Our weekly digest of articles about emerging Europe published elsewhere this week, all of which caught our eye and all of which are well worth your time. Listing them here, however, does not necessarily mean that we agree with every word, nor do they necessarily reflect Emerging Europe’s editorial policy.
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How Daniel Dines of UiPath became the first bot billionaire
Daniel Dines, 47, didn’t invent RPA, but he’s adroitly positioned himself to dominate it. Two years ago, when European investors valued it at 110 million US dollars, UiPath was a little-known company of 150 based in Romania that had just booked less than five million US dollars in revenue. Today it’s headquartered in a gleaming skyscraper on Park Avenue in Manhattan and employs 3,200 in more than 30 offices around the world.
Read the full story here.
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Polish MEP on mission to change Europe’s hate speech laws
Newly elected MEP Magdalena Adamowicz is on a mission to craft new Europe-wide laws on hate speech, and she has more moral authority to make the demands than most.
Read the full story here.
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Courtroom contest over Crimea energy assets
While the past five years have seen fierce military battles for territory on the steppe of Donbas, another contest of great significance for Ukraine has played out in Europe’s courtrooms.
Read the full story here.
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Hunger for profits tarnishes North Macedonia’s lakeside gem
Authorities in Ohrid insist they are working to keep the city on UNESCO’s World Heritage list after a critical report – but many local activists say business interests continue to prevail over environmental needs.
Read the full story here.
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Prague to remove statue of WWII Soviet marshal
A Prague district assembly voted on September 12 to remove a statue of wartime Soviet Marshal Ivan Konev, a move that has angered Russia and drawn the Kremlin-friendly Czech president into the fray.
Read the full story here.
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The V4 should look to Japan, not China
The Visegard countries should pay more attention improving relations with Japan, a democratic and reliable partner, and whose trade deal with the EU has meteoric potential with the combined markets accounting for a third of the world’s GDP.
Read the full story here.
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Trocsanyi nomination shows something is rotten in the commission
Nothing recommends Hungary’s candidate for the role of Enlargement Commissioner – and Ursula Von del Leyen’s decision shows a disregard for those who care about democracy.
Read the full story here.
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Bianca Andreescu’s cool, hard-working demeanour comes from the example set by her Romanian parents
Nineteen-year-old Bianca Andreescu beat Serena Williams in straight sets on September 7 to win the US Open, becoming the first Canadian to win a tennis Grand Slam singles title. Friends and family say her success stems from her hard-working parents, Maria and Nicu, who were were among an influx of immigrant professionals who took a chance to come to Canada from a country caught in post-Communist collapse.
Read the full story here.
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Romania’s Enescu music festival thrives in shaky political times
Floating above the turbulent politics of modern-day Romania, the biennial George Enescu Festival is a welcome relief for Bucharest’s classical music fans, with performances not just in the main concert hall but on street corners and in bookstores.
Read the full story here.
