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

Poland Starts Privatization Program

The Polish government wants to sell state-owned assets worth € 5bn.

October 18, 2012

Austrian Trade with Russia is Booming

This year, the Austrian Chamber of Commerce expects new record results. Above all, South Russia is perceived as future market.

October 18, 2012

RBI: We Will Not Leave Hungary

Herbert Stepic, CEO of Austrian RBI (Raiffeisen Bank International) is highly dissatisfied with Hungary´s decision not to reduce bank taxes. However, RBI will stay, he says.

October 18, 2012 · Updated: October 18, 2012; 17:08

Hungary: Gross Earnings Growing

In the national economy – at corporations employing at least 5 persons, budgetary and designated non-profit institutions – average gross earnings increased by 4.7%.

October 18, 2012

Hungarian Tax Plans: Austrian Banks Annoyed

Because of the pressing need to reduce the budget deficit, Hungary´s government decided not to lower the bank tax. Moreover, the financial transaction tax will be doubled.

October 18, 2012

Austria Underlines Importance of Austerity Measures

“EU pact for growth and employment to fight high unemployment rates”: State Secretary Reinhold Lopatka at the General Affairs Council in Luxemburg.

October 17, 2012

Spindelegger in Romania: “Strategic interest in stable domestic conditions”

The Austrian Vice-Chancellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs meets Traian Basescu, President of Romania

October 17, 2012

Austrian Budget: Experts Call for Further Reforms (Part 2)

Austrian economic research institutes criticize the state budget and want the government to show more ambition.

October 16, 2012

FPÖ Files Suit Against ESM

The biggest Austrian opposition party files a legal complaint against the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) at the Austrian Constitutional Court.

October 15, 2012

Hungarian Construction Industry Shrinks

In August 2012, construction decreased by 5.3% in output year-on-year. The construction of buildings decreased by one tenth, while that of civil engineering works grew slightly.

October 15, 2012

Klaus: “Nobel Prize for EU is a Mistake”

The Czech President Vaclav Klaus criticizes the decision of the Nobel Prize Committee. For him, the decision is a “joke”.

October 13, 2012

EU Wants Austria to Reduce Bureaucracy

The Commission of the EU has presented its concept for the re-industrialization of Europe. Austria is well-positioned, but there is some potential for improvement.

October 13, 2012

Czech Government Attempts to Stimulate Growth

On the one hand, the Czech government deepens the austerity measures. On the other hand, growth-stimulating investments should be initiated.

October 13, 2012

Czech Banking Association Pessimistic

CBA has lowred its forecast on the Czech economy. The decreasing household consumption would be the main reason.

October 12, 2012

Czech National Bank Open for Interventions

At the moment, the Czech National Bank (CNB) sees no reason for weakening the exchange rate of the Czech Crown. However, CNB is ready to start interventions if necessary.

October 12, 2012

Hungary: Industrial Production Declines Slightly

In August 2012, industrial gross output declined by 0.8% compared to the same month of 2011.

October 12, 2012

Verbund Does Not Exclude Sale of Enerjisa

The Austrian energy company Verbund is said to withdraw from Turkey. However, further investments would be conceivable too, Verbund says.

October 12, 2012

Austrian Foreign Ministry Wants “Better coordination for development cooperation”

"No single country can solve all the major problems of our time alone", Austrian State Secretary Reinhold Lopatka said at the "Development Dialogue" event in Parliament today.

October 12, 2012

Poland´s Budget Deficit “Will Not Be Bigger than Planned”

The Polish Minister of finance Jacek Rostowski stresses that the planned budget deficit will not be higher than PLN 35.6bn.

October 11, 2012

Czech Economy to Shrink by 1.0% This Year

According to IMF, the Czech GDP will shrink by 1.0% this year. Next year an economic growth rate of 0.8% is expected.

October 10, 2012

Fekter Welcomes Entry into Force of ESM

Austria´s Minister of Finance "No cause for celebration, however, as we are still in the middle of stabilising the Eurozone."

October 10, 2012

Austrian Presents Piorities for the “EU budget of the future”

State Secretary Lopatka in the EU Sub-Committee of the National Council.

October 10, 2012

Small Growth in Hungarian Foreign Trade

From January to August 2012, the Hungarian export value rose by 2%.

October 9, 2012

Hungarians Highly Dissatisfied with Economic Situation

According to a survey of the opinion research institute, 46% of the interviewees view their situation as “bad”.

October 9, 2012

Financial Transaction Tax to be Introduced

Now, the financial transaction tax has enough supporters. After months of negotiations, eleven EU member countries finally agreed on introducing a financial transaction tax.

October 9, 2012

Hungary Not A focus of commercial Real Estate Investors

The risk appetite of real estate investors is still subdued. Hungary’s default risk remains relatively high.

October 9, 2012

„Nabucco Is not Dead at All“

The EU-Commissioner of Energy Günther Oettinger is optimistic that Nabucco will be successful. According to Austria´s Minister of Economics Reinhold Mitterlehner, the prospects of success are “50+”.

October 9, 2012

Hutchison Tries to Persuade EU Commission

The smallest Austrian telecommunication operator wants the EU Commission to approve the takeover of Orange.

October 8, 2012

Poland: Almost 2.0 Million Unemployed

In August, the unemployment quota grew to 12.5% from 12.4%.

October 8, 2012

Erste Group to Sell Ukrainian Subsidiary

This year, the Austrian bank plans to sell its Ukrainian business segment. Erste Group entered the Ukraine in 2006.

October 8, 2012

Hungarian Retail Sector Struggling on Several Fronts

The recession in Hungary is also affecting the Hungarian retail sector. A weak labour market combined with declining purchasing power is dampening consumer spending, a development which is reflected in weak retail sales.

October 8, 2012

Hungary: Residential Housing Market at a Standstill

According to Bank Austria, the Hungarian housing market has reached a historic low.

October 8, 2012

Atrium European Real Estate Limited / CREDIT RATING UPGRADE TO INVESTMENT GRADE

Atrium European Real Estate Limited / CREDIT RATING UPGRADE TO INVESTMENT GRADE

October 8, 2012

ATRIUM SIGNS EURO RTV AGV AT ATRIUM FELICITY DEVELOPMENT

ATRIUM SIGNS EURO RTV AGV AT ATRIUM FELICITY DEVELOPMENT

October 8, 2012

Hungary: Vacancy Rates in Office Market Remain High

Despite record low in new building activity, the Hungarian office market proves stable.

October 6, 2012

Hungarian Economy Still Shows Weakness

The country´s economic growth remains low, public debt leaves no leeway for fiscal policies. A high level of foreign debt remains a significant weakness of the Hungarian economy.

October 6, 2012

Poland: Long-Term Unemployment Becomes Problematic for State Budget

According to the consulter Deloitte, Poland is losing billions because of the long-term unemployment.

October 6, 2012

Support for Financial Transaction Tax Keeps Within Limits

In order to introduce the tax, nine countries must agree thereon. The time pressure is growing.

October 6, 2012

Czech Republic: Industrial Sector Most Important

Among the EU members, the Czech Republic shows the highest percentage of people working in the industrial sector.

October 6, 2012

New Austerity Package in Hungary

In order to cut the budget defict below 3.0% of GDP in 2013, the Hungarian government plans further cuts and tax increases.

October 5, 2012

Romania: Lowest Importance of Service Sector in EU

Almost 70% of employed persons in the EU27 worked in the service sector in 2011. The scope ranges from 43% in Romania to 85% in Luxembourg.

October 5, 2012

Fekter Rejects Deposit Protection in EU

At the Alpbach Financial Symposium, Austria´s Minister of Finance Maria Fekter underlined to reject the European deposit protection.

October 4, 2012

Hungary Must Lower Budget Deficit

The Hungarian National Bank puts pressure on the government to lower the budget deficit. By contrast, the government has widened the budget target to 2.8% instead.

October 4, 2012

Poland´s National Bank Holds Interest Rate

After analysts expected that the Polish NBP cut the interest rate, the decision to hold the rate at 4.75% came as a surprise.

October 4, 2012

Austrian Trade with Russia Reaches New Record

This year, bilateral trade with Russia will reach about € 7.0bn. President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce Christoph Leitl wants to strengthen foreign trade with Russia.

October 4, 2012

Viennese Investors to Sell UkrTelekom

The Ukrainian investor Rinat Achmetow is said to acquire UkrTelekom.

October 3, 2012

Lenzing Expands into Czech Republic

The Austrian fiber producer Now Owns 100% Stake in Pulp Producer Biocel Paskov.

October 3, 2012

Poland to Increase Flexibility of Labor Market

The Polish Ministry of Social Affairs prepares an “anti-crisis-package”.

October 3, 2012

Poland: Interest Cut Expected

The Polish National Bank NBP is anticipated to announce a cut in the base rate. At the moment, the base rate stands at 4.75%.

October 2, 2012

Immofinanz Builds Next Shopping Center in Poland

The Austrain real estate group starts retail development project in Poland. Investments total € 115m.

October 2, 2012