Baltic States
AI and cybersecurity to drive CEE tech sector
PwC and CEE Digital Coalition believe the Central and Eastern Europe region has the potential to create the EU’s Silicon Valley.
Baltic states aim to go nuclear but have to wait
The three Baltic states – which have had no nuclear reactors since the closure of Lithuania’s Soviet-designed Ignalina plant 15 years ago – are now all looking at small modular reactor technology.
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IMF says Estonia should take decisive steps to restore its competitiveness
The slow start to 2024 means the economy will stagnate this year, but the recovery should gain further momentum in 2025, the IMF forecast.
Estonia’s interior minister set to classify Moscow Patriarchate church as terror organisation
Estonian Interior Minister Lauri Laanemets said he is set to propose to the country’s parliament Riigikogu that they declare the Moscow-based Orthodox Patriarchate a terrorist organisation.
COMMENT: The Three Seas Initiative's digital imperative
While digital infrastructure in the region is growing, support infrastructure designed to handle the growth in demand is what requires investment.
IEA: Methane emissions at an all-time high need to be reduced by 75% by 2030 at a cost of $170bn
Methane emissions are 80 times more damaging than carbon dioxide. Rather than falling, they are currently at an all-time high and rising. The IEA says they need to fall by 75% by 2030 if the Paris Accord targets are going to be met.
The EU is preparing a new, fourteenth package of sanctions
The EU is preparing a new fourteenth package of sanctions that is slated for adoption in the coming months, but is unlikely to introduce any new products and will focus mostly on enforcing the existing thirteen rounds of sanctions.
Where Nato has an enhanced forward presence
On Monday, 8 April, Germany sent an advance team of 20 soldiers to Lithuania, laying the groundwork for the recently discussed establishment of a permanent brigade in the Nato country, Statista reports.
Europe exits the winter heating season with record gas stocks
The EU has exited the heating season with a record volume of gas in storage, following another mild winter and as a result of reduced industrial demand and a concerted effort by policymakers to boost stockpiles.
Grid bottlenecks on the way in Europe?
A new analysis by the energy think-tank Ember has found that several countries in Europe could soon face bottlenecks in their national transmission energy grids, as more solar and wind power will be generated than these networks have capacity for.
Summer starts as EU gas tanks start to fill again
Winter is over, as the EU gas tanks switch from withdrawals to filling mode again in preparation for next winter. Injection into the gas tanks started on April 1, a week earlier than in 2023 and started at an all-time high record level of 59.3% full.
Where is green tech made in Europe?
Europe is home to more than 400 clean tech manufacturing plants, but the distribution is uneven and a few large countries dominate the business of making equipment needed to produce green energy sources.
INTERVIEW: Nobel Peace Prize nominee Olga Karatch on the squandered chance to change Belarus
After failing to oust Alexander Lukashenko in the 2020 presidential election, Belarus’ exiled opposition politicians are divided and increasingly unwelcome in neighbouring Lithuania.
Latvia’s foreign minister resigns over private jet scandal
Krisjanis Karins, formerly prime minister of Latvia, enjoyed a lavish lifestyle while in the PM office, using private jets for 32 foreign trips.
COMMENT: Overheating in Russia and Turkey, but CEE recovering
The economies of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), which experienced a period of stagnation last year, are poised for a modest revival in 2024, but both the Russian and Turkish economies are already overheating.
Lukashenko contradicts Putin on Crocus City terrorists, threatens to invade Baltics
In Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko’s latest bombastic rant, he contradicted Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying the four terrorists fleeing the killing spree in the Crocus City Hall mall were headed towards Belarus not Ukraine.
UBN: Russia could take the Baltic states in 48 hours
Russian forces must only make an offensive push for 250km to cut the Baltic states from Europe.
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Only seven countries meet WHO air pollution guideline
IQAir’s 6th Annual World Air Quality Report reveals “troubling details” of the world's most polluted countries, territories and regions in 2023.
A surprise EU proposal to expand agricultural ”emergency brake” import restrictions will cost Ukraine €1.7bn
EU countries have overnight agreed to impose new restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural imports that will cost the cash strapped country €1.7bn and hurt its ability to fight the war against Russia.
KYIV BLOG: EU finalises €5bn Ukraine Peace Fund contribution that will see little new money sent to Kyiv
EU ambassadors agreed to back a new €5bn Ukraine Assistance Fund on March 13, part of the EU's off-budget European Peace Facility (EPF) that is used to partially reimburse member countries for the weapons they provide to Ukraine.