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
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
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
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 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
Bulgarian ex-prime minister Boyko Borissov’s conservative, pro-EU GERB (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria) party garnered approximately 25% of the votes in Bulgaria’s 7th general election in 4 years on Sunday, 27 October, falling well short of a majority to rule independently. An exit poll by local firm
Polish online platform eSky Group has acquired the world’s oldest travel agent, Britain’s Thomas Cook, for up to GBP 30mn, after receiving regulatory approval from the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority. Known primarily for its flight services, the purchase of Thomas Cook, originally announced last month, signals eSky’
Romania has approved “technical-economic indicators” for an over RON 750mn (EUR 150.8mn) rail construction project at the country’s largest port Constanta, east Romania, scheduled for completion in two years. The Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) country has plans to transform Constanta into a key Black Sea logistics hub,
Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) economies have largely overcome the so-called middle-income trap, but face challenges around sustainable growth and convergence with Western European living standards, Dutch multinational banking and financial services corporation ING bank found in a study that looked at key development trends in Poland, Hungary, Czechia, Romania
Albania’s bid to join the EU gained momentum at the latest intergovernmental conference that marked the opening of formal EU accession talks in Luxembourg on Tuesday, October 15. The talks focused on the first cluster of chapters known as the “fundamentals,” which include human rights, rule of law, and
The sixth China and Central and Eastern European Countries Local Leaders’ Meeting concluded on 16 October with a firm commitment between the Asian country and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) officials to deepening strategic cooperation across sectors such as trade, agriculture, and technology. The two-day summit, held in Yantai, Shandong
In a knife-edge referendum that laid bare Moldova’s internal divisions and heightened geopolitical tensions, the country’s voters backed constitutional changes aimed at securing EU membership on Sunday, 20 October, with 50.46% voting in favour and 49.54% against. On the morning of the vote, Moldovan President Maia
The European Commission (EC) has greenlit Poland’s USD 1.2bn scheme for projects to increase electricity storage capabilities to foster the transition to a net-zero economy under the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework (TCTF). The move, approved on October 3, 2024, will aid Poland’s shift away from fossil
Serbian MPs voted down the enactment of a ban on lithium and boron exploration on Thursday, 10 October. An opposition-tabled House motion had suggested amending the Mining and Geological Research Act but was rejected by 128 MPs opposed, while 84 supported the change and 2 abstained. The Serbian Parliament is
Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is catching up with Western Europe for e-commerce, but unique regional challenges and opportunities are shaping its growth trajectory, according to the European e-Commerce Report 2024. Central Europe Many CEE countries still experience uneven digital development, as compared to Western Europe where higher internet penetration
Croatia and Serbia have both announced plans to reintroduce compulsory military service, saying it is necessary to strengthen national defence due to growing regional uncertainties, largely driven by the war in Ukraine. Croatia moves to meet NATO commitments Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic’s coalition in August announced plans to
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is receiving crucial assistance from across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) as well as the EU, as rescue teams help tackle the aftermath of severe floods and landslides that hit large parts of the country on Friday, 4 October. Torrential rain has caused rivers to overflow
The EU has called on Romania to amend its energy price-capping scheme, urging the government to allow gas and electricity producers to set their own prices. The request came in the form of a letter, with Romania expected to respond within two months. The letter marks the first step of
The European Commission (EC) has announced that it will impose additional import tariffs on Chinese battery electric vehicles (BEVs) following a vote among member states on Friday, 4 October, after a year-long investigation. The EC, which suspects China of undercutting European carmakers by subsidising its EV industry, wrote that it
Zabka is planning an initial public offering (IPO) on the Warsaw Stock Exchange on 17 October, as Poland’s leading convenience shop chain expands into Romania and elsewhere in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The IPO could raise as much as PLN 6.45bn. The IPO is set to be
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland are seeking EU financial support for a coordinated network of military fortifications along their borders with Russia and Belarus. “The security situation demands comprehensive defences,” Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said, adding that “the Baltic Defence Line supports NATO’s forward defense and is vital
Czechia’s former industry minister and crisis manager Jozef Sikela has been appointed to lead the EU’s EUR 300bn Global Gateway Strategy, the bloc’s riposte to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Sikela will oversee infrastructure investments aimed at countering the BRI by forging strategic international partnerships.
The outcome of Austria’s election is undeniably historic—not just for Austria, but for the whole European Union. The Freedom Party of Austria (FPO) is not the first far-right party to gain power in the EU in the 21st-Century, nor will it be the last, but it is unique
Austria’s far-right Freedom Party (FPO) has won a landmark victory, claiming the largest share of votes and ending 20 years of dominance by the centre-right People’s Party (OVP). Led by Herbert Kickl, the FPO secured 28.8% (which translated to 56 seats, up 25), pipping Austrian Chancellor Karl
Czech opposition party ANO, led by former prime minister Andrej Babis, scored a significant victory in Saturday’s elections for the country’s upper house the Senate, winning 8 of 27 seats up for grabs. Despite ANO’s gains, the ruling coalition, led by Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, retained