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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


Stable Outlook for CESEE Banking Industry

According to the U.S. rating agency fitch, the sector outlook remains stable in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. However, the well-known risks and weaknesses will persist.
December 19, 2013


CESEE: Potential to Return to Pre-Crisis Growth

According to a report published by the business adviser McKinsey, countries of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe are fundamentally strong.
December 18, 2013


CESEE: More Robust than in 2008

The U.S. Federal Reserve wants to reduce its easing policy gradually. For emerging markets, the end of the loose monetary policy may prove challenging.
December 17, 2013


Bulgaria: Majority of Citizens Call for Early Elections

According to a poll, 80 percent of Bulgarians demand early elections.
December 17, 2013


VIG: Sale of Bulgarian Affiliate Failed

Vienna Insurance Group has to find a new buyer for the Bulgarian pension fund Doverie. United Capital, the potential buyer of Doverie has lost its bank license.
December 16, 2013


Bulgaria: S&P Downgrade Criticized Sharply

Bulgarian Minister of Economy Dragomir Stynev does not agree with S&P´s view on Bulgaria´s creditworthiness.
December 16, 2013


Emerging Markets Face Decrease in Risk Appetite

Foreign investors become more and more cautious about investing in emerging markets. Regions like Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe are highly dependent on foreign sentiments.
December 14, 2013


Austrian GDP per Capita Second-Highest in EU

In terms of GDP per capita, Austria is the second-richest EU country.
December 12, 2013


Bulgaria: Prime Minister Stresses Positive Development

Plamen Oresharski stressed that Bulgaria has performed better than expected in 2013.
December 10, 2013


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