Austria - European Union Political News

Read the latest headlines about developments in Austrian - European Union (Brussels) politics with reference to the international interest

EU Approves Hypo Group´s Restructuring Plan

The re-privatization of the Austrian publicly held banking group was approved by the Commission. According to the Commission´s report, Hypo Group´s expansion strategy was highly dangerous.

September 2, 2013

Romania: Planning on Energy Sufficiency by 2018/19

Gas pipeline between Romania and Moldova is set to become operational this year.

August 30, 2013

Uher: “Banking Union in Eurozone Great Danger“

Thomas Uher, member of the board of directors at Erste Bank, warns of a banking union that is only limited to the Eurozone.

August 30, 2013

Turkey Wants to Become 9th Largest Economy by 2050

Turkey is hoping to become the ninth largest economy worldwide by the year 2050. Growth rates will be around 5.2 percent in the years from 2012 to 2017.

August 30, 2013

Eurozone: Unemployment at 12.1 Percent

A total number of 26.7 million persons in the European Union are unemployed, according to estimates by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union,

August 30, 2013

Serbia: SMEs Driver for Economy

Serbia's private sector employs 45% of the total number of employees.

August 30, 2013

Austria: OeNB Increases Growth Forecast for 2013

The Austrian National Bank (OeNB) has slightly increased its growth forecast for Austria in 2013 from 0.2 percent to 0.5 percent. Govenor Nowotny said there was a better development than expected in the second quarter.

August 30, 2013

Mersch: Banking Supervisory Could Be Delayed

At the Forum Alpbach Yves Mersch, member of the ECB’s (European Central Bank) executive board, presented himself sceptical about whether or not a punktual start of a uniform European banking supervision could take place.

August 29, 2013

VBAG: First Half Year with Losses of € 87m

Partly-nationalized VBAG made net losses in the amount of € 87m in the first half of 2013. In the first half year of 2012 high book profits caused profits to be slightly above zero.

August 29, 2013

Hypo Alpe Adria Threatened with Losses of up to € 3.5bn

According to the restructuring plan and in a worst case scenario, even more losses could amount than in the past five years together. Reports by the media say, this year alone figures never seen before could pile up.

August 29, 2013

EU Commissioner Sees First Signs of Economic Turn-Around

EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Olli Rehn can see the first signs of an economic turn-around in the European Union.

August 29, 2013

Romania Claims Compensations for Nabucco

Romania claims EU compensation for abandoned Nabucco project.

August 29, 2013

Austria: Faymann Mocks Schwarzenberg

The Austrian Chancellor reacts to Schwarzenberg’s criticism against Foreign Minister Spindelegger.

August 28, 2013

Croatia Backs Down in EU Arrest Warrant

In the dispute about the extradition of a retired officer of the secret service to Germany, Croatia now seems to back down to the pressure put on by the European Union.

August 28, 2013

Austria: Hypo Group in “Crisis Mode“

According to Austrian daily “Standard“, there are daily reports about Hypo Group being forwarded to the Austrian National Bank (OeNB).

August 28, 2013

Strache: „No New Aids for Greece“

Heinz-Christian Strache, leader of the Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ), demands that further bail-out funds for Greece should be stopped immediately.

August 27, 2013

Hypo: Half-Year Results Expected August 28

In order to be able and balance, nationalized Hypo Group required € 700m in capital by the Austrian state.

August 27, 2013

Austrian Economy Minister: “No Time for Idle Complacency”

Austrian Minister of Economics and former general secretary of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO), Reinhold Mitterlehner avoids any dispute with Christoph Leitl, President of WKO but signals a different opinion.

August 27, 2013

Austria: First Chancellor’s Duel

Chancellor Werner Faymann (SPÖ) and Deputy Chancellor Michael Spindelegger (ÖVP) had their first official chancellor’s duel on TV on Monday. However, people waiting for a major dispute had been disppointed.

August 27, 2013

EU Commission: EU Integration Important for Macedonia

"EU integration continues to be important to all political parties in FYR Macedonia" - Füle

August 27, 2013

EU Commission Threatens Croatia with Sanctions

Only a few weeks after its EU Accession, Croatia is facing threats of sanctions by the EU Commission.

August 26, 2013

2013: Decisive Year for Ukraine

Ukrainian World Congress: European integration as the key to Ukraine’s independence

August 26, 2013

Bulgaria and Romania to Strenthen Relations

Bulgaria and Romania plan to strengthen relations at bilateral, regional and European level.

August 26, 2013

Russia: Disappointed About Joining WTO

A year ago, Russia joined the World Trade Organization (WTO). However, the country is not satisfied with the results despite of having negotiated about joining for 19 years.

August 26, 2013

Faymann: Joint Combat against Unemployment

During a meeting with Slovenian Prime Minister Bratusek and Croatian Prime Minister Milanovic and Austria’s second biggest city Graz, Austrian Chancellor Faymann pointed out the governments’ key tasks.

August 23, 2013

EU Commission: Unacceptable Russian Trade Ban

Stefan Füle, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neigborhood Policy, expressed his anger at Russia’s measures to ban Ukrainian products from the domestic market.

August 23, 2013

Austria: Leitl Reiterates Criticizm

State Secretary Schieder considers Leitl’s statements “totally out of place”.

August 23, 2013

Polish Airline LOT Puts Pressure on Boeing

Polish carrier LOT is threatening Boeing with claims for compensations. Dreamliner purchased by the airline company were faced with weeks of grounding due to a series of technical problems. Losses are estimated in the amount of up to € 25m.

August 23, 2013

Austria: Fekter Reserved About Further Aids for Greece

In the debate about a third bail-out package for Greece worth billions, Austrian Finance Minister Fekter presented herself restrained.

August 22, 2013

Eurozone: Strongest Growth Rates in Two Years

The Eurozone continues to recover. Businesses in industrial production and in the service sector increased to a new high in more than two years. However, growth in both sectors is still not enough for the creation of new jobs.

August 22, 2013

Ukraine Diversifies Sources of Reverse Gas Supply

Ukraine plans on soon opening two more routes through Romania and Slovakia.

August 22, 2013

Former Austrian Chancellor to Counsel Serbian Government

Former Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer (SPÖ) was invited by the Serbian government to advise and support it on their path to the European Union.

August 21, 2013

Half of Bulgarian Citizens in Favor of New Elections

Only three months after elections in Bulgaria more than half of voters favor new elections, according to a survey. Supporters of the ruling Socialists are outnumbered.

August 21, 2013

Slovenia: Business Organizations Post Wishlist to Government

Slovenian business organizations have forewarded a wishlist to the government in which they request more "breathing room" by the lowering of taxes and measures to enhance development and competitiveness.

August 20, 2013

Czech Ex President Klaus Not to Return to Politics

Contrary to certain rumors, former President Vaclav Klaus does not plan to return to politics.

August 20, 2013

Eurozone: Minor Increase in Construction Production

In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production rose by 0.7% in the euro area (EA17) and by 0.8% in the EU27 in June 2013, compared with the previous month, according to first estimates released by Eurostat.

August 20, 2013

Czech Republic: New Trial for Dissolution of Parliament

The Czech parliament could enable new elections.

August 19, 2013

Austria: Kranebitter to Leave Hypo Group

After three and a half years, Gottwald Kranebitter steps back as CEO of nationalized Hypo Alpe Adria. Tax payers are left with a burden running in the billions in the years to come.

August 19, 2013

Can Greece be Saved?

In a era where it feels as though the stability of the Euro and its included nations teeters on the brink of chaos, everyone is looking to Greece as the tipping point.

June 13, 2012 · Updated: August 19, 2013; 10:13 · Sponsored Content

Ukraine Reduces Imports of Gas by 35 Percent

From January to June 2013, Ukraine was able to reduce gas import by more than 35 percent compared to the same period last year, according to Ukrainian Statistics Service.

August 16, 2013

Austria: Minor Decrease of Inflation Rate

Slight easening of inflation in Austria: Thanks to cheaper fuels and a lower upward trend in prices for food, the inflation rate in Austria decreased from 2.2 percent to 2.0 percent in July.

August 16, 2013

Czech Republic: New Elections Expected At the End of October

Prime Minister Petr Necas’ resignation leads to new elections soon. The Social Democrats, who want to introduce the Euro, are potential winners.

August 16, 2013

Czech Republic to Crawl out of Recession

In the second quarter the Czech economy grew by 0.7 percent compared to the first quarter.

August 15, 2013

End of Recession Supports Stock Exchanges in Europe

The Eurozone seems to have finally left recession behind. This is one of the reasons why markets closed trades with a plus on Wednesday.

August 15, 2013

Can We Eliminate Extreme Poverty By 2030?

Over the last 200 years the world as a whole has seen a marked decline in the incidence of absolute poverty.

August 14, 2013

Cyprus: Bailout Should Have Come Sooner

Cyprus should have applied for an EU rescue package in 2011 to avoid the restrictive terms forced on investors to ensure support, its central bank governor said yesterday.

August 14, 2013

US to Support Ukraine Gain Energy Independence

One of the key priorities of US Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey R. Pyatt is the support of Ukraine to gain greater independence in the energy sector.

August 14, 2013

Schieder: “Successful Employment and Regional Economic Policy Has to Be Continued“

Austrian State Secretary rejects unreliable surveys “talking down” Austrian economy.

August 14, 2013

Eurozone: GDP Grew Slightly

Euro area and EU27 GDP both up by 0.3% -0.7% and -0.2% respectively compared with the second quarter of 2012.

August 14, 2013

Eurozone: Minor Growth in Industrial Production

Industrial production up by 0.7% in euro area. Up by 0.9% in EU27.

August 14, 2013