Bulgaria in Austria | Bulgarians in Vienna | Bilateral Relations

Austria and Bulgaria - Read the latest headlines about bilateral relations in the areas of economy, business, investment, diplomacy, culture and tourism

EU/CESEE: Real Income Shrinks

In 2013, the real income will do down in Austria. Since 2010, the Austrian real income was down by 1.3%. In Hungary, real income fell by 15% in that period.

December 9, 2013

Austrian Banking Sector: € 35bn NPL

Due to the gloomy economic situation in CESEE and the stagnating domestic economy, Austrian banks suffer from growing non-performing loans.

December 9, 2013

Vienna Insurance Group Awarded in Bulgaria

Awards for the Group companies Bulstrad and Bulstrad Life.

December 5, 2013

Sevelda: „We Are Close to the Breaking Point“

In a guest comment published by the Austrian business magazine Format, CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International Karl Sevelda refers to the high burden for Austrian banks.

November 29, 2013

VIG: „We Will Clean Up Merciless“

Yesterday, the Austrian insurance group VIG (Vienna Insurance Group) published surprisingly bad results. In Italy and Romania, VIG has a lot of work to do.

November 28, 2013

CESEE: Slight Growth Acceleration, but Uncertainties Persist

The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw) has published the economic forecast for the CESEE region today. The economic performance varies substantially from country to country.

November 28, 2013

Bulgaria: More than Half of Citizens Would Not Take Out Bank Loan

According to a survey, almost 60 percent of Bulgarians would not take out a bank loan regardless of the terms.

November 27, 2013

Wide Parts of CESEE Region Below Pre-Crisis Level

In terms of economic output, a large number of CESEE countries have not reached the level of 2008 yet. The growth outlook remains cautious.

November 25, 2013

Bulgaria: Real Estate Transaction Increase Substantially

In the third quarter, Bulgaria´s residential property real estate transactions were up by 20%.

November 23, 2013

VIG and Bulgaria Are Causing Headache Each Other

The Austrian insurance group VIG has sold the Bulgarian pension fund to an unknown investor. Bulgaria´s government wants to reverse the sale.

November 21, 2013

Nowotny: Must Avoid Bubble in CESEE

In order to avoid another asset bubble like in 2008, loan growth has to be monitored, governor of Austrian National Bank Ewald Nowotny says.

November 19, 2013

Raiffeisenbank Bulgaria Provided with Loan by EBRD

The European Bank for Restructuring and Development will provide Raiffeisenbank Bulgaria EAD with a new loan totaling € 15m.

November 18, 2013

Bulgaria: Fiscal Plans “Too Ambitious”

According to the IMF, the underlying assumptions of Bulgaria´s government are not realistic. The banking industry is stable, though.

November 16, 2013

CESEE: Growth Remains Below Potential

Today, the EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development) has published its economic outlook for the CESEE region. The reform pressure is growing, Anthony Willams at EBRD wrote.

November 11, 2013

UniCredit: Net Income Driven By CESEE

Italian UniCredit Group´s quarterly net income was down by 40%. Losses in Italy could be more than offset by the results in Poland and Bank Austria´s contributions.

November 11, 2013

Bulgarian Banks Suffer from Low Customer Creditworthiness

According to the EBRD, the Bulgarian banks are a source of funding for their parents.

November 9, 2013

Bulgaria: Finance Ministry Approves Schuldschein Loan

In order to close the Bulgarian budget deficit gap, the Finance Ministry has decided to take out a Schuldschein loan in the amount of € 360m.

November 8, 2013

Banking Sector Reduces Lending

Instead of offering loans to the corporate sector, banks tend to invest in sovereign bonds. The CESEE region is particularly affected by this.

November 6, 2013

Bulgaria: Banks Have More Assets at Disposal

With more money available, banks in Bulgaria are now able to grant more loans.

November 6, 2013

CESEE Region: Booming Exports Prevent Recession

The underlying reason for the improving economic sentiment in the CESEE region is the expanding industrial sector. However, the region remains vulnerable to foreign trade and foreign investments.

November 5, 2013

Slovak Banking Industry Records Growing Net Income

In the first nine months of 2013, Slovakia´s banking sector recorded a total net profit of € 449m.

November 1, 2013

Bulgaria: Unemployment Anticipated to Decrease

Regarding the economic development in 2014, Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association demonstrates optimism.

October 31, 2013

Slovenia on Top of Prosperous Countries in Emerging Europe

Slovenia is leading the list of prosperous countries in Emerging Europe. Bulgaria is on the last position.

October 30, 2013

CESEE: „The Growth Model Was not Sustainable“

Franz Seiringer, economist at EBRD, underlines that the CESEE countries are on the right track. The region is working on a new growth model, he told “Wirtschaftsblatt”.

October 29, 2013

Bulgarian President Calls for TTIP

Bulgaria’s economy would benefit from a free trade agreement between EU and USA.

October 25, 2013

Public Debt: CESEE Countries Below EU Average

At the end of the first half of 2013, the EU public debt quota reached 86.8% of GDP. Western Europe´s public debt level is significantly higher than in Eastern Europe.

October 23, 2013

Southeastern Europe: Dramatic Labor Market Conditions

In Southeastern Europe, the labor market conditions are similarly bad as in Southern Europe. Above all, youth unemployment is extremely high.

October 22, 2013

Romania and Bulgaria Have Lowest Debt Ratios

With a public debt to GDP ratio of 18.5%, Bulgaria has the second lowest public debt quota in the EU.

October 21, 2013

Bulgaria: FDI Inflow Shrinks Drastically

In the first eight months of 2013, foreign direct investments fell by more than 51%. Without impulses from foreign investors, the country will not return to growth.

October 21, 2013

“Problems in the CESEE Region Are Mainly Fundamental”

In an interview with Gazeta Wyborcza, Reza Moghadam, director of the IMF´s European Department, says that the weakness of the CESEE region is not only cyclical.

October 18, 2013

Bulgaria to Encourage Chinese Investments

Investments from China in Bulgaria currently come at € 85m, reports SME Times.

October 18, 2013

IMF Warns of Financial Instability in CESEE

Due to the high non-performing loan quota and the deleveraging of Western banks, the countries of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe are still far from financial stability.

October 18, 2013

CESEE Region Suffers from Migration

The countries of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe are confronted with a highly unfavorable demographic trend. The brain-drain is expected to persist.

October 17, 2013

Bulgaria Supports Trans Adriatic Pipeline

During yesterday’s world media meeting, on behalf of his country Bulgarian President Rosen Plevniev expressed his support of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline project (TAP).

October 16, 2013

Austria: Purchasing Power Grows Slightly

According to a study published by RegioData Research, Austria could improve its level of purchasing power in the years from 2008 to 2012.

October 15, 2013

Bulgaria: Number of „Working Poors“ Grows Considerably

Bulgaria´s average wage only comes at € 269 per month. 600,000 Bulgarian earn less than € 180 per month.

October 15, 2013

Bulgaria: Economic Outlook Deteriorates

According to the IMF, Bulgaria´s growth rate will be lower than initially expected.

October 11, 2013

Bulgaria: Significant Increase in Exports to EU

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

October 10, 2013

FriedlResearch has Published the Q3-2013 Company Report of Erste Group Bank AG

This report contains in depth information and data about Erste Group and its operations and markets. It contains a company overview, business and strategy description, financial ratios, valuation & forecast data, SWOT analysis, plus data on key events.

October 8, 2013

Latest Edition of the SWOT Report of Raiffeisen Bank International has been Published

FriedlResearch has announced the publication of the latest edition of the "Raiffeisen Bank International AG - SWOT Analysis & Company Report". This report contains in depth information and data about RBI and its operations and markets.

October 8, 2013

Bulgaria Takes out Schuldschein Note Loan via German Banks

The Bulgarian government has decided to take out a Schuldschein note loan in the amount of € 360m through German banks, media reports claim.

October 7, 2013

UK: Growth Potential in CESEE

According to the IMF, the UK economy is not diversified sufficiently. Now, UK promotes exports to the CESEE region.

October 5, 2013

CESEE: Recovery Slow, but Stable

Corporate sentiment improving in major CEE countries as well, as the economic recovery begins to take root. Low point in interest rates has essentially been reached, rises in yields to follow trends in the developed markets, RZB says.

October 4, 2013

Bulgaria: Shrinking Workforce Leading to Lower Growth

Bulgaria is facing a number of challenges resulting from shifting demographics.

October 4, 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

Bulgaria: Major Decrease of Insurance Business

The insurance industry saw a strong decrease of business of 13 percent in only four years.

October 2, 2013

Hungary: Competitiveness of Industrial Sector Shrinks

Regarding Hungary´s competitiveness, there is a clear downward trend. This year, Hungary is expected to achieve an economic turnaround.

September 24, 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

CESEE Banking: Funding Improves

Regarding the stability of the banking system in the CESEE region, there are still substantial differences between the countries.

September 18, 2013

Bulgaria Allows Non-Residents Acquisition of Farmland

Bulgaria will allow foreigners will be able to acquire agricultural land.

September 16, 2013