Baltic States
European Commission approves merger of Poland’s PKN Orlen with peer Grupa Lotos
Poland's two refining companies to merge to create a “multinational company with a global reach”, government officials say. PKN Orlen lines up its next merger, with oil and gas company PGNiG.
Lithuania’s LG to buy €200mn of new trains as Rail Baltica picks up steam
Need to modernise its fleet to meet modern passenger requirements as well as progress with international EU-supported railway project Rail Baltica prompted Lietuvos Gelezinkeliai to act.
Lithuanian PPI deflation eases to -11.4% y/y in June
June was the fifth consecutive month of PPI deflation after factory gate prices decreased 16.4% y/y in May.
Estonia’s industrial production remains depressed by COVID-19 in May
May marked the twelfth consecutive month of falling industrial output in the Baltic state. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has clearly been the chief driver of the decline since March.
Bank of Lithuania to become first eurozone bank to issue digital coin
The Lithuanian central bank was one of many to be looking at how they might issue their own digital currencies as the use of cash declines – a process speeded up by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Payment platform Paysera enters Kosovan market
Paysera Kosovo obtains the country's first Electronic Money Institution (EMI) licence, plans to cut cost of money transfers between Kosovo and EU countries.
Economic sentiment in CEE picks up in June, but still deeply depressed
The economic sentiment indicators started to pick up again in June across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), but there are big differences between the countries as they start to recover from the coronacrisis at their own speeds
Illicit cigarette consumption declines in eastern EU states
KPMG report says fewer contraband cigarettes flowing into the EU, but growth in illegal factories within the bloc.