Serbia
Serbia must improve business climate and tackle brain drain to ensure long-term growth, IMF says
Serbia has a positive near-term outlook after growth rebounded to a 10-year high in 2018, but deep reforms are needed to create a solid basis for future growth.
Slovenia, Israel and Turkey benefit from Kosovo’s politically motivated import tariffs
100% import tariffs on goods from Serbia and Bosnia have pushed consumer prices up in Kosovo, but politicians’ claims they would help local producers were never realised, think tank GAP finds.
Environment for SMEs improved in Western Balkans, Turkey but potential still unexploited
SMEs are under-represented in international trade and their contribution to value added remains low, the latest SME Policy Index finds.
COMMENT: Chinese engagement in CESEE: paper dragons and false inevitabilities?
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is no less than an attempt by the Chinese to reshape the international order, but it has acted as a strategic opportunist and has no clear development plan.
Kosovan president looks to US to broker deal with Serbia as “weak” EU fails to make progress
Hashim Thaci says the US is key to settling the ongoing conflict between the two countries after the latest attempt to restart of the Serbia-Kosovo dialogue in Germany produces no result.
Hungarian PM Viktor Orban’s friend seals €2.3bn railway contract with Chinese firms
RM International, a company owned by Lorinc Meszaros, is part of the consortium picked to upgrade the railway line connecting Budapest and Belgrade.
Hungary picks companies for Budapest-Belgrade railway upgrade
The planned 350 km high-speed Chinese-funded railway is considered a flagship project of China's Belt and Road Initiative.
COLCHIS: Media Sustainability in Eurasia: What does the Data Say?
Southeast Europe enjoys a largely free and vibrant press, but an index developed by consultant Keshif shows that the press is coming under pressure and diversity and quality are slipping.