Romania’s government appears ready accept partial Schengen membership, it’s Bulgarian counterpart less so. Reports on December 9 that Austria was ready to soften its stance over the entry of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union’s border-free Schengen zone provoked very diff … | Continue reading
In the long term, Ukraine’s effective integration with the EU will be the main factor influencing the pace and quality of post-war reconstruction. EU leaders will on December 15 decide whether to start accession negotiations with Ukraine—currently unlikely, given Hungary’s curren … | Continue reading
The last three years brought an accelerated rhythm of change, and significant changes that are yet to be fully assimilated in terms of business impact. High stakes decision making, a process much dreaded for its energy and nerve consuming profile, is becoming more ubiquitous in o … | Continue reading
Poland’s Silesia region, in the past identified with heavy industry and mining, is today increasingly promoting its innovative economy, based on knowledge and modern technologies. As a result, the region has in recent years seen an economic transformation in which new solutions a … | Continue reading
Serbia’s united opposition may not win the country’s upcoming parliamentary election but its emergence bodes well for the future—if it can stay together in defeat. As Serbia heads to the polls for a snap parliamentary election on December 17, the nation finds itself at a critica … | Continue reading
In an exceptional move reverberating through the corridors of technology and governance, the European Union has provisionally adopted the Artificial Intelligence Act, heralding a new era of digital ethics and innovation. This groundbreaking framework is not just a set of regulati … | Continue reading
In an era where technology dictates economic prowess, Moldova is stepping up in the global tech arena. The nation is making a significant mark, boasting a tech sector that contributes a remarkable 7.4 per cent to its GDP. This is a testament to Moldova’s growing strength in IT, a … | Continue reading
Activists from Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia are hopeful that the EU accession process will improve LBGT+ rights in their countries, and are calling on the EU itself to make sure it delivers on its promises. LGBT+ activists from European Union hopefuls Ukraine, Moldova and Georgi … | Continue reading
Romania. It’s come a long way these past 30 years, but can still often be the victim of awful, outdated stereotypes, from Dracula to stray dogs and abandoned orphans. Make your own mind up about Romania by taking a literary journey through the country’s history, culture, politics … | Continue reading
Improving the business environment remains a priority for the country, while improving productivity and global competitiveness will require urgent investments in infrastructure. Romania has made impressive strides in its economic performance over the last decades, but the country … | Continue reading
Catch up quickly with the stories from Central and Eastern Europe that matter. Russia’s war on Ukraine Senate Republicans this week blocked a move to pass an aid bill for Ukraine after failing to secure border compromises they sought in exchange. The 110 billion US dollars packag … | Continue reading
The financial services sector has undergone significant transformation over the last year, particularly in light of fintech innovation, regulatory changes, and the advancement of AI. What should the region’s firms be looking out for next year? The financial services sector contin … | Continue reading
In the drive towards a carbon-neutral economy, energy storage plays a vital role. By facilitating the integration of renewable energy sources and shifting energy supply to the times when it is most needed, energy storage weakens the grip of gas and other fossil fuel plants on the … | Continue reading
By incentivising physical activity, Tukas EV says its HR Bank encourages customers to engage in fitness routines that simultaneously generate energy. Amidst a world grappling with the growing concerns of the escalating impact of climate change, energy efficiency and the negative … | Continue reading
IBA Group implemented in Nigeria its payment solution tapXphone based on the SoftPOS technology. The solution transforms an ordinary smartphone into a payment terminal. Nigeria, the world’s sixth-most populous country, became the first in Africa to experience the benefits of payi … | Continue reading
These may be tough times for Ukraine, but negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow cannot take place until Moscow’s forces have withdrawn from Ukraine—all of it. A summit last week of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Skopje, North Macedonia, descen … | Continue reading
Aside from continuing to withhold funds, the EU is short on options to bring Hungary onside. That’s bad news for Ukraine. Ukraine and Moldova’s bid to join the European Union received a boost in November when the European Commission recommended that the two countries should begi … | Continue reading
A 32 million US dollars investment in Keboola is the biggest Series A round in the Central Europe region so far in 2023. It’s one of the biggest funding rounds in emerging Europe this year, and confirmation that Keboola, a Czech firm whose mission is to connect and integrate all … | Continue reading
An event in London brings the potential of Uzbekistan’s IT sector to the attention of the UK’s buyers and investors. Ever since I returned from the Uzbek ICT Week in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in October, I have been taking a closer look at the country’s IT sector. I have previously … | Continue reading
Armenia is one of the oldest countries in the world, known best perhaps for being the first nation to officially adopt Christianity as its religion, in 301 AD. Beyond that, few people outside of the Caucasus can claim to have anything resembling a deep knowledge and understanding … | Continue reading
Urgent action on climate can help Azerbaijan minimise the risks emerging from the global low-carbon transition and protect the living standards of its people. With existing oil reserves dwindling, comprehensive and effective decarbonisation efforts could play a key role in divers … | Continue reading
Catch up quickly with the stories from Central and Eastern Europe that matter. Russia’s war on Ukraine Russia has built up a large stockpile of missiles and intends to use them in a bid to destroy Ukraine’s power and heating infrastructure in the coming months, NATO’s secretary-g … | Continue reading
New projections from ComplexDiscovery point toward steady expansion ahead for the worldwide electronic discovery (eDiscovery) software and services market. According to the latest forecast analysis, spending on solutions facilitating investigation and litigation of digital inform … | Continue reading
The Western Balkans’ energy transition is finally starting to pick up pace. But false solutions such as fossil gas threaten to divert resources and create new fossil-fuel lock-in. So why do the EU and US continue to push such projects in the region and what can be done about it? … | Continue reading
How can emerging Europe’s firms increase productivity and competitiveness in a challenging economic environment? In today’s challenging economic environment, companies throughout emerging Europe are faced with the pressing need to increase productivity and enhance their competiti … | Continue reading
How to raise the bar on compliance and security without sacrificing user convenience? A Lithuanian start-up, which this week announced a new collaboration with a Polish fintech, thinks it has the answer. A Lithuanian RegTech firm offering end-to-end identity verification and anti … | Continue reading
There is more to creating a future-proof education system than teaching kids how to code. We need to focus on lifelong learning, upskilling, and mental well-being. In an ever-changing world, rethinking education for tomorrow’s needs has never been more important. The traditional … | Continue reading
In January, Romania tried to expand production at a major lignite mine. Now it’s switching the fuel used at a key power station from coal to biomass. The penny appears to have dropped. In what could potentially become a pivotal moment for the transition to clean energy in Romania … | Continue reading
Russia’s war on Ukraine brought a new perspective for the Middle Corridor, but policy shifts and investment are needed to respond to the new demand and to support economic development in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia. With the right policies, the Middle Corridor linking Chin … | Continue reading
For entrepreneurs considering entering the iGaming industry, understanding and mitigating the risks is as important as recognising the opportunities. The iGaming industry offers great investment opportunities for entrepreneurs due to its dynamic growth and technological innovatio … | Continue reading
CEE is experiencing demographic decline and its consumption-driven model of economic development is in dire need of a tune-up. But there is still room for extensive growth. Back when Great European Powers were deciding on how to partition Poland, a common thread in diplomatic dis … | Continue reading
Across the world disruptive technologies are democratising access to services, empowering individuals, and transforming businesses. What more do we need to do to embrace this change, encourage innovation, and harness the power of disruptive technologies to create a better future? … | Continue reading
According to the theory of diffusion of innovation, only 2.5 per cent of the general population are innovators. The rest of us simply follow. But reinvention—those little steps that you can take right now to improve your business—is something everyone is able to do. Last week I … | Continue reading
Poland, rich with history, culture, and a landscape—from the mountains of the south to one of Europe’s last primeval forests—that begets good writing, has been an inspiration for countless renowned authors for centuries. As part of our Five Essential Reads series, our editorial t … | Continue reading
Amid a challenging geopolitical climate, digital threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated and prevalent. Central and Eastern Europe is not immune to these challenges and must take proactive steps to protect its digital frontiers. Over the past ten years, as the region’s e … | Continue reading
Catch up quickly with the stories from Central and Eastern Europe that matter. Russia’s war on Ukraine Ukrainian authorities said on Thursday that the country cannot produce enough electricity to meet growing demand for heating and is turning to neighbouring EU countries for help … | Continue reading
Beyond the world of sports, the visibility of Ukraine’s footballers is crucial in raising awareness of the country’s struggles. Ukrainian footballers have been increasingly making their mark on the global stage, especially in the English Premier League. A decade ago, only five Uk … | Continue reading
Despite the challenges posed by the present geopolitical environment, a more prosperous, sustainable, and environmentally friendly future appears attainable with proactive private investment, favourable policies, and strategic cooperation. Central and Eastern Europe is home to so … | Continue reading
Fidesz continues to pursue a foreign policy agenda borne out of spite and hubris as opposed to one that is rooted in pragmatism or driven by national interest. Last week, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán personally signed off on a bill to relaunch his country’s scandal-ridde … | Continue reading
Meeting Uzbekistan’s ambitious climate targets and commitments to green its economy will require large-scale private investment in cleaner technologies, but could deliver high returns. Climate adaptation and decarbonisation of Uzbekistan’s energy-intensive economy could help the … | Continue reading
In emerging Europe’s dynamic and rapidly evolving legal technology landscape, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles and green computing are becoming increasingly important considerations. As sustainability gains priority globally, eDiscovery legal technology prov … | Continue reading
Many of the problems facing Europe’s cross-border railways can be put right with simple, relatively cheap solutions, says campaigner Jon Worth. ‘We know how to do this, it’s just a question of making good political decisions.’ As part of his project to address the problems facin … | Continue reading
In today’s world, rife with geopolitical turbulence, enhanced cooperation between the UK and Central Asia is not just beneficial but necessary. The recent House of Commons’ Foreign Affairs Committee report on United Kingdom’s engagement in Central Asia marks a new phase in the re … | Continue reading
Fossil fuels are an important component of the energy transition, believes an Estonian start-up, whose technology is helping firms bridge the gap to renewables. Efenco, an Estonian cleantech start-up slashing carbon emissions in critical industrial heat applications, has closed a … | Continue reading
Transitioning to alternative energy will not be easy, but it will have dividends. An aggressive transition to renewables would reduce the effects of climate change, boost national economies, and create new job opportunities. Global climate patterns have been peculiar and dangerou … | Continue reading
Freedom of movement has always been at the core of EU’s very existence. Any pullback on this principle especially towards its newer member states will generate frictions and tensions that the Union can’t afford. Hardly has there ever been a time when so much hinges on the Europea … | Continue reading
Catch up quickly with the stories from Central and Eastern Europe that matter. Russia’s war on Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak this week said that Ukrainian forces have gained a foothold on the left (eastern) bank of the Dnipro river. … | Continue reading
European Council on Foreign Relations founder Ivan Krastev speaks about Poland’s recent election, war in Ukraine, and the implications for emerging Europe’s role in the wider world. Throughout his distinguished career, which now spans three decades, Ivan Krastev has been a tirel … | Continue reading