Albania
Opposition rift leaves way clear for another Socialist victory in Albania’s local elections
Rival factions are fighting to control Albania's opposition Democratic Party.
Has Southeast Europe come of age as an investment destination?
The Western Balkan countries are following the path established by Central Europe that emerged as a prominent manufacturing and services hub early in the transition period.
Albania’s annual inflation slows again to 7.1% in February
Inflation peaked in late 2022, and is projected to return to the target within the first half of 2024.
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Russia’s slide towards dictatorship drags down global democracy index
Invasion of Ukraine "accompanied by all-out repression and censorship at home", says EIU, presenting latest Democracy Index.
More gloom ahead as EBRD cuts 2023 growth forecasts
The EBRD lowered its forecasts for more than half its 36 countries of operation, anticipating average growth of just 2.1% this year.
Chaos inside and outside parliament in day of opposition protests in Albania
The Democratic Party has launched a series of protests against Prime Minister Edi Rama’s government, accusing it of corruption and failing to help citizens hit by rising living costs.
IMF: Charting globalization’s turn to 'slowbalization' after world financial crisis
The free flow of ideas, people, goods, services, and capital across national borders leads to greater economic integration. But globalization, the trend toward these things moving ever more freely between nations, has slowed in recent years.
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CEE management schools shrug off threat of distance-learning programmes
The COVID-19 pandemic pushed CEE students towards Western online MBA courses, but they are now returning to face-to-face studies, say the region's business school heads.
COMMENT: The new Cold War will be different, and not only because of China
Mercantilism is also replacing globalisation, and the US has a declining interest in European affairs.
INTERVIEW: Helen Rodwell, head of CMS’ corporate practice in CEE
Dealmaking in Central Europe is set to rebound, says law firm's long-standing Prague managing partner, as new kinds of investor move into the region.
RBI's 2022 profits soar to €3.6bn, with Russian operations representing more than half
The Austrian lender, which has become more and more reliant on its Russian business over the years, is still rethinking its presence in the country.
Geopolitics overshadows Western Balkan nearshoring ambitions
Friendshoring has replaced nearshoring after the invasion of Ukraine, benefiting Western-aligned states but causing a shift away from Serbia.
Only Hungary and Russia heading for recession in 2023 as Emerging Europe shows its resilience
wiiw believes that most countries of the region have “probably already digested” most of the economic shock caused by the Ukraine war, provided Russia does not escalate the conflict further.
M&A in Emerging Europe fell by 20% to €32.93bn in 2022
The weak macroeconomic backdrop and the spectre of possible recession are likely to stifle M&A in the coming months, according to the annual CMS/Emis Emerging Europe M&A Report.
Italy pushes for investments into Western Balkan strategic sectors
Benefiting from its geographic proximity and historic ties, Italy is already one of the top investors and trading partners of the Western Balkan countries.
VISEGRAD BLOG: When Eastern European states speak out they are now listened to
The countries on Nato’s eastern flank believe they are now leading the debate on how to confront the Kremlin, as demonstrated by the row over supplying modern battle tanks to Ukraine.
Constitutional Court battle begins over Albania’s top archaeological site
The opposition Democratic Party filed a lawsuit against the law granting a concession for the National Park of Butrint.
Southeast Europe sovereigns start 2023 with return to capital markets
Sovereigns move quickly to tap international capital as they anticipate rising yields later in 2023.
EBRD invests record €13.1bn into its region in 2022
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development invested a record €13.1bn into its Emerging Europe and Eurasia region in 2022, the bank announced on January 12.
NEMETHY: Key economic and financial drivers to watch in 2023
There is an old joke that the role of economic forecasters is to make astrologers look good. Forecasting GDP or inflation for the upcoming year with any degree of accuracy is virtually impossible, but there are some scary signs appearing.
