Central Europe / Features
Immigration to slow population decline in Central Europe’s most prosperous nations
Czechia, Hungary and Slovakia are all expected to receive a few thousand new inhabitants each year for the rest of the century, according to the UN's latest population projections.
Eight Emerging Europe countries to lose more than half their populations by 2100
Steep population decline projected by the UN in the coming decades, with Ukraine’s population set to contract the most.
World population set to peak decades sooner than previously projected
Latest UN projections indicate global population will peak at 10.3bn by the 2080s then start gradual decline.
Slovakia's populist government tames the broadcasters
Robert Fico’s left-right government has followed the Viktor Orban playbook by tightening state control over the main public broadcaster, while private television channels have toned down critical coverage.
Hungary vows to use its EU presidency to "Make Europe Great Again"
Viktor Orban is taking on the baton from Belgium after a string of setbacks at home and on the international stage.
Local, international and regional chains vie for Balkans’ expanding food retail market
Consumer markets in Southeast Europe are booming, in what is largely a catch-up story.
We are in the epicentre of the information war, says Jourova
The European Commission is investigating whether “new risks”, notably the use of artificial intelligence and cyberattacks, influenced this month’s European Parliament elections
Tusk's triumph in EU election unbalances Polish coalition
KO’s coalition partners will view the results with concern, as Tusk’s power relative to them has now grown substantially.
Magyar turns Hungary's EP election into challenge against Orban's authoritarian rule
Magyar’s explosion onto the stagnant Hungarian political scene could force Orban to change his political tactics.
LONG READ: Russia’s despair index result is the best ever, while Ukraine’s crashes
The despair index adds unemployment, inflation and poverty to compare what life is like in the bottom third of emerging societies. Currently Russia is enjoying one of its lowest levels of despair, whereas Ukraine is suffering one of its worst.
CEE's authoritarian nationalists seek to 'occupy' Brussels
Populist parties could come first in 11 of the 27 member states in the European Parliament elections, six of which are in Central and Eastern Europe.
Southeast European countries look to Algeria to diversify energy supplies
Both Slovenia and Croatia are tapping Algeria for gas imports as the country becomes an important supplier to southern Europe.
CEE countries still lag behind Western Europe on prosperity
Several Central and Eastern European countries still rank in the bottom third of the new Prosperity Index of EU countries published by Erste Group Research.
Polish EU vote is all about Russia
As news multiplies about Russian provocations, disinformation, and sabotage, many Poles are on edge.
Polish centrists learn to love a deficit at last
Running a general government deficit is no longer seen as an irresponsible policy but as an investment in the future.
INTERVIEW: Lithuanian Finance Minister Gintare Skaiste
The West already needs to start discussing how to help Ukraine in 2025 and 2026, and should act now to tighten sanctions on Russia, says rising political star.
UN Srebrenica resolution sets Balkan politicians at loggerheads
UN General Assembly to debate resolution declaring a day of remembrance for the Srebrenica genocide in Bosnia & Herzegovina this week.
Hungary's OTP Bank unlocks potential in Uzbekistan's fast-growing market
OTP Bank's Ipoteka Bank is serving as a model for the future privatisation of state-owned banks in Uzbekistan and represents a pivotal moment in the country's economic transformation.
Assassination attempt on Fico shows radicalisation of Slovak society
The shooting of Slovakia’s populist Prime Minister Robert Fico is already the third shooting to shake the country’s politics in six years.
EBRD2024: EBRD expects Emerging Europe growth boost in 2024, but slightly lowers forecast
Development bank makes downward revision in latest forecasts after worse than expected Q1 figures for Central Europe.