Baltic States
Estonia’s industrial production remains depressed by COVID-19 in May
May marked the twelfth consecutive month of falling industrial output in the Baltic state. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has clearly been the chief driver of the decline since March.
Bank of Lithuania to become first eurozone bank to issue digital coin
The Lithuanian central bank was one of many to be looking at how they might issue their own digital currencies as the use of cash declines – a process speeded up by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Payment platform Paysera enters Kosovan market
Paysera Kosovo obtains the country's first Electronic Money Institution (EMI) licence, plans to cut cost of money transfers between Kosovo and EU countries.
Economic sentiment in CEE picks up in June, but still deeply depressed
The economic sentiment indicators started to pick up again in June across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), but there are big differences between the countries as they start to recover from the coronacrisis at their own speeds
Illicit cigarette consumption declines in eastern EU states
KPMG report says fewer contraband cigarettes flowing into the EU, but growth in illegal factories within the bloc.
Central and Southeast Europeans have highest tolerance for corruption among EU members
People from the new EU member states that joined from 2004 onwards are more likely to think it is acceptable to do a favour, give a gift or give money to get something from a public administration, shows a new survey from Eurobarometer.
bne's Despair Index paints a mixed picture during the corona storm
We have updated bne IntelliNews Despair Index, which better reflects what damage something like the coronacrisis does to the bottom half of society in the countries of New Europe. While the index has ticked up, the damage is limited so far.
Lithuanian CPI growth eases further to just 0.3% y/y in May
The slowdown came mainly on the back of prices falling in the housing and transport sectors, a result of the falling oil prices because of the coronavirus pandemic that depressed the global oil market.
EIB loans €70m to Estonia’s Eesti Energa to improve broadband internet access
The loan will finance upgrading the quality of internet access in areas with insufficient broadband connectivity and limited broadband services.