Features
North Macedonia’s opposition gears up for return to power
Uncertainly over North Macedonia's EU accession path as opposition conservative VMRO-DPMNE is poised for a comeback after eight years in opposition.
Russia’s poorest regions amongst the biggest winners from the war spending
Russia’s heavy military spending is acting as an income inequality equaliser. A raft of Russia’s poorest regions are the biggest winner from the militarisation of the Russian economy, as state money pours into fixing up regional factories.
Foreign investments spark surge in Serbia's auto parts manufacturing
Wave of investments into auto parts manufacturing now includes moves into electro-mobility.
Russia’s government to change following Putin inauguration
Russian President Vladimir Putin will be sworn in for his fifth term in office on May 7 and, according to the Russian constitution, the government must resign.
Russian technology imports at pre-war levels, tougher export controls needed – Bruegel
Russia’s imports of Western technology have reached pre-war levels and the export control regime to stop the trade is full of holes. Tougher rules, enforcement and bigger fines are needed to curb the trade, according to a report by Bruegel.
Hungary gears up for visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping
Hungarian government's invitation to Xi on Europe Day and the 20th anniversary of Hungary's accession to the bloc is a blatant message to the EU.
KSE: Russian oil revenues rising, tougher sanctions needed on shadow fleet
Russian oil export revenues surged to $17.2bn in March 2024, driven by higher global oil prices and increased crude export volumes, according to the April ‘Russian Oil Tracker’ by KSE Institute.
Wave of protests evolves into a serious challenge to Georgian Dream rule
Weeks of protests against the Georgian government’s Russian-style "foreign agents" bill have created a spirit of resistance that now poses a serious challenge to the country’s increasingly authoritarian regime.
Putin promises long-term stability, a more equitable tax regime in the up-coming tax reform
Russian President Vladimir Putin promised a planned tax overhaul would increase inflows to the state budget, benefit low-income families and provide long-term stability for Russian corporates at his meeting with the big business lobbying group.
PANNIER: Kazakhstan helping to get wheels turning on Afghanistan railway projects
Growing optimism on ambitions to link Central Asia via Afghan territory to Pakistan’s Arabian Sea ports, the Gulf and Iran.
Uzbekistan IT outsourcing is open for business
Uzbekistan’s outsourcing is open for business and the ICT Ministry together with the country’s IT Park have taken the show on the road with an enticing “zero-risk” offer to bring in customers.
Georgian protests become test of strength between government and civil society
Police have used pepper spray, water cannons, tear gas, stun grenades and beatings to try to clear the streets.
‘Accession bonus’ gave new EU members advantage over fellow emerging markets
EBRD research shows GDP per capita in 8 CEE countries that joined the EU in 2004 has close to doubled as a share of Germany’s GDP per capita.
Central European populism bites the hand that feeds it
20 years after Central European countries' accession, the region's populists present a grave threat to the EU's fundamental values.
Fears grow of Russian interference in Central European media space
At the same time, in Poland and Hungary, social networking sites and messaging apps are considered more free and more trustworthy than mainstream media, according to new poll.
Cheap Russian drones overwhelm US-made Abrams tanks, taken out of action
Ukrainian forces are withdrawing U.S.-provided Abrams M1A1 battle tanks from the front lines after at least 5 have been destroyed by cheap Russian drones.
Putinomics: Russia’s oil and gas revenue to double in April
Russia’s oil and gas revenues surged in the first three months of this year by 79%, but Reuters calculated they will double in April compared to the same month a year earlier, the newswire reported on April 24.
Ukraine recovery: the mountain to climb
A new report released by the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) estimates the total damages from the Ukraine war at between $485bn and $1 trillion and notes that Western aid delivered thus far has been woefully inadequate for reconstruction.
CEE recovering but no full rebound in sight, says wiiw
Germany’s slow recovery is dampening growth prospects for Central and Southeast European economies.
Hidroelectrica effect sets off new wave of IPOs on Bucharest Stock Exchange
Both Premier Energy and JT Grup Oil have announced listing plans in recent days after hydropower giant gave boost to the market with 2023 IPO.