Albania’s government is focusing on reforms designed to cut public debt and boost competition. Achieving economic stability will feed into the country’s EU aspirations, as minister of finance and economy Arben Ahmetaj tells Jason Mitchell.
Central & eastern Europe
Latest articles from Central & eastern Europe
Albania looks ahead to prosperity and EU membership
May 1, 2018Albania’s banks are expected to restart lending to the corporate sector, as government attempts to lower non-performing loans and reform the judicial system continue to improve the business environment and raise hopes of a future inside the EU. Jason Mitchell reports.
Russia or the EU: which path will Moldova choose?
April 3, 2018Moldova is torn between historic links to Russia and a possible future as part of the EU. Whichever direction the country opts for, it must resolve issues with corruption and diversification before it can progress. Kit Gillet reports.
Poland’s banking sector heads for consolidation
April 3, 2018Greater capital requirements and pressures on profits are likely to increase competition among Polish banks and encourage further consolidation. Stefanie Linhardt reports.
Moldova’s banking sector edges towards stability
April 3, 2018After a troubling period littered with fraud allegations and emergency measures, Moldova’s banks are seeing a slow return to growth and winning back popular trust. Kit Gillet reports.
Will EU dispute derail Poland's economy?
April 3, 2018Poland's political dispute with the European Commission could threaten the country's impressive economic growth of recent years, reports Stefanie Linhardt.
Will Poland be Europe's Belt and Road winner?
April 3, 2018Poland looks set to be a key EU beneficiary of China's Belt and Road Initiative, but how will that tie in with the country's EU membership? Stefanie Linhardt investigates.
Top 100 CEE EU Banks ranking: Poland strengthens grip
April 3, 2018Polish banks took up half of the top 10 places in The Banker's Top 100 CEE EU Banks ranking for 2018, while fortunes elsewhere in the region were mixed. Stefanie Linhardt reports.
Prague on top in CEE as inward FDI dips
April 3, 2018Czech Republic capital Prague was the leading central and eastern European IFC in 2017, followed by Warsaw in Poland. Overall, however, the region saw a drop in inward foreign direct investment, despite its general economic health. Silvia Pavoni reports.
Why MENA makes sense for the EBRD
March 26, 2018Where once post-Communist countries attracted the lion’s share of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development investment, destinations such as Turkey and Egypt now dominate, signalling a change of focus south and east of the Mediterranean.