Romania
BUCHAREST BLOG: Can Romania’s Klaus Iohannis take the Nato helm?
Romania’s outgoing president has challenged Dutch PM Mark Rutte, amid a debate over whether the security alliance needs a leader from Eastern Europe.
Penta mulls sale of Fortuna gambling chain
Central Europe's largest betting company reportedly valued at up to €2bn.
European Commission warns Romania risks losing funds over slow reforms
Officials say they are “very concerned” about fiscal slippage and lack of reform progress.
Romania’s construction index plunges by 14.8% y/y in January
Slump was deepest for residential construction segment.
Southeast Europe’s major cities are emptying out
Eurostat data shows fall in populations of biggest urban areas in Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania in last five years.
Russia warns Romania over building “largest Nato military base” in Europe
Expansion of Romania’s 57 Mihail Kogalniceanu air base on the Black Sea coast is intended to consolidate Nato’s Eastern Flank.
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.
Europe has €56bn shortfall to meet Nato 2% of GDP spending pledge
European nations within Nato are facing a €56bn shortfall in meeting the alliance's defence spending pledge of 2% of GDP this year, the Financial Times reported on March 16.
Support for Nato membership falls sharply in Southeast Europe
Under half of Montenegrins now back Nato membership, and only 33% would help another member in case of attack.
Romania’s public debt reaches 48.9% of GDP at end-2023
Romania's high fiscal deficit is expected to put pressure on the public debt-to-GDP ratio, eventually pushing it above 50%.
Romania’s inflation drops to 7.2% in February
February's fall in inflation was smaller than expected, increasing uncertainty about future rate cuts.
Romanian President Iohannis confirms bid for top Nato position
Iohannis stresses unconditional support for Ukraine as he takes on Dutch PM Mark Rutte in race to become next Nato secretary general.
Ukraine becomes world's 4th largest arms importer, European imports soar
European arms imports were up by 94% in 2019-23, as Ukraine's allies send military aid while also arming themselves, says new SIPRI report.
Construction, ICT and agriculture push Romania’s GDP growth to 2.1% in 2023
Romania’s economy advanced by 1.1% y/y in the last quarter of 2023 and by 2.1% y/y in the full year.
Romania wins $6.7bn litigation over Rosia Montana gold mining project
Gabriel Resources sued Romania at the World Bank’s ICSID over the stalled Rosia Montana project back in 2015.
Closing gender gap in workforce could double global growth rate says World Bank
Countries in Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia have a lower gender gap than the global average but only Latvian women have equal legal standing with men.
Romania’s retail sales post impressive 6.6% y/y advance in January
Private consumption is expected to be a major growth driver in Romania this year and the January figures are fully consistent with this.
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Energy-related CO2 emissions increased last year, but slower than in 2022, says IEA
In 2023, global CO2 emissions from energy rose at a slower pace compared with the previous year.
EU wants fossil fuel companies to help pay to fight climate change
The European Union plans to urge the fossil fuel industry to aid in combating climate change in less affluent countries under a United Nations objective, a preliminary document reveals.