Austria - European Union Political News

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

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

FX Loans: ECB Warns Hungary

ECB´s governor Mario Draghi warns Hungary. The conversion of foreign currency loans may sharpen the credit crunch.

October 14, 2013

Slovenia Does Not Fully Draw EU Funds

As the Slovenian projects will not be finished in time, the financially stricken country will fail drawing all funds.

October 12, 2013

IMF: „Banks and Companies in a Vicious Circle“

Not only Greece, Spain or Portugal are struggling with a financially stricken banking sector. In Southeastern Europe, the situation is quite similar.

October 11, 2013

IMF: Serbia´s Reforms are Not Sufficient

On the occasion of a visit in Serbia, the IMF commented the efforts of the Serbian government to cut the budget gap. The austerity cuts are right, but the country needs further reforms, IMF´s team said.

October 10, 2013

Bulgaria: Significant Increase in Exports to EU

Exports from Bulgaria to the European Union have increased by 6.6 percent.

October 10, 2013

Polish Government to be Rearranged

On Wednesday Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk announced that there will be personnel changes in November within the government which will be presented in November.

October 10, 2013

Gazprom May Face Proceedings by Austrian OMV

OMV considers arbitral proceedings against Russian Gazprom in case no joint solution will be found.

October 9, 2013

Bratusek: “We Are Paying for Your Debts”

On Tuesday Slovenian Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek presented the budget draft for 2014 and 2015 to the members of parliament.

October 9, 2013

Hungary and Croatia to Solve MOL/INA Issue

Both Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Janos Martonyi and his Croatian counterpart Vesna Pusic intend to solve the issue between Hungarian MOL and Croatian INA.

October 9, 2013

Serbia Gets Support by Former Italian Foreign Minister

On its path to EU integration, Serbia gets further well-known support.

October 8, 2013

Poland Hopes for Cheap Gas by Gazprom

The Polish government is hoping to be able to bargain prices with Russian energy giant Gazprom, Polish Minister for Economy Janusz Piechocinski announced today.

October 8, 2013

IMF Forecasts Only Minimal Growth for Austria in 2013

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts not even one half percent of GDP growth this year for Austria. However, 2014 has better chances for accelerated growth.

October 8, 2013

World Bank: 47 Banking Crises in the Past 40 Years

47 banking crises that have struck 116 countries in the past 40 years - World Bank

October 8, 2013

Fekter Presses for Provisional Budget Financing

Finance Minister Maria Fekter (ÖVP) does not count on the government to present a budget draft in time, which was scheduled October 22 and involves the Finance Act until the end of the year.

October 8, 2013

Voestalpine Expects Turnaround

The European demand in steel is increasing. Austrian steel manufacturer voestalpine expects the worst of the crisis for the steel industry to be over.

October 7, 2013

Wifo: Austrian Economy Sees Upturn

Today the Austrian Institute for Economic Research (Wifo) has released its prognosis for 2013 and 2014. The institute sees the first signs of an economic recovery.

October 4, 2013

Keuschnigg Advises Austria to be Patient

According to Keuschnigg it was not possible to increase the core capital quota of the banks to the level necessary or to reduce public debts by 120 percent in two years only.

October 4, 2013

Austria: Downsizing Models for Hypo

Currently, everything revolves around the establishing of a bad bank despite of Finance Minister Maria Fekter’s objection. However, now, after the elections, this issue needs to be resolved.

October 4, 2013

Economic Recovery and Interest Rate Turnaround Also in Austria?

Not only Germany but also the peripheral areas of the European Union see economic recovery supported by an increasing export activity.

October 3, 2013

Poland Increases Funding for SMEs

According to Polish Finance Minister Rostowski, the government plans on extending a funding program for the support of small and medium sized companies in order to improve the country’s economy.

October 3, 2013

World Bank Supports Financial Reporting in CESEE

The World Bank launched a new program to strengthen corporate financial reporting in the countries of the EU’s Eastern Partnership.

October 3, 2013

EU Commission to Lead Cartel Proceedings Against Gazprom

The Russian energy giant Gazprom might face penalties of up to € 11bn.

October 3, 2013

Pecik to Buy Hypo Group´s SEE-Affiliates?

The Austrian investor Ronny Pecik is said to be interested in acquiring the Southeast European subsidiaries of nationalized Hypo Group.

October 2, 2013

Ukraine: Clashes between Police and Protesters

During a demonstration against the government in Kiev on Wednesday clashed occurred between police forces and around 400 supporters of the opposition.

October 2, 2013

Austria: Better off within Eurozone

Economic experts claim that since the beginning of the single currency union, Austria has seen an additional economic growth of 0.4 percent. According to them, a collapse of the Eurozone would lead to a massive decline in exports.

October 2, 2013

Austria: Struggling to Keep up with Economic Growth and Competitiveness

IV demands overhaul of funding policy by the government so that Austria will improve in international competitiveness.

October 1, 2013

Poland: Majority Still against Joining Eurozone

According to a poll, 52 percent of Polish citizens regard the country’s joining the single currency union will be bad for the country.

October 1, 2013

Modest Increase in Croatian Purchase Power

Croatian per capita consumer spending is forecast to increase by a modest 18% to 2017.

October 1, 2013

Serbia’s EU Accession Talks to Start in January 2014

Talks on Serbia's EU accession to start no later than January.

October 1, 2013

Austria: Unemployment Will Not Stop Increasing

In September, the number of persons unemployed continued to increase while employment rose slightly. In total, a number of 335,661 persons were jobless which makes an increase of 13.8 percent on an annual comparison.

October 1, 2013

Slovenian Government to Approve Adjusted Budget

The Slovenian government today plans on implementing the revised budget for next year and the draft for the 2015 budget.

September 30, 2013

Eurozone: Inflation Drops to 1.1 Percent

According to first estimates by Eurostat, the Eurozone shows the lowest inflation rate in more than a year. Only twelve months ago the inflation rate was at 2.7 percent.

September 30, 2013

Rosneft Wants to Take over Majority of TNK-BP

The World’s biggest oil company Rosneft intends taking over British-Russian joint venture TNK-BP at the beginning of next year.

September 30, 2013

Austria: Public Debt Increased to 74.0 Percent of GDP

Public finances 2012: public deficit at 2.5 percent, public debt at 74.0 percent of GDP.

September 30, 2013

Austrian Industry Continues Upward Trend

Developments in Austria follow the European trend.

September 30, 2013

Hypo Group: Sale of Assets in SEE to Take Forms

The nationalized Austrian bank Hypo Group sells its assets in Southeastern Europe. The SEE-holding company will be established until the beginning of October.

September 29, 2013

"European bank supervision sends a strong signal to financial markets"

Austrian Federal Minister of Finance Maria Fekter welcomes favourable European Parliament decision on bank supervision.

September 28, 2013

Croatia Plans on Increasing VAT by Three Percent

Croatia eyes increased intermediate VAT from 10 to 13%.

September 27, 2013

Austria: Kapsch Demands Reform Agenda From New Government

Georg Kapsch, President of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) demands the next federal government to introduce a comprehensive reform agenda.

September 27, 2013

Croatia: Entry into Schengen Important, Not Decisive

Croatia plans to apply for accession to the Schengen passport-free area in two years.

September 27, 2013

Slovenia: PM Takes International Bailout into Consideration

For the first time the crisis-struck Eurozone member country has admitted to consider international bailout as an option for its ailing banks.

September 26, 2013

EU Commission: Poland Lacks in Innovation and Work Efficiency

According to the EU Commission’s annual report on the competitiveness among the EU member countries, which was released on Wednesday, Poland has been improving its competitiveness.

September 26, 2013

Slovenia: Economic Outlook Deteriorates

Slovenia has slipped back into recession as its real GDP declined by 2.3 % in 2012.

September 26, 2013

Croatia: Major Reforms Required for Economic Upturn

Croatia continues to suffer from recession - its economy has not grown since 2008, contracting in 2012 by 2% and in 2013 by 1%.

September 26, 2013

Ukraine: Provisional Free Trade with EU

According to Polish News Agency PAP, the EU countries have agreed to grant Ukraine a temporary use of a number of terms of the Association Agreements which will become effective even before the ratification process is completed.

September 26, 2013

RBI Upgrades GDP Growth Forecasts

Economic recovery reshuffles the cards.

September 26, 2013

Austria Placed 9th in Competition Ranking

According to the latest EU Competition report 2013, Austria ranks ninth among 28 member states. The leaders in the ranking are Sweden, followed by Germany and Denmark while Bulgaria, Latvia and Romania are at the lowest positions.

September 25, 2013

ESM Charges € 262 From Every Austrian

The establishing of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) burdens every Austrian citizens with an average amount of € 262. Luxembourg is the country contributing the most per capita followed by Ireland.

September 24, 2013

Serbia: EU Screening in Late September

Serbia’s EU accession explanatory screening will start in Brussels on 25 September.

September 24, 2013