Czech Republic
US tariffs on EU imports to hit Central and Southeast Europe
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says bloc considering retaliatory moves after Trump announces 20% tariffs.
Czech PMI posts 48.3 in March, highest since June 2022
The Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for Czechia, compiled monthly by market intelligence company S&P Global, posted 48.3 in March.
Emerging Europe risks being “cast adrift” from the West, think-tank warns
Ongoing geopolitical realignment accelerated by Trump’s return to office could plunge Emerging Europe into a cycle of instability and regional conflict, says a paper published by the ECFR.
COMMENT: Europe’s outlook improves as Trump makes Ukraine conflct progress
European leaders are alarmed at the increasingly warm relations between US President Trump and Putin, but economists are encouraged as even a “quick and dirty” ceasefire deal to the Ukraine conflict will buoy flagging CEE economies.
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Czech central bankers keep interest rate at 3.75%
Czech National Bank (CNB) kept the interest rate unchanged at 3.75%, meeting wide market expectations. The rate is the lowest since January 2022.
TNT ammunition depot in Czechia explodes
The cause of the explosion is currently unclear, but police said a “technical issue” is “the most likely cause”.
COMMENT: Is the EU going to fall apart?
Is the EU about to break apart under the stress of taking over the full weight of supporting Ukraine, the need to rearm and the hundreds of billions that must be invested if it is to become competitive again?
Several EU countries back push to fund Prague-based RFE/RL in response to Trump axeing it
Member states want EU to fund Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty after US President Donald Trump issued an executive order aimed at dismantling the Agency for Global Media.
EU to soften gas storage rules to avoid price spikes
EU member states are considering softening the bloc’s binding gas storage targets in order to avoid sending gas prices soaring again ahead of what is anticipated to be a difficult year.