CEE distillers pivot to domestic sales as exports fall, tastes shift

2 min read Alcohol, Poland, Hungary, czechia, Moldova, Euromonitor, Transnistria, Russia, Green Tree Distillery, Zubrowka, Absolwent, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, EU, SEA, Gulf

Producers in Poland, Czechia and Moldova are rebranding locally and pursuing new strategies to stay afloat after the collapse of major foreign markets, in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Western sanctions on premium alcohol.

Moldova pivots to EU in presidential vote

3 min read Eastern Europe, Moldova, Romania, Chisinau, Ciolacu, European Commission, European Union, Russia, Stoianoglo, Transnistria, Ursula von der Leyen

Moldovan President Maia Sandu defeated her pro-Russian rival Alexandr Stoianoglo by around 55% to 45% in the presidential second-round vote on Sunday, 3 November. While Stoianoglo was ahead in rural areas, the south, and the breakaway republic of Transnistria, pro-EU Sandu took Chisinau and other cities and was also the

Romania increasingly key strategic ally for US - analysis

3 min read Analysis, Eastern Europe, Moldova, News by country, Politics, Romania, Ukraine, V4 & Romania, Constanta, Crimea, European Union, Georgia, NATO, Ronald H. Linden, Transnistria, Turkey

The expansion and modernisation of the NATO air base in Constanta, south-east Romania, symbolises the country’s growing strategic importance to NATO and the US, regional expert Ronald H. Linden writes in an article entitled “Romania is America’s new indispensable ally in Eastern Europe” in US politics daily The