Central European Times

Central European Times

George Simion, winner of the first round of Romania's presidential election

Far-right Simion wins first round of Romania's presidential rerun, to face Bucharest mayor in runoff vote

Far-right leader George Simion surged to a clear lead in the first round of Romania’s presidential election rerun, taking 40.9% of the vote ahead of the 18 May runoff that could reshape the country’s entire political trajectory. Simion, leader of the ultranationalist Alliance for the Union of

Bosnia's EU accession requires pro-EU coalition - high representative

Bosnia's EU accession requires pro-EU coalition - high representative

The EU can formally begin accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) when a stable and pro-European coalition has been formed, according to Christian Schmidt, the international high representative overseeing the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement. The Dayton accords were signed in 1995 and ended the Bosnian War. The

Illustration of taxation

Lowest OECD tax burdens in Slovakia, Poland

Workers in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) enjoy some of the lowest personal income tax rates in Europe, with Slovakia and Poland the outliers for individuals and families, according to a new Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report. The OECD Taxing Wages 2025 report analysed tax data and

Polish PM declares national strategy to lead CEE, as nation celebrates 1,000th anniversary

Polish PM declares national strategy to lead CEE, as nation celebrates 1,000th anniversary

Poland has launched a new national doctrine aimed at establishing the country as the dominant military and economic power in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the "Piast Doctrine" during a speech in Gniezno, central Poland. "Maybe today it is worth announcing

Illustration of tram infrastructure in Prague

Prague expands airport, revamps tram service

Prague has launched two major transport infrastructure projects, expanding Vaclav Havel Airport and introducing a new generation of trams to modernise its urban network. The initiatives form part of a broader strategy to boost Prague’s competitiveness as a Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) hub for air travel, freight logistics

Illustration of soldiers

Baltic states ramp up air, missile defences

The Baltic states are stepping up their air, missile and drone defence capabilities, as Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania invest in new systems to address growing security threats in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The acceleration of defence-related investments in the Baltic region comes amid heightened concerns about Russian military activity

OECD office

Poland tops employment rankings - OECD report

The EU’s employment rate reached a record high of 70.9% in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). But while this marks a major milestone for the bloc, the picture in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is more complex, as

Greece plans to repay Eurozone's bailout loans whole decade in advance

Greece plans to repay Eurozone's bailout loans whole decade in advance

Greece has announced plans to repay its first bailout loans a decade ahead of schedule, in a move that officials say underscores the country’s economic recovery and new fiscal credibility. The repayment strategy would see Greece pay off the remaining EUR 31bn of its initial EUR 53bn in bailout

CEE economies tougher than you may think - ING

CEE economies tougher than you may think - ING

Despite their export-driven economies and strong manufacturing bases, Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) countries may be more resilient to global trade tensions from US tariff policies, than previously assumed, ING bank writes in a new report. Economies have shown resilience - ING While CEE's close ties with Germany

Photo of a stone quarry

CEE leads EU raw materials drive as EU selects strategic mining projects

The European Commission (EC) has chosen 47 strategic projects across the EU to reduce critical raw material dependency, with Czechia, Estonia, Poland, and Romania at the forefront, marking a significant boost to regional competitiveness amid intensifying geopolitical tensions. The EC’s selections are critical to the industrial future of Central