Austrian News

Austrian News: Read the latest headlines about developments in Austrian domestic politics with reference to the international interest

IMF: Higher Risks for Austrian Banks in CESEE

In an interview with the Austrian news magazine “Presse”, IMF´s Executive Director Johann Prader explained that the European debt crisis has arrived in Central, East and Southeast Europe.

November 28, 2012

„Too Many Banks in Austria“

Hannes Androsch, President of the Austrian bank holding Fimbag, warns that Austria´s exposure in CESEE countries is disproportionately high.

November 28, 2012

Austrians Reject Further Bank Aids

About 61% of the Austrian citizens are against further bank aids by the Austrian state. Economists fear that the bank aids are lost forever.

November 28, 2012

Ukraine: “Stability of Currency Not Endangered”

Ukrainian businessmen are confident in the stability of hryvnia, the Ukrainian National Bank says.

November 28, 2012

Serbian Industrial Sector Expands

Surprising summer industry growth, local demand might hold more growth. Real wages grow slightly, Raiffeisen Research states.

November 28, 2012

Serbia: Budget Deficit Soared by 22.4%

This development was supported by sharper expenditures enlargement (+8.0% yoy) while fairly small revenue increase (+5.1% yoy), delivering public debt/GDP to 53.8% in September 2012.

November 28, 2012

"Foreign policy means security policy"

Vice-Chancellor explains Austria's foreign policy commitment in his annual address at the UNA-Austria and demands global nuclear disarmament.

November 28, 2012

Fekter: “We Have to Avoid Another Haircut”

Austria´s Minister of Finance Maria Fekter argues that another haircut would “constitute abuse of public office.”

November 28, 2012

CESEE: Social Protection Still Underdeveloped

EU27 spent 29.4% of GDP on social protection in 2010. The lowest ratios were observed in Romania, Latvia, Estonia and Bulgaria.

November 27, 2012

Austria and France Develop European Alpine Strategy

Austria´s State Secretary Lopatka discussed current issues of European policy with Minister of European Affairs Cazeneuve and Minister of Development Cooperation Canfin in Paris on 23 November

November 27, 2012

"There is no alternative to intercultural and interreligious dialogue"

UN Secretary General and high-ranking political representatives and religious leaders attend the opening of the new Dialogue Centre in Vienna.

November 27, 2012

Romanian Central Bank on Hold

Romania´s Central bank remained on hold at its most recent monetary policy meeting on 2 November, keeping the monetary policy rate unchanged at 5.25%.

November 27, 2012

Romania: Fiscal Situation Improves

“Public budget deficit amounted to only 1.2% of GDP at the end of September, which was better than we had expected.” Raiffeisen Research states.

November 27, 2012

Nowotny: „CESEE Needs New Growth Model“

Ewald Nowotny, governor of Austria´s National Bank (OeNB), thinks that the current growth model for the region is outdated.

November 26, 2012

"Austria remains a reliable partner for Albania on its way towards the EU"

Austria´s Vice-Chancellor Spindelegger at the opening of the Skanderbeg exhibition celebrating the 100th anniversary of Albania's independence and 20 years of Austrian development cooperation in Albania

November 26, 2012

“South Tyrolean autonomy must not be undermined”

State Secretary outlines Austria’s position to a delegation of the South Tyrolean Parliament

November 26, 2012

Austrian Gold Stored in UK

80% of Austria´s gold reserves are stored in the U.K. Only 17% of the reserves are kept in Austria.

November 24, 2012

More Hungarians Leave their Country

Especially high-skilled Hungarians tend to emigrate. The labor market conditions in Hungary are often precarious.

November 24, 2012

Austrian Municipalities in Troubles

Last year, the debt level of Austrian municipalities could be reduced. Nevertheless, the financial situation remains tensioned.

November 24, 2012

EBRD: CESEE Countries Must Improve Legal Security

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development underlines that banks need more stable legal systems in Eastern Europe.

November 24, 2012

KA Finanz: Capital Shortfall to Become Bigger

The financially stricken bank is expected to need further cash contributions.

November 24, 2012

Poland´s Population Expected to Shrink

In the next 40 years, the Polish population might decrease by 6 million.

November 24, 2012

Hungary: Small Concession for Banking Industry

The banking sector in Hungary is under pressure. The government in Budapest decided to pay back debts of municipalities by the end of the year.

November 24, 2012

S&P Downgrades Hungary

The U.S. rating agency lowers Hungary´s sovereign debt rating from “BB+” to “BB”.

November 23, 2012

Croatia Plans to Introduce Property Taxes

Croatia´s Finance Minister Slavko Linic plans to introduce a property tax next year. The rate will come at 1.5%.

November 23, 2012

9,500 Multinational Companies in Austria

Austria´s Minister of Social Affairs Rudolf Hundstorfer stresses the importance of multinational companies.

November 23, 2012

Conference on European Economic Integration

Bank of Finland and Oesterreichische Nationalbank to organise a Conference on European Economic Integration in Helsinki.

November 23, 2012

Austrian Industrial Federation Wants Higher VAT

Georg Kapsch, President of the Federation of Austrian Industries (I) calls for a VAT increase. The VAT rate remains unchanged at 20% of decades.

November 23, 2012

“We shall maintain tough position on EU budget until the very end”

Austrian Vice-Chancellor Spindelegger: “unambiguous about Austria’s position on EU financial framework“.

November 22, 2012

Czech Republic: Budget Approved

Next year, the Czech state budget is planned to reach 2.9% of GDP.

November 22, 2012

Nowotny: GDP Forecast Will not Hold

The governor of Austria´s National Bank Ewald Nowotny admits that the forecast on Austria will have to be revised.

November 21, 2012

Austrian National Bank: Basel III Will not Start in 2013

According to OeNB, the implementation cannot take place by the beginning of next year.

November 21, 2012

Nowotny: „Not Afraid of Inflation“

Ewald Nowotny, governor of Austria´s Central Bank (OeNB) thinks that the danger of a stagnating economy is bigger than the danger of an increasing inflation.

November 20, 2012

CNB: „Czech Republic Does Not Need Quantative Easing“

The Czech National Bank underlines that the country´s economy is fundamentally stable. The current situation would be managable.

November 20, 2012

Hungary: Public Debt Level Declines

Due to the favorable currency development, the public debt level fell slightly.

November 20, 2012

Austria: Majority Support Property Taxes

A clear majority of Austrian citizens think that the corporate tax rate should increase.

November 20, 2012

Slovenia to Sharpen Austerity Measures

The Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa announced that the austerity policy will be implemented even more consequently.

November 20, 2012

Ukrainian National Bank Stresses Stability of National Currency

The National Bank of Ukraine was able to ensure hryvnia stability – by results of the expert meeting. Inflation could be kept at 0.00% in the first nine months of 2012.

November 20, 2012

OMV Underlines Necessity of Shale Gas Production

The Austrian oil and gas group stresses that shale gas may reduce the dependency on Russian natural gas.

November 20, 2012

Vienna´s Debt Level Grows Considerably

In 2013, the public debt level of Austria´s capital will increase to € 4.34bn.

November 19, 2012

Poland: Pawlak Steps Down

The Polish Minister of Economics Waldemar Pawlak resigns. His re-election as leader of the Agrarian Party has failed.

November 19, 2012

Austria: Prosperity Gap Grows Further

The economic disparities between Austrians continue to increase. 855,000 Austrians are affected of poverty.

November 19, 2012

EU Budget: Losses for Poland Will Keep Within Limits

Poland will still be the biggest net contributor. According to Poland´s Prime Minister Donald Tusk, the negotiations prove highly difficult.

November 17, 2012

Serbia Attempts New Economic Reforms

The Serbian government does not only want to pursue a strict austerity policy. The country aims to become more attractive for international investors.

November 17, 2012

Belka: Polish Economy Will Recover In 2013

The governor of the Polish National Bank (NBP) Marek Belka demonstrates optimism.

November 17, 2012

Hungary: Next Austerity Package Resolved

The Hungarian government is caught between the need to lower the budget deficit and to support economic growth.

November 17, 2012

Austria´s Budget Deficit to Decrease Slightly

Today, the Austrian National Assembly has resolved the budget for 2013. This year, Austria will not fulfill the Maastricht Criteria.

November 16, 2012

Treichl: Austria Should Cooperate with CEE Countries

Erste Group´s CEO Andreas Treichl thinks that CEE countries and Austria should create a model region in Europe like the Scandinavian countries did.

November 16, 2012

Vienna: General Attractiveness Decreases

The quality of the Viennese business location deteriorates. The high degree of bureaucracy and the high non-wage labor costs are the most problematic issues.

November 16, 2012

“Austria is a committed partner in the security field”

Austrian Foreign Ministry: New security threats and regional conflicts discussed with Russian National Security Advisor.

November 16, 2012