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Vienna International Community - Top Diplomats - Latest Headlines
Read updated news about key diplomats in Vienna's international community,e.g. changes in diplomatic personnel in Austria & at Austrian representations abroad


Hypo Group: „The Wrong Decisions were Made“

Johannes Ditz, former chairman of the Austrian nationalized Hypo Group Alpe Adria, thinks that the Austrian government could have avoided a massive burden for the taxpayers.
December 28, 2013


Poland: Komorowski Approves Pension Reform

Poland´s President Bronislaw Komorowski has signed the nationalization act. However, he will send the law to the Constitutional Court.
December 28, 2013


Austria: „Lending Becomes More Expensive”

In an interview with the Austrian daily “Presse”, CEO of Hypo Vorarlberg Michael Grahammer talks about the future lending conditions. The corporate sector faces a drastic increase in borrowing costs.
December 27, 2013


Austria: Kapsch Delivers Warning to Policy-Makers

Georg Kapsch, President of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV), is very cautious about economic growth in Austria and warns the policy-makers of a budget consolidation on the basis of expectations of growth.
December 27, 2013


VBAG: Further State Aids Questionable

The governing Austrian social democrats (SPÖ) are against providing further funds to the partly nationalized banking group.
December 26, 2013


Austria Bought Time for Examining Hypo Deal

Austria was granted more time for a possible appeal of the purchase of problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria from former parent company BayernLB.
December 23, 2013


Serbia to Receive Pre-Accession Assistance from EU

Today the European Commission adopted the 2013 national programme for Serbia under the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA).
December 23, 2013


Slovakia: Date for Presidential Election Fixed

The first round for the presidential elections in Slovakia will take place on March 15, 2014.
December 23, 2013


Czech Republic: Zeman Rejects Proposed Ministers

The Czech Republic is facing new obstacles in the forming of a new government as President Zeman is not satisfied with the choice of some ministers.
December 23, 2013


„CESEE No Driver Yet“

Birgit Kuras, CEO of Vienna Stock Exchange, thinks that the Vienna Stock Exchange is highly influenced by the CESEE operations of listed companies.
December 23, 2013


Austria: Industrial Output Shrinks

In October the industrial production in Austria declined.
December 23, 2013


Slovenia: PM Bratusek Confident About Tackling State Debts

Even though the country is expected to issue new state bonds next year to tackle state debts Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek suggested that Slovenia does not require loans immediately.
December 23, 2013


CA Immo Sells Office Building in Warsaw

CA Immobilien Anlagen AG sells Lipowy office building in Warsaw.
December 23, 2013


Austria: New Government Already Disappoints in the First Week

In 2014, Austria will not achieve its fiscal objectives, new Minister of Finance Michael Spindelegger admitted. Austria´s fiscal situation is observed critically. The country faces a new austerity package.
December 23, 2013


New CEO at BCR Asigurari de Viata

Sorin Mititelu was appointed as new CEO of Romanian BCR Asigurari de Viata.
December 21, 2013


Rothensteiner: Austrian Sovereign Debt Rating Includes Bank Bail-Out

Unlike the rating agency Moody´s, head of RZB (Raiffeisen Zentralbank) Walter Rothensteiner thinks that the Austrian sovereign debt rating is not endangered by the nationalized banking sector.
December 20, 2013


Austria: Rules for Bank Tax to Be Changed

The governing parties call for changes in the bank tax which would increase the burden of some Austrian banks.
December 20, 2013


Austria: New CEO for Hypo Group Alpe Adria

The search for a new CEO for Hypo Group has ended. On Friday the bank has found a new head of the management board since the position was vacant after Gottwald Kranebitter’s resignation this summer.
December 20, 2013


Bulgaria: Economic Upturn Not Sooner Than 2015

As reported by Bulgarian daily Standart, an economist at World Bank pointed out that the country has not yet reached the economic situation of before the start of the financial crisis in 2008.
December 20, 2013


Austria: Options of Bad Bank for Hypo under Examination

Finance Minister Spindelegger intends to meet with experts to discuss options of a bad bank for Hypo Group Alpe Adria.
December 20, 2013


Buwog's Spin Off More Likely than IPO

Immofinanz plans on increasing the portfolio of its affiliate Buwog, which focuses on residential real estate, by acquiring a volume of 18,000 apartments in Northern Germany.
December 19, 2013


Slovenia: EU Commission Approves Bank Aid

On Wednesday the European Commission has approved state aid for five Slovenian banks.
December 19, 2013


Immofinanz Increases Net Profit by More than 50 Percent

Immofinanz Group increases net profit by more than 50% – five-year sales programme nearly completed.
December 18, 2013


Macedonian Banks Should Support Private Sector

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Stavreski calls upon Macedonian banks to support the private sector.
December 18, 2013


Slovak Prime Minister Confirms Presidental Candidacy

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who also serves as head of ruling left-winged Smer Party, announced his candidacy for the presidential office next year.
December 18, 2013


Slovenia: Three Arrestments at NLB

According to Slovenian authorities, three persons in the bank’s environment were arrested because of alleged malpractice.
December 18, 2013


Serbia: EU Accession Talks in January Fixed

Prime Minister Dacic considers results as “historic event” for Serbia.
December 18, 2013


RBI CEO under Suspicion of Prosecution against Corruption

Karl Sevelda, CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI), is suspected of having sold company’s shares of a commodity trader below their value. The prosecution in Vienna is now searching Sevelda’s office.
December 18, 2013


Hypo Group: Take-Over Almost Completed

British-Indian Anadi Financial Holding had to wait for months until the take-over of Austrian Hypo Group Alpe Adria was approved.
December 18, 2013


Czech Republic: Rusnok to become CNB Board Member

Outgoing Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok will be appointed new board member of the Czech National Bank (CNB) by President Milos Zeman.
December 18, 2013


Austrian Banks: “Less than No Interest” in Bad Bank Participation

According to Felderer, Austrian major banks have “less than no interest” in a participation of a Hypo Group’s bad bank.
December 17, 2013


CA Immo Sells Mercedes Headquarter

CA Immo sells the German heardquarters building for Mercedes-Benz in Berlin to Union Investment
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


Hungary: Good News for Banks in Forex Proceedings

Banks operating in Hungary can feel relieved by the Supreme Court’s judgement.
December 16, 2013


Austria: Opening Balance Reveals Massive Mountain of Debt

Public debts exceed the federal assets by more than double the amount, as revealed by the opening balance published by outgoing Finance Minister Maria Fekter last weekend.
December 16, 2013


Poland: Budget Bill Approved by Lower House

On Friday, the Polish lower house Sejm approved next year’s budget bill which schedules the budget deficit of PLN 47.6bn not to be exceeded.
December 16, 2013


Austrian Banking Industry Has to Fear Bank Tax Increase

At the end of this week, the Austrian social democrats and the conservatives agreed on continuing their coalition. Although the fiscal strategy is not fully known yet, a bank tax increase is likely.
December 14, 2013


Austrian Business Location in Danger?

The Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) has carried out a survey on the Austrian business location. Most interviewees are pessimistic.
December 14, 2013


Austria: Spindelegger Replaces Fekter

The designated cabinet members were presented to the public today. Maria Fekter will not be a cabinet member anymore.
December 13, 2013


Leitl: No Alternative to Budget Consolidation

Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO), regards the coalition agreement between the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the People’s Party (ÖVP) acceptable.
December 13, 2013


Capital Injection for Hypo Group Approved

In the general assembley of Hypo Group the path was cleared for a further capital injection in the amount of € 800m.
December 13, 2013


Croatia: Major Investments to Boost Economic Growth

The Croatian government on Thursday adopted an investment plan for 2014 which includes large-scale investments, amounting to as much as HRK 73.1 billion.
December 13, 2013


Slovenia Pushes Forward with Privatizations

In spite of the capital shortfall of € 4.78bn of the banks in Slovenia, the bank stress test was passed by the financial institutes.
December 13, 2013


Croatia: Erste Offer Rejected

Austrian Erste Group intended to aquire Croatian HPB. However, the offer was rejected by the Finance Ministry as the purchase price was considered too low.
December 13, 2013


CA Immo Aquires P1 Portfolio in Poland

CA Immo AG acquires shares of joint venture partner AXA in “P1” Portfolio in Warsaw.
December 13, 2013


Austria´s Government: Old Turns into New

The leaders of the old government, Chancellor Werner Faymann and Deputy Chancellor Michael Spindelegger, announced to form a new government.
December 12, 2013


Hungary: Stable Outlook Yet Still Junk Status

In spite of Matolcsy, governor of the Hungarian National Bank (MNB), demanding a better rating for the country’s credibility, the major rating agencies have not raised them.
December 12, 2013


Austria: Hypo Group Insolvency Best Solution for Taxpayers

According to consulting agency Oliver Wyman, an insolvency of ailing bank Hypo Group would be the most favorable option for taxpayers as instead of domestic banks foreign banking institutes will be burdened.
December 12, 2013


Slovenian Banks Exhibit Capital Gap of Almost € 5bn

The capital gap of Slovenian banks comes at a total of 4.78bn, according to the stress test published today.
December 12, 2013


CA Immo to Construct New Office Building in Berlin

Europacity Berlin: Rental and start of construction for new office building in Berlin
December 12, 2013