Czech Republic
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Czech GDP grew by 0.4% y/y in the Q1 2024
The estimate released by the Czech Statistical Office follows a GDP drop of 0.8% in the third quarter of 2023 and a growth of 0.4% in Q4. Following the revision released by CZSO in late March, the Czech economy declined by 0.2% in 2023 overall.
‘Accession bonus’ gave new EU members advantage over fellow emerging markets
EBRD research shows GDP per capita in 8 CEE countries that joined the EU in 2004 has close to doubled as a share of Germany’s GDP per capita.
20 years after accession 'big bang' wiiw economists say CEE needs a new model to catch up with the West
Eastern EU members are growing much faster than the eurozone, but must focus more on innovation for a full catchup.
Central European populism bites the hand that feeds it
20 years after Central European countries' accession, the region's populists present a grave threat to the EU's fundamental values.
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Czech police point to Russia's GRU as investigation into ammunition explosion is shelved
Czech interior minister says that Russia is “transgressing valid international agreements” after it refused to cooperate with Czech authorities on the case.
France's EDF seen as favourite as Czech nuclear tender enters next stage
It is already clear that the estimated price of CZK160bn (€6.4bn), which the Czech government calculated in 2020, will be exceeded.
COMMENT: Testing the limits – the politics of EU membership in CEE 20 years after accession
Apathy and lack of trust in national institutions, combined with ‘convergence fatigue’, have created favourable conditions for populist forces that have degraded the quality of institutions in many of the CEE states that joined the EU in 2004.
THE VIEW FROM MITTELEUROPA: Has EU enlargement been an economic success story?
20 years after the accession of Central Europe, EU enlargement can be seen as an engine of economic growth, even if it was not a success everywhere and in all areas.
Czech tycoon Kretinsky enters steel business with 20% stake in Thyssenkrupp
EP is in talks to acquire a further 30% of the steel business in a pursuit of forming a 50:50 joint venture.
Fears grow of Russian interference in Central European media space
At the same time, in Poland and Hungary, social networking sites and messaging apps are considered more free and more trustworthy than mainstream media, according to new poll.
Bankers reassessing accelerating climate crisis in anticipation of trillions of dollars of annual damage
As the climate crisis accelerates, banks are facing increasing financial risks and have begun to try to assess their exposure to the trillions of dollars of damage extreme weather will do every year.
CEE recovering but no full rebound in sight, says wiiw
Germany’s slow recovery is dampening growth prospects for Central and Southeast European economies.
Czech prosecutors indict former president's top aide for embezzlement
Vratislav Mynar was at the centre of many of the scandals surrounding Milos Zeman's two terms as president.
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Premier Energy announces €125mn IPO in Bucharest to boost renewables portfolio
Bucharest Stock Exchange becomes increasingly attractive for investors after last year's Hidroelectrica IPO.
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.
Czech tycoon Kretinsky’s £4.5bn bid for owner of Royal Mail rejected
IDS shares jumped by 29% on April 17 after it announced it had turned down an indicative offer at 320p per share from Kretinsky’s EP Group.
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Czechia paid five times more for energy imports from Russia than it spent on aid to Ukraine
The amount of money Czechia spent on Russian energy imports until the end of 2023 could finance more than three weeks of Russian fighting in Ukraine.
Pro-Kremlin Voice of Europe resumes operations from Kazakhstan
Media platform that has promoted far-right EU politicians was expelled from Czechia last month.
Creditors of Liberty Steel Ostrava greenlight restructuring plan
Creditors vote to eject biggest of them, power supplier Tameh Czech, from the list of creditors.
Fiala meets Biden to discuss support for Ukraine
US President praises Czech initiative to purchase ammunition for Ukraine outside the EU.