Vienna's Foreign and Bilateral Relations

Eurozone: Further Capital Injections at Banks Expected

The Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) is holding a summit today. The low inflation rate in the Eurozone is still a dilemma for the monetary authorities.

January 9, 2014

Hungary: Austrian Farmers Still Left in the Dark

There is still no clarification in the controversial Hungarian land law for Austrian farmers and land owners.

January 9, 2014

Bulgaria: Small Growth in Real Estate Market

The real estate market in Bulgaria saw a growth of 2.98 percent last year.

January 9, 2014

RBI: No Withdrawal from Hungary

Due to massive losses, the second-largest lender in CESEE was said to leave the difficult Hungarian market. RBI denies such reports.

January 8, 2014

Orco Property Group: Cut in Number of Board Members

Shareholders of Luxembourger real estate company Orco Property Group voted to cut the number of board members from nine to five on Monday.

January 8, 2014

Sobotka Presses for Appointment of Czech Government

As reported by Czech news agency CTK, party leader of the Czech Social Democrats (CSSD) Bohuslav Sobotka will get together with President Milos Zeman to request a fast appointing of the new government.

January 8, 2014

Hungary: SZKB to Take over Hungarian RBI?

Hungarian Economy Minister Mihaly Varga considers it unlikely for Szecheny Commercial Bank (SZKB) to take over the Hungarian affiliate of Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI).

January 8, 2014

Serbia: One of Fastest Growing Economies

Last year Serbia was among the ten fastest growing economies in Europe, as pointed out by Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic.

January 8, 2014

Czech Republic: Alarming Increase of Private Bankruptcies

The number of private insolvencies increased by 13 percent and stood at a new record in 2013.

January 7, 2014

European Union: Private Trading of Banks to be Restricted

The European Union intends to severly restrict risky private trading of banks.

January 7, 2014

Hungary: Erste Group Confident

The third-largest lender in CESEE underlined that the Hungarian subsidiary will not be sold. The Austrian bank is confident to reach the turnaround soon.

January 6, 2014

First Offer for RBI´s Hungarian Subsidiary

The partly nationalized Hungarian lender Szechenyi Bank is interested in the Hungarian subsidiaries of the Austrian banks Erste Group and Raiffeisen Bank International.

January 6, 2014

European Savers in Danger

Already this year, savers in the Eurozone may fear a compulsory tax on deposits, the Danish Saxo Bank says.

January 4, 2014

Czech Budget Deficit Lower than Expected

In total, the Czech budget deficit will come at 2.0% of GDP. Before, the budget deficit was estimated to come at 3.4% of GDP.

January 4, 2014

Czech Governor Awarded Banker of the Year 2014

Miroslav Singer, governor of the Czech National Bank (CNB) was given the Central Banker of the Year 2014 award for Europe by The Banker.

January 3, 2014

Eurozone: Number of Bank Credits Keeps Declining

The financial institutes in the Eurozone have been cutting back on granting credits. The lending for both business corporations and private persons has dropped by 2.3 percent.

January 3, 2014

Austria: FMA to Activate Whistleblower Hotline

At the beginning of this year the Financial Market Authority (FMA) in Austria has activated a “whistleblower hotline” for bank insiders to report about potential abuses.

January 3, 2014

Poland: Little Trust in Insurance Companies

According to a survey, Polish citizens lack in trust in insurance companies.

January 3, 2014

Czech Economy to Return to Growth

After two years of GDP contraction, the Czech Republic will reach moderate economic growth rates in 2014.

January 2, 2014

Massive Change in Banking Landscape

The business model of banks comes more and more under pressure. In the next years, about the half of the bank shops will be closed, banking expert Hans-Gert Penzel predicts.

January 2, 2014

Austria: Unemployment Rate at Record High

Last year the unemployment rate in Austria recorded its highest level in 60 years.

January 2, 2014

Poland: WSE to Register More IPOs in 2014

Since further companies will start listing at the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) in 2014 the Polish stock will become more attractive to investors.

January 2, 2014

Serbia: Moderate Economic Growth in 2013

According to the release of the Serbian Statistical Office, GDP is estimated to have grown 2.4% in 2013.

January 2, 2014

Czech Republic: Household Debts Increasing

Debts to banks and other financial institutes by Czech households keep on increasing, according to a report by the Czech National Bank (CNB).

January 2, 2014

Croatia: National Bank Forecasts Decent Growth in 2014

Private and public consumption are anticipated to shrink further. Nevertheless, Croatia is expected to return to growth next year.

December 31, 2013

EANS-Total Voting Rights: Atrium European Real Estate Limited / Release according to article 93 BörseG with the aim of a Europe-wide distribution

December 31, 2013

Croatia: Real Estate Market Crisis Goes On

After the collapse of the Croat real estate market in 2009/10, the price decrease still holds on.

December 30, 2013

„Such Growth Rates Will not Return“

In an interview with the Austrian daily “Presse”, economist Karl Aiginger explains that the worst should be over. The reform pressure on the Austrian government is enormous.

December 30, 2013

Hypo Group: „The Wrong Decisions were Made“

Johannes Ditz, former chairman of the Austrian nationalized Hypo Group Alpe Adria, thinks that the Austrian government could have avoided a massive burden for the taxpayers.

December 28, 2013

Poland: Komorowski Approves Pension Reform

Poland´s President Bronislaw Komorowski has signed the nationalization act. However, he will send the law to the Constitutional Court.

December 28, 2013

Hungary: Best Economic Outlook since 2002

After the country had left the double-dip recession, the Hungarian economic sentiment index has reached the highest level in more than 11 years. Nevertheless, the country still has to manage number of fundamental risks.

December 28, 2013

Czech Republic: Babis Claims Finance Ministry

Andrej Babis, head of the second-largest Czech party, wants to become Minister of Finance. The Czechs face a new austerity package.

December 28, 2013

Croatia Needs Major Bridge Loan

In order to cover its fiscal shortfall, the youngest EU member country takes a bridge loan in the amount of € 200m.

December 28, 2013

Romania: Growth to Slow Down

In 2014, Romania´s GDP growth will only reach 2.0%, Turkish GarantiBank forecasts.

December 28, 2013

Austria: Kapsch Delivers Warning to Policy-Makers

Georg Kapsch, President of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV), is very cautious about economic growth in Austria and warns the policy-makers of a budget consolidation on the basis of expectations of growth.

December 27, 2013

Slovakia: Date for Presidential Election Fixed

The first round for the presidential elections in Slovakia will take place on March 15, 2014.

December 23, 2013

Czech Republic: Zeman Rejects Proposed Ministers

The Czech Republic is facing new obstacles in the forming of a new government as President Zeman is not satisfied with the choice of some ministers.

December 23, 2013

CA Immo Sells Office Building in Warsaw

CA Immobilien Anlagen AG sells Lipowy office building in Warsaw.

December 23, 2013

Austria: New Government Already Disappoints in the First Week

In 2014, Austria will not achieve its fiscal objectives, new Minister of Finance Michael Spindelegger admitted. Austria´s fiscal situation is observed critically. The country faces a new austerity package.

December 23, 2013

Hungary: Positive Outlook, Negative Frame Conditions

In the short term, Hungary´s economy will accelerate. However, it is still uncertain whether the country achieves a sustainable return to growth.

December 21, 2013

New CEO at BCR Asigurari de Viata

Sorin Mititelu was appointed as new CEO of Romanian BCR Asigurari de Viata.

December 21, 2013

Bulgaria Still Below Pre-Crisis Level

The World Bank predicts that Bulgaria will not reach the pre-crisis level before 2008 in terms of GDP. Regarding Bulgaria´s fiscal situation, the country performs well, though.

December 20, 2013

Austria: VBAG May Require Further State Aid

Partially nationalized VBAG is expected to post losses of more than € 200m.

December 20, 2013

Czech Republic: Economic Sentiment Rises

As published by the Czech Statistical Office (CSU), the Czech economic sentiment indicator rose by one point to 5.5 points compared to November.

December 20, 2013

Banking Union Completed

The Finance Ministers of the Eurozone have reached a compromise on the last pillar of the banking union. The deposit protection mechanism will come into power in 2015.

December 19, 2013

World Bank Increases Economic Growth Forecast for Poland

The World Bank has increased economic growth in 2013 from 1.0 percent to 1.5 percent.

December 19, 2013

Hungary: Slower Monetary Cuts

After another base rate cut, the next monetary steps will take more time.

December 18, 2013

Serbia: National Bank Cuts Key Policy Rate

The NBS decided to cut key interest rate by half a percentage point as inflation remains on the lower target tolerance band.

December 18, 2013

Slovak Prime Minister Confirms Presidental Candidacy

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who also serves as head of ruling left-winged Smer Party, announced his candidacy for the presidential office next year.

December 18, 2013

Czech Republic: Rusnok to become CNB Board Member

Outgoing Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok will be appointed new board member of the Czech National Bank (CNB) by President Milos Zeman.

December 18, 2013