan Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s ruling centre-left Vetevendosje (self-determination) party win the most seats but fall short of a majority, on Sunday, 9 February. Kurti’s party garnered around 40% of the votes, down from 50% in 2021, exit polls suggested. He wrote on
The European Commission (EC) unveiled its flagship “Competitiveness Compass” initiative on 29 January, the first major project of its 2024-29 term. The initiative is designed to serve as a strategic roadmap to foster innovation in sectors such as AI, semiconductors, quantum tech and biotechnology in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE)
Lufthansa Group acquired a 10% stake in Latvia’s airBaltic for EUR 14mn on January 29, pending antitrust approval. Europe’s largest airline group has long been interested in the Baltic region, and airBaltic, headquartered in Riga, Latvia, and flying to over 100 destinations across Europe, the Middle East and
Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic resigned on Tuesday, 28 January, becoming the latest politician from the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) to fall victim to the wave of anti-government protests sweeping the country. Gov’t on brink after over a decade in power A canopy collapse after a botched reconstruction
The suspension of foreign aid by incoming US President Donald Trump on 24 January is causing major disruption in sectors including independent media and NGOs across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), with many institutions now frantically seeking alternative funding sources. The US has traditionally played a key role in funding
The year in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) has begun with large-scale protests across the region, including in Serbia, Slovakia, Greece and Montenegro, amid rising geopolitical tensions. While the triggers vary, the demonstrations have the common thread of addressing government incompetence and demanding improved transparency, reforms and alignment with European
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has urged European countries to increase defence expenditures in alignment with the official 2% of GDP target for NATO members, as frequently cited by US President Donald Trump. Speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Tusk emphasised that the EU’s survival depends on its
Hungary’s political landscape is marked by a mix of economic uncertainty increasing opposition momentum and continued tensions with the EU, according to the annual report of independent Budapest-based think tank Policy Solutions. “Fifteen years in power was supposed to be a key milestone when things could have mellowed for