Covering EBRD annual meetings for Global Markets

Phil contributed analysis pieces to the coverage of the annual meetings of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in May by Global Markets magazine. The meetings were held in May 2022 as the military attacks by Russia on Ukraine were well into their third month.

One piece looked at the likely negative impact that the conflict would have not only on Russia and Ukraine but on the EBRD’s central and eastern European (CEE) region. A partner piece examines the impact on inflation and interest rates in the region.

A key element of that is the likely disruption to regional and global oil markets which this piece looked at. While oil price rises will cause problems for many CEE countries, Russia and Ukraine’s place in global food markets will cause major problems and misery for countries on the North African fringe of operations. This piece looks at that.

The EBRD is one of many international financial institutions to have offered to increase funding for projects in Ukraine: this piece looked at who has given what, and how much the likely final bill will be.

Finally, there may be some glimmer of hope from the unity that the conflict seems to have inspired within the European Union and NATO. This piece looks at how this might bring together the EBRD’s shareholders and recipient countries 31 years after its foundation in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union.

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The impact on Russia and Ukraine on the wider CEE region

The rising tensions in central and eastern Europe in the wake of Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the mounting unrest in Ukraine overshadowed the annual meetings of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in May 2014. It was clear that the events will hit both financial and business confidence and lead to a sharp fall in economic activity.

Phil worked with Emerging Markets to provide detailed coverage of the the meetings in Warsaw and those key issues. He wrote an analysis of the impact on Russia’s economy from Moscow’s decision to engage with Crimea and Ukraine. Phil helped with news planning and copy editing during the two days of coverage of the meetings.