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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
Erdogan Tries to Put Pressure on EU
The Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warns of postponing the EU accession of his country.
October 31, 2012
Unemployment: Austria Ranks First in EU
In September, the euro area unemployment rate came at 11.6%. The Baltic countries registered a substantial decrease in unemployment.
October 31, 2012
EU Budget Cuts would Affect Poland
In the last six years, Poland benefitted substantially from EU funds. A cut of € 23bn is being discussed.
October 30, 2012
Austrian Managers Lose Confidence in EU
Only a third of the Austrian managers believes that the problem in the Eurozone can be solved.
October 29, 2012
„Strengthening Relation with Russia“
Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) argues that Europe must co-operate closer with Russia in order to manage the crisis.
October 25, 2012
FMA: „Austria is Open to Blackmail by Banks”
Kurt Pribil, director of the Austrian Financial Market Authority, thinks that the nationalization of banks has shown that the Austrian state is still under pressure.
October 23, 2012
Merger Hutchison „3“ and Orange: EU Commission Extends Examination Phase
The Commission announced that the deadline for the deal will be postponed by three weeks.
October 22, 2012
Tusk: Joining Banking Union Only if it Does not Weaken Poland
The Polish Prime Minister does not exclude to enter the banking union. However, this measure must not weaken Poland´s position.
October 22, 2012
Austrian Finance Minister and Foreign Minister Support Banking Union
Vice-Chancellor Michael Spindelegger and Finance Minister Maria Fekter meet with EU Commissioner Michel Barnier.
October 22, 2012
Hungary Does not Exclude to Increase Bank Tax
Prime Minister Orban refers to the pressure coming from Brussels. Hungary must reduce the budget deficit below 3.0% of GDP.
October 20, 2012
Hungary Doubles Financial Transaction Tax
The Hungarian Minister of Economics Gyorgy Matolcsy announced that the financial transaction tax will be increased to 0.2%. Moreover, the bank taxes will not be reduced.
October 17, 2012
Austria Underlines Importance of Austerity Measures
“EU pact for growth and employment to fight high unemployment rates”: State Secretary Reinhold Lopatka at the General Affairs Council in Luxemburg.
October 17, 2012
Hungary Reaffirms Not to Enter Eurozone
After the meeting with Germany´s Chancellor Angela Merkel, Hungary´s Prime Minister Viktor Orban explained that the euro must offer a perspective again.
October 16, 2012
FPÖ Files Suit Against ESM
The biggest Austrian opposition party files a legal complaint against the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) at the Austrian Constitutional Court.
October 15, 2012
Hungary Wants Foreign Land Owners to Leave
The Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban wants to bring back “stolen land”.
October 15, 2012
Orban Blames EU for Austerity Cuts
The Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban explains that Hungary has no other choice but to deepen the austerity cuts.
October 13, 2012
EU Wants Austria to Reduce Bureaucracy
The Commission of the EU has presented its concept for the re-industrialization of Europe. Austria is well-positioned, but there is some potential for improvement.
October 13, 2012
Austrian Foreign Ministry Wants “Better coordination for development cooperation”
"No single country can solve all the major problems of our time alone", Austrian State Secretary Reinhold Lopatka said at the "Development Dialogue" event in Parliament today.
October 12, 2012
Orban Rejects Joining Eurozone
The Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban thinks that the introduction of the euro in Hungary would be “irresponsible”.
October 10, 2012
Fekter Welcomes Entry into Force of ESM
Austria´s Minister of Finance "No cause for celebration, however, as we are still in the middle of stabilising the Eurozone."
October 10, 2012
Austrian Presents Piorities for the “EU budget of the future”
State Secretary Lopatka in the EU Sub-Committee of the National Council.
October 10, 2012
Financial Transaction Tax to be Introduced
Now, the financial transaction tax has enough supporters. After months of negotiations, eleven EU member countries finally agreed on introducing a financial transaction tax.
October 9, 2012
„Nabucco Is not Dead at All“
The EU-Commissioner of Energy Günther Oettinger is optimistic that Nabucco will be successful. According to Austria´s Minister of Economics Reinhold Mitterlehner, the prospects of success are “50+”.
October 9, 2012
Hutchison Tries to Persuade EU Commission
The smallest Austrian telecommunication operator wants the EU Commission to approve the takeover of Orange.
October 8, 2012
Austria Appreciates Portugal’s Efforts of Budget Consolidation
State Secretary Lopatka meets with Portuguese State Secretary for EU Affairs, Luis Miguel Morais Leitão.
October 8, 2012
Support for Financial Transaction Tax Keeps Within Limits
In order to introduce the tax, nine countries must agree thereon. The time pressure is growing.
October 6, 2012
Working Time: Brits and Austrians Work Most
Regarding the weekly working time, Austria ranks second. The share of employees working in the service industry is slightly below the EU average.
October 5, 2012
ESM: Slovakia Pays € 264m
In October, the Slovak government will transfer € 264m to ESM. This will be the first two installments.
October 4, 2012
Fekter Rejects Deposit Protection in EU
At the Alpbach Financial Symposium, Austria´s Minister of Finance Maria Fekter underlined to reject the European deposit protection.
October 4, 2012
EU as „Serbia´s Most Important Market“
The U.S. economist Paul Krugman thinks that Serbia´s future is the European Union. The EU is worried about the turn towards Russia.
October 4, 2012
Nine Prime Minister Discuss EU Budget in Bratislava
The Prime Ministers of nine countries of Central and Eastern Europe will meet in the Slovak capital on October 5.
October 3, 2012
Fekter: “Greece Shows Progress”
Austria´s Finance Minister praises Greece's efforts to improve its situation.
October 2, 2012
Financial Transaction Tax: Austrian Government Under Pressure
In its last austerity package, the Austrian government has anticipated a financial transaction tax to be introduced in 2014. The time pressure is growing.
October 2, 2012
„Austria Does Not Need Shale Gas“
Gerhard Roiss, CEO of Austrian OMV, thinks that renouncing on shale gas will be expensive.
October 1, 2012
Fekter Promotes Financial Transaction Tax
The Austrian Minister of Finance wrote a letter to the EU Commission. She argues that a financial transaction tax would be economically reasonable.
October 1, 2012
Bank Secret: Semeta Criticizes Austria´s Position
According to the EU Commissioner Algirdas Semeta, Austria´s bank secret is “out-dated”. He criticizes that Austria and Luxembourg still reject to give up the bank secret.
October 1, 2012
Austrian Unemployment Continues to Grow
In September, the number of unemployed persons grew by 5% against September 2011. The Euro area unemployment rate came at 11.4%
October 1, 2012
Spindelegger: "Political progress more urgently needed than ever before"
Austria´s Minister of Foreign Affairs meets President of the Palestinian National Authority Abbas and the Foreign Ministers of Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates in New York.
September 27, 2012
“European Union Not Endangered”
Austrian Vice-Chancellor Michael Spindelegger defends the euro at the renowned US university Harvard and emphasises Austria’s performance on the international stage
September 26, 2012
OMV Considers Joining Tanap
The Austrian oil and gas company intends to invest up to $ 7.0bn in the Turkish-Azeri project.
September 25, 2012
“EU administration must be screened for savings potential”
Austrian State Secretary Lopatka repeats Austria’s central demands at the General Affairs Council in Brussels.
September 25, 2012
Waiglein Becomes Director of ESM
Austria´s Minister of Finance Maria Fekter mandates Harald Waiglein as member of the board of directors.
September 22, 2012
Serbia: „EU Cannot Force Us to Recognize Kosovo´s Independence“
The Serbian Prime Minister is ready to continue talks with Kosovo at a higher political level. For the EU, a recognition of Kosovo´s indepence is the precondition for Serbia´s EU accession.
September 22, 2012
Croatian EU-Accession: Slovenia as Obstacle
Slovenia may put a veto on Croatia´s EU accession. Croatia should withdraw lawsuits against the biggest Slovenian bank NLB, Slovenia says.
September 22, 2012
EU: Germany Biggest Net Payer, Poland Biggest Net Recipient
In 2011, Poland received EU-aids of € 11bn. Among the new EU members, Hungary ranks second. In terms of GDP, Hungary is the biggest beneficiary.
September 21, 2012
Breuss: „We Must Feed Them All“
The Austrian economist expresses his concerns regarding the second package for Greece.
September 21, 2012
VBAG to Cut More than 1,000 Jobs
Today, the Austrian problem bank announced to sharpen its austerity program radically. Until 2017, VBAG must be downsized to the half of its current size.
September 21, 2012
Austria Claims Financial Transaction Tax
State Secretary Lopatka presents Austria’s positions to EU Commissioner Lewandowski.
September 21, 2012
Austria to Pay higher Contributions to EU
In the next financial period of the EU from 2014 to 2020, Austria´s contribution will increase substantially. Austria calls for keeping the discount system.
September 20, 2012
Westerwelle and Sikorski Want a Stronger EU
The German and the Polish Ministers of Foreign Affairs wrote a common article in The International Herald Tribune.
September 19, 2012