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

Tax Intake Higher Than Expected

In the first two months of 2012, the Austrian state received € 460m more tax proceeds than initially expected.

April 6, 2012

Meinl: Big Plans in Russia

The Austrian coffee roaster regards the CEE region as future market. Also China and Turkey are targeted. Last year, group revenues rose by 16% to € 125m.

April 5, 2012

EU: Austrian Labor Costs Rose Decently

Since 2000, Austrian labor costs rose by 40%. Among the 27 member states, Austria ranks 22th.

April 5, 2012

EU Approved Joint Venture between Agrana and Ybbstaler

The EU Commission granted Agrana and RWA Raiffeisen Ware Austria the green light for the merger of their fruit juice concentrates subsidiaries.

April 5, 2012

Go-Ahead for Joint Venture Between Agrana and RWA.

EU Commission approves joint venture between the two Austrian food companies Agrana Juice Holding GmbH and Ybbstaler Fruit Austria GmbH (RWA).

April 4, 2012

British Mayr-Melnhof Factory Occupied

The Liverpool-based site of the Austrian packaging company Mayr-Melnhof will be closed. Workers occupy the factory in order to prevent the shutdown.

April 2, 2012

Euro-Group: Fekter Presses Ahead

Jean-Claude Juncker, head of the euro-group is angry at the Austrian Minister of Finance, Maria Fekter, who presented the summits´ results before Juncker´s press conference.

March 31, 2012

Schlecker: „Jobs in Austria are in Safety“

The Austrian subsidiary of the insolvent German chemist chain Schlecker is not affected by the shut-down program. Jobs are “relatively safe”.

March 30, 2012

Andritz Acquires U.S. Bricmont Inc.

The Austrian technology Group Andritz has acquired Bricmont Inc. from Inductotherm Group. Bricmont is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, and includes certain assets in China and India.

March 30, 2012

Rewe Austria Shows Solid Growth

The German retail chain achieved sales of € 7.47bn in Austria last year, which is a rise of 6.26%.

March 30, 2012

Mayr-Melnhof Closes Liverpool Plant

The Austrian packaging company today announced that it is to close its packaging plant in Liverpool.

March 29, 2012

Weak Results at bwin.party

The Austro-British gambling copmany could increase EBITDA by 3.0%. Total revenues remained stable.

March 29, 2012

Andritz Receives Order from ThyssenKrupp

The Austrian technology group is awarded to supply equipment for stainless steel production to ThyssenKrupp Nirosta, Germany.

March 29, 2012

Major Order at Strabag´s German Subsidiary

Ed. Züblin, a subsidiary of the Austrian construction group Strabag, was awarded to build new universites in Hamm and Lippstadt. The contraction volume amounts to € 100m.

March 29, 2012

Palfinger: High Expectations in China

The Austrian crane manufacturer is optimistic that China becomes the biggest market for the company.

March 28, 2012

Swiss Tax Treaty: Austria Under Pressure

The Austrian Minister of Finance is optimistic to conclude the Swiss tax deal by 2013. Proceeds of € 1.0bn are expected.

March 28, 2012

Poland Remains Attractive for Real Estate Investors

In its country report, Bank Austria sees Poland still as an interesting real estate market. Nevertheless, prime yields are declining already.

March 28, 2012

Austria Insists on Financial Transaction Tax

Despite Germany’s finance minister sees little chance of a European Union agreement on the levy, Austria is sticking to plans for a financial-transaction tax in Europe to help consolidate its budget.

March 27, 2012

EU Financial Framework Negotiations Enter the Hot Phase

State Secretary Wolfgang Waldner underlines Austria´s position as net contributor at the General Affairs Council in Brussels.

March 27, 2012

Burger King to Expand in Austria

The U.S. fast food chain enlarges its Austrian branches. Moreover, Burger King aims to enter the coffeehouse segment.

March 26, 2012

Alpine to Build Railroad Tunnel for Stuttgart 21

The Austrian construction company is involved in the German Railroad’s large-scale Stuttgart 21 project.

March 26, 2012

Keuschnigg: „Greece Must Leave Eurozone“

The Austrian Economist and designated director of HIS, Christian Keuschnigg advised Greece to leave the euro zone.

March 26, 2012

Wolong Wants ATB to Become World Market leader

The Chinese Wolong Group, which took over ATB last year due to A-Tec´s insolvency, has big plans for the engine producer.

March 24, 2012

RBI: Günther Gall Appointed Vice-Chairman of EPC

The Austrian national Günther Gall of Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) was elected vice president of the European Payments Council (EPC).

March 23, 2012

Starbucks Becomes Rival of Red Bull

The U.S. coffeehouse chain enters the energy drink market and attacks he market leader Red Bull.

March 22, 2012

CarbonLite Opens $ 58m PET Recycling Plant

The Austrian Erema supplies pelletizers for the world largest bottle-to-bottle recycling plant in Riverside, California.

March 22, 2012

Strabag Expands in Switzerland

The Swiss subsidiary of Austrian Strabag enters into strategic partnership with BH-Holding AG in Zurich and Zug.

March 22, 2012

MAN Austria Records Lower Revenues

The Austrian subsidiary of the German truck producer registers a decline in revenues by 12%. The number of produced driver cabs was up significantly.

March 21, 2012

Allianz Austria Improves Premium Intake

The Austrian subsidiary of the German insurance group could enhance results in all its segments. Due to a decline in investment results, net profits were down significantly.

March 20, 2012

AMAG Appreciates Changes in Shareholder Structure

With B&C Industrieholding, the Austrian aluminum producer got a new major shareholder. RLB Upper Austria widens its share up to 16.44%.

March 19, 2012

Austrian Post Is Said to Expand in Poland

Austrian Post is said to be interested in Polish Kolportaż Rzetelny, Polish media report.

March 19, 2012

Modest Economic Spring With Upward Potential

Bank Austria Business Indicator for February confirms that the economic turnaround has already begun. The outlook is positive.

March 19, 2012

AUA: „Restructuring, Not Breaking Up“

Jaan Albrecht, CEO of Austrian Airlines wants to make the airline competitive again. A new foundation is “no issue”.

March 19, 2012

Lufthansa Claims Exemption of Air Ticket Tax

In order to restructure the Austrian loss making subsidiary AUA, the German airline pushes the Austrian government to abandon the air ticket tax.

March 17, 2012

Microsoft Austria Defends First Rank at „Great Place to Work“

In 2012, the U.S. software company is again the best employer among companies beyond 250 employees.

March 17, 2012

Atrium Considers Secondary Listing on the Warsaw Exchange

The Vienna-listed, Jersey-based real estate company reviews a secondary listing at Warsaw Stock Exchange.

March 16, 2012

30% in AMAG Sold to B&C Industrial Holding

One Equity Partners (OEP), a subsidiary of JP Morgan, sold a major stake in the Austrian aluminum company to B&C Industrial Holding.

March 16, 2012

Raiffeisen Places Chinese Bonds

The Austrian bank places 750 million yuan in first sale dim sum bonds.

March 16, 2012

Bawag Underlines its Profitability

The Austrian bank, which is owned by the U.S. investment fund Cerberus, could report profits before taxes of € 156m. Against 2010, this is a rise by 13%.

March 16, 2012

Doubt About Austerity Package

Austria´s Finance Minister Fekter had to defend the government´s austerity package again. Experts are in doubt about the successful implementation.

March 15, 2012

B&C Holding Interested in 30% AMAG Stake

The industrial holding aims for entering the aluminum producer AMAG. RLB Upper Austria is interested too.

March 15, 2012

Lufthansa Grants Capital Injection to AUA

The German Airline raises the capital of the loss-making subsidiary by € 140m with reservations.

March 15, 2012

Haselsteiner Buys 15% Stake in Conwert

Hans-Peter Haselsteiner, CEO of the Austrian construction company Strabag, buys a 15% stake in the Austrian real estate supplier Conwert. The seller is the London-based Petrus Advisers LLP.

March 14, 2012

Austria Is Concerned About UK´s Human Rights Reform

UK´s Prime Minister David Cameron intends to reform the European Court of Human Rights. Austria said it had “serious concerns” about his ideas.

March 14, 2012

AUA Prepares Transfer of Undertakings

Austrian Airlines increases pressure on its aircrew. The deadline to negotiate the new collective agreements was extended again by one month.

March 14, 2012

Voestalpine Closes TSTG Schienentechnik

The shutdown of German TSTG is due to a “lack in efficiency”. Because of the current cartel proceedings, the Austrian steel company has to build provisions of € 205m.

March 13, 2012

CEE Exchange “Open to Merger of Equal”

The CEE Stock Exchange Group, which includes bourses in Vienna, Budapest, Prague and Ljubljana, said it’s open to holding “merger of equals” talks with the Warsaw Stock Exchange (GPW), its biggest rival.

March 13, 2012

Palfinger Puts Effort Into China Entry

The Austrian crane manufacturer announced its joint venture with the Chinese partner Sany at the Austrian Federal Competition Authority (BWB).

March 13, 2012

Ascom Divests its Security Communication Business in Austria

The Swiss IT solution provider sells its subsidiary Ascom Austria Ges.m.b.H. in a management buy-out to the current Managing Director Peter Bernhofer.

March 13, 2012

AUA: Negotiations Failed

Negotiations between Austrian Airline´s management and the aircrew representation ended without any concrete results. Yesterday, the workforce seemed to be willing to reach a compromise.

March 13, 2012