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Austria - European Union Political News
Read the latest headlines about developments in Austrian - European Union (Brussels) politics with reference to the international interest
Austria: Compulsory Levy on Assets Simply “Out of Question“
Top bankers and economists in Austria consider the compulsory levy of ten percent on household assets “out of question” and “ludicrous”.
November 5, 2013
Hypo Group: Restraining Effect on Budget Consolidation
According to the EU’s autumn prognosis, nationalized Hypo Group and its liabilities running in the billions still have a restraining effect on the Austrian budget consolidation.
November 5, 2013
Number of Banks Shrinks Substantially
Since 2008, about 10% of the banks had to be closed in the Eurozone. In the last five years, 16,200 bank shops were shut down. In Austria, the situation is almost the same.
November 5, 2013
Serbia: FDI as Driver for Economy
Further decline in FDI could affect economic growth in the Western Balkan state. The Serbian government announced to push forward with amendmends to improve business environment and boost economic growth.
November 4, 2013
IMF Wants to Introduce Compulsory Tax
IMF’s idea of introducing a compulsory tax on household assets could decrease state debt earns harsh criticism. Economists reject the idea.
November 4, 2013
Czech Budget Deficit to Remain Below Approved Mark
The budget deficit in the Czech Republic increased to CZK 47.7bn in October from CZK 38.2bn in September.
November 4, 2013
Eurozone: Inflation Continues to Decrease
Euro area annual inflation down to 0.7 percent.
November 4, 2013
Industrial Sector: Growth Painfully Slow
According to a survey by research institute Markit, industrial production in the Eurozone increased in October for the fourth time in a row. However, the rate of growth is still low.
November 4, 2013
Slovenia: Highest Contribution of GDP to ESM
As reported by Slovenia Times, the country has spent 2.8 percent of GDP for the Euro Stability Mechanism (ESM) last year.
November 4, 2013
Boost for Municipal Infrastructure in the Western Balkans
EBRD and KfW launch new €100 million fund
November 4, 2013
Visegrad Countries Encourage Western Balkans to Join EU
Representatives from Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary support the EU accession of Western Balkan countries.
October 31, 2013
Banks Jeopardize Austrian Triple-A Rating
In case further aids will become imminent, Austria could lose its rating.
October 31, 2013
Lopatka: EU Enlargement Process of Western Balkans Decisive for Austria
“Non-Enlargement” of Western Balkan states would be fatal for Austrian businesses operating in the region and the national economy.
October 31, 2013
Slovenia on Top of Prosperous Countries in Emerging Europe
Slovenia is leading the list of prosperous countries in Emerging Europe. Bulgaria is on the last position.
October 30, 2013
Cernko: Bank Shops in Austria Have to Be Reduced
In spite of the banks’ progresses Austria still has a high densitiy in bank branches.
October 30, 2013
Dispute about Gas between Russian and Ukraine about to Escalate
According to Russian energy giant Gazprom, Ukraine has not yet paid deliveries of natural gas in the amount of around € 639m.
October 29, 2013
Hypo Group: Worst Expectations May be Exceeded
For the Austrian state, the ailing nationalized banking group may become a financial GSA. The legal dispute with the former owner BayernLB bears enormous dangers for Austria´s public finance.
October 25, 2013
Bulgarian President Calls for TTIP
Bulgaria’s economy would benefit from a free trade agreement between EU and USA.
October 25, 2013
EU Summit Calls for Finalization of Joint Guidelines for ESM
The EU Summit presses for faster changes to achieve the aim of a banking union.
October 25, 2013
Romania: Precautionary Financial Assistance Approved
The Council of the European Union has approved a new precautionary financial assistance program for Romania in extend of € 2bn in connection with a loan by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
October 25, 2013
Austria to Remain at AA+
Austria has not yet been given back Standard & Poor’s Triple A.
October 25, 2013
“We Need to Pull Down the Iron Curtain in Our Heads“
In an interview with Austrian daily “WirtschaftsBlatt“ Johannes Seiringer, Director of the Austrian office of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) calls for incentives for enterprises to continue investing in CEE.
October 24, 2013
RBI Discussing New Ways of Global Banking Regulations
RBI welcomes global finance at the ICC Banking Commission Meeting 2013.
October 24, 2013
Czech Republic: Four Banks too Big to Fail
CNB has determined four domestic banks that could potentially endanger the country’s financial system in case of bankruptcy, as reported by daily “Hospodarske noviny” (HN).
October 24, 2013
ECB: “Uniform Assessment for Banks Important Step for Europe”
Assessment of ECB is an important step in the preparation of the single supervisory mechanism.
October 24, 2013
Serbia Wants to Become Full EU Member Asap
The Western Balkan is serious in building a relationship with the European Union.
October 23, 2013
Slovenia: Govenor of National Bank demands “Change of Mentality”
At a lecture planned by the Institute for Middle-East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES), Bostjan Jazbec, govenor of Banka Slovenije, pointed out that the country could only blame itself for the current state it was in.
October 23, 2013
Austrian Banks Expected to Pass Auditing
According to the financial supervisors, the Austrian banks are likely to pass the ECB’s (European Central Bank) auditing since there are no significant adjustment requirements.
October 23, 2013
Slovenia: Banka Sparkasse Provided with Loan by EIB
EIB continues to support SME and mid-cap projects in Slovenia.
October 22, 2013
Austria: Bank Aids Burden State Budget
Since the beginning of the financial crisis, Austria has lost billions of Euros.
October 22, 2013
Eurozone: Economy Starting to Grow
Experts at Ernst&Young; forecast economic growth of 0.9 percent in 2014 in consequence of an improved global economic performance.
October 21, 2013
Austria: State Debts Could Amount to 74.5 Percent of GDP
The statistical office of the European Union, Eurostat, raised doubts about the Austrian budget deficit and public debts because of the financial scandal of the government of the province of Salzburg.
October 21, 2013
Croatia: EU-Membership Did Not Help Yet
In the first months of its EU membership, the situation in Croatia´s industrial sector deteriorated further.
October 19, 2013
Nowotny Demands Same Rules for All Banks
Govenor Nowotny urges for a discussion about the capital requirements (Basel III) for banks, which applies only for the major banking institutes in the US but for all banks in Europe.
October 18, 2013
Turkey: Green Light for EU Accession Talks
On Tuesday, the EU Commission intends to give green light to accession negotiations with Turkey starting at the beginning of November.
October 18, 2013
Bulgaria to Encourage Chinese Investments
Investments from China in Bulgaria currently come at € 85m, reports SME Times.
October 18, 2013
„Czech Republic Does Not Fully Use Its Potential“
Czech Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok thinks that the performance of the Czech economy is not dramatically bad. However, the Czech Republic must use its opportunities more effectively.
October 17, 2013
Mitterlehner: “2014 Will Become Significantly Better“
Austrian Minister for Economy Reinhold Mitterlehner considers the Austrian economy to be in a spirit of optimism as an upturn in Europe has become evident. According to him, 2014 is supposed to become “significantly better” than 2013.
October 17, 2013
Serbia: EU Candidacy to Accelerate Reforms
On the occasion of a meeting with head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Serbia´s Prime Minister Ivica Dacic expressed his willingness to deepen the reform process.
October 17, 2013
EU Enlargement: Commission Recommends to Take Up Albania and Macedonia
In a set of annual reports adopted, the European Commission recommends granting EU candidate status to Albania and for the fifth time in a row, the opening of accession negotiations with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
October 17, 2013
Austria: RBI Expects Stabilization
Business in CEE seems to be in an up again. RBI is preparing for an IPO at the Warsaw stock exchange.
October 17, 2013
Romania: Privatization of Railroad Company Flopped
The privatization of Romanian freight railroad company CFR Marfa failed. The sale of shares is part of the conditions with IMF, the World Bank and the European Union.
October 17, 2013
CESEE Region Suffers from Migration
The countries of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe are confronted with a highly unfavorable demographic trend. The brain-drain is expected to persist.
October 17, 2013
Eurozone: Banking Union Approved
From autumn 2014 on, the European Central Bank (ECB) will directly supervise 130 major banks within the Eurozone.
October 16, 2013
Ukrainian Gas Pipeline Key Issue for EU Commission
A gas pipeline plan in the Ukraine is among the EU Commission’s key infrastructure projects.
October 16, 2013
Austrians Opposed to EU Enlargement
According to a survey, the majority of Austrians are opposed to an EU Accession of Turkey and Western Balkan States.
October 16, 2013
Poland: 70 Percent against Introduction of Euro
According to a recent survey carried out by Public Opinion Research Center (CBOS) as many as 70 percent reject the idea of introducing the Euro to Poland.
October 15, 2013
EU Commission Favors New Nabucco Project
After OMV’s pipeline project Nabucco failed, the EU Commission takes into consideration a stripped-down version along the Danube.
October 14, 2013
Croatia: Hypo Group Losing Last Industrial Participation
Croatian chemical company Dioki is facing bankruptcy which is why Hypo Group is losing one of the last industrial participations in the country.
October 14, 2013
Ukraine’s EU Accession: Commission Still Positive
Stefan Füle, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy underlined once more Ukraine’s significant progress leading the country close to the European Union.
October 14, 2013