Slovenia
The use of the ruble in EU trade settlements reaches a record $15.2bn in March
The use of the ruble in settlements for goods and services exported by Russia to European partners was up 58.5% in March 2024 to record levels, according to data from the Central Bank of Russia.
BOFIT: The bilateral relations between China and the European Union are important but challenging
In early May, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Europe for the first time since 2019. The destinations of the visit were France, Hungary and Serbia. China sought to improve its relationship with Europe, but relations remain tense.
Global warming acceleration at its peak but the La Nina effect this year will reduce temperatures less than expected
Global temperature is now near its peak due to El Niño aerosol decrease. How far will it fall in the coming La Niña? Less than expected.
Slovenia’s economy expands by 2.1% y/y in 1Q24
Slovenia’s economy grew by an annual 2.1% in the fourth quarter of 2024 (chart), according to non-seasonally adjusted data released by the statistics office, SURS, on May 15.
EBRD2024: EBRD expects Emerging Europe growth boost in 2024, but slightly lowers forecast
Development bank makes downward revision in latest forecasts after worse than expected Q1 figures for Central Europe.
University of Ljubljana students occupy faculty in protest against military operations in Gaza
Students at the University of Ljubljana have occupied the main lecture hall at the Faculty of Social Sciences in protest over Israeli military operations against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.
Trees are “coughing not breathing” due to climate crisis stress, study finds
"We found that trees in warmer, drier climates are essentially coughing instead of breathing," a study by Penn State found.
April 2024 sets global moisture record
April 2024 set a global moisture record for the planet, reports climatologist Ben Noll
Think-tank warns UN vote on Srebrenica genocide could trigger Republika Srpska’s secession from Bosnia
Hudson Institute says move towards secession could in turn spark broader ethnic conflicts in Balkans.
Slovenian central bank warns of heightened cyber risks linked to geopolitics
Bank of Slovenia says banks need to do more to defend themselves against cyber attacks as prolonged conflicts in Ukraine and Middle East raise global risks.
‘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.
20 years after accession 'big bang' wiiw economists say CEE needs a new model to catch up with the West
Eastern EU members are growing much faster than the eurozone, but must focus more on innovation for a full catchup.
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.
COMMENT: Testing the limits – the politics of EU membership in CEE 20 years after accession
Apathy and lack of trust in national institutions, combined with ‘convergence fatigue’, have created favourable conditions for populist forces that have degraded the quality of institutions in many of the CEE states that joined the EU in 2004.
THE VIEW FROM MITTELEUROPA: Has EU enlargement been an economic success story?
20 years after the accession of Central Europe, EU enlargement can be seen as an engine of economic growth, even if it was not a success everywhere and in all areas.
Bankers reassessing accelerating climate crisis in anticipation of trillions of dollars of annual damage
As the climate crisis accelerates, banks are facing increasing financial risks and have begun to try to assess their exposure to the trillions of dollars of damage extreme weather will do every year.
CEE recovering but no full rebound in sight, says wiiw
Germany’s slow recovery is dampening growth prospects for Central and Southeast European economies.
AI and cybersecurity to drive CEE tech sector
PwC and CEE Digital Coalition believe the Central and Eastern Europe region has the potential to create the EU’s Silicon Valley.
Slovenia's first geothermal power plant produces initial kW of electricity
Pilot geothermal power station built on an abandoned gas well produces first electricity, but investor says modifications needed for viable long-term energy generation.
COMMENT: The Three Seas Initiative's digital imperative
While digital infrastructure in the region is growing, support infrastructure designed to handle the growth in demand is what requires investment.