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

Czech Republic: Corporate Finance Leaders Meet at the CFO Forum in Prague

If it were possible to predict the future, corporate financiers really could be relegated to mere "bean counters." Amid continuing global economic volatilty, however, considerably more advanced skills are required.

February 25, 2013 · Sponsored Content

Bulgaria: Protests Continue in Sofia and Varna

Bulgarian political decisions are afflicted by extreme unpopularity as almost 60 % of the population suffers from immediate poverty. Riots continue in Sofia and Varna.

February 24, 2013

CESEE Region Still Has Enormous Growth Potential

“CEE growth drivers intact but innovation is needed to start convergence 2.0” Erste Group says.

February 20, 2013

CESEE: Stress of Competition is Growing

CEE significantly more industrialized than euro area (30% vs. 19%) but still needs to catch up in terms of competitiveness.

February 20, 2013

Bulgaria Cuts Energy Prices

After heavy citizens´ protests, the Bulgarian government has lowered the energy prices by 8%. Moreover, the Czech energy group CEZ loses its license.

February 19, 2013

Protests in Bulgaria Threaten to Escalate

Despite the resignation of Minister of Finance Simeon Djankov, the protests go on and may turn into riots. The opposition wants to hold new elections.

February 19, 2013

Czech GDP Was Down by 1.1% in 2012

In the Q4 2012 the gross domestic product adjusted for price, seasonal, and calendar effects decreased by 1.7%, year-on-year, and by 0.2%, quarter-on-quarter, according to the preliminary estimate.

February 14, 2013

Inflation Slightly Below CNB’s Forecast

The Czech National Bank comments on the January 2013 inflation figures.

February 12, 2013

CESEE: Banking Industry Slightly Optimistic

Unlike their counterparts in Central and Eastern Europe, Czech bankers are relatively satisfied with the performance of the domestic banking market.

February 11, 2013

CESEE Office Market Shows Solid Fundamentals

CESEE office market is undergoing a stable development; rental levels remain largely solid in most of the region, Erste Group says.

February 11, 2013

Czech Inflation Rate Flattens

In January, consumer prices were up by 1.3%. In the last twelve months, the price increase was 1.9%.

February 11, 2013

Czech Republic: Unemployment Grows Further

Among the new EU member countries, the Czech Republic has one of the lowest unemployment rates. However, the country cannot escape the trend.

February 8, 2013

Klaus Recommends to Split Eurozone

According to the outgoing Czech President, the separation of the eurozone would be cheaper than maintaining the currency union.

February 7, 2013

Czech National Bank: Recession Goes On in 2013

According to CNB, the country has not overcome the crisis yet. This year, the Czech GDP will fall by 0.3%.

February 7, 2013

Czech Industrial Production Slightly Decreased in 2012

Industrial production slightly decreased in 2012 after two years of growth. The year-on-year decrease started in the Q2 and gradually deepened in the following periods.

February 7, 2013

Czech Service Industry Shrinks

In Q4 2012, seasonally adjusted sales in services decreased, quarter-on-quarter, at constant prices by 1.6%.

February 7, 2013

Czech National Bank Keeps Interest Rates Unchanged

The CNB Bank Board decided at its meeting today to keep interest rates unchanged. The two-week repo rate was maintained at 0.05%, the discount rate at 0.05% and the Lombard rate at 0.25%.

February 6, 2013

Czech Construction Industry Shrinks Substantially

Construction output down by 6.5% in 2012. In December 2012 the construction output declined by 17.3%, year-on-year (y-o-y).

February 6, 2013

CESEE: Economic Outook Brightens Slightly

According to a survey carried out by OeKB (Austrian Clearing Bank), investors in the CESEE region are more optimistic.

February 6, 2013

Czech Industrial production Dropped by 1.2% in 2012

In December 2012, industrial production decreased at constant prices by 12.5%, year-on-year; working days adjusted industrial production decreased by 5.8%.

February 6, 2013

Czech Republic: Exports and Imports Grew Significantly in 2012

In December 2012, according to preliminary data of ‘border statistics’, exports and imports at current prices fell by 7.1% and 7.0%, year-on-year (y-o-y), respectively.

February 6, 2013

Necas Supports Turkish EU Membership

On the occasion of Prime Minister Erdogan´s visit in Prague, his Czech counterpart Necas assured to support Turkey´s candidacy.

February 6, 2013

Czech Republic: Retail Trade Shrinks

For the entire year 2012, sales in retail trade including the automotive segment decreased at constant prices by 1.1%, y-o-y.

February 5, 2013

Czechs are Worried About their Future

Above all, Czechs fear a declining living standard after their retirement. The real income is expected to shrink in the next years.

February 2, 2013

Czech Republic Returns to Growth Slowly

According to the Czech Ministry of Finance, the recovery will be only gradual. This year, GDP is expected to increase by 0.1%.

February 2, 2013

Czech Unemployment Grows

The total employment in Q4 2012 increased by 31.1 thousand persons compared to the same period of 2011.

February 1, 2013

Czech Republic: Disputes Over Fiscal Pact

In the Czech Republic, the ruling coalition parties do not have a common point of view.

January 31, 2013

“Operations of Austrian Banks in CESEE Region Are a Success Story“

Regarding the Austrian banking sector, governor of OeNB (Austrian Central Bank) Ewald Nowotny demonstrates cautious optimism.

January 30, 2013

Czech Government Rejects New Elections

After Milos Zeman was elected as new President of the Czech Republic, he called for new elections. A change of government would be rather likely.

January 28, 2013

54.9%: Zeman Wins

Milos Zeman will become the next President of the Czech Republic. His rival Karel Schwarzenberg has already recognized his defeat.

January 26, 2013

“Germany overestimated, USA and China underestimated”

Trade with USA and Italy just as crucial for Austrian economy as trade with Germany, Bank Austria reports. "Made in Austria" products count for above-average proportion of Austrian exports.

January 26, 2013

Czech Republic: Zeman Ahead

Today, the run-off election in the Czech Republic has ended. According to first results, the socialist Zeman ranks first.

January 26, 2013

Business Cycle Survey: Czech Overall Confidence Decreases

Overall confidence in domestic economy decreased slightly in January. The composite confidence indicator (economic sentiment indicator) decreased by 0.3 points compared to December.

January 24, 2013

IMF: Growth in CESEE Region to Accelerate

In the next three years, economic growth rates in central, eastern and southeastern Europe will return to the pre-crisis level, IMF says.

January 23, 2013

Erste Group´s CEO Wants to Create CESEE Stock Exchange

Andreas Treichl, CEO of the Austrian banking group, would like to create an alliance between CEE Stock Exchange Group (CEESEG) and Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE).

January 23, 2013

Czech Republic: Controversy About Benes Decrees

The second round of the Czech presidential elections is heating up. The candidate Karel Schwarzenberg was criticized harshly.

January 23, 2013

Europe of Tomorrow: The New Way of Thinking

Distinguished participants from industry, politics and the business community such as Václav Klaus, Jerzy Buzek, Franz Fischler, Martin Meyer, Jan Zielonka, Iain Begg, Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein are currently dicussing this issue in Vienna.

January 22, 2013

CESEE Property Market Highly Heterogeneous

In Austria, the yield is expected to shrink further. However, the investments will be stable, CBRE Austria says. In the CESEE region, the situation is ambiguous.

January 21, 2013

Most Czechs Are Pessimistic

A clear majority of the Czech citizens expects that their individual financial situation will deteriorate this year.

January 21, 2013

Czech Republic: Both Presidential Candidates Want to Join Eurozone

Unlike the outgoing President of the Czech Republic Vaclav Klaus, Milos Zeman and Karel Schwarzenberg are in favor of the euro.

January 19, 2013

Russian Rosatom May Build Nuclear Power Plant in Bohunice

Because of the completion of the Czech nuclear power plants, the Czech energy company CEZ is expected to withdraw from the construction project.

January 19, 2013

Klaus Recommends to Vote not for Schwarzenberg

Czech President Vaclav Klaus will stay in office until March. Klaus does not want Karel Schwarzenberg to become his successor.

January 19, 2013 · Updated: January 19, 2013; 15:47

Czech Republic Decides to Enlarge Temelin Power Plant

Today, the Czech Ministry of Environment has approved the enlargement of the nuclear power plant in southern Bohemia.

January 18, 2013

Czech Republic: Czech Government Withstand Another Vote of Confidence

The stability of the Czech government is still doubtful. For the time being, the coalition can deal with the pressure from the opposition.

January 18, 2013

Citizens in CESEE Countries Tend to Pessimism

According to a survey carried out by the opinion research institute marketagent.com, pessimism in the countries of central, east and southeast Europe persists.

January 16, 2013

“Strict rules and monitoring mechanisms for a healthy Europe”

Austria´s State Secretary Reinhold Lopatka discusses EU financial matters with Czech State Secretary Vojtech Belling.

January 16, 2013

Schwarzenberg Will Not Resign as Foreign Minister

The Czech presidential candidate and foreign minister Karel Schwarzenberg announced to remain in office until the second round of the elections.

January 16, 2013

CESEE: Chakrabarti Expects Stabilization

In an interview with the Austrian news magazine „Standard“, EBRD´s President Suma Chakrabarti demonstrates cautious optimism. 2013 will be a better year for the CESEE region, he says.

January 14, 2013

Fitch: Austrian Banking Industry Depends on CESEE

According to the U.S. rating agency, the situation of Austrian banks strongly depends on the development in central, east and southeast Europe.

January 14, 2013

Surprise in Czech Republic: Schwarzenberg Just Slightly Behind Zeman

The first presidential election round in the Czech Republic brought a surprise. Zeman ranks first with 24%. Schwarzenberg came in second place with 23%.

January 14, 2013 · Updated: January 14, 2013; 11:22