Congratulations, Montenegro! The provisional closure of Chapter 32 – Financial Control today shows that Montenegro's reform efforts are delivering results. We will keep supporting 🇲🇪 in completing the remaining chapters and moving closer to 🇪🇺 membership.

#Schengen rules at EU borders risk seriously affecting producers in the #WesternBalkans. Regional actors such as the Bosnian berry producer Cooperativa 'Insieme' fear losing access to the EU market due to a "strict and intolerant bureaucratic attitude" newunionpost.eu/2026/02/06/wes…

Macroeconomic stability, reforms and euro area entry in 2026 contribute to Bulgaria's economy converging with OECD economies. Helping businesses become more productive and managing public finances would enable stronger and more resilient growth. 🔗 brnw.ch/21wZI9u

As of January 2026, unemployment in Europe remains a story of sharp contrasts.

Worth noting, in Jan-Nov 2025: 🇷🇺 Russia exports: $373B 🇵🇱 Poland exports: $377B

Last week, we held our annual LSE European Institute retreat at Cumberland Lodge under the theme "Europe and its Neighbours". The conference featured fascinating panels and I had the pleasure of convening two discussions. On the opening evening, we hosted Alberto Gallo (Andromeda Capital

#Croatia is converging towards OECD ➡️ Better Policies for Better Lives-average living standards. Despite slower economic growth, convergence is projected to continue. To sustain growth & resilience: tighten fiscal policy, address pop. ageing, tackle housing challenges & pursue net zero. oe.cd/CROATIA

Every day, recovery continues in our cities and communities after Russian strikes. This week of February alone, they launched about 1,300 attack drones, more than 1,200 guided aerial bombs, and 50 missiles against Ukraine – almost all of them ballistic. Today, the Odesa, Donetsk,

🚆 We welcome #Bulgaria’s ratification of the agreement with #NorthMacedonia to build the missing cross-border rail link on #CorridorVIII. The 2.4 km tunnel will connect Sofia and Skopje, strengthening links between the Black Sea and the Adriatic ✅ We are #TogetherConnected 💙

Now that tariffs are officially illegal, will corporations bring prices back down or keep them once more where they are despite falling costs? That's the affordability question of the moment.

The #US-#Israel on #Iran has much bigger implications for the world than #Venezuela. This is particularly the case for China for several reasons. 1. China's imports of oil from Iran are 4 times those of Venezuela (more than 13% of total oil imports). 2. China has invested more

..except that non-tariff trade barriers with the EU have remained and are very high for these very countries. And free flow of people is something not realistic, as Schengen area is not equal to Eu membership... Bulgaria and Romania entered it in 2025...

🇪🇺 From "Single Market" to "One Market": Enrico Letta calls for a bold 'One Market Act' to end fragmentation. Europe doesn't need treaty changes; it needs execution, speed, and political commitment to act as a single power, not 27 small markets. #SingleMarket #EU 🚀 3

It is naive to think that escalating conflict in Iran will lead to anything good, writes Spain’s prime minister economist.com/by-invitation/…

German Chancellor Merz on Iran: We are urging strongly that Iran’s statehood be preserved. We do not want to see a Syrian scenario here, but rather we want this state to become functional from within itself. And that is why I also appeal, both in Washington and in all talks

Countries with more deaths than births in 2024.