Section: Emerging Europe (UK)
Investigations Into the Corrupt Ukrainian Fuel and Energy Sectors
The fuel and energy-related industries are allegedly corrupted areas of the Ukrainian economy, a recent report suggests. According to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), the damages amount to UAH 20 billion (€650 million). “Out of that damage caused to state enterprises due to corruption offences investigated by NABU, UAH 11.8...
Estcoin: Estonia’s Own Digital Currency?
Estonia might be the first country in the world to offer its own token through an Initial Coin Offering (ICO). ‘Estcoins’ would be managed by the Republic of Estonia, but accessed by anyone in the world through its e-Residency programme. They would be launched through an Initial Coin Offering (ICO), which would enable companies to crowdfund...
Ukraine to Restart Privatisation to Realise Profits
Ukrainian Prime Minister, Volodymyr Groysman, vows to restart privatisation, which is a strict condition of the next bailout tranches granted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), for the autumn of 2017. That is why the government has pledged to sell the Odessa Portside Chemical Plant as well as the shares in eight regional electricity...
When Neutrality Isn’t an Option
The new US sanctions against Russia overwhelmingly passed Congress. But in parts of Europe, they are far less popular. German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel last week called them “more than problematic.” In diplomatese, that means the Germans oppose them. The Association of European Businesses, a nonprofit that advocates on behalf of European...
Valga and Valka – Where Estonia and Latvia Work Together
Two twin towns, Valga and Valka, on the border of Estonia and Latvia, have launched a project to ease integration into other countries’ job markets and to help with language barriers, qualification confirmation and documentation. As underlined by the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund member of the board, Piile Liimal, this new project...
Ukraine’s Q2 Growth Climbs
In Q2 2017, Ukraine’s GDP growth rate reached +0.6 per cent, compared to -0.3 per cent in Q1. According to Vasily Astrov, a senior economist at the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw), there are several reasons for this growth. “The very high statistical base in Q4 2016 (because of a record harvest), and the negative...
Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Moves from Frozen to Kinetic
The war in Ukraine stands as a pressing test of Western commitment and resolve towards European security. But another security threat is emerging, with a real risk of rapid escalation. This new threat, emanating from the Nagorno-Karabakh region, pits Armenia and the Armenian-populated Karabakh against Azerbaijan. Long regarded as one of several...
How strong is V4?
According to Viktor Orbán the V4 is “as strong as never”. Orbán considers the strengthening of this group as the most important event in recent times. Is this really so? Is V4 really strong? Does it even exist at all? Orbán claims the V4 that unites “romantic Hungarians, enthusiastic Poles, rational Czechs and moderate Slovaks” not only exists,...
Can Armenia Keep a Foot in Both Camps?
Geography and history are political tyrants and nowhere more so than for in Armenia. For all the emphasis, nowadays, on the potential of regional trade, Armenia is boxed into a situation that offers little or no openings. History, distant and none too distant, rules our alliances with Turkey or Azerbaijan and Russia’s brutal show of force...
Good Match But Unlikely Marriage
Moldova and Romania have long toyed with the idea of (re)unification. The two countries, which were a single entity until Russia annexed present-day Moldova in 1812 (and then again in 1940), have much in common in the way of language, culture, and history. Both countries are predominantly Romanian speaking, have populations that are...
