Content: 2 Top Stories 5 The Regions This Week 10 Eastern Europe 13 Eurasia 16 Central Europe 20 Southeast Europe 23 Opinion 25 Lists 24 Lists
bne:Newspaper Follow us on twitter.com/bizneweurope January 30, 2015
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Greece blocks common position on Russian sanctions bne IntelliNews Greece has blocked EU proposals on a renewal of sanctions against Russia, which could force the EU to pull back from tighter sanctions despite the escalation of fighting by Russian-backed rebels in East Ukraine. Permanent representatives of EU member states drafted a common position for presentation to a EU foreign ministers meeting on January 29 in
Brussels, containing proposals on how sanctions against Russia could be tightened. But the Greek representative blocked key clauses in the final statement, New Europe reports, and the EU foreign ministers will now have to find a compromise. See page 2
S&P downgrades Russia to junk
bne IntelliNews Standard & Poor's downgraded Russia's credit Russia, which has held investment grade for a rating to junk status late on January 26, a move decade, is still ranked one notch above junk by which precipitated the rouble's fall by more than 6%. the other two main agencies, Fitch Ratings and Moody's. Russia's investment grade rating of S&P lowered Russia's credit rating to BB+, one 2004 marked a remarkable return to international step below investment grade, as renewed fighting respectability only six years after a national default in Ukraine raised the threat of tighter Western in 1998. sanctions, while oil prices stay below $50 per barrel. See page 3