Energy

A collection of 49 posts

Europe’s trilemma: rearmament, green transition, competitiveness

Europe’s trilemma: rearmament, green transition, competitiveness

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

EU probes Hungarian subsidies to BYD under new foreign subsidies rules

EU probes Hungarian subsidies to BYD under new foreign subsidies rules

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

Poland, Czechia back 'coalition of the willing', Hungary, Slovakia align with Trump

Poland, Czechia back 'coalition of the willing', Hungary, Slovakia align with Trump

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,

CEE to get four AI factories under EU initiative

CEE to get four AI factories under EU initiative

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

Zelenskyy gathers support from CEE leaders

Zelenskyy gathers support from CEE leaders

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on European leaders to step up their efforts towards peace in Ukraine during a string of high-level phone calls on Friday, 21 February, including several with premiers of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) countries. Zelenskyy stressed that Europe must act more decisively, in a televised

Poland PM urges defence spending hikes as Baltics cut ties with Russian electricity grid

Poland PM urges defence spending hikes as Baltics cut ties with Russian electricity grid

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called on European leaders to increase their defence spending while maintaining close ties with the US, before an emergency summit of European leaders in Paris on Tuesday, 18 February. US President Donald Trump’s decision to attempt to negotiate a peace deal on Ukraine with

EU unveils strategy to compete with China, US

EU unveils strategy to compete with China, US

The European Commission (EC) unveiled its flagship “Competitiveness Compass” initiative on 29 January, the first major project of its 2024-29 term. The initiative is designed to serve as a strategic roadmap to foster innovation in sectors such as AI, semiconductors, quantum tech and biotechnology in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE)

NATO launches 'Baltic Sentry' patrols to counter infrastructure attacks

NATO launches 'Baltic Sentry' patrols to counter infrastructure attacks

NATO deployed a multinational flotilla off the Estonian coast at the weekend to defend undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea amid escalating concerns of sabotage. Baltic Sentry aims to deter hybrid threats targeting power cables, pipelines, and data lines crucial to the region’s stability. Dubbed the “security camera of

RegioJet CEE’s best rail operator - T&E report

RegioJet CEE’s best rail operator - T&E report

Czechia’s RegioJet is the top-performing rail operator in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) for cost and quality, according to the latest report of the European Federation for Transport and Environment, or Transport & Environment (T&E). In the report T&E, an umbrella organisation for green and

FDI paints rosier picture for Poland, Romania - OECD report

FDI paints rosier picture for Poland, Romania - OECD report

Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries are still navigating post-pandemic economic challenges amid newer geopolitical tensions, according to the Economic Outlook December 2024 report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Inflationary pressures, labour shortages, and weakened demand from key European markets, most notably Germany, are affecting industrial

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