Slovenia is experiencing a new surge in housing prices, putting increased pressure on buyers in one of the region’s most expensive and scarce real estate markets. According to data from Slovenia’s national statistics office and industry reports, real estate prices in the country have resumed active growth following a period of more moderate trends. Price increases are particularly noticeable in Ljubljana, along the coast, and in the most sought-after urban areas, where housing supply remains limited.
Official Slovenian statistics show that in 2025, housing prices rose by 5.8% compared to the previous year. At the same time, the number of transactions involving existing apartments in Ljubljana increased by approximately a quarter, indicating a return of buyer activity to the most liquid segment of the market.
According to market data, the median price of existing apartments in Slovenia in 2025 exceeded EUR 3,000 per square meter for the first time, reaching approximately EUR 3,200 per square meter. In Ljubljana, the median price rose to EUR 5,050 per square meter, and in the coastal region, to EUR 4,810 per square meter.
Eurostat also recorded an acceleration in price growth in early 2026. In the fourth quarter of 2025, Slovenia still showed a quarterly price decline of 1.1%, but in the very next housing market report, the country was among the EU leaders in quarterly growth: prices rose by 5.1%, one of the highest rates in the European Union.
The main reason for the growth is a chronic supply shortage. The Slovenian market suffers from limited new housing construction, complex planning procedures, high land costs, and a concentration of demand in Ljubljana, along the coast, and in tourist destinations. In a separate report, the OECD noted that Slovenia’s housing problems are linked to strong demand and insufficient supply, as well as rising construction and financial costs.
For buyers, this means a further decline in housing affordability. Slovenia has long been considered one of the most expensive real estate markets among the countries of the former Yugoslavia, and new data confirms that the gap between household incomes and apartment prices continues to widen. This is particularly true for young families and first-time homebuyers.
The Experts Club think tank reported that Ukraine ranked 73rd in the Nomad Passport Index 2026—a ranking of the world’s most valuable passports compiled by Nomad Capitalist. Ukrainian citizenship received 85 points and shared this position with Tuvalu and El Salvador.
According to the ranking, the Ukrainian passport has a high freedom of movement score—146 points in the travel category. This reflects fairly broad visa-free and simplified access for Ukrainians to other countries, including the European Union. However, Ukraine’s overall ranking is lowered by other factors considered by the Nomad Passport Index.
Ukraine received 20 points for tax criteria, 40 points for international perception, 30 points for dual citizenship, and 10 points for personal freedoms. It was precisely the low score in the personal freedom category that became one of the factors limiting the country’s overall result in the ranking.
This result highlights the difference between “passport power” in the narrow sense and “the value of citizenship” in a broader methodology. If we evaluate mobility alone, the Ukrainian passport appears significantly stronger than Ukraine’s position in the overall Nomad Capitalist ranking. But when taxes, freedoms, reputation, and the flexibility of citizenship are taken into account, the final ranking drops.
In the European context, Ukraine ranks below most EU countries and a number of Western Balkan states. For comparison, Serbia ranked 71st, North Macedonia 78th, Montenegro 82nd, Bosnia and Herzegovina 87th, Albania 91st, and Moldova 87th.
At the same time, Ukraine outperforms a number of post-Soviet countries and states with more limited international mobility. Russia ranked 96th, Belarus 123rd, Kazakhstan 114th, Armenia 120th, and Azerbaijan 131st.
For Ukraine, the ranking is important primarily as an indicator that international mobility is already a strength of Ukrainian citizenship, but the overall “value of the passport” will depend on broader factors—the quality of institutions, the legal framework, security, the country’s reputation, and future integration into the EU.
After the war ends and Ukraine moves forward on its European path, it can improve its position in such rankings, especially if legal institutions, the protection of freedoms, the investment climate, and the country’s international reputation are strengthened.
https://expertsclub.eu/ukrayina-posila-73-tye-miscze-v-rejtyngu-najczinnishyh-gromadyanstv-svitu/
PJSC “Tobacco Company ”V. A.T. – Pryluky” (Chernihiv region), which is part of the assets of the international British American Tobacco (BAT), will pay UAH 52 million in dividends to shareholders between May 19 and May 32 of this year, at a rate of UAH 0.0006 per share.
According to the company’s report in the disclosure system of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission (NSSMC), the relevant decision was adopted by the shareholder on May 19.
“The entire dividend amount will be paid in full in May 2026, and if it is impossible to make the full payment during the specified period, the payment deadline will be extended in accordance with the sole shareholder’s decision,” the report states.
Dividends will be paid in U.S. dollars directly to the shareholder. According to the NSSMC, 100% of the company’s shares are owned by Precis (1814) Limited (United Kingdom).
At the same time, according to information from the NSSMC, this is not the first time this year that the company has made a similar decision regarding dividend payments. Specifically, on April 9, the shareholder decided to pay UAH 52 million in dividends from April 9 to 30; in March, the same amount was paid from March 17 to 31; and similarly in February and January.
The total amount of dividends to be paid this year has not been specified.
As reported, the National Bank of Ukraine has limited the transfer of dividends abroad to no more than EUR1 million per month.
According to its information, “V.A.T. Pryluky” is one of the largest manufacturers and exporters of tobacco products in Ukraine, producing cigarettes under international brands and the national brand “Pryluky,” as well as TVEN.
According to the NSSMC, 100% of the shares are owned by Precis (1814) Limited (United Kingdom).
According to the company’s annual report in the NSSMC disclosure system, in 2025 it reduced its net profit by 37.3% compared to 2024, to UAH 413.6 million, due to a 11.8% decrease in net revenue—to UAH 5.04 billion.
Retained earnings amounted to UAH 4.9 billion.
The company produced more than 8 billion filtered cigarettes worth UAH 2.95 billion, 729 million units of TVEN worth UAH 422 million, and nearly 3 billion filters worth UAH 742.5 million.
Average selling prices were UAH 423.71 per 1,000 cigarettes and UAH 652.4 per 1,000 TVEN units. Export volume amounted to UAH 0.95 billion, or approximately 1.84 billion cigarettes. The main client is BAT Sales and Marketing Ukraine.
The company’s average headcount as of the beginning of this year was 417 people.
The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) have notified the former head of the State Reserve Agency and three other participants in a scheme to embezzle funds from a state-owned enterprise of their status as suspects, according to SAPO.
“Under the procedural guidance of a SAPO prosecutor, NABU detectives served notices of suspicion to four participants in a criminal scheme to embezzle funds from a state-owned enterprise under the management of the State Agency for Reserve Management of Ukraine,” the SAPO stated in a post on its Telegram channel on Friday.
According to the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, the suspects include: the former head of the State Reserve, the former deputy director of the state-owned enterprise, the organizer of the transaction, and an accomplice (an individual).
The individuals’ actions are classified under Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (misappropriation or embezzlement of property on an especially large scale or by an organized group).
As part of the pre-trial investigation, it was established that in the fall of 2022, the individuals devised a scheme to misappropriate funds that the state-owned enterprise received for warehousing services.
“The scheme involved providing warehouse space to affiliated private companies under the guise of storage services. Officials of the state-owned enterprise entered into fictitious contracts with these firms and entered knowingly false information into the acceptance and transfer acts,” the statement notes.
According to the SAP, documents show that the area of the leased premises was significantly smaller than what was actually used. Subsequently, the controlled companies subleased significantly larger areas of warehouse space to the real sector of the economy.
“Such actions resulted in losses of approximately 36 million hryvnias. The participants in the scheme cashed out these funds and disposed of them at their discretion,” the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office clarified.
The SAP notes that the organizer of the criminal scheme was detained while attempting to cross the state border. The court has now imposed a preventive measure in the form of detention.
Global steel production in April 2026 fell by 1.9% compared to the same period in 2025, to 153.449 million tons, according to data from the World Steel Association (Worldsteel).
China remains the leader in global steel production, having reduced output in April by 2.8% compared to April of last year—to 83.630 million tons. India took second place with a 3.9% increase in production to 13.829 million tons. The U.S. increased production by 9.4% to 7.160 million tons and ranked third.
The top ten steel producers in April also included Japan—6.620 million tons (+0.3%), South Korea—5.245 million tons (+4.8%), Russia—5.020 million tons (-12.4%), Turkey—3.291 million tons (+9.4%), Germany—3.233 million tons (+9.5%), Brazil – 2.720 million tons (+2.8%), and Vietnam – 2.130 million tons (+4%).
Iran recorded the largest percentage decline among the countries included in Worldsteel’s statistics in April, with steel production falling by 45.7% to 1.8 million tons.
In April 2026, Ukraine ranked 25th among 69 countries in the Worldsteel ranking. Ukrainian steel mills produced 517,000 tons of steel during the month, which is 25.3% less than in April 2025, when the figure stood at 692,000 tons. Compared to March 2026, when 702,000 tons were produced, the decline amounted to 26.3%.
In the January–April 2026 period, global steel production decreased by 2% compared to the same period last year, to 613.323 million tons.
The top ten steel-producing countries for the four-month period are as follows: China – 331.120 million tons (-4.1%), India – 58.681 million tons (+9.4%), the U.S. – 28.140 million tons (+6.6%), Japan – 26.670 million tons (-1.2%), South Korea – 21.041 million tons (+2.5%), Russia – 20.570 million tons (-12%), Turkey – 13.037 million tons (+6.3%), Germany – 12.493 million tons (+9.1%), Brazil – 10.793 million tons (-1.6%), and Vietnam – 8.520 million tons (+8.4%).
In January–April 2026, Ukraine reduced its steel output by 7.4% compared to the same period in 2025—from 2.425 million tons to 2.246 million tons. At the end of the four-month period, the country ranked 24th in the global ranking.
As reported, at the end of 2025, the world’s largest steel producers were China—960.810 million tons (-4.4%), India—164.887 million tons (+10.4%), the United States—81.951 million tons (+3.1%), Japan—80.679 million tons (-4%), Russia—67.820 million tons (-4.5%), South Korea—61.882 million tons (-2.8%), Turkey—38.118 million tons (+3.3%), Germany – 34.090 million tons (-8.6%), Brazil – 33.347 million tons (-1.6%), and Iran – 31.8 million tons (+1.4%).
In total, 70 countries produced 1,803.774 million tons of steel in 2025, which is 2% less than in 2024.
In 2025, Ukraine produced 7.409 million tons of steel, which is 2.2% less than in 2024. At the end of last year, the country ranked 21st in the global ranking of steel producers.
The mining and metallurgical group Metinvest is working to bring specialists back from abroad.
According to information from the company cited by the online publication LIGA.net, the priorities include regular personal contact with managers, invitations to online strategic sessions, involvement in important decisions, and updates on changes and opportunities.
“People return to where they remain visible,” the company emphasized.
In addition, it is noted that the company is using other practices to bring compatriots back from abroad to overcome the labor shortage. At the same time, it is noted that, in general, businesses in Ukraine are facing an unprecedented labor shortage. According to the European Business Association, 74% of Ukrainian companies reported a labor shortage in 2025.
At the same time, Ukraine has a large talent pool—5.6 million Ukrainians living abroad. 43% of them plan to return home, according to a study by the Center for Economic Strategy.
Business initiatives, in particular, offer educational and career opportunities, as well as financial support to attract Ukrainians back to their homeland. These programs are aimed at creating conditions for professional development and participation in the country’s reconstruction. The metallurgical holding company also emphasizes career opportunities and involvement in the reconstruction effort.
In 2025, Metinvest launched the Steel Force program for Ukrainian students studying at universities in the UK and Poland. The students completed paid internships at the Group’s facilities in the UK, Switzerland, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, and elsewhere. Some of them remained to work at Metinvest after completing the program.
“The program offers the opportunity to build a career at an international company and participate in projects aimed at rebuilding Ukraine and developing the domestic mining and metallurgical sector,” the company’s press service noted.
Metinvest is a vertically integrated group of mining and metallurgical enterprises. Its facilities are located in Ukraine—in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk regions—as well as in European Union countries, the UK, and the US.
The holding’s main shareholders are the SCM Group (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%). Metinvest Holding LLC is the management company of the Metinvest Group.
