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Austrian News
Austrian News: Read the latest headlines about developments in Austrian domestic politics with reference to the international interest
Retirement Plan: „Austria is Negative Example“
The Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) argues that Austria would be a negative example for the sustainability of the retirement plan. Early retirements should be limited, IV claims.
February 17, 2012
Leitl Pushes for Reforms
The President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce appreciates that actions worsening the Austrian business location conditions were prevented.
February 15, 2012
Youth Employment: Danger from Austerity Package
The government aims for increasing the retirement age in order to cut pension costs. Now, the director of the Austrian labor market agency (AMS) warns of a rise in youth unemployment.
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
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
Kapsch to Succeed Sorger
The Viennese industrialist Georg Kapsch (52) is said to succeed Veit Sorger (69) as President of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV).
February 13, 2012
Doubt and Criticism on Austerity Package
For the director of IHS, the austerity measures do not contain real reforms. The implementation could become difficult. Administration reforms and health system reforms are too low, observers say.
February 13, 2012
Illegal Income from Switzerland Should Support Government´s Plans
The Austrian government hopes that proceeds from illegal income in Switzerland reach € 1.0bn in 2013. However, an agreement with Switzerland has not been concluded so far.
February 13, 2012
Rise in Rents Expected
The abandoned speculation term on Austrian real estate could lead to a sudden increase in rents.
February 11, 2012
ÖBB Cuts Early Retirements and Projects
The Austrian Railways (ÖBB) has to reduce costs by € 1.6bn until 2016. The major part is based on cost cuts in infrastructure projects.
February 11, 2012
Austerity Package Has Lack in Structural Reforms
The industrialists regard the Austrian austerity package even-tempered. WIFO misses structural reforms.
February 11, 2012
Austrian Government Presents € 27bn Austerity Package
The largest austerity package in Austria´s history mainly consists of cuts in expenditures. The government emphasized the socially balanced measures and the necessity due to reasons of competitiveness.
February 11, 2012
Austrian Central Bank Lets Eligibility Criteria Ease
OeNB: ECB governing council endorses expansion of eligibility criteria for nonmarketable assets.
February 10, 2012
Austrian Government Resolves Austerity Package
Speculation terms on real estate will be abolished, the tax privilege on 13th and 14th salary too. Inheritance taxes or enrollment fees will not be re-introduced.
February 9, 2012
Oettinger Expects Succesful Contracts Over Gas Deliveries
The EU-Commissioner for Energy, Günther Oettinger, anticipates that Azerbaijan will close contracts over natural gas deliveries within the coming months.
February 8, 2012
Vorarlberg Invests Massively in Renewable Energy
The Austrian province aims for enlarging renewable energy production together with the South-German energy group EnBW. Investments total € 600m.
February 7, 2012
CA Immo Brings an Action Against Grasser
The former Minister of Finance, Karl-Heinz Grasser, faces a lawsuit by the Austrian real estate company. CA Immo claims € 200m.
February 7, 2012
Austerity Package Takes Form
Although negotiations over the austerity package are not finished, first details are already known.
February 7, 2012
Innovation Index: Austria Falls Behind
Austria again loses in competitiveness: among the EU member countries, Austria occupies the eighth rank.
February 7, 2012
Euro-Crisis: Austrian Managers are Optimistic
In spite of the current euro-crisis, most Austrian managers believe that the currency will remain. Moreover, a deepening of the cooperation between EU-member states is expected.
February 6, 2012
Government: Dispute Over Pensions
The Austrian government parties SPÖ and ÖVP disagree over contributions by retirees. The austerity package is far from being resolved.
February 6, 2012
Mitterlehner: „Shortages in Russian Gas Supply Not Dangerous“
For The Austrian Minister of Economics, Reinhold Mitterlehner, the sudden cut in Russian natural gas supply is “no dangerous scenario”.
February 6, 2012
Privatization of Kommunalkredit Starts
The sale of the nationalized bank will start in the second half of 2012. For 2011, losses could reach up to € 150m.
February 4, 2012
Sorger „Focusing on Business Location“
The President of the Federation of Austrian Industries, Veit Sorger, reaffirmed the strengthen Austria´s economic competitiveness.
February 4, 2012
Constitutional Court: Bank Taxes in Line with Constitution
A complaint over bank taxes by Austrian banks was disapproved. According to the court, banks were primarily responsible for the economic crisis.
February 3, 2012
IPIC May Raise Stake in OMV
IPIC’s request to increase its stake in the Austrian oil and gas company OMV beyond 25% doesn’t require an approval by the Austrian Ministry of Economics.
February 3, 2012
Austerity: ÖVP Becomes Impatient
Negotiations between the coalition partners SPÖ and ÖVP are going on. ÖVP´s chairman Spindelegger locates an “incredibly big need of consolidation”.
January 31, 2012
Austria Still With Lowest Unemployment Rate in EU
Euro area unemployment rate stands at 10.4%. Austria has second-lowest youth unemployment rate.
January 31, 2012
FPÖ Wants Cuts in Spendings
The biggest Austrian opposition party suggests reducing public expenditures in order to reduce the budget deficit. Chairman Strache calls for a “subsidy brake”.
January 30, 2012
Felderer Attacks Austrian Government
The head of the Austrian Institute of Advanced Studies fiercely criticizes Austrian politicians. Felderer claims to put effort in the restructuring of public finance.
January 30, 2012
Romanian President Appreciates Erste Group´s Decision
Traian Basescu, President of Romania, is pleased with Erste Group´s announcement to continue its business in Romania.
January 28, 2012
Increase in IPIC´s Shareholding at OMV Approved?
Today, the Austrian Ministry of Economics announced to have decided over IPIC´s application. The Arab fund plans to increase its stake at OMV beyond 25%.
January 27, 2012
Austerity: Leitl and Sorger Call for More Effort
The Presidents of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) and the Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ) aim for re-gaining the “AAA” for Austria. The government should cut expenses instead of rising taxes.
January 27, 2012
After Downgrade of Vienna: No Consequences Expected
The Viennese financial senator Renate Brauner does not fear negative impacts on Vienna´s finance. This week, the city was downgraded by S&P.
January 27, 2012
Austrian Economy: Slowdown, But No Recession
The Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) says that Austria will not face a recession in 2012. Nevertheless, the economic slowdown is significant.
January 26, 2012
S&P Downgrades Austrian Provinces
The U.S. rating agencies lowers ratings for Upper Austria, Vienna and Tyrol from “AAA” to “AA+”.
January 26, 2012
Scharinger: „Rating Agencies Are Instruments of Torture“
The leaving CEO of RLB Upper Austria, Ludwig Scharinger, is convinced that Europe needs must make itself more competitive against the U.S. financial industry.
January 24, 2012
Capital Shortfall at Austrian Banks Could Decrease
Possibly Erste Group and Raiffeisen can lower their capital shortfall. The Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) is currently talking to EBA.
January 24, 2012
“Europe, quo vadis?”
Today, the 9th Vienna Congress com•sult takes place in Vienna. The central issue “Challenges of Leadership in Europe” is discussed, among others, by Lech Walesa, Hans-Dietrich Genscher and Avigdor Liberman.
January 24, 2012
Strache Claims Cut in Subsidies
The chairman of the Austrian opposition party FPÖ criticized the government fiercely for its fiscal policy.
January 23, 2012
Leitl: „Croatians are Most Welcome“
The President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce is looking forward to Croatia´s EU accession in 2013.
January 23, 2012
Central Bank Act: Orban Gives In
Hungary waives the planned merger of the Central Bank and the Financial Market Authority. Yesterday, Austria´s Minister of Foreign Affairs visited Orban in Budapest.
January 21, 2012
Turkey Emphasizes Support for Nabucco
Besides the Russian South-Stream project, Turkey also shows support for Nabucco, where Austrian OMV is strongly engaged in.
January 21, 2012
VBAG No Systemic Bank Anymore
After the sale of VBAG´s subsidiary VBI to Russian Sberbank, the bank will not be systemic anymore, the Austrian Financial Market Authority announced.
January 21, 2012
Austerity: Unions Versus Industrialists
The Austrian trade unions want to impose property taxes, the Federation of Austrian Industries seeks cuts in spending.
January 21, 2012
Loss of “AAA“: Austrians Blame Politicians
For Austrians, the government did not take the threat of losing the “triple-A” serious enough.
January 20, 2012
Austrian Lending Restrictions Under Observation
The plan of the Austrian FMA and OeNB to restrict lending in CEE countries could be a violation of EU-law.
January 19, 2012
Government to Sharpen Austerity Measures
After the downgrade of Austrian sovereign bonds from „AAA“ to „AA+“ by S&P, the Austrian government aims to reach its austerity targets earlier.
January 17, 2012
Austrian Labor Market is Stable
The Minister of Social Affairs, Rudolf Hundstorfer, strikes a balance of the labor market in 2011 and refers to the lowest unemployment rate in the EU.
January 15, 2012
Downgrade: „It´s Time to Take Action“
The downgrade of Austria´s rating from “AAA” to “AA+” caused mixed reactions. The Austrian economy urges for structural actions.
January 15, 2012
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