Central Europe / Features
Digital propaganda revolution dominates Slovak election campaign
President Zuzana Caputova has been repeatedly warning that her country is in an “information storm”.
Slovak election goes right down to the wire
Slovaks head to the polls on September 30 in an early election that is both vital for the country’s future and perhaps the future of Central Europe.
Slovak strongman Robert Fico follows the Orban playbook
Opponents warn that if Fico wins this weekend's election he will follow Hungarian strongman Viktor Orban’s playbook by hollowing out the country’s democracy and cosying up to the Kremlin, making Slovakia another European renegade.
INTERVIEW: Michal Simecka, Progressive Slovakia leader
Liberal leader says populist rival Robert Fico would become Hungarian strongman Viktor Orban's partner in pushing Russian interests inside the EU.
Eastern EU members building roads instead of railways
Across the EU far more has been invested in roads than railways over the last three decades, but this trend is even stronger in the newer EU members, a study commissioned by Greenpeace finds.
PROFILE: Michal Simecka, leader of Progressive Slovakia
There is a real hope that a late surge of support from the estimated one quarter of undecided voters could push Michal Simecka's Progressives into first place at the September 30 general election.
Onetime 'King of Europe' Tusk now fights to lead Poland
The former premier and European Council president has restored faith in the Civic Platform party but the road to end PiS’ rule remains as steep as ever.
bneGREEN: EV battery manufacturers plug into Southeast Europe
Southeast Europe is already home to some high-profile electro-mobility companies. Now, it's becoming a location for battery manufacturing too.
Ukrainian refugees become populist targets in Czechia
Even though two thirds of refugees live below the poverty line and their financial support has just been cut, populists are whipping up tensions, particularly with the country's Roma minority.
Polish far-right parties could dictate next government
Konfederacja nurtures its anti-establishment image and denies speculation about joining a future coalition after next month's election.
Czech coalition drifts towards defeat
The government is one of the most unpopular ever and it appears to be only talking to its own supporters.
Czech pubs struggle to get back on their feet after pandemic
Tourists are back in Prague but VAT rises and the cost of living crisis are hurting country pubs.
Hungarian banks struggling to cope with the inflation “public enemy”
The high inflation environment in Hungary is a big headache for the country’s bankers and is putting profits under pressure. And to make matters worse the authorities have raised taxes on the sector.
CEE easing cycles around the corner
With inflation passing its peak in most of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, central bankers are switching gears from aggressively tightening rates to curb price rises to starting to cut rates to support growth.
Storms follow heatwaves to batter Southeast Europe’s crops
Extensive damage to crops in region, as deadly storms follow record heat.
New initiative to tackle brain drain in Western Balkans
Fund to foster collaboration between vocational education and training institutions and companies across WB6 economies.
OBITUARY: Milan Kundera, one of Central Europe's greatest writers about the communist experience
Kundera had a complicated relationship with Czechoslovakia, which he left in 1975. He wrote all of his later works in French and later referred to himself as a French writer.
How Vilnius became the safest yet emptiest capital
President Gitanas Nauseda has rejected criticism over what some say is a splurge of taxpayer money, saying: “Let's not beat our chests for deciding to paint our lips a little bit”.
Emerging Europe's longest-lasting leaders
Some leaders of Emerging Europe and Central Asia led their countries for decades. bne IntelliNews ranks them by their time in power.
Nearshoring drives hike in demand for industrial space in Southeast Europe
Demand for industrial and logistics space is increasing in Southeast Europe, spurred on by the region’s growing importance as a nearshoring destination serving Western and Central Europe.