Austria - European Union Political News

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

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

Slovenia in a Decisive Phase

According to Bostjan Jazbec, Govenor of the Bank of Slovenia, the coming weeks will be critical for the small Eurozone member country.

September 23, 2013

Turkey: „Perhaps We Will Never Join the EU“

Turkey´s Minister of European Afffairs Egemen Bagis stated that Turkey feels insulted.

September 23, 2013

Head of Slovenia’s Chief Bank Arrested

Janko Medja, manager of Slovenia’s most important bank NLB, was arrested because of suspicion of corruption.

September 20, 2013

Faymann: Austria as Role Model for Investments and Employment Programs

The Austrian Chancellor calls for a fair distribution of wealth and lower taxes on wages.

September 20, 2013

Slovenia: First Budget Surplus in 2013

For the first time this year, Slovenia shows a budget surplus of € 15m. However, the deficit of the first eight months is as high as € 1.3bn, according to data by the Finance Ministry.

September 20, 2013

Turkey: Enthusiasm about EU Membership Shrinks

Fewer and fewer Turkish citizens are keen on an EU membership of their country.

September 20, 2013

Poland Trying to Eliminate Povery

The country plans on spending € 2bn in the combat against poverty.

September 19, 2013

WKO: Austrian Enterprises Miss out on Potential in Turkey

According to a commercial councelor at the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) in Istanbul, Austria is focused too much on Eastern Europe. Switzerland exports triple the amount to Turkey.

September 19, 2013

Austria: WKO Demands Impulses for R&D

Deputy President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO), Martha Schultz, demands new impluses for research and innovation in the years from 2014 to 2020.

September 19, 2013

Romania Is Recovering According to PM

Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta presented the key issues on the new agreement with the EU Commission, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank to the parliament on Tuesday.

September 19, 2013

“Serbia Becomes the Driver of Reforms on the Western Balkans”

The Austrian government supports Serbia’s pro-European course.

September 18, 2013

EU Commissioner Füle Encourages Albania

EU Commissioner Štefan Füle discusses Albania's path to EU with new PM

September 18, 2013

Barroso: “Albania’s Future Is in The European Union”

President of the EU Commission Barroso is confident about Albania’s commitment.

September 17, 2013

Eurozone: Moderate Decrease of Inflation

Euro area inflation was 1.3% in August, down from 1.6% in July

September 17, 2013