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: Klaus Reconsiders Returning to Politics

On Saturday, August 24, former Czech President Vaclav Klaus told Czech Television (CT) he is “seriously considering” returning to politics.

August 26, 2013

Czech Republic: Early Vote No Danger for Sovereign Debt Rating

The current instable political situation is no significant risk factor for the Czech rating yet, the U.S. rating agency Fitch says.

August 25, 2013

Fitch Cuts Outlook for Poland

Due to the change in Poland´s fiscal policy, the U.S. rating agency lowers the rating outlook for Poland from „positive“ to „stable“.

August 25, 2013

Turkey: Overall Dissatisfaction Grows

A new poll carried out by Gallup shows that about a third of the Turks feel themselves suffering from an economic point of view.

August 25, 2013

Russian National Bank Underlines Stability of Ruble

Russian National Bank emphasizes that the Russian ruble will not devalue.

August 24, 2013

Russia: GDP to Increase without Economic Growth

Russia will change its GDP account practice. Foreign investors will benefit from the new standards, head of Rosstat says.

August 24, 2013

Czech Republic: SME Suffer from Credit Crunch

The recession in the Czech Republic is mainly due to the restrictive lending policy of the domestic banking sector.

August 24, 2013

Turkey: Capital Outflow Endangers Economic Stability

The monetary and economic stability is under enormous pressure. Turkey´s National Bank does not have sufficient reserve to support the Turkish lira.

August 24, 2013

Schwarzenberg Criticizes Spindelegger

The former Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Karel Schwarzenberg thinks that Austria´s Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger mainly focuses on domestic politics. The CEE region should co-operate closer in future, he claims.

August 24, 2013

Ukraine: Net Profits of Banking Sector Almost UAH 2bn

Ukrainian banking sector reports a sustained increase in the income and net profit.

August 23, 2013

Austria: Leitl Reiterates Criticizm

State Secretary Schieder considers Leitl’s statements “totally out of place”.

August 23, 2013

Atrium European Real Estate Limited / Half Yearly Report

Atrium European Real Estate Limited / Half Yearly Report

August 23, 2013

Atrium European Real Estate Limited / FIRST HALF RESULTS SHOW A CONTINUED STRONG OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE AND SOLID PROGRESS IN THE GROUP'S STRATEGY FOR GROWTH

Atrium European Real Estate Limited / FIRST HALF RESULTS SHOW A CONTINUED STRONG OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE AND SOLID PROGRESS IN THE GROUP'S STRATEGY FOR GROWTH

August 23, 2013

Czech Republic: Zeman Signs Parliamentary Dissolution

Zeman will sign the parliamentary dissolution on August 28. The path is now clear for early elections at the end of October.

August 22, 2013

Romanians Not Satisfied with Wages

More than half of Romanian employees claim not to be paid enough for their work.

August 22, 2013

Turkey: Tear Gas against Demonstrators in Istanbul

The police has once more used tear gas against a new demonstration of critics of the government.

August 21, 2013

Poland: Budget Amendment Passed in Parliament

In order to adapt to the slow economic growth the government has amended the budet by permitting this year’s budget deficit to increase to PLN 16bn as well as approving PLN in spending cut, as announced at a press conferenced on Tuesday.

August 21, 2013

Political Dissatisfaction in Poland Grows

Seven out of ten Poles are disappointed with Polish parliament

August 21, 2013

Czech Parliament Votes for New Elections

The Czech House of Representatives has decided its dissolution on Tuesday evening and therefore clears the way for early parliamentary elections, which in all likelyhood will take place on October 25 and 26.

August 21, 2013

Romania: Without Nabucco, Better Chances for Higher Pay-Out for Transgaz

This year's tariffs revisions are better suited to protect the company for the drop in gas consumption, thus RBI sees lower risk of unrealized revenues.

August 20, 2013

Ukraine Remains in a Recession for a Year

In the second quarter of 2013 GDP contracted by 1.1 percent on a year-on-year comparison basis.

August 20, 2013

Eurozone: Minor Increase in Construction Production

In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production rose by 0.7% in the euro area (EA17) and by 0.8% in the EU27 in June 2013, compared with the previous month, according to first estimates released by Eurostat.

August 20, 2013

National Bank of Ukraine fully meets domestic demand for cash

The National Bank of Ukraine is committed to developing cashless payments. At the same, cash is needed for retail payments. The growing demand for cash is fully met.

August 20, 2013

Romanian Real Estate Market to Stabilize

According to a study, the real estate market in Romania has stabilized again.

August 19, 2013

Russia: Rusal to Slip into the Red

Russian metal giant Rusal has to decrease production by 357,000 tons this year due to a drop in prices in aluminium. The company now hopes for state subsidy.

August 19, 2013

Turkey Wants to Stop Capital Outflow

The Turkish government plans to attract more investors. By lower taxes, foreign capital of Turkish nationals should come back to Turkey.

August 17, 2013

Russia: Stable Outlook, Lower Growth Rates

The rating agency Fitch reiterates the “BBB” rating for Russia. The outlook remains stable. However, Russia´s GDP forecast had to be lowered.

August 17, 2013

Poland´s Economic Growth Accelerates

In the second quarter of 2013, the annual growth rate came at 0.8%. Due to combined monetary and fiscal measures, the outlook is positive.

August 17, 2013

RBI´s CEO Sevelda: Drastic Losses in Hungary

Next week, Vienna-listed RBI (Raiffeisen Bank International) will present the results for the first half year of 2013. RBI will put effort into selective growth strategies.

August 17, 2013

Austria: Minor Decrease of Inflation Rate

Slight easening of inflation in Austria: Thanks to cheaper fuels and a lower upward trend in prices for food, the inflation rate in Austria decreased from 2.2 percent to 2.0 percent in July.

August 16, 2013

Romania: GDP Slowed Down in Second Quarter 2013

Romania: GDP slowed down in Q2, as expected by RBI.

August 16, 2013

Schieder: “Successful Employment and Regional Economic Policy Has to Be Continued“

Austrian State Secretary rejects unreliable surveys “talking down” Austrian economy.

August 14, 2013

Eurozone: Minor Growth in Industrial Production

Industrial production up by 0.7% in euro area. Up by 0.9% in EU27.

August 14, 2013

ECB: New Issuance of Debt Securities Totaled EUR 672 Billion In June 2013.

The annual rate of change of the outstanding amount of debt securities issued by euro area residents was -0.1% in June 2013, compared with 0.1% in May.

August 14, 2013

New Erste Group Loan Contributes to La Fantana Recapitalization

La Fantana, the leading bottler and distributor of water in Romania, announced it has successfully raised EUR 34mn in debt financing. La Fantana is controlled by private equity funds managed by Innova Capital.

August 13, 2013

Czech Prime Minister Offers Resignation

Czech Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok has officially filed his resignation six days after a lost vote on confidence.

August 13, 2013

Romania: Positive Inflation Development

Inflation dynamics in Romania surprised on the positive side in July.

August 13, 2013

Poland: Current Account Surplus Better Than Expected

Poland's June current account surplus at € 574m

August 13, 2013

Poland: Amendmends in 2013 Budget

Upper house approves law suspending fiscal restraints at 50 percent debt threshold

August 12, 2013

Romania: Significant Decrease in FDI

Non-residents’ direct investment in Romania estimated at EUR 666 million (as compared with EUR 826 million in January-June 2012).

August 12, 2013

Atrium European Real Estate Limited / Notice of second quarter and half year results

Atrium European Real Estate Limited / Notice of second quarter and half year results

August 12, 2013

Czech Republic: Schwarzenberg to Run for Parliamentary Elections

The former Foreign Minister named “autocratic” President Zeman as a motivation.

August 10, 2013

Poland’s Opposition Expands Poll Lead

Poland's conservative opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party has increased its lead over the centrist governing Civic Platform (PO) party by another five percentage points, according to a poll released on Thursday.

August 9, 2013

Fitch: European Investors See Withdrawal of Bank Stimulus

More European investors now see the withdrawal of central bank stimulus as a bigger risk to European credit markets than eurozone sovereign debt problems.

August 9, 2013

Austria: Significant Drop in Trade Deficit

A drop of 3.2 percent in imports and an increase of 1.1 percent in exports from January to May 2013 make the trade deficit decrease by more than € 2bn.

August 9, 2013

Early Elections in Czech Republic Likely

After Czech’s new Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok failed the vote of confidence, there are many indicators that President Milos Zeman will announce early elections.

August 9, 2013

Poland: VAT Receipts Increased 10 Percent

Value added tax (VAT) receipts increase 10 percent year on year.

August 8, 2013

Poland: Trade Deficit Estimates Lowered by Ministry

Deficit estimate for 2013 reduced to EUR 3.9bn by Polish Ministry of Economy

August 8, 2013

Czech Government Loses Vote on Confidence

The cabinet of experts of Prime Minister Rusnok only receives 93 out of 200 votes. October may be the month for early elections.

August 8, 2013

Czech Republic: Will Rusnok Remain in Parliament?

Today, August 7, 2013, the members of parliament in Prague will carry out a vote on confidence on the new government of Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok. It is unlikely that Rusnok will remain in parliament.

August 7, 2013