Austria - European Union Political News

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

Schwarzenegger Calls for a “Sexy, Hip” Approach at the Vienna R20 Conference

Arnold Schwarzenegger called for an end to “doom and gloom” environmentalism and more of a “sexy, hip” approach at the Vienna R20 Conference.

February 1, 2013

Erdogan Considers Joining „Shanghai Five“

Turkey´s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan increases the pressure on the EU. He considers a political re-orientation towards the east.

February 1, 2013

Poland to Fulfill Convergence Criteria Gradually

Governor of NBP (National Bank of Poland) Marek Belka argues that the country will not meet all the Maastricht Criteria simultaneously.

January 31, 2013

EU Wants Austria to Give Up Bank Secret

Commissioner Algirdas Semeta threatens with a complaint against Austria. According tom him, Austria and Luxembourg are blocking the automatic information exchange.

January 25, 2013

Spindelegger Criticizes Cameron

Austria´s Foreign Minister: "Not cherry picking but more Europe is the key".

January 23, 2013

Europe of Tomorrow: The New Way of Thinking

Distinguished participants from industry, politics and the business community such as Václav Klaus, Jerzy Buzek, Franz Fischler, Martin Meyer, Jan Zielonka, Iain Begg, Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein are currently dicussing this issue in Vienna.

January 22, 2013

“Costs of non-enlargement of the EU would be high”

Austrian Foreign Ministry wants discussion about more involvement of EU citizens in EU policy.

January 22, 2013

EU FDI Stocks: Russia Ranks Fifth

Foreign Direct Investment EU27 investment stocks in the rest of the world increased by 50% between 2008 and 2011.

January 22, 2013

Eder Reaffirms: „European Industrial Sector Is in Danger“

In an interview with the Austrian news magazine “Presse”, voestalpine´s CEO Wolfgang Eder criticizes the European industrial policy sharply.

January 21, 2013

Croatia: Dispute with Slovenia May Postpone EU Accession

In July, Croatia should become a member country of the EU. However, the legal dispute with Slovenia is still an obstacle. The neighbor country may cause a delay of Croatia´s accession.

January 17, 2013

Croatia: One Step Closer to the EU

According to their own statements, the Croatian government has fulfilled eight out of ten tasks, which must be finalized until July 2013. However, Croatia´s economic problems are far from being solved.

January 15, 2013

Bank Secret: Brussels Increases Pressure on Austria

EU-Commissioner Algirdas Semeta calls Austria and Luxembourg to give up their blockade against the reform of the interest taxation directive.

January 14, 2013

Serbia: Time Pressure Grows

In order to become an EU-member, Serbia must present some substantial progress to Brussels.

January 14, 2013

Fekter: „We Almost Overcame the Crisis“

Austria´s minister of finance stresses the stability of the euro and points out that the economic crisis could be managed.

January 10, 2013

Unemployment in EU: Austria Still Ranks First

At the end of December, the Eurozone´s unemployment rate reached 11.8%. In the EU, the unemployment quota comes at 10.7%

January 8, 2013

EU Accession: Turkey Shows Self-Confidence

Turkey puts further pressure on Brussels. Until 2023, Turkey wants to become a EU member country.

January 4, 2013

“Eurobonds Are Wrong Signal”

2013 - After crisis management it is now time to tackle issues of the future, Austria´s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says.

December 31, 2012

Equity Market: Erste Group Cautiously Optimistic

Earnings are expected to grow again, but vulnerabilities remain. The global debt crisis remains unsolved, Erste Group says.

December 29, 2012

Outlook: Europe Remains Under Threat

The European debt crisis will remain a major issue, Austrian Erste Group says.

December 28, 2012

Hutchison Takes Over Orange

The Austrian subsidiary of the Hong Kong-based telecommunication group Hutchison Whampoa is now officially entitled to acquire its competitor Orange.

December 22, 2012

Annual Assembly of the Municipal Councillors for European Affairs in Vienna

At the second general assembly of the members of the initiative of Municipal Councillors for European Affairs held at Palais Niederösterreich in Vienna today, the 500th member of the initiative was welcomed.

December 18, 2012

Austria´s EU Contributions to Increase Substantially

Austria is expected not only to lose its discount, but also to receive lower subsidies.

December 18, 2012

Rostowski: “Poland Will Enter Eurozone as soon as Possible”

Poland´s Minister of Finance Jacek Rostowski announced that his country wants to become a member of the Eurozone. However, the problems of the Eurozone must be solved before, he said.

December 18, 2012

Labor Costs: Highest Increases in Estonia and Romania

Euro area hourly labour costs rose by 2.0%. In the EU27, labour costs were up by 1.9%.

December 17, 2012

Banking Union: Czech Republic Cautious

For the time being, the Czech Republic will not join the single supervising mechanism.

December 15, 2012

Polish Government Considers Joining Banking Union

Today, Poland´s Prime Minister Donald Tusk explained that Poland may become a member in the single supervision mechanism.

December 14, 2012

Banking Supervision to Control Nine Austrian Banks

Austria´s Finance Minister Maria Fekter announces that nine Austrian banking groups will be supervised by the new banking supervision authority.

December 13, 2012

CEE Countries May Join Banking Union

ECB will become the main supervisor for the Eurozone´s banking industry. Non-Eurozone member countries are entitled to opt-in.

December 13, 2012

GDP per Capita: Romania and Bulgaria Tail-Lights in EU

GDP per capita varied by one to six across the Member States in 2011. Austria ranks third behind Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

December 13, 2012

WIFO: South Europe Needs Change in Strategy

The Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO) underlines that the austerity policy in South European countries did not help at all.

December 12, 2012

Orange Takeover Finally Approved

After more than ten months, the EU Commission approved the takeover of the third-largest Austrian telecommunication operator by the competitor Hutchison Austria.

December 12, 2012

Austria in Favour of Initiating Accession Negotiations with Macedonia

Austria´s State Secretary Reinhold Lopatka speaks at General Affairs Council in Brussels.

December 12, 2012

„Eurobonds Are No Solution“

Latvia´s Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis argues that euro-bonds may be implemented at the end of the convergence process.

December 11, 2012

Turkey: „The EU Needs Us“

On the occasion of a visit in Hungary, Turkey´s Minister of European Affairs Egemen Bagis argued that the EU would benefit from Turkey´s accession.

December 11, 2012

Orange-Takeover: Commission to Announce Decision Next Week

EU Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said that the final decision will be published next week. The deal is likely to be approved.

December 8, 2012

Croatia: EU Scepticism Grows

After German officials considered postponing Croatia´s EU accession, Croats become more critical to the European Union.

December 8, 2012

Czech Republic: Klaus Rejects ESM

Czech Republic´s President refuses to grant consent to the ESM bill.

December 7, 2012

Juncker´s Succession: Faymann Out of the Race

The talks about the succession of Jean-Claude Juncker as chairman of the Euro-Group are going on. Austria´s Chancellor has only little prospects.

December 6, 2012

EU Approves State Aid for Hypo Group

The EU Commission has no objections against the state aid with a size of € 1.5bn.

December 5, 2012

Measuring Poverty in the EU: third International EU-SILC Conference in Vienna

The third International Conference on EU Statistics about Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) will be opened in Vienna on Thursday, 6 December 2012.

December 5, 2012

„Banking System Becomes More Solid“

The chairman of OeNB (Austrian National Bank) Ewald Nowotny thinks that the banking supervision and the Basel III framework will stabilize the financial markets.

December 4, 2012

Banking Supervision: Fekter Calls for Flexibility

Today, the meeting of the Finance Ministers of EU countries was unsuccessful. Austria´s Finance Minister Maria Fekter comments that quality is more important than speed.

December 4, 2012

Faymann as Juncker´s Successor?

Austria´s Federal Chancellor Werner Faymann is said to have relatively good prospects to become head of the Euro Group.

December 4, 2012

Rothensteiner: „No Credit Crunch“

Walter Rothensteiner, CEO of Austrian Raiffeisen Zentralbank, thinks that the capital shortfall of European banks does not limit credit supply.

December 3, 2012

"Croatia on the final stretch towards EU membership"

Austrian State Secretary encourages Zagreb to take final steps of reform.

November 30, 2012

Orange-Takeover: One Step Closer to the Goal

Telekom Austria is allowed to take over the discount operator Yesss!. Now, only the Commission has to approve the whole deal.

November 27, 2012

“We shall maintain tough position on EU budget until the very end”

Austrian Vice-Chancellor Spindelegger: “unambiguous about Austria’s position on EU financial framework“.

November 22, 2012

Hutchison Austria: Takeover Approved

The EU Commission allows the Hong Kong-based telecommunication group to take over its Austrian competitor “Orange”. The Austrian Federal Competition Authority is not convinced yet.

November 21, 2012

Hungary: Next Austerity Package Resolved

The Hungarian government is caught between the need to lower the budget deficit and to support economic growth.

November 17, 2012

Steel Industry: „Up to 100,000 Jobs Endangered“

Wolfgang Eder, CEO of the Austrian steel company voestalpine, warns of the persistently high oversupply in the European steel industry.

November 17, 2012