Ukraine: Prime Minister aims to join OECD next year

Ukraine is striving to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) next year. Despite the ongoing war, the country is implementing structural reforms, aligning regulatory mechanisms with international standards, creating favourable conditions for investors and harmonising legislation with European norms. This was emphasised by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal during a meeting of the…

Bulgaria: OECD lowers growth forecast

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) now expects Bulgaria’s economy to grow by 2.6% in 2025, followed by a slight slowdown to 2.3% in 2026. This marks a downward revision from its previous outlook in December, which projected 2.8% growth in 2025 and 2.6% in 2026. According to the OECD’s latest Economic Outlook,…

Slovakia: fine dining wins French praise

Slovakia has yet to earn a single Michelin star, but its fine dining landscape has just received global recognition of a different kind. On June 2, the French gastronomic authority Gault&Millau published its first-ever Slovak edition, awarding coveted “toques” – the guide’s signature chef’s hats – to nearly 150 restaurants across the country, according to…

Bulgaria: euro debate lacks facts

The introduction of the euro in Bulgaria has stirred many questions that, according to financier Boris Petrov, should have been addressed much earlier. Speaking to Bulgarian National Radio, he noted that the public’s lack of understanding of the benefits of euro adoption had been overshadowed by ongoing political instability. Petrov believes these concerns are being…