Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland, and Romania could raise labour productivity by up to 10 to 15% through wider adoption of digital technologies, particularly software and AI-enabled tools, according to a report by World Bank Group.
Helleniq Energy has completed two photovoltaic parks in southern Romania with a combined capacity of 58 MW, marking the company's first operational renewable energy assets in the country. The projects are part of a 2023 agreement with Metlen for developing four solar projects totalling 211 MW.
PPC Group and Metlen will establish a 50-50 joint venture for developing, constructing and operating Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects of up to 1,500 MW / 3,000 MWh.
NEPI Rockcastle, the largest owner of shopping centres in CEE, said its net operating income rose 11.2% year-on-year to a record €618 million in 2025, while the distributable earnings increased 6.7% to €441 million.
CEE property investment reached a turning point in 2025, with transaction volumes across the region's six main markets totalling €11.6 billion, representing 31% annual growth according to Colliers' latest analysis.
Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) has entered the Han Asparuh offshore exploration joint venture in the Bulgarian Black Sea with a 10% interest.
Romania has the second-lowest consumer prices in the European Union, with costs 36% below the EU average in 2024, according to new Eurostat data released in December 2025.
Central Europe's commercial real estate sector is experiencing a transformation, with Hungary leading the recovery through an 86% year-on-year increase in investment driven by Asian capital from China and South Korea. The CATL factory in Debrecen and BYD in Szeged, along with the planned Volvo plant in Košice, Slovakia, are reshaping the region's industrial landscape and creating demand for logistics space.
In the East European region, the aggregated construction outlook for next year has remained positive, only the trajectory has changed a little, according to the winter report of the Eastern European Construction Forecasting Association (EECFA).
Colliers has published a new report focusing on CEE, examining economic and real estate trends across Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. The study shows that 2025 brought moderate economic recovery, easing inflation and rising focus on sustainability, while real estate markets were shaped by modernization, limited new office supply, strong logistics demand and retail park expansion.
Romania faces an economic maturity test, with the key question being whether it can transform current vulnerabilities into reforms and progress.
Oil major OMV Petrom has started preparations for exploration drilling in Bulgaria's Han Asparuh offshore block, which is operated together with NewMed Energy.
Samsung Electronics has announced the appointment of Jaesung (James) Kim as President of Samsung Electronics Romania and Bulgaria (SEROM).
GTC reported rental revenues of €152 million in the first nine months of 2025, up 9% from €139 million in the same period of 2024. The increase followed the acquisition of a residential portfolio in Germany, which contributed €18 million, partially offset by a €4 million decrease after the sale of the GTC X and Matrix C properties.
Confidence is returning across CEE real estate markets, with investor sentiment shifting from cautious optimism to execution, according to Colliers. The region continues to demonstrate resilience, supported by moderating inflation, solid household consumption, and strong employment levels.
CEE recorded a 38% increase in real estate investments in the first three quarters of 2025, reaching over €7 billion across six major markets, according to Colliers' latest report.
In 2023, the EU spent €1.72 trillion on healthcare expenditure, equivalent to 10.0% of the EU's gross domestic product, according to Eurostat.
Industrial developer CTP reported net rental income growth of 15.4% year-on-year to €549 million in the first nine months of 2025. The company achieved like-for-like rental growth of 4.5%, driven by indexation and lease renewals.
CEE economies have been delivering solid GDP growth, outpacing many Western European peers despite external trade uncertainties and recent inflationary pressures, according to Colliers' latest report.
AG Capital has appointed Pavlin Petkov as CEO. Petkov brings over 25 years of international experience across the US, Western and Eastern Europe in private equity, insurance, banking, and pension fund management.
The Romanian government has launched a comprehensive legislative package aimed at dismantling bureaucratic barriers for large-scale investments.
Romania's annual inflation rate saw a marginal decrease in February 2026, dropping to 9.31% from the 9.62% recorded in January.
Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland, and Romania could raise labour productivity by up to 10 to 15% through wider adoption of digital technologies, particularly software and AI-enabled tools, according to a report by World Bank Group.
Romania continues to record the lowest uptake of e-government services in the European Union.
World Class Romania, part of Vectr Holdings, has appointed Matei Filipidescu as CEO. He is replacing Kent Orrgren, who concluded his term as CEO after nine years.