Institute of Central Europe/economy

Keyword: economy

Baltic Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1210
Marlena Gołębiowska | Aleksandra Kuczyńska-Zonik - Baltic Team

Estonia: the concept of a ‘personal state’

In 2024, Estonia, one of the world’s leaders in digitalisation, announced the next stage in the development of its public administration. The concept of a ‘personal state’ (Est. personale riik) is intended to elevate the relationship between citizens and the administration to a new level. The state aims not only to respond to citizens’ needs, but also to anticipate...

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Baltic Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1175
Marlena Gołębiowska - Baltic Team

Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania under the excessive deficit procedure

After the pandemic-related loosening of fiscal rules – in the new framework following the reform – the EU’s excessive deficit procedure is returning. On 26 July 2024, the Council of the European Union decided to initiate it against seven member states, including three from Central Europe: Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary. This is the result of failing to meet the deficit...

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Baltic Team

IEŚ Commentaries Brief 1172
Aleksandra Kuczyńska-Zonik - Baltic Team

Estonia: priorities of the Kristen Michal’s government

On 23 July 2024, the government of Prime Minister Kristen Michal was sworn in at an extraordinary meeting of the Riigikogu after Kaja Kallas was nominated as EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (“IEŚ Brief Commentaries”, no. 1167). Kristen Michal, Minister of Climate in Kaja Kallas’ government and previously Minister of Economy and Infrastructure...

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Baltic Team

IEŚ Commentaries 1105
Marlena Gołębiowska - Baltic Team

The Weimar Triangle: new-old cooperation horizon

The Weimar Triangle, a platform for cooperation between France, Germany, and Poland, is gaining importance as a forum for dialogue on security issues in Europe. The recent meetings of this format show a determination to strengthen trilateral cooperation, including through the extension of activities into new areas such as protection against disinformation or building social ties,...

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Baltic Team

IEŚ Commentaries 994
Marlena Gołębiowska | Bartosz Jóźwik - Baltic Team

International Competitiveness of Economies: The Baltic States

Competitiveness is a key element of the European Union’s development strategy. In all the Baltic states, a significant weakening of competitiveness is currently observed, primarily due to external factors over which these countries, as both small and open economies, have limited influence. At the same time, however, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia continue to invest in the...

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Baltic Team, Visegrad Team

IEŚ Commentaries 976
Szczepan Czarnecki | Michał Paszkowski - Baltic Team, Visegrad Team

Reorganization of the gas sector in Czechia

In Czechia, under the influence of the Russian Federation’s full-scale attack on Ukraine, there has been a change in the operation of energy companies, which are supposed not only to meet business objectives but also to strengthen the state’s energy security. In this context, in the past few months, we have seen the implementation of two acquisitions by companies wholly owned...

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Baltic Team

IEŚ Commentaries 941
Bartosz Jóźwik - Baltic Team

Public Finance Sector Stability in Central European Countries (Part 3)

The Spring 2023 economic forecasts published by the European Commission indicate that, despite a gradual improvement in the stability of the public finance sector, many Central European countries will continue to experience budget deficits exceeding 3% of GDP. The largest budget deficits will be observed in Slovakia and Poland. Despite these challenges, both economies will...

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Baltic Team

IEŚ Commentaries 939
Bartosz Jóźwik - Baltic Team

Public Finance Sector Stability in Central European Countries (Part 2)

In 2022, among eleven Central European countries, five of them had budget deficits that exceeded the agreed limit of 3% of GDP. According to the latest data from Eurostat, the highest budget deficits, and consequently, the greatest challenges for the stability of the public finance sector, were recorded in Hungary and Romania. Hungary, thanks to its expansive fiscal policy,...

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Baltic Team

IEŚ Commentaries 916
Bartosz Jóźwik - Baltic Team

Public Finance Sector Stability in Central European Countries (Part 1)

During deep recessions such as those triggered recently by the COVID-19 pandemic and the war between Russia and Ukraine, ensuring stability in the public finance sector is not an easy task. In EU countries, this stability is associated with maintaining budget deficits and public debt below the levels required by the Maastricht criteria. In 2022, many Central European countries...

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Baltic Team

IEŚ Commentaries 902
Bartosz Jóźwik - Baltic Team

Economic growth slowdown and future prospects: an analysis of forecasts for Lithuania

Lithuania’s pursuit of geopolitical stabilization and the effective use of financial resources is crucial for its economic recovery. The European Commission’s forecasts for 2023 suggest a slowdown in economic growth due to persistent inflation. However, there are more optimistic prospects for 2024, which anticipate greater economic growth due to lower inflation, increased...

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