Could Central and Eastern Europe Present Itself as One Economy?
CEE is already as big as a major global economy. And Ukraine could turn CEE from Europe’s former periphery into one of its principal geoeconomic centers. The region does not need another institution or treaty. It needs aggregation, ambition and a common narrative.
Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) possesses the scale of a major global economy with almost 100 million people and a GDP of around $2.5 trillion. By 2030, the region aims to present itself as a $3-trillion-plus economic space built on manufacturing, technology, logistics, energy, and defense. Ukraine's potential to transform CEE into one of Europe's principal geoeconomic centers should not be overlooked.
Rather than introducing another institution or treaty, CEE should focus on aggregation, setting ambitious goals, and communicating a unified narrative. ASEAN's approach, which adopted an Economic Community Strategic Plan in 2025, could serve as a valuable model for CEE. ASEAN achieved its goal by adopting a comprehensive plan with 192 measures, demonstrating the power of aggregation.
Rather than treating each nation separately, CEE should consider its combined economic weight and act as one economic space. Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania together account for a nominal GDP of $2.5 trillion and a population of nearly 100 million. Poland's economy is poised to exceed the $1 trillion mark by 2025-26, followed by Romania ($390 billion) and Czechia ($383 billion).
The region already possesses the foundations for a unified economic space, but what is needed is the confidence to communicate its scale effectively. By presenting itself as a single economic proposition to the world, CEE has the potential to become a significant global hub for various industries.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
