In this issue

As the Connected Europe series marks its third year, the region’s interconnections have become deeper and more significant

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Dec 17, 2012

A call for growth

A child holds placard during a protest called by Slovenia's main unions against government austerity measures to tackle the economic crisis in Ljubljana's Congress square ©AFP

Unless action is taken, emerging Europe’s economic woes have the power to derail two decades of progress

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Video: Estonia’s digital leap
Connected Europe
Citizens and entrepreneurs are reaping benefits from Estonia’s 1996 ‘tiger’s leap’ technology programme.
Slideshow: Poland’s long road to better infrastructure
Warsaw expects two major transport projects to be completed within two years
Video: CEE professionals choose London
The UK capital attracts high fliers seeking international careers and entrepreneurial opportunities
People cross the Charles Bridge in central Prague, Czech Republic ©Getty Dec 17, 2012

Emerging Europe: Goal challenged

The former communist bloc has made huge strides over two decades, but economic worries threaten progress

Seat Ibizas on the assembly line of the Volkswagen Slovakia plant near Bratislava, Slovakia ©AFP Dec 17, 2012

Investment drives closer integration

Ties with the region’s economic powerhouse are growing stronger

On 4 August 2010 shore pull of the two pipeline strings was completed at the Russian landfall in Portovaya Bay. The 12-metre long pipes weighing approximately 24 tonnes each were welded together aboard the Castoro Sei into double joints to form a pipeline string which was then pulled ashore with an onshore anchored winch and a 121 millimeter diameter pull-in wire Dec 17, 2012

Energy battle

Building pipelines to deliver gas from Russia and the east to western Europe is expensive – and highly political

Demonstrators hold banners and flags during a protest called by Slovenia's main unions against government austerity measures to tackle the economic crisis in Ljubljana's Congress square ©AFP Dec 17, 2012

Signs of unrest

Central and eastern Europe has been caught up in a crisis not of its making

a woman holding several euro notes ©AFP Dec 17, 2012

Worst fears of banking sector crisis are averted

Worries of regional collapse have not come to pass

Grain harvest in full swing of one of Ukraine's largest grain producers, Nibulon Ltd ©Eyevine Dec 17, 2012

Basket of promise

With some of the most fertile land in Europe, Ukraine has ambitions to be a leading player in world agriculture

Rail Baltica ©Dreamstime Dec 17, 2012

Waiting for a train

Despite two decades of planning, construction of the Rail Baltica high-speed link remains some way off

The city train of Szybka Kolej Miejska (Rapid Urban Railway) at the station Warsaw Chopin Airport, in Warsaw, Poland ©EPA Dec 17, 2012

High-speed delay

Poland has put its ambitious €6.3bn high-speed rail project on ice as the country seeks private sector investors

Sberbank chief executive German Gref ©AFP Dec 17, 2012

Seller’s market

Vladimir Putin has pledged to roll back state ownership and open up Russia to investors, but there are some important exceptions

Dec 17, 2012

Better together

For the economies of central and eastern Europe, it is the health of Germany that is critical

Dec 17, 2012

Open to investors

A leading Chinese carmaker is using Bulgaria as an entry point to new markets

Dec 17, 2012

Standing by the neighbours

Greece has largely kept faith in Bulgarian investments

Dec 17, 2012

Vintage performance

Thanks to investment and a focus on quality, eastern European wines are now much in demand

Dec 17, 2012

Economy break

The record number of holidaymakers flocking to Croatia this year are a welcome boost to the country’s finances and an inspiration for its neighbours

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