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

Fiscal Treaty: Austrian Economy Satisfied, Opposition Criticizes

After the signing of the EU fiscal treaty at the EU Summit today, reactions in Austria are very different. The largest opposition party FPÖ calls for a popular vote.

March 2, 2012

Board Member Bierwirth Leaves AUA

Andreas Bierwirth, member auf Austrian Airline´s management board, will exit. It is supposed that the austerity package caused controversies within AUA´s management.

March 2, 2012

Nowotny: „Austrian Banking Activities in CEE Better than their Reputation”

According to the governor of the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB), Ewald Nowotny, Austrian banks engaged in Central and Eastern Europe are more stable than they are supposed to be.

March 1, 2012

Rise in Austrian Unemployment Rate

At the end of February, 380,000 persons were unemployed. This is a rise of 5.2%. At the EU level, Austria´s unemployment rate is still the lowest.

March 1, 2012

Schlecker Closes Branches

The insolvent German chemist chain shuts down the half of its branches in Germany. In Austria, inprofitable shops will be closed.

March 1, 2012

AUA Delays Extraordinary Supervisory Board Meeting

AUA´s management has not reached a compromise with its staff yet. As a new collective agreement is still missing, the supervisory board meeting has been postponed by March 13.

March 1, 2012

austriamicrosystems Reports Rise in Revenues and Earnings

The manufacturer of high performance analog ICs registered a 32% rise in revenues. EBIT rose by 59%.

February 29, 2012

Immofinanz Group Develops Office Building in Prague

The Austrian real estate group makes an investment of 24.6m in the Czech Republic. The project will be finalized in 2013.

February 29, 2012

VBAG´s Rescue Endangers Austerity Targets

In 2012, savings should reach € 576m. However, only write-offs in VBAG cost € 700m. The Austrian government seeks for additional revenues.

February 29, 2012

Rewe Suspected of Price Arrangements

The Austrian Federal Competition Authority (BWB) suspects Rewe Group for having made price arrangements with competitors and suppliers.

February 28, 2012

Palfinger: Joint Venture in China

The Austrian crane producer initiates a joint venture company with Chinese Sany Heavy Industries.

February 28, 2012

Record for McDonald´s Austria

In 2011, McDonald´s Austria registered a rise in guests by 4.4% and sales of € 515m.

February 28, 2012

Nationalization of VBAG: Austrian State Holds 49%

After Kommunalkredit and Hypo Group, VBAG becomes the third Austrian bank which is publicly owned.

February 28, 2012

Tyrol Equity Takes over Rim Producer BBS

The Austrian industrial hold, owned by Raiffeisen, Hypo Tyrol and Swarovski, acquired the insolvent German rim producer BBS.

February 27, 2012

Austria: Low Attractiveness as Research Location

According to a study among European scientists, Austria loses its reputation. The most attractive destination is the U.S.

February 27, 2012

Plaut Improved Sales and Earnings

The Austrian Plaut Aktiengesellschaft, listed on the General Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, announced its provisional and unaudited consolidated result for fiscal 2011.

February 27, 2012

Pessimism in Austrian Banking Industry

26% of interviewed managers in the Austrian banking industry regard the development of the operating business as “very bad”.

February 27, 2012

Austrian Current Account Deficit Rising

Against 2010, the Austrian current account deficit almost doubled. Both imports and exports reached record levels.

February 27, 2012

Austria Discussing Top Banks’ Capital Rules With EU Commission

Austria’s regulators are discussing rules for its top banks that will curb excessive lending in Central and Eastern Europe with the European Commission.

February 25, 2012

EIB: Fewer Funds for Austrian Companies

After a record in 2011, the European Investment Bank (EIB) will reduce lending to Austrian companies this year.

February 24, 2012

Economic Growth Forecast: 0.7% in 2012

The EU-Commission sees an economic growth of 0.7% for Austria in 2012. Austria is in the middle-field among the EU member states.

February 23, 2012

T-Mobile Austria Records Declining Results

The Austrian subsidiary of the German telecommunication group registered a decrease in EBITDA by 10.6%. Sales were down by 6.0%.

February 23, 2012

Austria Will Not Get „AAA“ Back in Near Future

The economist at the German Deka bank, Ulrich Kater, does not think that Austria will be upgraded within the next years.

February 22, 2012

Erste Group Manages Issue of Czech Republic € 2.0bn Bond

The Austrian bank observed good demand for the Czech sovereign bonds offering: total orders of approx. € 3.5bn from over 190 investors.

February 22, 2012

Moody's Takes Actions on Austrian Banks

The U.S. rating agency has a closer look on Austrian banks, which are related to the creditworthiness of public institutions.

February 22, 2012

AUA: Time Pressure Grows

Only eight days are left for the management of Austrian Airlines to agree on a new collective agreement with the employees. An acceptable solution for both sides may be barely found.

February 21, 2012

Resch Exceeds € 100m Sales

The Austrian bakery producer Resch & Frisch could record € 100m in sales last year. For 2012, sales of 105m are planned.

February 21, 2012

Prague Stock Exchange and CCP.A to Cooperate

Prague Stock Exchange (PSE) and Austrian clearing house Central Counterparty Austria (CCP.A) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the cooperation in cash markets.

February 20, 2012

German Justice Puts Pressure on Former Hypo Group Executives

In order to get damage compensation, the German justice opens legal proceedings against the former CEO´s of Austrian Hypo Group, Tilo Berlin and Wolfgang Kulterer.

February 18, 2012

AUA: Atmosphere on the Brink

Austrian Airlines is endangered to face persisting disputes. The conflict between the management and the works council sharpened further.

February 17, 2012

VBAG´s CEO: „Bank Aid Only Last Exit“

Gerald Wenzel, chairman of VBAG´s executive board, continues the downsizing strategy. A new bank aid would be the “ultima ratio”.

February 17, 2012

Porr Takes over German TKDZ

The Austrian construction group takes over Trierer Kalk-, Dolomit- und Zementwerke (TKDZ) in Wellen.

February 17, 2012

Moody's Considers to Downgrade Wienerberger

The U.S. rating agency placed all ratings of Wienerberger under review for possible downgrade.

February 17, 2012

Siegfried Wolf Enters Sberbank

The Austrian national and executive at Magna in Russia becomes President of VBI´s supervisory board.

February 16, 2012

Vienna Stock Exchange Cooperates With Eurex

With Eurex derivatives exchange, Vienna Stock Exchange wins a new customer.

February 16, 2012

Agrana Expands in Russia

The Austrian fruit and starch company invests € 27m in a factory site in Russia.

February 16, 2012

CA Immo: PwC Leased Additional Space in Frankfurt's Tower 185

Space leased of Frankfurt´s tower 185 increased to 75%. The consulting company leased another 2,800m2.

February 16, 2012

Conflict Between AUA´s Management and Staff Escalates

2,300 employees of Austrian Airlines are endangered to be forced to switch to another collective agreement. AUA hopes to reach an agreement.

February 15, 2012

VBI Sale to Sberbank Finalized

With the sale of the CEE segment of the Austrian VBAG, Russian Sberbank enters Eastern Europe.

February 15, 2012

Austerity Package Brings Burden of € 900m for Companies

The Austrian austerity package causes costs of € 900m for the Austrian real economy until 2016. Especially non-wage labor costs rise.

February 14, 2012

„Financial Transaction Tax Could Cause Recession“

According to the CEO of Vienna Stock Exchange, Michael Buhl, a financial transaction tax would cost productivity at enterprises.

February 14, 2012

Russia: Great Demand for Austrian Food

Due to rising purchase power of Russian households, Austrian food exports to Russia are booming. In 2012, the Russian retail trade sector is expected to grow by 15%.

February 14, 2012

Moody's Put Austria on Warning

The Austrian “AAA” rating has been confirmed by the U.S. rating agency. However, credit-watch is put on “negative”.

February 14, 2012

Rising Profits and Sales at Fabasoft

The Austrian software producer announces preliminary figures for the first nine months of the fiscal year 2011/2012.

February 13, 2012

AUA: Resistance of Workforce Could Be Given Up

After serious warnings of the management of Austrian Airlines, the works councils are ready to talk about new collective agreements.

February 11, 2012

Gazprom to Double Natural Gas Reserves in Europe

The Russian natural gas supplier Gazprom intends to improve supply security in Europe. Gas reserves in Austria should be extended too.

February 10, 2012

Lufthansa to Bundle Operations

In order to achieve the austerity targets, Lufthansa centralizes operations. Austrian Airlines is highly affected.

February 10, 2012

Sale of Brixlegg Concluded

The former copper-division of the insolvent Austrian A-Tec Group has been sold to the Swiss Umcor AG.

February 10, 2012

Shortage in Energy Supply: Austria Helps Germany Out

In Germany, wind power plants record a decrease in energy production. German energy suppliers called for Austrian electricity.

February 9, 2012

AUA to be Re-Sold?

Rumors on Austrian Airlines do not end. A sale by Lufhansa is discussed, even the insolvency is not excluded.

February 9, 2012