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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


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


Hungarian Budget Deficit Growing Quickly

According to preliminary data the deficit of the general government sector in the first half of 2012 was HUF 393 billion, 2.8% of GDP. Although the deficit is smaller than last year, the 2012 target will not be met.
October 2, 2012


Hungarian Unemployment Quota Down

In June–August 2012, the number of unemployed people was 456 thousand resulting in an unemployment rate of 10.4%.
October 1, 2012


Fekter Promotes Financial Transaction Tax

The Austrian Minister of Finance wrote a letter to the EU Commission. She argues that a financial transaction tax would be economically reasonable.
October 1, 2012


M&A´s: Poland Ranks First Among CEE Countries

According to a study by Ernst & Young Poland ranks 30 among 148 countries.
October 1, 2012


Raiffeisen: CEE Network to be Closed

Austrian RBI (Raiffeisen Bank International) announces that the expansion in Central and Eastern Europe will be concluded soon.
October 1, 2012


Hungary: Budget Targets Endangered to Fail

In August, Hungary´s budget deficit has almost reached the full year´s level. Analysts doubt whether Hungary may achieve a 2.5% budget deficit this year.
October 1, 2012


Bank Secret: Semeta Criticizes Austria´s Position

According to the EU Commissioner Algirdas Semeta, Austria´s bank secret is “out-dated”. He criticizes that Austria and Luxembourg still reject to give up the bank secret.
October 1, 2012