Baltic States
Fastest shrinking EU states are from Southeast Europe and the Baltics
States across Central and Southeast Europe are experiencing a long-term population decline due to a combination of low birth rates and mass emigration.
Latvian industrial production returns to growth in May
The reading marks a return to growth for the Baltic state’s industrial sector after output fell in April in what was a third fall in the previous five months.
Rainbow flag flies over CEE, but attitudes to LGBT vary vastly
North Macedonia held its first ever gay pride march on June 29 with up to 1,000 people attending the event. There were pride marches in nearly all the CEE countries but the experience in each country is vastly different.
CEE monthly bond wrap: the number of issues in both CE and EE pick up in June as sentiment improves
The total of $5.3bn from seven issues in June was the most issued in the last four years. Eastern Europe and Russia also had a good month with issues of $5.1bn and $3.2bn respectively.
EBRD and Swedbank’s Lithuanian branch team up to help fintech development
Hub to promote fintech and tech-centric innovation and contribute to Lithuania’s goal of becoming a leading regional fintech centre in Europe, EBRD says.
Estonian industrial production returns to growth in May
The reading marks a return to expansion in Estonia’s industrial output after April’s dent ended a 33-month series of uninterrupted growth.
Russian-born UK banker sells stake in Latvian boutique bank linked to regulatory controversies
PNB, earlier named Norvik, was at the centre of the controversy that embroiled Latvia’s central bank governor Ilmars Rimsevics in early 2018 and which has continued to haunt Latvia since.
Estonian retail sales ease growth rate to 2% y/y in May
Sharp slowdown in growth since April, but consumption is expected to be an important driver of economic growth in 2019, as it was last year.
Seven New Europe members of PACE walk out in protest against Russia’s readmission
The decision has split the Council down the middle. Almost all of the western European members voted overwhelming to allow Russia back in. However, countries close to the Russian border voted against readmission.
CEE states block EU ambitions to go carbon neutral by 2050
A group of Eastern European member states said no to a carbon neutrality goal without guarantees that the cost of reducing emissions is offset to lessen the impact of the transition on their economies.
Demographic “tipping point” imminent for CEE labour markets
The ‘tipping point’ at which labour demand will become equal to labour supply is just two years away in the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Poland, says a new study from wiiw.