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Vienna's Foreign and Bilateral Relations
Read the latest headlines about bilateral relations in the areas of economy, business, diplomacy, culture and tourism between Austria and its partners
Czech Republic: Inflation below Forecast
Inflation in February in the Czech Republic was below the Czech National Bank’s (CNB) forecast.
March 10, 2014
EUSD: Austria “Ready to Agree“
Despite earlier statements to the contrary, Austria could now agree to the extension of the European Saving’s Directive (EUSD) during tomorrow’s ECOFIN meeting in Brussels.
March 10, 2014
Poland: Share of Impaired Loans Increasing
The number of impaired loans in the non-financial sector keeps on increasing.
March 10, 2014
Austrian Bank Secret Remains Until 2017
Austrian Finance Minister Spindelegger will present proposals for amendments of the EUSD tomorrow.
March 10, 2014
Czech Republic: Government Refrains from Fiscal Discipline
In 2013, the budget deficit was down to 2.7% of GDP from 4.4% of GDP. In the next few years, the European Commission expects a trend reversal.
March 8, 2014
Romania: New Government Formed
Romanian President Traian Basescu approved the new minister of the new coalition government just in time.
March 6, 2014
Serbia: Share of NPL Increases Dramatically
The share of bad loans in Serbia has increased to 21.3 percent.
March 6, 2014
VBAG to be completely Nationalized?
According to experts, VBAG is the only Austrian bank which will not pass the stress test. In this case, there are only two alternatives: liquidation or full nationalization.
March 6, 2014
Czech Republic: Raiffeisen Withdraws from Pension Insurance Business
Pension insurance company Raiffeisen penzijni spolecnost will terminate business activities on the Czech market for private pension schemes, as announced by the company in a press release.
March 4, 2014
Austria Losing in Innovation Ranking
The EU member countries are catching up with the US and Japan in regard to innovation. However, Austria is not among the top players.
March 4, 2014
Poland: “Further Gradual Improvement”
The recent tendencies point to accelerated economic growth rates.
March 3, 2014
Poland: Lending Activity to Increase Significantly
Lending activity in the Polish finance sector is expected to increase significantly this year.
March 3, 2014
Atrium European Real Estate Limited / Notice of full year 2013 results
Atrium European Real Estate Limited / Notice of full year 2013 results
March 3, 2014
Fitch Keeps Slovak Rating Unchanged
Slovakia´s issuer default rating was kept unchanged at “A+”. The outlooks remain stable.
March 1, 2014
Hungarian Property Market Crisis Sharpens
In 2013, the building activity in the residential property sector fell dramatically. A soon recovery is more than unlikely.
March 1, 2014
Polish Currency Suffers from Instability in Ukraine
The Polish Zloty has become weaker because of the political instability in Ukraine.
February 28, 2014
EANS-Total Voting Rights: Atrium European Real Estate Limited / Release according to article 93 BörseG with the aim of a Europe-wide distribution
EANS-Total Voting Rights: Atrium European Real Estate Limited / Release according to article 93 BörseG with the aim of a Europe-wide distribution
February 28, 2014
Poland: PKO BP Takes over Nordea’s Insurance Division
Polish financial market regulator KNF has finally approved the takeover of life insurance company Nordea TUnZ by PKO BP.
February 27, 2014
VIG Third Biggest Insurance Company in Poland
Vienna Insurance Group records strong performance in Poland.
February 27, 2014
“Sebastian Kurz is Hope for Austria“
According to Czech politician and former Foreign Minister Schwarzenberg, Kurz is intelligent, efficient and asks the right question.
February 27, 2014
Serbia to Start Talks with IMF
Officials of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have started negotiations with Serbia on Wednesday.
February 26, 2014
Hungary: Customers Fleeced by Banks
For the first time in three years Hungarian commercial banks have returned to profitability. However, extra cost, caused by political circumstances, was passed on to clients.
February 26, 2014
Romanian Government Falls Apart
After the ongoing dispute about administrative posts Romania is left without a government. Moreover, the opposition calls for Prime Minister Viktor Ponta’s resignation.
February 26, 2014
ANDRITZ HYDRO to supply electromechanical equipment for Laucahydropower plant, Angola
International technology Group ANDRITZ is to supply the electromechanical equipment for the new Lauca hydropower plant, Angola, via Construtora Norberto Odebrecht to GAMEK (Gabinete de Aproveitamento do Medio Kwanza), a part of the Angolan power corporation ENE (Empresa Nacional de Electricidade). The order value for comparable deliveries lies in the lower three-digit million euro range; the order will enter into force in the course of 2014 upon fulfillment of all administrative requirements. Commissioning is scheduled for the end of 2017.
February 26, 2014
VIG Generates Profits in Poland
Vienna Insurance Group Polska (VIG) generated a gross profit of PLN 229m last year.
February 25, 2014
Austrian Bank Secrecy to be Abolished by 2016
EU Commissioner Algirdas Semeta recently stated that bank secrecy in Austria will expire since by then the automatic exchange of information will be implemented as a standard.
February 24, 2014
Austria: Inflation Drops Again
Inflation in Austria dropped to 1.5 percent in January due to the winter sales.
February 24, 2014
Warsaw Stock Exchange Registers Profits
The operator of Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) GPW saw an increase in profits in the business year 2013.
February 24, 2014
Austria: Wifo Projects Gloomy Economic Outlook
A restrained economic growth, high unemployment rate and measures for the consolidation of the state budget are the factors which affect the economic development on a medium-term.
February 21, 2014
Serbia: Structural Reforms to Boost FDI
Recent projections of the National Bank of Serbia (NBS) forecast foreign direct investments (FDI) to increase to € 1bn this year up from € 750m.
February 21, 2014
Romania: President Fires Financial Supervision Authority
President Basescu fires the entire staff of the Romanian Financial Supervision Authority (ASF).
February 20, 2014
Serbian Governor: Banking Sector Stable
According to Tabakovic, governor of NBS, the Serbian banking sector was solvent and well-capitalized.
February 20, 2014
Montenegro Gets Own Embassy in Romania
On Tuesday Montenegro opened its first embassy in Romania.
February 19, 2014
Poland Ranks High in FDI Attractivity
Polish cities are still very attractive for FDI, according to fDI Intelligence.
February 19, 2014
Czech Republic: New Government Passed Vote of Confidence
The new Czech government under Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka has passed the vote of confidence in parliament yesterday.
February 19, 2014
Poland: PKO BK Still Wants to Take Over Nordea
PKO BP had to extend the subscription period for the second time.
February 18, 2014
Poland: Strong Prospects for High Growth
Prime Minister Donald Tusk is positive Poland will achive a GDP growth of more than three percent this year.
February 18, 2014
Nowotny: Negative Interest Rate Conveys Feeling of Crisis
Ewald Nowotny, member of the Council of the ECB (European Central Bank) and governor of the Austrian National Bank (OeNB), expressed his rejection regarding a possible negative interest rate for banks.
February 18, 2014
Czech Republic: Government Asks for Vote of Confidence
The new Czech government was appointed at the End of January. On Tuesday Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and his cabinet will ask for a vote of confidence in parliament.
February 18, 2014
Cooperation between Vienna and Warsaw Stock Exchanges to Kickstart 2014
As announced by Adam Maciejewski, CEO of GPW, the operator of the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE), the cooperation between WSE and VSE (Vienna Stock Exchange) could be completed this year.
February 17, 2014
Austria: Economic Upturn Still in Standby-Mode
According to the analysis of the economic indicator of Bank Austria, there is moderate growth and hope for the first quarter in 2014.
February 17, 2014
Vienna Insurance Group Expands Market Leadership in Slovakia
The Group expands its position as the number one in the core market Slovakia. Strong growth above market average. Increase in premiums in all lines of business.
February 17, 2014
Fitch Keeps Polish Sovereign Rating Unchanged
The U.S. rating agency has reassessed Poland´s sovereign debt rating.
February 15, 2014
Poland: PKO BP Planning to Establish Mortgage Bank
The Polish bank intends to found a mortage bank around the beginning of the year 2015.
February 14, 2014
Serbia: Key Rate Kept Untouched
The board of the National Bank of Serbia (NBS) underlined the importance of a cautious monetary policy in the light of the current economic developments.
February 14, 2014
Slovakia: Vote of No Confidence against PM Failed
The vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Robert Fico failed in parliament.
February 14, 2014
Serbia: FDI of Great Importance for Economy
According to Deputy Prime Minister Vucic, the country’s biggest problem was the rate debt rate and fiscal deficit.
February 14, 2014
Singer: “Forex Interventions Were Right Measures”
Miroslav Singer, Governor of the Czech National Bank (CNB), considers the forex intervention and the weakening of the Czech Crown as the right measures in the light of the most recent inflation figures.
February 13, 2014
Poland: Consumer Loans Expected to Rise Significantly
Last year consumer loans saw a 16 percent growth which leads to expecations that Poland will register a double-digit growth rate in 2014 as well.
February 12, 2014
Hypo Group: Bad Bank Active at Least 10 Years
Austria’s rating by Standard & Poor’s (“AA+”, stable outlook) is currently not compromised. Because of the establishing of the bad bank the debt rate will rise four to six percent.
February 12, 2014