Baltic States
Latvian parliament votes for tough new measures against financial crime
Law allowing parliament to remove the head of Latvia's financial regulator was passed after a series of scandals that put Riga under pressure to clean up its banking sector.
Latvian industrial production falls in April
Erratic output figures early in the year appear to be a harbinger of the likely easing of GDP growth in the Baltic state in 2019.
Latvian economic growth confirmed at 3% y/y in Q1
The reading is in line with forecasts of deceleration in 2019, as investment growth is set to weaken.
"Dirty diesel" cars still on the roads in Central, Southeast Europe
Across the EU just 10mn of the 43mn diesel cars and vans caught in the Dieselgate scandal have been recalled, and recall rates are lowest in the eastern EU members, finds Transport & Environment.
Lithuanians pick new president in continuation vote
The new head of state will be picked in a run-off vote between two largely centre-right contenders who are seen as likely to just fine-tune "Iron Lady" Dalia Grybauskaite’s legacy, not overturn it.
Lithuanian industrial production more than doubles y/y growth rate in April
The adjusted annual growth in April owes to production expanding 14% y/y in the most-weighted manufacturing segment, compared to a growth of 7% y/y the preceding month.
Latvia-China e-commerce hub launched in Riga
The hub is expected to promote economic cooperation between China and Latvia, which could reach €1bn in the coming years, a Latvian government official said.
Voters prepare to punish their ruling parties in European Parliament elections
Following domestic political scandals in several Central and Southeast European member states, many voters just want to give their ruling parties a kicking in this week's EU-wide vote.