A collection of 207 posts
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.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Wednesday, September 18, reversed decades of opposition to tax hikes as his government amended VAT laws, effective 1 January, 2025. As recently as April, the leader of Slovakia’s nominally left-wing Smer-SD party, positioned himself as a champion of low-income earners, saying “I oppose
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk declared a state of disaster and confirmed that 1,600 people have been evacuated in Klodzko, south-west Poland, as Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) faced torrential rains brought by Storm Boris, which has led to widespread flooding and causing numerous deaths across countries including Romania,
Hungary is rushing to safeguard its energy security following Ukraine’s sanctions on Russian oil company Lukoil, and is in active discussions to guarantee alternative supply routes, according to the country’s top diplomat. Szijjarto concerned over energy supplies Despite protests from Budapest and Bratislava, the European Commission (EC) has
In total 6 of 17 countries from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) made the top 50 for fastest internet speeds, with an average download speed of 76.58 Mbps, placing it the 4th global region. CEE’s top performers were Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania, with average speeds of 145.19
As tens of thousands of Serbians rally in opposition to the contentious lithium mining project planned by company Rio Tinto in Jadar, west Serbia, an alternative is being investigated elsewhere in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). A crucial material for enabling the EU to meet its 2030 climate goals may
Adoption of zero-emission vehicles gaining traction in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), according to Erste Group’s macroeconomic report for August 2024. The Austrian financial service provider’s analysis sees varied economic trajectories and fluctuating trade balances across CEE, as Slovenia reported a trade deficit of EUR 0.64bn in
Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) could be closing in on an energy standoff as Hungary and Slovakia have threatened to restrict or even suspend electricity supplies to Ukraine in response to its recent decision to halt crude oil transits of Russian supplier Lukoil, Hungarian state news channel M1 reported on
Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is making notable strides in the e-commerce arena, driven by increasing digital adoption and a burgeoning online market, according to a recent analysis by Polish IT solutions provider Exorigo Upos. In 2023, CEE’s e-commerce penetration was 55%, lagging Western Europe’s 80%, underscoring the
The new report on rule of law and governance by the European Commission (EC) gives a mixed picture on Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) anti-corruption efforts, judicial independence, media freedom, and legislative practices. The EC’s Rule of Law Report 2024, its 5th, included assessments of developments in Bulgaria, Czechia,
Bulgaria has extended a helping hand to Hungary in managing the fallout from Ukraine’s recent ban on the transit of oil from Russia’s Lukoil, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, announced in Bucharest, Romania, on Wednesday 24 July. Szijjarto detailed how he and Bulgarian Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov had
Slovakia and Hungary have vehemently criticised Ukraine’s recent decision to halt the transit of Russian Lukoil oil to Hungary, with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto describing it as “incomprehensible and unacceptable”. These sanctions prevent Lukoil from renting the Druzhba (Friendship) pipeline for transit purposes. As approximately 70% of the
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Friday 5 July gave his first public appearance since being seriously injured in an assassination attempt. Fico was shot by Juraj Cintula, a 71-year-old writer and political activist after a government meeting in Handlova on 15 May, since when he has had two operations.
Romania reported the highest inflation rate in May, of 5.8%, driven by significant increases in housing and utilities prices, according to the latest data from the EU’s official statistics agency Eurostat. Croatia experienced the second highest inflation in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), of 4.3%, driven primarily
Pro-European centrist parties performed well in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) at the European Parliament (EP) elections held from 6-9 June, in contrast to elsewhere on the continent, where far-right parties surged. Tusk consolidates lead in Poland In Poland, the Civic Coalition (KO), led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, gained