News
COVID-infected MPs join North Macedonia parliament session to push through stimulus package
Vote ends two-month deadlock that left pandemic-hit businesses and workers without support.
Czechia expels 18 alleged agents from Russian embassy after accusing Kremlin of causing explosion
Attack on Czech arms cache in 2014 killed two and led to the evacuation of a wide area.
Commissioner says EU looking at ways to help Montenegro repay China debt
Podgorica asked the EU to help it repay a loan to China’s Exim Bank taken out to pay for the construction of the first priority stretch of the Bar-Boljare motorway.
Romania’s Chimcomplex issues new shares as it prepares for Warsaw listing
Romania’s biggest chemical group plans to join its main regional rival Polish group PCC on the Warsaw Stock Exchange.
S&P raises Romania’s outlook to stable as fiscal risks recede
Romania’s new government rolled back a costly 40% pensions hike that would have prompted rating agencies to downgrade the country to junk.
Zelenskiy meets Macron as Russia engages in a diplomatic dance over a possible Biden-Putin summit
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and for the restart of the four-way talks under the Normandy Format during a trip to Paris.
M&A hits €8.5bn in CEE in Q1, says Mergermarket
Trend towards bigger deals and more fund investment continues, as deal value rises by half to give best Q1 since 2013.
UEFA´s 'unfair' punishment of Czech football player raises furore among fans and politicians
Row demonstrates the wide gulf that exists between attitudes towards racist behaviour in Western Europe compared to the newer CEE member states.
Bulgaria’s Gerb to nominate Daniel Mitov for next PM amid lack of coalition partners
Boyko Borissov, the leader of the Gerb party, will nominate Daniel Mitov, former foreign affairs minister, as Bulgaria's prime minister, assuming a coalition led by Gerb can be formed.
Poland’s government-controlled top court tells independent ombudsman to go
Holder of one of last remaining independent state institutions set to be replaced by government appointee as parliament cannot agree on a replacement.
wiiw raises 2021 CEE growth forecast to 3.8%
But pandemic has delayed restart of convergence with Western Europe until 2023.
Turkey’s key rate held but central bank language ‘indicates premature easing is ahead’
Regulator says “domestic activity is strong” but Capital responds: “Our own reading is that the economy is starting to slow more abruptly.”
US slaps new sanctions on Russia, including debt bans
The administration of US President Joe Biden on April 15 released details of long expected new sanctions against Russia, including a ban on US investors buying newly issued Russian ruble bonds that will infuriate the Kremlin.
Junior ruling partner in Romania withdraws support for prime minister
The conflict between the two major partners in Romania’s ruling coalition reached a climax when Prime Minister Florin Citu dismissed the USR-PLUS health minister.
Belarus to hike central bank rates 75bp to 8.5% from April 21
The National Bank of the Republic of Belarus will hike its key interest rate by 75bp from April 21 to 8.5% to combat rising inflation. In addition, the bank’s overnight lending rate will be increased to 9.5% and the overnight deposit rate to 7.5%.
Kremlin says Putin's attendance at a summit with Biden will depend on Washington’s behaviour
Moscow is going out of its way to make it clear it wants to materially change the way the two countries work together.
Kyrgyz court frees ex-PM charged with corruption after he pays $12mn
New government allows those found with illegal financial assets to avoid prosecution by surrendering them to Treasury. US embassy has warned about rise of organised crime in Kyrgyzstan.
GameStop-style investors trigger speculation in Arkle
162 Group forced by LSE to issue statement saying potential reverse takeover of Irish gold and zinc explorer by Mongolian miner was not going ahead.
Orban unveils plan for cautious reopening despite soaring death rate
The Hungarian government will allow outdoor dining places to open next week after the number of people vaccinated reaches 3.5mn, Prime Minister Viktor Orban announces.
“Where is the $128 billion?” posters plastered across Istanbul ask Erdogan
Police use cranes to remove embarrassing message from city streets as main opposition party says it won’t let the matter of Turkey’s decimated FX reserves go.
