Hungary
Tusk says he will protect broadcasters TVN and Polsat from hostile takeovers
Polish commercial broadcasters added to list of strategic companies after rumours of interest from millionaire close to Hungary's Orban.
North Macedonia secures second €500mn loan from Hungary to repay 2018 Eurobond
Loan is the second part of a broader €1bn agreement with Hungary, which has a close relationship with North Macedonia's new rightwing government.
Shares in Hungary’s 4iG skyrocket amid speculation over SpaceX collaboration
4iG’s HUSAT satellite programme will be the first of its kind in the CEE region to develop satellite-based telecommunications and Earth observation capabilities.
Hungary's inflation accelerates to 3.7% in November
Month-on-month inflation was 0.5%.
European Commission questions viability of Hungarian government’s medium-term economic forecast under EDP procedure
Fiscal plans are missing significant information and are based on unreliable data, says Dombrovskis.
Orban threatens to veto EU budget unless suspended Hungarian funds are released
Budapest could lose billions in unreleased funds unless Orban regime finally makes reforms to repair rule of law.
COMMENT: European countries plan hydrogen import infrastructure to achieve climate goals
Talks between Greece's DESFA and several Southeast and Central European countries aim to establish a new hydrogen corridor to Germany.
Hungary asks for exemption from US sanctions for Russia's Gazprombank
Foreign minister says the sanctions could cause serious difficulties for Hungary, Slovakia, Turkey and Serbia, which use the bank to pay for Russian oil supplies.
Czechia to open oil reserves after Russia halts Druzhba pipeline flows
Russian move seen as reaction to Czech statement that it won't ask for the prolonging of its exemption from the EU ban on imports of petroleum products made from Russian oil.
Emerging Europe winemakers sparkle as global wine production declines
Global production is set to fall 2% this year, but countries in Emerging Europe including Georgia, Hungary and Russia are bucking the trend, says the OIV.
Gas prices rising as EU storage tanks empty faster than usual
Gas withdrawals from EU underground storage tanks have accelerated as Europe suffers from the first cold snap of winter. Gas tanks were 85.5% full as of December 1, having peaked at 95.3% full on October 29, according to Gas Infrastructure Europe.
Moody's changes outlook on Hungary sovereign rating to negative
Likely continued freeze of EU funds and the weak external environment blamed for weaker outlook.
Varga to lead Hungarian central bank from spring 2025
Finance Minister Mihaly Varga heads for MNB, while Economy Minister Marton Nagy is to lead a new super ministry in charge of finance, economic policy and state development.
Hungarian debate on euro adoption resurfaces as forint weakens further
The forint is on track to take the title of the worst-performing regional currency once again, extending a long-trend in place since Viktor Orban took power in 2010.
Hungary becomes top destination for Chinese investments in Europe
Last year, 44% of all Chinese investments in Europe flowed into Hungary.
EBRD warns of risks for emerging markets pursuing industrial policies
Industrial policy is back "with a vengeance” but can have a distorting effect, EBRD chief economist Beata Javorcik told bne IntelliNews
Hungary's bid to advance Serbia's EU accession stalls
Hungary is a steadfast supporter of Serbia’s EU aspirations but failed to secure backing for a proposal to open Cluster 3 of Serbia's accession talks.
Czech real estate tycoon ringfences €537mn of assets after Cypriot court ruling
Two convicted Czech fraudsters claim Radovan Vitek swindled them out of their secret investment in his Frankfurt-listed CPI Property Group.
Czechia won’t pursue prolonging EU exemption on Russian oil imports ban
But neighbouring Hungary and Slovakia, which have made less effort to diversify their oil supplies, want exemption to be prolonged.
INTERVIEW: Fintech in a volatile world
iBanFirst’s regional director for Southeast Europe Johan Gabriels discusses the rise of the fintech sector in the region.