Eastern Europe will be high on the agenda during France’s six-month EU rotating presidency tenure which will commence in under three weeks, French President Emmanuel Macron underlined on Thursday. Without specifically naming Poland and Hungary, Macron called the rule of law “non-negotiable” for the EU and urged countries to
US President Joe Biden discussed the threat of a possible Russian attack on Ukraine with numerous NATO member countries in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) on Thursday. Speaking with the leaders of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia for 40 minutes, Biden pledged to
China is leveraging its influence over multinational companies operating there, instructing them not to do business with Lithuania, or else. For the tiny Baltic country, that means not having access to Chinese markets. It’s the latest volley in a row with Lithuania over it having allowed Taiwan to open
Electric vehicles (EVs) and gas will reportedly be similarly classified as sustainable investments in Europe from 2026 under the new EU Taxonomy regulations formulated by the European Commission (EC) expected on 22 December. “The classification of EVs as sustainable vehicles is possibly the most advanced green classification in financial markets,
On Wednesday, the European Commission proposed a so-called “anti-coercion measure”. It would give the European Union the ability to push back – using punitive sanctions against individuals, companies or countries – when they use their power or influence to try and sway EU policy. The rationale behind the measure is that occasionally
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
Czechia’s Pirate Party candidate for foreign minister Jan Lipavsky met President Milos Zeman, who reportedly opposes his appointment, on Tuesday ahead of the formation of the new government. Ministerial assignations have been delayed since the incoming coalition parties beat former prime minister Andrej Babis in early October, in part
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
Every country in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) has increased its research and development (R&D) intensity over the last decade, according to EU statistics agency Eurostat. Poland and Czechia were the regional frontrunners from 2010-20, as they both increased intensity – i.e. R&D expenditure as a
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,
After 20 years of fierce debate, the plan to construct a EUR 2 billion stretch of ring-road on Vienna’s north-eastern outskirts has been cancelled after scientists warned against building a motorway tunnel underneath a nature reserve. Austrian Climate, Environment and Transport Minister Leonore Gewessler announced the kiboshing of the
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
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg discussed the importance of strengthening Transatlantic unity at the NATO Foreign Ministerial in Riga, Latvia on Wednesday. NATO billed the summit as “30 Allies (meeting) to discuss the situation in and around Ukraine, Belarus, lessons learned from NATO’
The Eastern European countries with large digital economies such as Estonia, Czechia and Hungary are best placed to stimulate growth by increasing sector productivity, according to reports by McKinsey, Microsoft, IT recruiters and other experts. Although ICT wages remain significantly lower in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) than on 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
Prime Minister of North Macedonia Zoran Zaev officially stood down as leader of the country’s ruling party SDSM on Saturday, in the wake of right-wing opposition VMRO-DPMNE’s landslide victory in local elections earlier this month. So far only Deputy Finance Minister Dimitar Kovacevski has announced a candidacy to
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