Ukraine: infrastructure restoration and energy support are priorities of cooperation with EIB in 2025

The Government team headed by Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal met with the management of the European Investment Bank (EIB) in Kyiv, led by President Nadia Calvino. Ukraine was represented by Minister of Finance Sergii Marchenko, Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine and Minister for Communities and Territories Development Oleksii Kuleba. Separately, the…

Ukraine: international reserves shrink in January 2025

Ukraine’s international reserves decreased by 1.8% in January, totaling $43.003 billion as of February 1, the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) reported. “As of February 1, Ukraine’s international reserves, according to preliminary data, amounted to $43.003 billion. They decreased by 1.8% in January, but remained close to record levels,” the report said. The primary factors…

Bulgaria: unemployment stabilizes but job vacancies remain limited

Bulgaria’s labor market remained stagnant throughout 2024, with low unemployment levels but an equally limited number of job openings, according to economists from the Institute for Market Economics. The lack of significant reforms in the past year further exacerbated structural problems in the labor market. These issues, which were already prominent after the post-pandemic recovery,…

Bulgaria: eurozone entry may boost real estate market

The real estate market in Bulgaria experienced notable changes in 2024, with significant price increases and a rise in transaction volumes. Assoc. Prof. Miroslav Vladimirov, economist and member of ERA Bulgaria’s board, highlighted that 2024 was distinct from previous years, particularly when compared to the post-COVID period of 2020-2021. According to Vladimirov, property prices rose…