News & Opinions

Early EU accession: The economic reforms that Ukraine and the other candidate countries would need to implement - 17 Nov 2025

For rapid EU enlargement to succeed, clear priorities for economic reform are needed to address the biggest problems facing the candidate countries. The case studies of Ukraine, Serbia and Montenegro illustrate this point. read more

Network for tobacco taxation in Eastern Europe meets in Vienna for high-level exchange - 13 Nov 2025

The wiiw Health Economics and Policy Analysis team met for a dialogue with experts – including representatives from Johns Hopkins University, the World Bank and the OECD – on the latest research findings and policy measures on tobacco taxation in Eastern Europe read more

Neuer Podcast – Trump holt zum Schlag gegen Russlands Ölkonzerne aus: Muss Putin sich fürchten? - 13 Nov 2025

Vasily Astrov bespricht und analysiert mit „Presse“-Journalist Eduard Steiner mittwochs im Zweiwochen-Rhythmus russisches Gas, Sanktionen, Oligarchen – und vieles mehr read more

The Western Balkans’ Paradoxical Resilience - 23 Oct 2025

Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia currently outperform the region of Central, East and Southeast Europe economically. Germany’s shift towards increased public spending could provide a boost to their growth read more

Autumn Forecast: Eastern Europe with robust, but slower growth - 22 Oct 2025

The economic model of CEE is changing, while rising defence spending will stimulate growth in the region. Ukraine's economy is stuck in war, whereas Russia is headed for stagnation read more

Schwächere Wachstumsimpulse aus Osteuropa für Österreich, aber auch neue Chancen - 22 Oct 2025

Trotz einiger Wachstumsrevisionen nach unten kann Österreich immer noch optimistisch auf die Wirtschaftsentwicklung in Osteuropa blicken. Der Strukturwandel in der Region eröffnet neue Chancen read more

Lecture by Guntram Wolff: Can the EU be fit for war by 2030? - 16 Oct 2025

Without a collaborative approach towards defence and military procurement, the EU risks losing its standing and credibility vis-à-vis Russia while deepening its dependency on the US read more

New study: Europe needs public investment to achieve its geopolitical goals and revive its economy - 13 Oct 2025

Without more public investment, the EU cannot become greener, more competitive or more resilient. Well-targeted public investment brings strong economic returns and can be financed – even through borrowing – without destabilising national budgets read more

Bridging the gap: converge2eu tracks Western Balkans’ road to EU prosperity - 09 Oct 2025

Data highlight the urgent need for action on environment, education, and infrastructure - while digitalisation shows strong progress read more

Russia is shifting its foreign trade massively towards China - 02 Oct 2025

Russia’s foreign trade is undergoing a profound shift, with China replacing the EU as Russia’s main trading partner read more

The EU is gaining influence in Eastern Europe, but losing ground to China in North Africa and Turkey - 25 Sep 2025

New Geoeconomic Interconnectivity Index (GEOII) shows: The EU should strategically leverage its economic relations with neighbouring countries in order to remain competitive with China, Russia and the US read more

Recent Publications

publication_icon

Another Round of EU Enlargement: What are the economic and institutional must-haves for candidate countries to make accelerated enlargement possible?

wiiw Policy Notes and Reports read more

publication_icon

Monthly Report No. 10/2025

wiiw Monthly Reports read more

publication_icon

Hardening fault lines: CESEE in the age of fragmentation

wiiw Forecast Reports read more

Upcoming Events

26  November 2025    10:00 am CET

In cooperation with Research Centre International Economics (FIW) and European University Institute (EUI).

Eine neue Studie über die politischen und wirtschaftlichen Beziehungen der Türkei zur EU (Österreich) und Optionen einer Annäherung

Studienpräsentation „Neue Wege für die EU-Türkei-Wirtschaftsbeziehungen – Zollunion im Wandel?“

read more

27  November 2025    10:00 am CET

Is Europe building energy sovereignty—or just shifting its dependencies? Join leading experts to explore how geopolitical tensions, climate goals, and transatlantic deals are reshaping the EU’s energy future.

European Strategic Autonomy or New Dependence? Russian Gas, Transatlantic Pressures, and the Green Deal

read more

02  December 2025    5:45 pm CET

In cooperation with CEU, FIW, Universität Wien, WIFO, WIIW and WU.

Thierry Mayer (Professor of Economics at Sciences Po) presents his research (jointly with Isabelle Méjean and Mathias Thoenig) in the Vienna International Economics Seminar (VIES) series

The Fragmentation Paradox: De-risking Trade and Global Safety  

read more

04  December 2025    4:30 pm CET

In cooperation with oiip.

Panel discussion in the context of the wiiw-oiip seminar series 'Europe in a Fragmented World: Geo-economic and Geo-political Dynamics'

Can (Accelerated) EU Enlargement Work?

read more

16  December 2025    5:45 pm CET

In cooperation with CEU, FIW, Universität Wien, WIFO, WIIW and WU.

Arnaud Costinot (Professor of Economics and Associate Head at Massachusetts Institute of Technology at MIT) presents his research (jointly with Rodrigo Adão, John Sturm Becko, and Dave Donaldson) in the Vienna International Economics Seminar (VIES) series

A World Trading System for Whom? Evidence from Global Tariffs

read more

Projects in Focus

Capacity Building for Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe: Development, organisation, implementation and evaluation of seminars at the Joint Vienna Institute

Client: Oesterreichische Nationalbank/Austrian Ministry of Finance
Duration: January 2025 - December 2025 read more

Industry 4.0, migration and the labour market adjustment: an intra-European perspective

Client: Anniversary Fund of the Oesterreichische Nationalbank
Duration: October 2021 - March 2024 read more

New EU own resources: possibilities and limitations of steering effects and sectoral policy co-benefits

Client: European Parliament
Duration: March 2021 - August 2021 read more

The implications of a decarbonisation and competitiveness plan for EU member states

Client: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung
Duration: November 2024 - April 2025 read more

Production and analysis of the Skills Forecast

Client: European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP)
Duration: July 2020 - July 2024 read more

Short- and medium-term sectoral employment forecasts in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic

Client: European Trade Union Institute (ETUI)
Duration: April 2021 - September 2021 read more

Challenges for Cohesion: Looking ahead to 2035

Client: European Commission, DG Regional Policy
Duration: September 2022 - April 2024 read more

Demographic and economic development in Central and East European countries (CEECs)

Client: City of Vienna
Duration: September 2021 - June 2022 read more

Neue Wege für die EU-Türkei-Wirtschaftsbeziehungen – Zollunion im Wandel?

Client: Austrian Federal Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism
Duration: October 2024 - September 2025 read more


top