Baltic States
Vote for new Latvian president could break up ruling coalition
The election of Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics could precipitate the formation of a new coalition as the ruling New Unity's partners do not want it to hold the presidency as well as the premiership.
_(1)_Cropped_0.png)
BALKAN BLOG: Political upheavals force uneasy new alliances
Grand coalitions between rivals are one symptom of the radically changed political landscape of the last decade.
INTERVIEW: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
“Ukraine’s victory will trigger something big – a change of regime not only in Russia, but in Belarus too.”
Lithuania’s ruling coalition and opposition quarrel over what must come first: government resignation or snap elections
Lithuanian opposition parties are demanding that the governing coalition resign before they consent to early elections.
Latvian premier dismisses talk of government collapse as ‘speculation’
Coalition failure to agree on single candidate for president, and ruling party's attempt to install its minister in the post could bring down whole government.
Lithuania poised for early elections over local government expenses scandal
Ruling Homeland Union party says it will push for the coalition government’s resignation unless snap polls are held.
EBRD 2023: Bank to expand into the whole of Africa plus Iraq
The first investments are due to begin in six counties in sub-Saharan Africa in 2025.
Baltic states to create unified MSCI stock market index
Move aimed at increasing attraction to international investors as part of a plan to upgrade the capital markets from frontier to developed market status.
EBRD cuts regional growth forecasts again but Central Asia still going strong
Inflation remains a drag on growth in Emerging Europe, along with sluggish growth in advanced economies and stricter financing conditions in Central Europe and the Baltic states.
Narva: The EU's eastern output is still looking for an identity
Russia's invasion of Ukraine made Narva a symbol of the new “iron curtain” that had descended upon Europe. Now the Estonian city is trying to better integrate its Russian-speaking majority and reverse years of population decline.
Levits will not seek second term as Latvian president
President's decision could open the way for Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics to take over.
PROFILE: Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas
Like the original "iron lady" Margaret Thatcher, Kallas has won a reputation for her tough stance against Russia, whilst also seeing her popularity rise during a war.
NEMETHY: Some thoughts on inflation
I have been writing that we are facing a period of high inflation since long before it was fashionable. Now I believe that, on the balance of probability, we face an entire decade of high inflation.
bneGREEN: Europe suffers second-worst year for wildfires since records began
Fires in 45 countries burnt an area the size of Montenegro, with Ukraine, Spain and Romania the worst affected countries.
New Estonian government reveals tax plans, including income tax cut for the rich
Tax plans include a cut for higher-paid workers, hikes in the overall income tax rate and VAT by two percentage points, and increased excise duties.
Emerging Europe on tentative recovery path from 2023
The Central, Eastern and Southeast Europe economies have largely digested the economic shock caused by the war in Ukraine and are heading for modest growth this year, says wiiw.
EU still among the largest importers of Russian oil products
New data shows that the EU is still among the largest importers of oil products from Russia, which are routed through 'laundromat' countries to avoid sanctions, according to the CREA.
European defence spending soars by 14% in 2022, says Sipri
Central and Western Europe spend more in real terms than in 1989, the last year of the confrontation with the Soviet Union.
bneGREEN: Poland, Romania and Bulgaria face highest decarbonisation transition risks, says Fitch
Decarbonisation costs predicted to put up region's average debt/GDP levels by 7pp by 2030.
Europe’s heating season ends as gas storage passes bottom
European gas tank storage hit a low of 55.36% full at the start of April 1, and the volume held in tanks has grown since then to 57.94% full as of April 23, according to data from GIE.
