Poland: state funding for religious groups to be audited

The speaker of parliament, who is a part of Poland’s ruling coalition, has ordered the state auditor to investigate public financing for religious organisations, and in particular the Catholic church, under the former national-conservative Law and Justice (PiS) government. Szymon Holownia, who is a practising Catholic but has repeatedly called for a stronger separation of…

Bulgaria: eurozone inflation criteria to be met by September 2024

Bulgaria is on track to meet the inflation benchmark required for Eurozone membership by September, according to Finance Minister Asen Vassilev. Speaking at a conference focused on the currency union, Vassilev expressed confidence in Bulgaria’s ability to fulfill the necessary criteria within the specified timeframe. “Inflation is declining rapidly, currently standing at 3.3%, below the…

Baltic States: housing affordability up in Q4 2023

Housing affordability in Baltic States improved slightly in Q4 2023, according to Swedbank representatives. In Riga housing affordability index (MP) reached 147.6. This value means the income of households whose income meets 1.5 average net monthly wage amount in Riga and that want to acquire a 55-square meter apartment was 47.6% higher than necessary to…