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

Austrians in the Centre of the Global IT Industry

The first Austrian companies from the IT industry are currently in California as part of the "Go Silicon Valley 2012" technology initiative.

May 3, 2012

New Record Loss at AUA

Bad news for Austrian Airlines: the result from operating activities reaches € -66.7m. AUA refers to higher kerosene prices and the air travel tax. Nevertheless, the turnaround should be reached in 2013.

May 3, 2012

Austrian Unemployment Still Lowest in EU

The EU unemployment rate rose to 10.9% in March 2012 from 9.9% the year before. Since 2000, taxes on labor rose dramatically in Austria.

May 2, 2012

Major Order at TGW by U.S. Gap Inc.

The U.S. specialty apparel retailer Gap Inc selects the Austrian TGW Systems to manage their residual carton handling operation.

May 2, 2012

U.S. Delegation Impressed by Austrian Urban Technologies

“Austria is probably 10 years ahead of the U.S. in regard to urban planning and implemented technologies,” was the credo heard from visiting U.S. experts on urban planning when visiting Austria in April 2012.

May 2, 2012

CA Immo Focuses on Berlin

The Austrian real estate group sees high demand and low supply in the German capital´s property market. In 2012, investment volume reached € 245m in Frankfurt and Berlin.

May 2, 2012

Unemployment Rises by 6.7%

In Austria, the number of unemployed persons rose up to 321,817 in April. Simultaneously, employment reaches a new record level.

May 1, 2012

Cross Industries Still in the Red

Due to interest expenses, the Austrian industrial holding company recorded losses of € 4.5m after € 4.8m in 2010.

April 30, 2012

Raiffeisen Bank International Closes Acquisition of Polbank

The Provisional purchase price is € 460m in cash for a 70 per cent stake in the Polish private bank. RBI becomes number 6 in the Polish banking market.

April 30, 2012

AUA´s Workforce May Decide Against New Collective Agreement

After months of heated debates, the works council and the management agreed on a new collective agreement. The aircrew must approve the agreement.

April 28, 2012

Strabag: Haselsteiner Underlines Importance of Russia

In 2007, the Austrian construction company announced to establish its third core market in Russia. However, Strabag is still far from that.

April 28, 2012

CA Immo Expands in Munich

The Austrian real estate company has a new tenant in office building in Munich's Arnulfpark.

April 27, 2012

Conwert Establishes Joint Venture in Germany

The Austrian real estate company expands in Germany. Sales volume of the construction project in Bamberg is estimated to reach € 100m.

April 27, 2012

AMAG Starts Investment Program

The Austrian aluminum company invests € 220m in the enlargement of the main site in Ranshofen, Upper Austria. RLB Upper Austria now holds a 16.5% stake.

April 26, 2012

Spindelegger Appeals Israel and Palestine to End the Conflict

Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs: “Idle run in Middle East increases extremist danger for the region”

April 26, 2012

Immofinanz Group Acquires Office Development Project in Düsseldorf

The Austrian Group announces the acquisition of the remaining 50% stake in the Panta Rhei, a planned office development project in Düsseldorf, from the co-owner Frankonia Group.

April 26, 2012

Austria Wants to Raise Efficiency in EU Funds

The Austrian State Secretary Waldner participates in the negotiations of the EU financial framework 2014-2020 and calls for setting a regional and environmental course.

April 25, 2012

VBI: Sberbank Injects € 300m

The Russian Sberbank raises the equity base of its new Austrian subsidiary VBI, which should become the hub for the CEE region.

April 24, 2012

Labor Costs: Austria in the Upper Third

Hourly labor costs ranged between € 3.5 and € 39.3 in the EU27 Member States. In Austria, labor costs reach € 29.20.

April 24, 2012

Mayr-Melnhof: Dispute in the UK Escalates

After the British site of the Austrian packaging company was shut down in February, the British trade union Unite attacks Mayr-Melnhof sharply.

April 23, 2012

Austrian Ministry of Finance Records Higher Tax Intake

In the first three months of 2012, tax proceeds were up by 3.8%. The Ministry of Finance registered revenues of € 16.2bn.

April 23, 2012

Leitl: Increasing Foreign Trade with Russia

The President of WKO (Austrian Chamber of Commerce) wants to raise bilateral trade volume up to € 10bn by 2015.

April 23, 2012

Maastricht Criteria: Austria in the Middle Field

In 2011, the government deficit of both the euro area (EA17) and the EU27 decreased in absolute terms compared with 2010, while the government debt rose in both zones.

April 23, 2012

RHI Pursues Growth Strategy in India

The Austrian RHI AG, the world’s biggest maker of fireproofing ceramics, is pursuing a takeover in India and may start a joint venture in Russia to expand its global reach.

April 21, 2012

AUA Resolves Transfer of Undertakings

The supervisory board of Austrian Airlines decided to switch to cheaper collective agreements. The transfer of undertakings is “crucial for AUA´s survival”.

April 20, 2012

Austrian Opposition Increase Criticism on Swiss Tax Deal

For FPÖ, the tax deal with Switzerland is a “gift for tax evaders”. The Green Party sees support for tax fraud.

April 18, 2012

Former Bawag CEO Criticizes Cerberus Sharply

Helmut Elsner, former CEO of Bawag, accuses the new owner Cerberus to abuse the bank as “garbage dump” for toxic assets.

April 18, 2012

„AUA is no Protected Area Anymore“

Lufthansa´s CEO Christoph Franz underlined not to accept permanent losses of the Austrian subsidiary AUA. “There is no protected area at Lufthansa anymore.”

April 18, 2012

Roiss Claims European „Fracking“ Strategy

OMV´s CEO Gerhard Roiss calls for a common strategy to exploit shale gas. The European industrial sector should become more competitive.

April 18, 2012

RBI: Takeover of Polbank Approved

The Polish Competition Authority allowed Austrian RBI (Raiffeisen Bank International) to purchase Polbank. Conversely, RBI has to list as Warsaw Stock Exchange.

April 18, 2012

Mitterlehner: „AAA is still Far Away“

Austria´s Minister of Economics does not believe that S&P gives back the “AAA” rating soon. However, the debate about Austria´s rating is overvalued, he thinks.

April 17, 2012

Austria Supports EU Capitalization Plans for Banks

Regulators in the European Union may be allowed to impose capital surcharges on banks

April 17, 2012

Austrian Inflation Slightly Down

In March, a decrease of the Consumer Price Inflation to 2.4% was observed.

April 17, 2012

Fitch Confirms “AAA” For Austria

The U.S. rating agency Fitch Ratings has affirmed Austria's Long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings at 'AAA'. The rating Outlooks on both Long-term ratings are Stable.

April 17, 2012

Uniqa Sells German Mannheimer Group

The Austrian insurance company concludes the sale of its majority stake in Mannheimer AG.

April 16, 2012

Austrian Economy on Moderate Growth Course

Bank Austria Forecasts table growth until summer followed by chances of an upswing. Austria could achieve GDP growth of 0.8 percent in 2012 and 2 percent in 2013.

April 16, 2012

Austria and Switzerland Signed Tax Treaty

Austria´s Finance Minister Fekter signed the tax treaty with her Swiss colleague Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf. In 2013, additional tax intake of € 1.0bn is expected.

April 14, 2012

Moderate Growth at Wintersteiger

In 2011, the Austrian machine manufacturer could raise revenues by 9.0% to € 101.8m.

April 14, 2012

Kapsch: Critique by Czech Republic

The toll collection system in the Czech Republic is more expensive in Austria or Germany, the Czech audit authority alleges.

April 14, 2012

Swiss-Austrian Tax Treaty to be Signed

The tax treaty between Austria and Switzerland will be signed tomorrow on Friday. The tax rate is set at 38%.

April 12, 2012

Alpine Shortlisted for Crossrail Fit-Out in UK

Austrian construction firms team up to make the shortlist for fit-out work on 52km of Crossrail tunnels. Worth GBP 400m this represents one the largest contracts on the new east-west rail link across London.

April 12, 2012

AUA Expected to Record High Losses Again

This year, Lufthansa-owned Austrian Airlines is anticipated not to reach the profit zone. In the first quarter, fees and fuel caused higher costs of € 28m.

April 12, 2012

Tax Treaty with Switzerland Close to be Finished

Austria aims for reach a tax agreement with Switzerland in order to tax illegal funds deposited by Austrian nationals at Swiss banks. An agreement seems to be within reach.

April 11, 2012

Nowotny Ask For Alternative to Financial Transaction Tax

The governor of the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB) sees a good sign in Austria´s low interest rate on sovereign bonds. The introduction of a European financial transaction tax is unrealistic, the governor says.

April 11, 2012

S&P: Austrian Banks Still Weakly Capitalized

The U.S. rating agency S&P regards Austrian banks to record high capital shortfalls.

April 11, 2012

Major Loan to Immofinanz by Russian Sberbank

The Austrian real estate company Immofinanz Group and the Russian Sberbank have concluded a long-term financing agreement with a volume of up to $ 715m.

April 11, 2012

Zielpunkt: „Not for Sale“

The new owner of the Austrian supermarket chain, Jan Satek, says that there are no plans to re-sell Zielpunkt.

April 10, 2012

Eder Ticks Off Rail Cartel

Voestalpine´s CEO Wolfgang Eder underlines the new compliance rules of voestalpine. Another participation in a cartel would be “impossible”.

April 7, 2012

„Natural Gas to Become Most Important Energy Source“

Gerhard Roiss, CEO of the Austrian oil and gas group OMV pushes the EU to recognize the importance of natural gas.

April 7, 2012

Free Float at KTM Declines

The Austrian motor-cycle manufacturer has a free float of only 2.9%. The two main shareholders are CEO Stefan Pierer and the Indian Rajiv Bajaj.

April 6, 2012