Visegrad Group: A new economic heart of Europe?

After German Chancellor Angela Merkel's recent meeting with the heads of government of the Visegrad Group, DW asks if Central Europe has the economic cloud to push its own agenda in a changing Europe.

The V4 (Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary) wants to change that.

Only recently, three of the V4 demanded compensation for making green changes to their economies in the EU's next seven-year budget, known as the multiannual financial framework (MFF).

Observers often refer to the V4 as "two plus two" because of their different attitudes toward European integration. Slovakia and the Czech Republic are relatively EU-friendly, while Hungary and Poland are much more euroskeptic. Slovakia is the only country to belong to the eurozone.

Asked if she thought the Central European quartet that makes up the Visegrad Group (V4)could soon rival other EU regional blocs for supremacy within the corridors of Brussels, one EU diplomat offered a curt reply: "No," she said, smiled and departed. 

 The V4 (Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary) wants to change that.

Only recently, three of the V4 demanded compensation for making green changes to their economies in the EU's next seven-year budget, known as the multiannual financial framework (MFF).

Read more at: Visegrad Group: A new economic heart of Europe? | Business| Economy and finance news from a German perspective | DW | 05.07.2019

The Digest Group                   
Almere-Digest
EU-Digst
Insure-Digest 
Turkish-Digest 

For additional information, including advertising rates - e-mail: Freeplanet@protonmail.com

EU: Exports and low unemployment fuel rapid growth in central Europe - by James Shotter

Central Europe’s economies have continued their rapid expansion, outpacing their peers in western Europe as rock bottom interest rates and record low unemployment fuel consumer spending.

With the eurozone’s recovery also pushing up exports from the region, Romania’s economy grew at the fastest annual rate in the EU in the second quarter.

The Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary also reported strong growth, according to preliminary data on Wednesday.

Romania grew by 5.7 per cent year on year in the second quarter. The Czech Republic grew by 4.5 per cent, Poland by 4.4 per cent, Hungary by 3.6 per cent and Slovakia by 3.1 per cent. The EU grew by 2.3 per cent.

Read more: Exports and low unemployment fuel rapid growth in central Europe