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