Austrian News

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

Leitl: „EU Needs Budget Consolidation and Growth Measures“

The President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce claims to create a European fund in order to support small and medium-sized enterprises.

May 5, 2012

Spindelegger Calls for “More Europe” for Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina must still do some homework in order to be able to apply for EU membership still this year, the Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs says.

May 4, 2012

Common Energy Strategy for Germany, Austria and Switzerland

After the German nuclear exit, Switzerland and Austria should act as “green battery”.

May 2, 2012

ESM: The Final Ruin of Europe

Solidarity with financially stricken EU countries cannot justify the irrevocable loss of national sovereignty. The transfer union will only work until the financial collapse of Germany and Austria.

May 2, 2012

Austria Strengthens Political and Economic Cooperation with South Asia

The Austrian State Secretary Wolfgang Waldner attends 19th EU-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Brunei.

April 30, 2012

OMV: „Nabucco is More Alive than Ever”

Despite the exit of Hungarian MOL, the Austrian oil company underlines the importance of Nabucco. CEO Roiss holds on Nabucco.

April 28, 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

Small Growth in Austrian Winter Season

The current tourism winter season 2011/12 recorded a rise in overnights by 2.1%.

April 26, 2012

“Russia now among top 10 Austrian Trading Partners”

Austrian Foreign Minister Spindelegger meets with Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Zubkov.

April 25, 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

Austria to Intensify Cooperation with Croatia

The Austrian Minister of Economics met his Croatian counterpart in Vienna. Above all, the EU-accession and investments were discussed.

April 24, 2012

MOL May Leave Nabucco Project

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that MOL the country’s largest company by market capitalization, is leaving the € 7.9bn ($ 10.4bn) Nabucco natural gas pipeline project.

April 24, 2012

IMF: Austria´s Contribution to Reach € 6.0bn

The capital increase at the International Monetary Fund costs Austria € 6.0bn. Austria may receive an executive director. Schieder considers introducing Eurobonds.

April 23, 2012

Fekter meets British Chancellor of the Exchequer Osborne

The Austrian Minister of Finance Maria Fekter and George Osborne talked about Basel III, the EU budget and taxation.

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

Waldner: “Germany and Austria are Role Models in the Eurozone“

The Austrian State Secretary Wolfgang Waldner had a work meeting today with his colleague in the German Federal Foreign Office, Minister of State Michael Link.

April 23, 2012

Nowotny: “ECB Uses Bond-Buying Program Extremely Cautiously”

The governor of Austrian Central Bank (OeNB) Ewald Nowotny said the bank only buys government bonds in certain situations and with “extreme” caution.

April 21, 2012

Triple-A Will Not Return Soon

The U.S. rating agency S&P dashes hopes that Austria may get back its “AAA” soon. Austrian banks may still face risks as the crisis is over yet, S&P says.

April 20, 2012

Austrian Railways: € 33bn Investment Package Resolved

The Austrian National Council decided the infrastructure package for ÖBB (Austrian Railways). Until 2017, investments of € 33bn will be made.

April 19, 2012

Felderer: „Women Must Have More Children”

The director of the Austrian Institute of Advanced Studies (IHS) sees a demographic problem in Austria as well as in Europe. Migration cannot solve the problem, Felderer says.

April 19, 2012

Waldner Wants Closer Cooperation with Spain

Austrian State Secretary Waldner is meeting his counterpart in the Spanish Foreign Ministry, State Secretary Gonzalo de Benito Secades, and EU State Secretary Inigo Mendez de Vigo today.

April 19, 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

€ 8.0bn for Upgrade of Austrian Power Grid

According to the Austrian E-Control authority, the Austrian economy needs massive investments in the power grid. The upgrade to “smart grids” would be essential.

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

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

Felderer: „Another Downgrade Less Probable“

The Austrian economist Bernhard Felderer thinks that the risk of another downgrade of Austrian sovereign bonds has decreased.

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

Labor Time: Resistance Against SPÖ´s Plans

The governing Social-Democrats want to reduce labor time. Industrialists, the Chamber of Commerce and FPÖ decline that idea.

April 17, 2012

Austrian Industry Underlines Austerity Policy

After the rating agency Fitch retained Austria´s triple A, the Austrian industry sees a confirmation of the need for austerity. Finance Minister Fekter emphasized to push for further reforms.

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

OeNB: “Nationalizations Are Clean Up”

Austria’s central bank (OeNB) said that the nationalization of three of the nation’s lenders helped clean up the structure of the domestic banking industry.

April 17, 2012

Tax Deal Fiercely Criticized

Last week, Austria concluded a tax treaty with Switzerland. For experts, the deal does not solve the main problems.

April 16, 2012

Austrian Opposition Aims to Bring Back Gold Reserves

The two Austrian opposition parties FPÖ and BZÖ push the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB) to disclose information about the gold reserves. OeNB refuses to do so.

April 14, 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

Fekter Nominates Koren as VBAG´s Chief Executive

Maria Fekter, the Austrian Minister of Finance said that Stephan Koren already agreed to become CEO of the partly nationalized bank VBAG.

April 14, 2012

Austria Tries to Adapt its Image

In order to attract foreign investors, Austrian companies are attempting to amend the country’s image. Instead of tourism and culture, the industrial sector and the expertise should be underlined.

April 13, 2012

Fekter to Remain as Finance Minister

This week, rumors on the replacement of the Austrian Finance Minister Maria Fekter occurred. Claus Raidl, who was said to replace Fekter, denies this.

April 13, 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

Call for Structural Reform of Social Policy

The Federation of Austrian Industries reaffirms the high non-wage labor costs and intends to raise efficiencies in the health sector. The retirement age would be too low.

April 12, 2012

Austrian Industry Underlines Importance of „South Axis“

According to a recent study, the Southern Railway (Südbahn) creates 15,000 new jobs. The value creation totals € 15.5bn.

April 12, 2012

Health Insurances Reduce Debts

Over the last three years, Austrian health insurance institutes could cut debts by € 1.0bn, which is substantially more than expected.

April 12, 2012

Psychic Diseases: Costs of € 3.3bn

The number of staff away sick in Austria rose by 100% since 1995.

April 11, 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

Where is Austria´s Gold?

The major part of Austria´s gold reserves should be located in the U.S. The Austrian Central Bank does not answer any questions.

April 10, 2012

Financial Transaction Tax: Schieder Raises Pressure on EU

Austria´s Financial State Secretary Andreas Schieder threatens to vote against higher EU contributions. To discuss about alternatives of the financial transaction tax is “too early.”

April 10, 2012

Failed Austerity Package: „Austrian Rating Not Affected“

Bernhard Felderer, director of IHS (Institute of Advanced Studies) thinks that the incomplete austerity package has no effect on Austria´s prospects to return to the Triple-A status.

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

Austria Rejects Bank Bonds of Southern Euro-Members

The Austrian Central Bank will join Germany’s Bundesbank in rejecting as collateral bank bonds guaranteed by member states receiving aid from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.

April 4, 2012

Kyoto Protocol: Austria Spends € 160m

Austria will invest € 160m ($213.4 million) in climate protection projects in Europe to cover the gap it faces to meet commitments under the Kyoto Protocol, Environment Minister Niki Berlakovich said.

April 4, 2012