MOL nears NIS takeover to build cross-border refining network
Hungary’s MOL nears a majority stake in Serbia’s NIS, bringing the Pančevo refinery and NIS assets under its control once U.S. sanctions lift.
V4 & Romania
A collection of 192 posts
American claims on Greenland: where should Poland stand?
In Poland, many fear the country could be caught between two fires if the United States were to take concrete steps toward acquiring Greenland.
Rain of money on Polish cities: capital-attracting capacity rises sharply
Fiscal autonomy and access to EU funds allow Polish cities to develop dynamically, while Budapest and other Hungarian cities are constrained by the solidarity contribution.
Military support for Ukraine: Ammunition continues to flow from Czechia, Slovakia waits and Poland shows continuing support
Contrary to initial interpretations, Czech ammunition deliveries to Ukraine have not been suspended and are continuing.
For industrialised, export-oriented CEE countries, the EU–Mercosur agreement is incrementally beneficial
Only Poland has strong structural reasons for concern, while Hungary, Czechia and Slovakia stand to benefit from expanded industrial exports.
Fake crypto investment scandal in Poland: Many lost their entire life savings
Using fake advertisements featuring real public figures, they defrauded hundreds of people, in some cases of sums running into several million.
Slovakia’s new criminal code sparks constitutional challenge and ethnic tensions
Slovakia’s new criminal code triggered a constitutional challenge by the country’s Prosecutor General and ignited controversy at home and abroad.
Seismic shift in Venezuela – How it could affect Central and Eastern Europe
The aftermath of Trump’s Venezuela move remains unclear, but CEE states are likely to be impacted indirectly by oil prices and EU sanctions.
What’s next in 2026 for Central and Eastern Europe?
Can CEE develop a realistic policy response that shields the region from Europe’s structural decline?
The Polish miracle: How did the “Poor man of Europe” become an economic leader?
Poland’s economic success lies in consistent reforms and smart EU fund use, while Hungary and Romania followed more volatile development paths.
Czechia starts the year under provisional budget as new government reworks fiscal plans
New year, new fiscal rules: The Czech Republic has entered a period of provisional budgeting after the new coalition rejected its predecessor's draft.
New waste incinerator: Warsaw follows the Scandinavian model
Warsaw has opened the city’s new waste-to-energy plant, which can incinerate over 300,000 tons of solid waste annually, nearly one-third of the city’s total waste production.
Polish domestic tensions: Education in the crosshairs
Poland’s education system, reformed in the 2000s, faces a new overhaul, fueling tensions between the government and the right-leaning president.
EU-Mercosur agreement: No unified regional position
Despite expectations, the EU–Mercosur deal was not signed and stances of CEE countries remain divided.
Caps and ceilings: Fighting inflation with price regulation in several countries in the region
Administrative interventions are used to curb inflation in numerous CEE countries, with Hungary adopting the most market‑interfering measures.