This tag highlights content related to economic systems, trends, and impacts — including topics such as macroeconomic analysis, financial markets, economic policy, and sustainable growth.
Startups in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) are growing faster than in Western Europe and the CEE startup ecosystem is now worth EUR 243bn, according to the CEE Startups 2025 report.
While funding and valuations have surged in recent years, structural challenges remain, including geographic fragmentation, uneven investor coverage, and
Romania and Poland have gender pay disparities among the lowest in the EU, according to Eurostat data published this month. In Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), Romania and Poland recorded the smallest gender pay gaps in 2023, at 3.6% and 4.5% respectively — both well below the EU average
European leaders met in Brussels on 20 March to confront a mounting policy dilemma: how to balance rearmament, the green transition, and economic competitiveness. The discussions come amid slowing growth, high energy costs, and growing strategic insecurity — all while EU fiscal rules remain in place.
At the heart of the
Croatian Economy Minister Ante Susnjar said state-owned oil pipeline operator Jadranski Naftovod (Janaf) could acquire Russia’s stake in Serbian oil company Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS), calling the potential deal a “natural business symbiosis”, local media reported.
Janaf transports around 80% of the crude oil refined by NIS at its
The European Commission (EC) has launched an inquiry into state support provided by Hungary to Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD, as part of a broader investigation into foreign subsidies distorting competition in the EU.
The preliminary probe, initiated on 19 March 2025, comes under the EU’s Foreign Subsidies
Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is set for stronger economic growth in 2025, with GDP expected to expand by 2.6%, according to a report by Erste Group. The forecast marks an improvement from previous years, driven by higher consumer spending, increased investment, and inflows of EU funds.
Poland boosted
As political landscapes shift across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), governments are recalibrating their approaches to Ukraine, European security, and internal governance.
The region remains split between pro-European integration and nationalist, often pro-Kremlin, forces: Czechia and Poland reinforce their commitments to Ukraine, while Hungary and Slovakia align with Moscow.
Meanwhile,
Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is set to play a key role in the EU’s push to establish itself as a global leader in artificial intelligence under the new funding initiative Invest AI.
European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen announced the plan at the AI Action Summit
Moldova and North Macedonia have been approved to join the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), marking a significant step in their integration with European financial systems.
The countries will become operational members on October 5, after becoming compliant with SEPA regulations from April, the European Payments Council (EPC) announced on
Austria’s centre-right People’s Party (OVP), centre-left Social Democrats (SPO) and centrist, liberal NEOs have now finalised a coalition pact after a five-month political impasse and two rounds of failed negotiations.
Members of the NEOs voted 94% in favour of a coalition deal on Sunday, 2 March, clearing the
Except for wartorn Ukraine, Slovakia has the most red tape in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), according to the latest Bureaucracy Index, an annual report by the Institute of Economic and Social Studies (INESS).
The Bureaucracy Index measures the time and resources businesses must dedicate to compliance with government regulations.
As Bulgaria edges closer to the Eurozone, some 1,000 protestors gathered outside the National Bank headquarters waving banners and placards proclaiming “No to the euro” and “Yes to the Bulgarian lev” in a demonstration organised by the pro-Russian Vazrazhdane (Revival) Party on Saturday, 22 February.
The demonstrators later proceeded
The centre-right People’s Party (OVP) and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPO) are working behind closed doors on a coalition deal that would exclude the far-right, pro-Russia Freedom Party (FPO) from government, after the latter party failed to form a ruling coalition, party officials said on Thursday, 20 February.
Austria’
Poland’s economy emerged as a regional standout in 2024, recording a GDP growth of 2.9%, significantly outpacing its Central and Eastern European (CEE) peers, according to an ING Bank analysis that cited Poland’s StatOffice.
While other CEE economies fell short of expectations, Poland’s economic expansion was
Kosovo’s parliamentary elections saw Kosovan Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s ruling centre-left Vetevendosje (self-determination) party win the most seats but fall short of a majority, on Sunday, 9 February.
Kurti’s party garnered around 40% of the votes, down from 50% in 2021, exit polls suggested. He wrote on