Economists at UniCredit expect that the economies of Central and Eastern Europe will achieve growth of around 3 percent in 2024 and 2025, with similar growth rates in the Western Balkans. “The growth rate of the CEE region is close to potential this year, while in Western Europe, at 0.5%, it is below potential”, commented Dan Bucsa, UniCredit’s Chief CEE Economist during The Central and Eastern European Forum, held in Vienna. 

– Hungary-Slovakia relations have never been as good as they are now – Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said after talks with Slovak counterpart Robert Fico in Budapest on Tuesday, noting the launch of a new bilateral cooperation.

World's largest ice labyrinth - bigger than 15 tennis courts - has been reopened in Zakopane, Poland. In the winter of 2015/2016, the concept of a snow maze was introduced, spanning an impressive 3000 square meters and earning the title of the world's largest snow maze.

Suzuki Motor has suspended production at a Hungarian car plant for seven days through January 21.

Poland's Foreign Minister, Radosław Sikorski, has conveyed optimism about the imminent approval of financial assistance for Ukraine by both the United States and European Union nations.

The Hungarian and Ukrainian foreign ministers are slated to meet in Uzhorod in western Ukraine on January 29th.  Péter Szijjártó (R) and Dmytro Kuleba, May 2020. Photo by. Tamas Kovacs/MTI/PAP/EPA

The new Polish foreign minister called for a tougher approach towards Moscow after a series of Russian attacks on Ukraine. "We should respond to the latest onslaught on Ukraine in language that Putin understands - Radosław Sikorski wrote on X network on Wednesday morning.

In his first New Year's address, Czech President Petr Pavel criticized the ruling coalition for inadequate communication with the public. He praised the government's efforts in Prague to improve public finances but simultaneously called on Czech authorities to take specific actions to abandon the crown and join the eurozone.

Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku! Boldog új esztendőt!

The European Union is reportedly formulating a contingency strategy to extend financial support to Ukraine, currently facing Russian military aggression.

The first Lynx infantry fighting vehicle to be built in-country in Hungary has now rolled off the assembly line in Rheinmetall’s production, development and test facility for armoured fighting vehicles in Zalaegerszeg - the defence minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said. 

Hungarians celebrate Christmas similarly to Poles. However, there are some significant differences. Children do not receive presents from Santa Claus; instead, in contrast to Poles, Hungarians do not share the Christmas wafer before sitting down for the Christmas Eve supper.