This latest report highlights the pivotal opportunities and challenges facing the V4 region in emerging markets. From trade uncertainty and rising protectionism to geopolitical tensions, the report provides an in-depth look at how V4 countries are positioning themselves in Southeast Asia and South America.
This Quarterly Insight situates the V4 at the centre of a profound reconfiguration of Central Europe’s energy landscape, shaped by geopolitics, the green transition, and the collapse of traditional east–west gas flows. While all V4 countries remain highly import-dependent and natural gas continues to play a critical role in their energy mixes, divergent political approaches to Russian supplies coexist with shared structural realities, including low domestic production, substantial storage capacities, and increasing interconnectivity. The accelerating shift toward north–south corridors and expanded LNG access is gradually transforming the V4 from passive end-users into a potential regional hub for transit, storage, and energy trading within the EU system. Whether this transition evolves into a strategic opportunity or a long-term vulnerability will depend on how effectively the V4 leverages EU frameworks and addresses persistent internal fragmentation. More details can be found in the Quarterly Insight Q4/2025 document.
In the third quarter of 2025, the discussion focused mainly on the competitiveness of the EU and the V4 countries, with Slovakia ranking among the weakest. The country fell to 63rd place out of 69 in the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking and faces structural problems such as low investment and weak innovation capacity, labor shortages, demographic decline, and high energy prices.
Despite the EU’s efforts and new initiatives inspired by the Draghi report, only limited progress has been achieved within the EU. In the context of global geopolitical uncertainty and geo-economic fragmentation, Slovakia—already affected by the gradual impacts of fiscal consolidation on the business environment—risks falling even further behind its V4 partners. Looking ahead, three possible scenarios have been outlined: stagnation, gradual resilience, or innovation-driven transformation. More details can be found in the Quarterly Insight Q3/2025 document.
The second quarter of 2025 was marked by a significant increase in interest in the energy sector, particularly in nuclear energy. The issue of electricity availability and pricing has moved to the forefront of political and economic discussions due to the rapidly growing demand from industry, data centers, and artificial intelligence.
In Europe, there is a shift in attitudes toward nuclear energy, with several countries reassessing their positions in favor of new technologies. Attention is also focused on the ability of countries to link energy policy with digital transformation and competitiveness.
Perhaps the most frequently mentioned term in the first quarter of 2025 was “war.” While efforts toward peace intensified in relation to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, in the economic sphere, the term “trade war” emerged as a buzzword in response to a series of tariffs imposed by the new U.S. administration and reciprocal measures adopted by affected countries.
In Europe, this was accompanied by processes aimed at strengthening European defense, as the EU responded not only to the war in Ukraine but also to calls from Washington urging Europe to take greater responsibility for its own future.
updated 26. 6. 2023
An updated version of the previous document to help you navigate the current sanctions regime against Russia and Belarus. It already includes the implemented 11th package of sanctions.
Our first study, created in collaboration with the University of Economics in Bratislava, aims to provide a cross-section of the structure of our exports and outline the basic trends in Slovakia’s foreign trade.
A useful set of information for entrepreneurs and businesses interested in the UAE market. Our business guide will guide you through the world of business in the Emirates and provide you with a “roadmap” for setting up a company in a country full of business opportunities.
