In the face of heightened geopolitical tensions and consequent economical uncertainty, Central and east Europe (CEE) stands at a pivotal moment. Despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and shifting global dynamics following the US presidential election, 2025 is shaping up to be a transformative year for infrastructure investment across the region. A fresh CEE Outlook Report published by Amber Infrastructure confirms this assessment, highlighting both the challenges and exceptional opportunities that specify the current landscape.
A decade of resilience and growth
The CEE region has consistently proven itself as the growth engine of the European Union over the past decade. With GDP growth regularly outpacing Western European markets and abroad direct investment flowing at unprecedented rates, the region’s resilience in the face of successive crises – from the pandemic to war in Ukraine – has been remarkable. According to the CEE Outlook Report, the share of backing originating from outside Europe rose from 9 per cent in 2022 to 21 per cent last year, indicating increasing global designation of the region’s potential.
This resilience is not accidental. It stems from a unique convergence of factors that make CEE peculiarly attractive to infrastructure investors: EU membership providing regulatory stability, crucial infrastructure improvement needs, and risk-adjusted returns that frequently outperform Western European alternatives.
The challenges facing the region are real. Proximity to the war in Ukraine inherently creates uncertainty, political polarization is expanding in any countries, and an aging population presents long-term demographic concerns. any governments besides have limited experience managing large-scale infrastructure projects, which can lead to procurement delays and implementation challenges.
Yet these challenges are precisely what is driving renewed momentum to address core infrastructure needs and accomplish greater resilience. The confluence of geopolitical force and economical chance has created what might be a once-in-a-generation investment landscape. As the increased polarization between Russia and the EU has intensified, there has been a remarkable political and commercial will to establish infrastructure resilience, from energy to transport and digitalization.
Transport: building resilience through connectivity
Take the transport sector, where supply chain disruption has accelerated modernization efforts. Polish-Ukrainian rail transport has seen remarkable growth – a 28 per cent increase in cargo volumes in early 2024 compared to 2023. Major projects like Poland’s Central Communication Port represent the scale of ambition, integrating air, rail and road connectivity with an investment of about 31 billion euros by 2032.
The expansion of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) corridors across CEE is creating crucial investment opportunities in both fresh infrastructure and the modernization of existing assets. These projects benefit from precedence position for EU backing and regulatory support, enhancing their appeal to global investors. The Connecting Europe Facility, together with many national investment programmes, has positioned transport infrastructure as a government precedence across the region, with Public-Private Partnership models forming a key method of driving investment.
This focus on north-south connectivity is critical for regional integration. Projects like Rail Baltica, supported by both EU backing and national investment programmes, are key to bridging the infrastructure gap while besides make ancillary opportunities for private investors. Geopolitical circumstances have catalysed the region, spurring growth in cross-border infrastructure that would have taken decades to make under average conditions.
Energy transformation: safety meets sustainability
In energy, the region is experiencing an unprecedented transformation. The EU’s ambitious mark of 42.5 per cent renewable energy consumption is driving crucial investment in solar and wind capacity. CEE is leading comparative growth in this sector. For example, Poland increased its solar capacity by 37 per cent in the first half of 2024, while Hungary saw a 49 per cent increase.
The war in Ukraine has accelerated the imperative for energy independence. This has led to remarkable developments specified as the Polish power-grid operator PSE outlining plans to invest about 15.2 billion euros by 2034. specified investments will lead to any of the largest renewable infrastructure opportunities in Europe, with established regulatory frameworks supporting private investment and incentives for advancing the renewable energy transition.
Private sector participation through Corporate Power acquisition Agreements (PPAs) is creating unchangeable investment environment even as government policies evolve. Companies like Enery, which owns a portfolio of 490MW of operating generation assets and a crucial improvement portfolio of ~8GW+ across CEE, have demonstrated the viability of this model. Their usage of physical and virtual PPAs has provided stableness in an environment where governments are commonly reviewing energy sector subsidies and incentives.
The CEE digital revolution
Perhaps what is most breathtaking is the digital infrastructure boom taking place across the full CEE region. While the Baltics have emerged as prominent leaders with their estimated 360 per cent growth in the Deep Tech scene over the last 5 years, a digital transformation is happening throughout Central and east Europe. Cities like Warsaw, Prague and Bucharest are all establishing themselves as key tech hubs.
This region-wide digital revolution is creating diverse investment opportunities in specialized digital infrastructure. From network modernization through to 5G rollouts and fibre infrastructure, as well as the integration of digital capabilities with conventional transport corridors, the transformation is comprehensive. The Via Baltica 5G Corridor exemplifies this trend, where transport infrastructure modernization is being combined with advanced telecommunications deployment, creating multiple entry points for investors across sectors.
Innovation hubs are developing across the region, with notable projects like Greenergy Data Centers in Tallinn, which has established 1 of the most energy-efficient data centres in Northern Europe. Operating on 100 per cent renewable energy, its modular plan enables scalability while maintaining infrastructure protection through AI-powered monitoring and efficiency systems.
The investment case for CEE infrastructure
What makes 2025 peculiarly compelling for infrastructure investors is the powerful combination of organization support, diverse marketplace entry points, and strategical importance. The 3 Seas Initiative Investment Fund (3SIIF) exemplifies this opportunity, having already committed 850 million euros to projects across energy, transport and digital infrastructure.
For global investors, CEE offers a unique proposition: emerging marketplace growth possible with EU stability. The varying stages of marketplace liberalization across the region make multiple entry points for different investment strategies, from stable, regulated returns in more developed markets to higher-growth opportunities in rapidly evolving ones. This diversity spans from the digitally advanced Baltic states to manufacturing-focused Central Europe and the strategically positioned Balkans, with their access to key maritime routes.
The convergence of private sector participation and the region’s increasing strategical importance creates a uncommon window of opportunity. Infrastructure investment here transcends financial returns. – it is about participating in the transformation of a region increasingly central to Europe’s economical future and safety architecture. CEE offers an unrivalled proposition in projects backed by safe frameworks, enhanced growth potential, and assets critical to future-proofing EU economical security.
The region is expected to see a fast uptick in economical growth and a crucial increase in infrastructure investment volumes. The CEE marketplace has already cemented itself as 1 to watch among global competitors. As the region enters its next phase of infrastructure development, chance thrives.
Christian Roy is Head of Central and east Europe at Amber Infrastructure.
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