Serbian protesters torch ruling party office as unrest spreads
Sunday’s events underscored the mix of largely peaceful mobilisation and episodic violence that now defines the unrest.
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CEE leaders split over Trump-Putin summit in Alaska without Zelenskyy
While Hungary and Slovakia welcomed the diplomatic efforts, fellow Visegrad Four members Poland and Czechia joined the Baltic states in rejecting any settlement that bypasses Ukrainian sovereignty.
EU critical raw materials plan stalls in Czechia, Poland, Slovakia
Like other strategic CRM efforts across Central and Eastern Europe, Chvaletice is emblematic of the policy-delivery gap haunting the bloc’s transition ambitions.
Germany shifts trade focus to CEE as exports to China fall
Germany’s trade with Central and Eastern Europe rose EUR 5.4bn to EUR 275bn in the first half of 2025, led by a surge in exports to Poland, Ukraine and Slovenia.
Moldova may leapfrog Ukraine in EU accession talks as Brussels mulls separate tracks
If the EU decides to approach Moldova separately, it would depart from recent EU practice of advancing Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia as a group under the "Association Trio" framework.
Ruginiene in poll position to become Lithuania’s next PM
The 44-year-old former Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation chairwoman now awaits a parliamentary confidence vote to approve her cabinet and programme.
Geopolitical cohesion key driver of EU trade - Deloitte report
“For Europe, analysis of the historical data shows that a 1% drop in geopolitical alignment is associated with a corresponding 1% decline in trade intensity,” Deloitte observed.
From record R&D to CERN: Slovenia’s innovation surge
Slovenia has more than doubled its public R&D spending in a decade, to nearly 0.9 % of GDP, the highest share in CEE, an Erste Bank Research report published on 6 August found.
Fico: Ukraine will ‘have to pay dearly’ at Trump-Putin talks
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said Ukraine would bear the cost regardless of the outcome of a planned summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
CEE developers offer better value than Western Europe
Research by TechBehemoths shows that strong education systems, multilingual talent pools and EU-level legal protections keep CEE competitive for global tech outsourcing and nearshoring.
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Balkan economies weigh cost of US-EU tariff 'compromise'
The World Bank forecasts regional growth of 3.1% in 2025, and finance ministries say cushioning the tariff shock will be essential to meeting that target. However, regional industry groups are warning of mounting pressure on Balkan economies.
Baltic exports face testing times under US tariff cap
Brussels‑based think tank Bruegel estimates that the average US tariff on EU goods will rise to 15.2%. Although that average masks significant differences - it underscores the new baseline confronting Baltic exporters.
V4 braces for new US tariffs
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that the duties could cost Poland more than USD 2bn and hurt agriculture and manufacturing, although he called the compromise deal a “lesser evil” to a threatened 30% tariff.
Latvia unveils plan to close FDI gap with Estonia, Lithuania
Latvia lags its Baltic peers on investment intensity and credit availability, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
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Lithuanian gov’t collapses after PM resigns over EU funds scandal
“I carried out my duties in good faith, but I cannot allow this situation to paralyse the work of the government,” Paluckas told members of the press after tendering his resignation in Vilnius, south-east Lithuania.
As Poland strikes oil, Hungary, Serbia plan pipeline to bypass EU energy restrictions
The discovery is among the most significant conventional oil finds in Central and Eastern Europe in the last decade, analysts said. Enerdata noted the resource scale could elevate Poland’s upstream profile within the EU, while World Oil called it a “strategic breakthrough in the Baltic basin”.
EU, US agree to 15% tariff rate, averting Trump trade war
European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen agreed a new trade deal with US President Donald Trump at Turnberry, south-west Scotland, on 27 July, setting a ceiling of 15% on tariffs for EU goods and averting a wider transatlantic escalation.
Dan gov’t confirms Russian election hacking, citing NATO, EU
Romania’s 2024 presidential elections marked the first instance of a national vote annulled due to foreign interference within the EU, the European Commission noted. The episode has triggered renewed calls in the EU and NATO for enhanced cybersecurity capacity and democratic resilience across CEE.
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Austria should consider NATO membership - Meinl‑Reisinger
Finland and Sweden abandoned their long-standing neutrality and joined NATO in 2023 and 2024 respectively, citing heightened security threats from Russia. Austria, bordered by NATO members Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia, is increasingly the odd one out in Central Europe’s defence landscape.
Polish gov’t creates economy superministry in major cabinet reshuffle
The model reflects past moves in Hungary and Romania to centralise economic power, often justified as way to improve implementation. Poland’s approach, however, appears more technocratic, with few political figures outside the prime minister and foreign minister elevated.
Korean airport consortium wins Montenegro's highest ever PPP
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol welcomed the agreement as a “milestone in regional partnership”, and said it reflected growing bilateral cooperation in strategic infrastructure sectors.
EC unveils EUR 2tn 2028-34 budget draft, tilting funding model towards CEE countries
The EC is expected to present the proposal formally as part of its mid-term budget review later this year. The plan must be approved unanimously by all 27 member states and endorsed by the European Parliament. Opposition is expected from net contributor countries and regions facing cuts.
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Poland, Czechia, Baltics lead Ukraine recovery push, Hungary, Slovakia reject plans
CEE contributions include cross-border logistics, public-private coordination platforms, and green recovery initiatives. Regional forums such as the Three Seas Initiative are also expected to play a larger role in financing and implementation.
Poland leads EU funding recipients with EUR 123.3 bn in long‑term budget draft
The European Commission (EC) published long-term budget allocation plans on 17 July, showing Poland set to receive the highest national allocation under the 2028-34 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), totalling EUR 123.3bn.
Slovenia cancels NATO referendum amid rising defence cost backlash
The Slovenian referendum cancellations should stabilise Golob’s coalition, ahead of national elections in 2026. However, the episode reflects wider unease across CEE, as rising military costs challenge domestic politics and expose diverging visions of NATO’s future.
Poland's EU presidency under review: efficient but cautious
Key deliverables included the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), East Shield funding eligibility, three rounds of Russia sanctions and progress on Montenegro's EU accession.
Bulgaria greenlight to join eurozone gets mixed response
For Brussels, the expansion marks a rare moment of momentum in a largely bottlenecked EU enlargement agenda. French broadcaster RTL called the confirmation a “small but clear victory” for Europe in the battle for influence in the Balkans, noting Bulgaria’s long-standing historic ties with Moscow.
Poland invests EUR 565mn in ammo plants
The plan will build a new facility and upgrade two existing ones, investing around EUR 565mn. The project will ramp up Poland's annual production of NATO-standard 155 mm artillery shells from 30,000 to 180,000, and also increase manufacturing capacity for 120mm tank rounds and propellant components.
Ryanair inks EUR 340mn deal to triple traffic at Modlin Airport
The Irish low-cost carrier will invest approximately EUR 340mn, its largest-ever commitment in Poland. Annual traffic at Modlin is expected to increase from 1.5mn to over 5mn by 2030.
Serbian president rejects calls for early elections, as protests continue
Government supporters have established a counter-camp "Caciland" in Belgrade’s Pionirski Park, drawing participation from nationalist groups and rural unions. The Serbian government said the camp demonstrates “popular support for stability”.