Romania
The European Commission proposes to “creatively” tap Russia’s $300bn of frozen assets with Reparation Loans
The European Commission is floating a new idea of how to “creatively” tap Russia’s $300bn of frozen assets without the need to appropriate, which is legally questionable, by replacing the money transferred to Kyiv with EU-backed bonds.
Moldova launches new stock exchange with support from Bucharest bourse
PM Dorin Reckon says new exchange to connect Moldova to European markets and create opportunities for entrepreneurs, foreign investors and the Moldovan diaspora.
Inflation wipes out wage gains in Romania as real incomes decline
Romanian households saw their purchasing power shrink in July as inflation outpaced wage growth.
Ukraine hits multiple Russian oil refineries, Trump calls for more EU oil sanctions
Ukraine is expanding its campaign of trying to cut the Kremlin off from its oil export income with a campaign of targeting Russia’s oil refining and pipeline assets, using its new long-range drones and missiles.
COMMENT: Europe’s summer of humiliation
This summer started with optimism around trade deals and progress in Ukraine, but quickly unravelled. Trade uncertainty is back, the war drags on with rising casualties, and Europe is now grappling with a raft of political crises.
Two thirds of Germans fear a Russian invasion fuelling far-right election gains in western heartland
Public anxiety over a potential Russian attack on Nato territory has surged in Germany following the recent drone incursion on September 10 into Polish airspace that coincided with sharp gains by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
Poll shows far-right opposition party AUR's support above 40% in Romania
Combined score of Romania's ruling coalition parties now only slightly ahead of AUR and fellow far-right parties.
Von der Leyen pledges unwavering support for Ukraine, unveils competitiveness reforms in EC state of the Union speech
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen used her annual EU State of the Union address on September 10 to reaffirm the bloc’s commitment to Ukraine, signal a tougher stance on Israeli settler violence, and outline reform
Romania lowers 2025 growth forecast to 0.6% on weaker consumption
Revised forecast assumes slower household income growth, leading to reduced private consumption.
India, China, Europe, all face population declines by the end of the century – OWID
This chart tracks the UN’s latest demographic projections for four large populations: India, China, Europe, and the United States. Together, they account for about half of today’s world population, Our World in Data (OWID) reports.
KYIV BLOG: Brexit on steroids
The coalition of the willing Paris summit on September 4 ended in disaster. The European team has been working really hard for several weeks to thrash out a plan to save Ukraine and came together in Paris.
Trump chews coalition of the willing leaders out over Russian oil imports
US President Donald Trump got into another shouting match over the Ukraine conflict, this time with Europe’s top leaders of the coalition of the willing, in a phone call following the end of the Paris summit on September 4.
Romania’s President Dan says securing stable government his top achievement in first 100 days
Nicușor Dan rates his performance at “seven to eight out of ten”, citing government stability and efforts to rein in Romania's deficit.
Romania’s retail sales rise 5.3% y/y in July, ahead of expected slowdown
Recent VAT and excise duty hikes as well as slower household income growth to weigh on consumption.
The coalition of the willing meet in Paris to try and stop the war in Ukraine
President Zelenskiy travelled to Denmark and France on September 3 to meet with leaders from 35 countries that make up the coalition of the willing (COW) and discuss the need for strong measures to pressure Russia to negotiate an end to the war.
LONG READ: Europeans face recession, financial crises, as they struggle to boost defence spending
US President Donald Trump has dropped the burden of supplying and supporting Ukraine’s battle against Russia firmly in Europe’s lap. But cash-strapped and with the UK and France on the verge of crisis, they are going to struggle to manage.
Nato’s Zeitenwende to reach 2% spending goal – Statista
New data released last week by Nato exemplifies how profoundly the realities of foreign relations have changed over the course of the past three years, Statista reports.
Romania’s manufacturing PMI rises to 14-month high but outlook remains weak
Despite the improvement, the index remained below the neutral 50 threshold for the fifteenth consecutive month, signalling ongoing contraction.
Future 500 Forum to tackle Europe’s chronic scale-up gap
As Europe lags Asia and the US on competitiveness, a new initiative aims to give Central and Southeast Europe’s most promising companies a shot at becoming global champions, co-founder Stjepan Orešković tells bne IntelliNews.
BRICS leaders gather in China to coordinate anti-Trump alliance
The EU’s 27 foreign ministers will debate seizing Russia’s frozen $200bn at an informal gathering in Copenhagen, as the leading BRICS nations gathered in Beijing to form a common strategy to deal with US trade aggression on August 30.