Summer starts as EU gas tanks start to fill again

Winter is over, as the EU gas tanks switch from withdrawals to filling mode again in preparation for next winter. Injection into the gas tanks started on April 1, a week earlier than in 2023 and started at an all-time high record level of 59.3% full.

Czech PMI continues to inch upward in March

Czechia’s Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index, compiled by market intelligence company S&P Global, continued to inch upward in March, posting 46.2.

Czech spy agency says pro-Kremlin media ring targets European Parliament elections in several states

Far-right politicians across the EU have been promoted on the Voice of Europe media platform ahead of the European Parliament elections.

Where is green tech made in Europe?

Europe is home to more than 400 clean tech manufacturing plants, but the distribution is uneven and a few large countries dominate the business of making equipment needed to produce green energy sources.

Revised data show Czech GDP dropped in 2023 by 0.2%

Czech GDP increased in the fourth quarter by 0.4% quarter on quarter and by 0.2% year on year following a revision by the Czech Statistical Office.

Moody’s assigns negative outlook to Czech CEZ after Gasnet takeover

The Gasnet acquisition comes amid the efforts of the Czech state to gain a stronger footing in the energy infrastructure and diversification from its dependency on Russian energy supplies.

COMMENT: Overheating in Russia and Turkey, but CEE recovering

The economies of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), which experienced a period of stagnation last year, are poised for a modest revival in 2024, but both the Russian and Turkish economies are already overheating.

Penta mulls sale of Fortuna gambling chain

Central Europe's largest betting company reportedly valued at up to €2bn.

CEZ net profits more than halve in 2023 to CZK29.6bn

CEZ also confirmed that it signed an agreement to buy 55% of Gasnet, the largest Czech gas distribution company, for €846.5mn.

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.

Poland revives ties with Berlin and Paris in push to help Ukraine

The underlying premise of the summit was to acknowledge that stopping Russia in Ukraine now will come at a much smaller cost than having to stop it later at the EU's gates.

Czech giga factory greenlighted by environmental organisations

Czechia has one of the world's largest car-making industries per capita, but it is struggling to transition to electro-mobility without a battery plant.

Tusk schedules Ukraine summit with Macron and Scholz

The so-called Weimar Triangle has sprung back to life under the Polish premier after an eight-year lull under the previous government of Law and Justice.

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.

Record Czech poll support for ANO as its leader adopts Kremlin-appeasing narrative

Leaked emails reveals how former premier wanted to target foreign minister's family.

Czech inflation slowed down to 2% y/y in February

Czech unemployment remains at 4% in February

The Czech unemployment rate remained at 4% in February, unchanged month-on-month. In year-on-year terms, it increased by 0.1%.

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.