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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


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


Hungary Prohibits Slot Machines

According to Hungary´s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the national security would be endangered.
October 1, 2012


Austrian Unemployment Continues to Grow

In September, the number of unemployed persons grew by 5% against September 2011. The Euro area unemployment rate came at 11.4%
October 1, 2012


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
October 1, 2012


Czech Deficit in 2013 at 2.9% of GDP

The Czech Government presented the budget bill for 2013. The Maastricht Criteria should be fulfilled.
September 29, 2012


Immofinanz Group: Silesia City Center Ranks among the top Shopping Centers in Poland

On 19 September 2012 the Polish Association of Retail Tenants and GfK Polonia Institut published a new ranking of Polish shopping centers. The Silesia City Center was rated first.
September 28, 2012


Klaus: Exit Will Not Destroy Eurozone

The Czech President Vaclav Klaus says that a reduction of the member states will not destroy the Eurozone.
September 27, 2012


“No Recession in Poland”

The Polish economist Jan Krzysztof Bielecki is optimistic regarding the development of Poland´s economy.
September 27, 2012


Czech National Bank Expects More Interest Rate Cuts

The governor of the Czech National Bank Miroslav Singer explained that the monetary easing program will continue.
September 27, 2012


Poland Continues Austerity Program

Today, the Polish Ministry of Finance has issued the government´s final budget bill for next year. The budget deficit is estimated to shrink slightly. Poland´s GDP Expected to Grow by 2.2% in 2013.
September 27, 2012


Hungary: Simor Criticizes Interest Cut

The governor of Hungary´s National Bank Andras Simor warns of an increase in inflation.
September 26, 2012


Hungary „Still Obtains Funding from the Financial Market“

Vince Szalay-Bobrovniczky, the Hungarian ambassador in Vienna, emphasized that Hungary is not dependent on the IMF loan. The IMF urges Hungary to reduce its bureaucracy, he says.
September 26, 2012


Poland: Joining Eurozone After Crisis

For the governor of the National Bank of Poland Marek Belka, entering the Eurozone is conceivable as soon as the Eurozone has recovered.
September 25, 2012


MOL Announces Massive Investments in Hungary

The Hungarian oil group plans to make investments of € 1.1bn in the next three years.
September 25, 2012


“EU administration must be screened for savings potential”

Austrian State Secretary Lopatka repeats Austria’s central demands at the General Affairs Council in Brussels.
September 25, 2012


Slight Decrease in Industrial Production in Hungary

In July, the industrial production was down by 0.3% compared to July 2011. In Austria, industrial production was up by 2.0%.
September 24, 2012


Waiglein Becomes Director of ESM

Austria´s Minister of Finance Maria Fekter mandates Harald Waiglein as member of the board of directors.
September 22, 2012


Poland´s Central Bank Retains Interest Rate

The Polish Monetary Policy Council held the base rate flat. Before, an interest rate cut of 50 bps or 25 bps were discussed.
September 22, 2012


Austria Claims Financial Transaction Tax

State Secretary Lopatka presents Austria’s positions to EU Commissioner Lewandowski.
September 21, 2012


Haynes: Cerberus Supports Bawag

Bawag´s CEO Byron Haynes confirms that the bank will cut jobs. The customer segment should be kept, however. Instead, the cost structure should become more efficient.
September 20, 2012


Polish Real Income Declining

As the inflation rate is still higher than wage increase, Polish households face a shrinking income.
September 20, 2012


Austria to Pay higher Contributions to EU

In the next financial period of the EU from 2014 to 2020, Austria´s contribution will increase substantially. Austria calls for keeping the discount system.
September 20, 2012


Poland: Standard & Poor´s Upgrades Banking Industry

The U.S. rating agency upgrades the banking sector´s risk score.
September 20, 2012


Croatia: Recession Aggravates

According to the Croatian Statistical Office, GDP was down by 2.2% compared to last year.
September 20, 2012


Hungary Revises GDP Forecasts

Initially, the Hungarian government forecasted a GDP growth rate of 0.1% this year. Now, State Secretary Gyula Pleschinger explained that Hungary´s economy will shrink this year.
September 20, 2012


European Commission Approves State Aid for VBAG

The European Commission has today approved the comprehensive restructuring plan developed by Österreichische Volksbanken-AG (VBAG) in the wake of the financial and economic crisis to restore long-term profitability.
September 19, 2012


Hungary: Real Income Falls Further

In the first seven months of 2012, the Hungarian real income was down by 4%.
September 19, 2012


IMF-Loan: Orban Demonstrates Optimism

According to Hungary´s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the negotiations with IMF are proceeding on schedule.
September 18, 2012


Banking Supervision: Nowotny Warns of Over-Ambition

According to the governor of OeNB (Austrian Central Bank), it would be dangerous to establish new institutions without a democratic legitimization.
September 18, 2012


Polands FDI Level Stagnates

Compared to 2011, the size of foreign directed investments in Poland stays almost unchanged.
September 18, 2012


Hungary Becomes Tax Haven for Czech and Slovak Enterprises

In the last three years, the number of Czech enterprises with head office in Hungary was up by 41%.
September 15, 2012


Austrian Banks View Savers Protection to be Endangered

The planned unification of the deposit protection is met with skepticism at Austrian banks. As the details are not clear yet, the deposit protection is yet no issue anyway.
September 15, 2012


New Record in Croatian Tourism Sector

In the first eight months of 2012, about 10 million tourists came to Croatia. This is a new record level.
September 15, 2012


Hungarian Central Bank Call for Growth Stimulating Measures

In August, the Hungarian Central Bank cut the base rate by 0.25 percentage points. According to the Council, growth should be supported.
September 15, 2012


Czech Unemployment Rate Remains Flat

In August, the Czech Republic´s unemployment quota came at 8.3%.
September 15, 2012


Croatia´s Fight Against the Recession: More Austerity and Increase in Exports

According to Paul Krugman, the development of Croatia´s economy depends on the performance of the export-oriented industry.
September 14, 2012


Czech Public Debt Growing Rapidly

Until the end of the year, public debt is expected to increase to € 63.77bn. At the end of 2011, the public debt level came at € 58.5bn.
September 14, 2012


Czech Republic Threatened of Downgrade

Because of its instable political situation, the Czech Republic may be downgraded. Debt service costs may increase substantially.
September 14, 2012


Hungarian Central Bank Against Bank Taxes

According to the governor of Hungary´s Central Bank, the bank taxes are causing the lending freeze.
September 14, 2012


Austrian Inflation Rate Below EU Average

In August, the official consumer price inflation rate increased by 2.2%. In the Euro area, annual inflation was up to 2.6%.
September 14, 2012


ESM: Austrian Budget Has Already Appropriated the funds

Austria´s share in the ESM comes to € 19.5bn. The capital share is about € 2.2bn. The Austrian Finance Ministry underlines the importance of the ESM.
September 14, 2012


Banking Union: Austrian FMA Wants to Integrate Eastern European Countries

According to the board of Austria´s Financial Market Authority, not only the banks of the Eurozone should be supervised.
September 13, 2012


Nowotny: Not Overcharging ECB

Ewald Nowotny, governor of Austrian Central Bank (OeNB) argues that ECB should not control all banks.
September 13, 2012


Spar Records Losses in Hungary

The Austrian retail chain operates 400 branches in Hungary. The economic crisis caused substantial losses.
September 13, 2012


VAT Dispute: Necas Seeks Compromise

The Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas is optimistic that the instable government will survive. He wants to reach a compromise with the dissenters.
September 13, 2012


„Banking Union Must Not Become Burden for Real Economy“

The Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) underlines that the banking union must be competition-neutral. Above all, the real economy must not face liquidity constraints, IV says.
September 13, 2012


Hungary: Difficult Negotiations with IMF

The relation between Hungary´s Prime Minister and IMF is chronically tensioned. Another delay of the conclusions of the negotiations is likely.
September 12, 2012


OECD: Czech Spending on Education too Low

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development criticizes the Czech government. Expenditure on education only reach 4.8% of GDP, which is below the OECD average of 6.2%.
September 12, 2012


Polish Public Debt Quota to Decrease

Although the planned budget deficit will not be met this year, Poland´s Finance Minister Jacek Rostowski expects a declining public debt quota.
September 12, 2012


Verbund Commissions 100 MW Wind Farm in Romania

The Austrian energy group´s 100 MW wind farm of Casimcea I, close to the Romanian Black Sea Coast, joins the grid.
September 11, 2012