Central Europe / Features

OUTLOOK Poland 2025

bne IntelliNews January 23, 2025

What is in store for Poland in 2025? bne IntelliNews’ annual OUTLOOK: Poland 2025

OUTLOOK Southeastern Europe 2025

bne IntelliNews January 20, 2025

What is in store for Southeastern Europe in 2025? bne IntelliNews’ annual OUTLOOK: Southeastern Europe 2025

Love in the Baltics in a time of war

Linas Jegelevicius in Vilnius January 17, 2025

The human twists of the war in Ukraine are gut-wrenching. For Lithuanian Aleksej Zanemanski it is an uphill battle for the right to live with his wife he loves unconditionally but who happens to be Russian.

Emerging Europe split between eager anticipation and wary acceptance ahead of Trump inauguration

bne IntelliNews January 17, 2025

For some leaders in Central and Southeast Europe, the new Trump presidency is seen as a opportunity; for others it’s a challenge to navigate carefully.

EU presidency passes from Putin-whispering Hungary to hawkish Poland

Wojciech Kosc in Warsaw January 7, 2025

Poland will continue to advocate for continued support for Ukraine fighting Russian aggression, a policy that is expected to come under duress in the early months of Trump's presidency.

PROFILE: Lorinc Meszaros, Hungary's most powerful oligarch

Tamas Csonka in Budapest January 3, 2025

The Opus tycoon embodies the new business elite built by Prime Minister Viktor Orban's semi-authoritarian regime and has also come to symbolise crony capitalism.

Slovakia faces cut-off of Russian gas pipeline supplies

Albin Sybera in Bratislava December 31, 2024

Robert Fico’s attacks on Kyiv for ending gas transit have more to do with his close political ties with Orban and Putin, the cosy business links Slovakia has with Russia, and his domestic political problems, rather than energy security.

FDI in Emerging Europe hit by geopolitical uncertainty and German slowdown

Clare Nuttall in Glasgow December 18, 2024

wiiw report warns lower investment trend could continue as Central and Eastern Europe's role as a production hub for Western companies is waning.

For the Baltic states, bigger defence spending may never be enough

Linas Jegelevicius in Vilnius December 12, 2024

The significant increase in the Baltic states’ defence spending is already starting to strain their economies.

Czechs choose the nuclear option

Albin Sybera December 11, 2024

Given the huge cost of this nuclear drive, environmental and energy analysts warn that the investments will influence the shape of the entire Czech energy transformation.

Slovak coalition wobbles but will it fall down?

Albin Sybera in Bratislava December 5, 2024

Robert Fico's populist government now has the slimmest possible majority of 76 legislators, raising speculation about early elections.

Emerging Europe winemakers sparkle as global wine production declines

Clare Nuttall in Glasgow December 4, 2024

Global production is set to fall 2% this year, but countries in Emerging Europe including Georgia, Hungary and Russia are bucking the trend, says the OIV.

Poor market conditions start to put Emerging Europe IPOs on hold

bne IntelliNews December 4, 2024

In the last few days it was announced that two planned IPOs in Central and Southeast Europe will be postponed, reflecting broader challenges in market conditions.

EBRD warns of risks for emerging markets pursuing industrial policies

Clare Nuttall in Glasgow November 26, 2024

Industrial policy is back "with a vengeance” but can have a distorting effect, EBRD chief economist Beata Javorcik told bne IntelliNews

INTERVIEW: Fintech in a volatile world

Clare Nuttall in Glasgow November 24, 2024

iBanFirst’s regional director for Southeast Europe Johan Gabriels discusses the rise of the fintech sector in the region.

PROFILE: Peter Magyar has a daunting task to scale up his party to challenge Orban in the 2026 elections

Tamas Csonka in Budapest November 19, 2024

The Tisza leader has emerged as a credible challenger to Hungary's longest serving premier and is currently even polling ahead of the ruling Fidesz party.

Trump's election complicates Tusk's foreign policy challenges

Wojciech Kosc in Warsaw November 11, 2024

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk will now hope President Andrzej Duda will work hand in hand with the government to make Trump get over his criticism of Nato and shelve his plan to “end war in Ukraine in 24 hours”.

INTERVIEW: Draghi report recommendations could lift eastern EU members’ economies, says EBRD chief economist

Clare Nuttall in Glasgow October 31, 2024

Central and Eastern Europe have achieved spectacular growth over the last 30 years, but those sources of growth have been depleted, Beata Javorcik told bne IntelliNews.

TAL pipeline expansion nears finish, offering Czech Republic a future free of Russian oil

Timothy Spence for Newsbase October 29, 2024

The project aimed at replacing Russian crude is being achieved in “an incredibly short period”, the CEO of the Czech Republic’s state oil pipeline operator told NewsBase.

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