Central Europe / Features
Proposed defence spending hike to 5% of GDP exposes divisions among Nato members
Russia hawks in Poland and the Baltic States are firmly behind plan to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP, while other members question new target.
Żabka opens 100th Froo convenience store in Romania
Polish convenience store operator Żabka has opened its 100th Froo-branded store in Romania, one year after launching in the market, the company said on June 16.
Nawrocki’s rise sparks fresh uncertainty for wartime Ukraine
Conservative historian Karol Nawrocki’s victory in the June presidential election in Poland has all but dashed Ukrainian hopes for Warsaw speaking with one voice about Ukraine.
Will the weather on June 1 decide the Polish presidential vote?
Poles go to the polls this weekend and the two candidates for the presidency are literally neck and neck, with less than a point between them. The outcome is far too close to call, so the weather could play a major role.
So what is at stake in Polish elections?
Whoever will emerge victorious on Sunday, his term will sooner or later become underpinned by the political conflict that has defined Poland for 20 years now.
Polish farmers call for sanctions to stop a flood of Russian cucumber imports
The cucumber rules supreme in the cuisine of Eastern Europe. No salad is complete without a humble cucumber, which is a staple on any kitchen table across the region. But now a cucumber war has broken out between Poland and Russia.
INTERVIEW: Being small and agile is an advantage in turbulent times, says Slovenia’s finance minister
Slovenia is one of Europe’s smallest countries, but Finance Minister Klemen Boštjančič tells bne IntelliNews that gives the country an edge in today’s fast-changing global environment.
Ukraine risks €2bn EU funding cut over unmet reform benchmarks, EU trade relations in limbo
Ukraine risks losing up to €2bn in European Union financial support after missing four EU chapter reform targets required under the Ukraine Facility programme in the first quarter of the year. Trade relations with the EU are also in limbo.
Poland’s WIG index climbs 28.6% in 2025 on Ukraine peace hopes and economic stability
The Warsaw Stock Exchange’s (WSE) benchmark WIG index has gained 28.6% since the beginning of 2025, outperforming major global markets amid investor optimism over a potential peace settlement in Ukraine.
Viktor Orban makes huge political misstep in supporting Simion, Hungarian analyst says
The outcome has been a defeat for Viktor Orban as ethnic Hungarians overwhelmingly supported the pro-European candidate, Nicusor Dan.
Ukrainian refugees living in Poland boost taxes by $400mn and GDP growth – survey
Ukrainian citizens living in Poland contributed PLN1.65bn ($414mn) in personal and corporate income taxes in 2024, marking a 27.7% increase compared to the previous year and double the amount recorded in 2022, according to a recent survey.
Tusk unveils national doctrine to build strongest army, economy in CEE
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced a new "national doctrine" aimed at ensuring Poland develops the most powerful army and economy in the region, as the country prepares for "an era of great threats and challenges."
Trump policies won’t harm Emerging Europe badly – and will actively benefit Russia
Latest wiiw forecasts show little direct impact on Central and Southeast Europe from Trump trade wars.
How Europe has weaned itself off Russian gas in the last three years
In 2021, Eastern European countries imported almost half of their gas from Russia. Only two countries in the region – Albania and Kosovo – were wholly independent of Russian gas.
Retail markets in Zagreb, Ljubljana and Belgrade hold “significant potential”, says CBRE
The retail real estate sectors in Croatia, Slovenia and Serbia are showing strong potential for further development, according to new research by global real estate consultancy CBRE.
Hungarian PM Orban’s line on Ukraine hardening as Trump tries to bully the EU into making concessions to Russian demands
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s opposition to Ukraine joining the European Union is intensifying, bolstered by US President Donald Trump, who has upended Western support for Kyiv.
Slovenian blue chips ride mega-trends to outpace regional peers
Slovenia’s leading listed companies are capitalising on global trends such as ageing populations, energy transition and financial inclusion.
US tariffs could undermine Viktor Orban's dream of golden economic era with US
Hungary's heavily export-oriented, manufacturing-driven economy is among the more vulnerable EU member states in the transatlantic trade war, according to analysts.
Rule of law in EU deteriorates, with decline concentrated in eastern members
Liberties report finds collapse of democratic standards in Hungary, and strong deteriorations in Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, Romania and Slovakia.