Czech Republic in Austria | Czechs in Vienna | Bilateral Relations

Austria and the Czech Republic - Read the latest headlines about bilateral relations in the areas of economy, diplomacy and culture

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

Treichl: Requirements for Banks Increased Massively

According to the CEO of Erste Group, the requirements for banks have increased by three to six times. Moreover it has become harder for banks to finance small and medium sized enterprises (SME).

September 17, 2013

Bank Austria Considers Establishing Franchise Banks in Austria

The streamlining of the CESEE network of Bank Austria seems to take on a very concrete form now.

September 16, 2013

Czech Republic: No Further Monetary Easing

As long there are no risks of deflation, the Czech National Bank will leave the current monetary policy unchanged. Further easing measures are not necessary.

September 15, 2013

Boom in CESEE Will not Return

In the next years, the growth rates of the pre-crisis will not come back in the CESEE region. For the banking industry, the region is still a substantial risk factor.

September 14, 2013

Czech Republic: Monetary Interventions more Probable

Because of an unexpectedly lower inflation rate, foreign exchange interventions are more likely to come.

September 11, 2013

Czech Republic: One Third to Vote for CSSD

According to a poll, 28 percent of Czechs would vote for the Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD) if an election was held now.

September 10, 2013

Czech Republic: Real Wages Shrink

In the second quarter, nominal wage growth came at 1.2%. Real wages were down by 0.3%, however.

September 9, 2013

Czech Economy: End of Recession Ahead

Compared to the previous quarter, the second quarter of 2013 showed a GDP growth. Compared to the reference period of 2012, the Czech economy still registers a contraction.

September 6, 2013

Poland: RCB Roadshow with Twelve Listed Austrian Companies

On Wednesday Polish investors will get together with managers of listed Austrian enterprises.

September 3, 2013

Czech Republic: Monetary Policy to Loosen Further

According to the member of CNB (Czech National Bank) Lubomir Lizal, the country needs further monetary policy steps. CNB is considering starting currency interventions.

September 3, 2013

Austrian Banking Sector Burdened Heavily With NPL

In total, non-performing loans held by Austrian banks come at € 150bn. This corresponds to 48% of Austria´s GDP.

September 2, 2013

Czech Republic: GDP to Shrink Further

The Czech Republic will not leave the recession behind soon. The economic forecasts had to be revised again.

August 31, 2013

Spar: Growth Plans In Czech Republic

Retailer Spar has lost a total of € 130m in the past eight years in the Czech Republic. Despite of that, the trade chain has plans of expansion. Particularly the network of frachise stores is supposed to grow.

August 30, 2013

Austria: Faymann Mocks Schwarzenberg

The Austrian Chancellor reacts to Schwarzenberg’s criticism against Foreign Minister Spindelegger.

August 28, 2013

Czech Republic: Early Elections on Their Way

On Wednesday Czech President Milos Zeman has signed the dissolution of the House of Representatives.

August 28, 2013

Electricy Thieves Caused Losses for EVN in Bulgaria.

Austrian energy provider EVN lost € 800,000 because of electricity thieves.

August 27, 2013

Czech Republic: Klaus Reconsiders Returning to Politics

On Saturday, August 24, former Czech President Vaclav Klaus told Czech Television (CT) he is “seriously considering” returning to politics.

August 26, 2013

Czech Republic: Early Vote No Danger for Sovereign Debt Rating

The current instable political situation is no significant risk factor for the Czech rating yet, the U.S. rating agency Fitch says.

August 25, 2013

Adria Airways to be Acquired by China Southern Airlines

Chinese Southern Airlines wants to gain a foothold in the Slovenian air traffic sector. Besides Adria Airways, Ljubljana Airport will be privatized.

August 25, 2013

Czech Republic: SME Suffer from Credit Crunch

The recession in the Czech Republic is mainly due to the restrictive lending policy of the domestic banking sector.

August 24, 2013

CESEE Faces Economic Recovery

According to Moody´s, the economic outlook for Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe is positive. Nevertheless, the recovery is still fragile.

August 24, 2013

Schwarzenberg Criticizes Spindelegger

The former Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Karel Schwarzenberg thinks that Austria´s Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger mainly focuses on domestic politics. The CEE region should co-operate closer in future, he claims.

August 24, 2013

Czech Republic: Zeman Signs Parliamentary Dissolution

Zeman will sign the parliamentary dissolution on August 28. The path is now clear for early elections at the end of October.

August 22, 2013

Czech Parliament Votes for New Elections

The Czech House of Representatives has decided its dissolution on Tuesday evening and therefore clears the way for early parliamentary elections, which in all likelyhood will take place on October 25 and 26.

August 21, 2013

Czech Ex President Klaus Not to Return to Politics

Contrary to certain rumors, former President Vaclav Klaus does not plan to return to politics.

August 20, 2013

Czech Republic: New Trial for Dissolution of Parliament

The Czech parliament could enable new elections.

August 19, 2013

Czech Republic: New Elections Expected At the End of October

Prime Minister Petr Necas’ resignation leads to new elections soon. The Social Democrats, who want to introduce the Euro, are potential winners.

August 16, 2013

Czech Republic to Crawl out of Recession

In the second quarter the Czech economy grew by 0.7 percent compared to the first quarter.

August 15, 2013

Czech Prime Minister Offers Resignation

Czech Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok has officially filed his resignation six days after a lost vote on confidence.

August 13, 2013

20,000 Bank Shops Have Closed Since Beginning of Crisis

60 percent of the costs in the business with private clients are caused by bank shops. Still, banks are hesitant to close them as they fear the loss of long-term clients.

August 12, 2013

Czech Republic: Schwarzenberg to Run for Parliamentary Elections

The former Foreign Minister named “autocratic” President Zeman as a motivation.

August 10, 2013

Early Elections in Czech Republic Likely

After Czech’s new Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok failed the vote of confidence, there are many indicators that President Milos Zeman will announce early elections.

August 9, 2013

Kapsch and the Czech Road and Motorway Directorate ŘSD recognized for transportation technology

Seven to ten wrong-way drivers per month are discovered in the Czech Republic through the use of Austrian transportation technology

August 8, 2013

Czech Government Loses Vote on Confidence

The cabinet of experts of Prime Minister Rusnok only receives 93 out of 200 votes. October may be the month for early elections.

August 8, 2013

Raiffeisen Bank International AG - SWOT Analysis & Company Report

This report contains in depth information and data about Raiffeisen Bank International AG and its operations and markets. It contains a company overview, business and strategy description, financial ratios, valuation & forecast data and a SWOT analysis.

August 8, 2013

Czech Republic: Will Rusnok Remain in Parliament?

Today, August 7, 2013, the members of parliament in Prague will carry out a vote on confidence on the new government of Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok. It is unlikely that Rusnok will remain in parliament.

August 7, 2013

Credit Crunch in CESEE?

The capital outflow in the CESEE region accelerates. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) fears negative consequences for the real economy.

August 7, 2013

UniCredit to Focus on Poland, Turkey and Russia

UniCredit´s CEO pursues a selective growth strategy. The Austrian subsidiary recorded losses in the retail segment.

August 6, 2013

Drastic Output Decrease in Czech Construction Sector

In June 2013 the construction output declined by 11.1%, year-on-year (y-o-y).

August 6, 2013

Czech Republic: Foreign Trade Shrinks

In June 2013, according to preliminary data of ‘cross−border statistics’, exports and imports at current prices decreased by 2.5% and 4.8%, year-on-year (y−o−y), respectively.

August 6, 2013

„CESEE Will Come Back“

Andreas Brandstetter, CEO of the Austrian insurance group Uniqa, thinks that Central and Eastern Europe will recover.

August 6, 2013

Czech Republic: Retail Sales dropped Again

In June, sales in retail trade including the automotive segment after seasonal adjustment decreased by 1.5% at constant prices, month-on-month.

August 6, 2013

RBI Considers Withdrawing from Hungary

The Austrian banking group Raiffeisen Bank International wants to focus on other markets. Hungary and Slovenia are shrinking markets, CEO Karl Sevelda says.

August 6, 2013

Czech Republic: Employment is the Highest Since 1998

The total employment in Q2 2013 increased by 64.9 thousand persons compared to the same period of 2012.

August 5, 2013

Strong Signs of Life in CESEE Airline Sector

After a couple of difficult years, the airline industry in the CESEE region takes a re-start. In Hungary and Serbia, Arab investors have entered the stage.

August 5, 2013

CESEE: „Growth Story Did Not End“

In an interview with the Austrian newspaper “Presse”, chairman of the CEESEG supervisory board Willibald Cernko explains that Central and Eastern Europe needs a new growth model.

August 3, 2013

Czech Republic: Interest Rates Remain Flat

The Czech National Bank (CNB) holds the base rate at its historical low. In the course of 2014, the Czech economy is expected to recover.

August 2, 2013

Czech Industry Highly Dominated by Foreign Investors

In total, 42% of the company´s capital is controlled by non-domestic investors. This is the result of a study compiled by Bisnode.

August 2, 2013

CESEE Remains Attractive for Austrian Investors

According to a survey, the region of CESEE is still attractive to Austrian investors. Particulary the bigger countries – Poland, Turkey and Russia – are becoming even more popular.

August 1, 2013