Baltic States
Lithuanian industrial production more than doubles y/y growth rate in April
The adjusted annual growth in April owes to production expanding 14% y/y in the most-weighted manufacturing segment, compared to a growth of 7% y/y the preceding month.
Latvia-China e-commerce hub launched in Riga
The hub is expected to promote economic cooperation between China and Latvia, which could reach €1bn in the coming years, a Latvian government official said.
Voters prepare to punish their ruling parties in European Parliament elections
Following domestic political scandals in several Central and Southeast European member states, many voters just want to give their ruling parties a kicking in this week's EU-wide vote.
PM Skvernelis' defeat in presidential election causes turmoil in Lithuanian politics
After coming in a humiliating third place in the presidential poll, Saulius Skvernelis says he will stand down if his party also performs poorly in the European Parliament election next week.
Tight race for Lithuania's presidency
Two centre-right economists lead the polls ahead of Sunday's vote, as Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis trails in third place.
Poland leads CEE charge against “centralised” and “multi-speed” EU
Warsaw wants the EU to devolve more powers to national governments and opposes deeper integration of some – mostly Western – member states in specific policy areas.
Estonia’s new government hit by first resignation hours after taking oath
Estonia’s IT and foreign trade minister Marti Kuusik resigned after allegations surfaced linking him to domestic violence.
15 years on from 2004 wave of EU accessions, convergence but a patchy overall record for CEE countries
15 years after eight CEE states entered the EU, there have been significant economic gains, but in recent years this has been accompanied by a backsliding on democratic reforms.
Money-laundering crisis reshapes Estonia’s relations with non-resident businesses
When the Estonian government launched its ambitious e-residency programme in late 2014, little did Tallinn think that the country’s largest-ever money-laundering crisis, with the local unit of Danske Bank at its centre, would make trouble
Arming and rearming: Military spending grows across CEE and SEE in 2018
Russia’s expenditure falls for a second year, even though Moscow fears are driving defence outlays elsewhere. Turkey committed a league-topping 24% more while Iran spent 9.5% less on its armed forces as US tightened economic noose.
COMMENT: CEE Fintech Atlas: Old narratives are changing, innovations may flow now from East to West
After nearly three decades since the end of the socialist experiment many countries in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) have made enormous progress, but they are still catching up to their western peers. But not in fintech.
Estonia’s president appoints coalition of centrists and far-right
Despite losing the general election in March, Centre Party leader Juri Ratas will preside over a coalition government he managed to piece together with the highly controversial far-right EKRE party and the conservative Fatherland group.