Central European Times

Central European Times

Hungary's energy strategy has left it vulnerable to electricity price speculators - report

Hungary's energy strategy has left it vulnerable to electricity price speculators - report

Hungary’s electricity market has become a focal point for speculative trading, driven by a combination of renewable energy imbalances and the rise of algorithmic trading, Hungarian media reported. Denmark leads charge in algorithmic trading Danish firms, leveraging advanced forecasting tools, are exploiting price fluctuations in Hungary, which lacks the

CEE secures EUR 1.4bn in AI funding in 2023-24

CEE secures EUR 1.4bn in AI funding in 2023-24

Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is a rising force in artificial intelligence (AI) and startups in the region raised EUR 1.4bn in funding between 2023 and 2024, The Recursive writes in its second report entitled “The State of AI in CEE 2024”. Despite a less-than-perfect global funding environment, geopolitical

EU assesses candidates' progress in ten country reports

EU assesses candidates' progress in ten country reports

The European Commission (EC) analyses the accession prospects of all ten prospective members of the EU in a new set of reports on how the countries measure up to the criteria for governance, judicial independence and democratic standards required to join the bloc. The EC publishes an annual detailing of

CEE mulls ramifications of Trump's victory on trade, defence, environment

CEE mulls ramifications of Trump's victory on trade, defence, environment

As Donald Trump officially declared his victory in the US election, he received congratulations from numerous Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) leaders including Polish President Andrzej Duda and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. However, CEE politicians and observers are now wondering what the leadership change in Washington will bring, as

PKN Orlen CEE's top firm on Coface 500 list

PKN Orlen CEE's top firm on Coface 500 list

Poland is the dominant country in the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) business landscape, with 184 companies listed among the region’s top 500, according to Coface’s 2024 CEE Top 500 ranking. Sector shifts, new entrants make top 500 Polish energy giant PKN Orlen topped Coface’s Top 500

To the victor go the spoils - the big winners and losers of Trump's second presidency - CET op-ed

To the victor go the spoils - the big winners and losers of Trump's second presidency - CET op-ed

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, no stranger to political brinkmanship, went all in on Donald Trump’s election victory: a win that was by no means assured when he paid a surprise visit to the US in July. Hungary currently holds the six-month rotating EU presidency, and Orban has repeatedly,

Moldova pivots to EU in presidential vote

Moldova pivots to EU in presidential vote

Moldovan President Maia Sandu defeated her pro-Russian rival Alexandr Stoianoglo by around 55% to 45% in the presidential second-round vote on Sunday, 3 November. While Stoianoglo was ahead in rural areas, the south, and the breakaway republic of Transnistria, pro-EU Sandu took Chisinau and other cities and was also the

Estonia dominates top-30 regional startup list

Estonia dominates top-30 regional startup list

A new list spotlighting the fastest-growing startups in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) shows Estonia as the clear leader in the region’s startup scene, with neighbours Latvia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Lithuania also making the leaderboard. The Sifted 30: Eastern Europe & Baltics leaderboard ranks private startups established within the

Globsec lays out proposals to bolster CEE's cyber security in new report

Globsec lays out proposals to bolster CEE's cyber security in new report

The EU requires an in-depth exploration of its security needs, focusing on digital resilience, cyber threats, and countering disinformation, according to a recent report by Globsec entitled “Towards a Secure Europe: Turning EU Security into Tangible Reality”. The Bratislava-based think tank adds that addressing these challenges is especially critical for

CEE countries take sides in aftermath of Georgia's disputed election

CEE countries take sides in aftermath of Georgia's disputed election

In the wake of the parliamentary elections in Georgia held on 26 October 2024, international reactions ranged from congratulations to expressions of concern over the integrity of the electoral process.  Doubts over the legitimacy of last weekend’s vote have placed the country at the centre of a geopolitical tug-of-war,

Lithuania's Social Democrats defeat conservatives in parliamentary elections

Lithuania's Social Democrats defeat conservatives in parliamentary elections

Lithuania’s centre-left Social Democrats (SD) emerged as the clear leaders in the country’s second round of parliamentary elections on Sunday 27 October, securing an initial 52 out of 141 seats, according to preliminary results. Voters were electing 63 constituency MPs under Lithuania’s mixed electoral system. Turnout was