Balkan countries

A collection of 54 posts

Romania voids Russia-linked presidential ballot

Romania voids Russia-linked presidential ballot

Romania’s Constitutional Court (CCR) annulled the country’s presidential election on Friday, 6 December after the emergence of evidence of Russian interference in the lead-up to the first-round vote late last month. Pro-Russian ultranationalist candidate and political newcomer Calin Georgescu unexpectedly won the first round of voting on 24

CEE secures EUR 1.4bn in AI funding in 2023-24

CEE secures EUR 1.4bn in AI funding in 2023-24

Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is a rising force in artificial intelligence (AI) and startups in the region raised EUR 1.4bn in funding between 2023 and 2024, The Recursive writes in its second report entitled “The State of AI in CEE 2024”. Despite a less-than-perfect global funding environment, geopolitical

EU assesses candidates' progress in ten country reports

EU assesses candidates' progress in ten country reports

The European Commission (EC) analyses the accession prospects of all ten prospective members of the EU in a new set of reports on how the countries measure up to the criteria for governance, judicial independence and democratic standards required to join the bloc. The EC publishes an annual detailing of

CEE mulls ramifications of Trump's victory on trade, defence, environment

CEE mulls ramifications of Trump's victory on trade, defence, environment

As Donald Trump officially declared his victory in the US election, he received congratulations from numerous Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) leaders including Polish President Andrzej Duda and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. However, CEE politicians and observers are now wondering what the leadership change in Washington will bring, as

PKN Orlen CEE's top firm on Coface 500 list

PKN Orlen CEE's top firm on Coface 500 list

Poland is the dominant country in the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) business landscape, with 184 companies listed among the region’s top 500, according to Coface’s 2024 CEE Top 500 ranking. Sector shifts, new entrants make top 500 Polish energy giant PKN Orlen topped Coface’s Top 500

Estonia dominates top-30 regional startup list

Estonia dominates top-30 regional startup list

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

Globsec lays out proposals to bolster CEE's cyber security in new report

Globsec lays out proposals to bolster CEE's cyber security in new report

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

Albania opens first EU-accession chapters

Albania opens first EU-accession chapters

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

China, CEE strengthen strategic ties at summit

China, CEE strengthen strategic ties at summit

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

Serbian MPs vote against lithium mining ban, as Rio Tinto project edges closer

Serbian MPs vote against lithium mining ban, as Rio Tinto project edges closer

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

CEE's evolving e-commerce landscape

CEE's evolving e-commerce landscape

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

CEE rescue teams rally to flood-hit Bosnia

CEE rescue teams rally to flood-hit Bosnia

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