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

Slovenian Bankruptcy Would Hit Austria Particularly Hard

Prime Minister Janez Jansa announced that Slovenia may have to declare its national bankruptcy in October. Austria´s share in foreign direct investment made in Slovenia reaches about 50%.

September 3, 2012

Bank Union: Austrian Banking Industry Cautious

European Forum Alpbach: In mid-September, the EU Commission will present its plans regarding the bank union. The bank union should not be implemented too fast, the Austrian Financial Market Authority says.

September 1, 2012

FPÖ Wants Nowotny to Resign

The biggest Austrian opposition party criticizes the governor of Austrian Central Bank (OeNB) sharply. FPÖ´s leader Strache blames Nowotny to violate the “no bailout” clause.

September 1, 2012

Nowotny: Austrian Banking Sector “More Boring, but More Stable”

European Forum Alpbach: Ewald Nowotny, governor of the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB) thinks that banks will fight for deposits in future. In the last years, ECB had to prevent a collapse of the financial system several times.

August 31, 2012

Pribil: „ECB Must Not Become Safe Haven for Zombie Banks”

At the European Forum Alpbach, the Director of the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) Kurt Pribil stresses the importance of a centralized banking supervision authority.

August 31, 2012

“We Must Go On with a Political Union”

On the occasion of the European Forum Alpbach 2012, Anna Diamantopoulou, Former European Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs calls for a completion of the European project.

August 30, 2012

Barroso: “We Must Complete Europe” (Part 2)

At the Alpbach Economic Symposium 2012, the President of the EU-Commission José Manuel Barroso explained the “logics of integration”. In order to meet new challenges, the EU has to promote integration, Barroso says.

August 30, 2012

Debt Crisis: “Somebody Will Have to Pay”

European Forum Alpbach 2012: Andreas Treichl, CEO of Erste Group thinks that the internationalization of the banking industry cannot be reversed. According to Treichl, the European citizens will have to pay for the crisis.

August 30, 2012

Faymann Against Breaking Up the Eurozone (Part 2)

At the Alpbach Economic Symposium 2012, Austria´s Federal Chancellor Werner Faymann underlines the “advantages of the EU”. Without the euro, Austria would face a dramatic recession, he warns.

August 30, 2012

Faymann Against Breaking Up the Eurozone (Part 1)

At the AlpbachE conomic Symposium 2012, Austria´s Federal Chancellor Werner Faymann underlines the “advantages of the EU”. Without the euro, Austria would face a dramatic recession, he warns.

August 30, 2012

Barroso: “We Must Complete Europe” (Part 1)

At the Alpbach Economic Symposium 2012, the President of the EU-Commission José Manuel Barroso explained the “logic of integration”. In order to meet new challenges, the EU has to promote integration, Barroso says.

August 30, 2012

Spindelegger: “What We Need Is more Self-Confidence!”

At the Alpbach Forum 2012, Austria´s Vice Chancellor Michael Spindelegger explains that Europe suffers from a lack of confidence and self-confidence. The European people expect a message from the EU.

August 30, 2012

Spindelegger: “No United States of Europe”

The Austrian Vice-Chancellor wants to promote a political union in Europe. However, this system should not be the same like in the U.S.

August 30, 2012

Austrian Government to Reshuffle?

In the governing ÖVP, a power struggle is going on, insiders say. Rumours are not breaking up and are highly controversial. Finance Minister Maria Fekter may be replaced by Michael Spindelegger.

August 29, 2012

Austrian Industry Promotes Employment of Older Workers

The Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) argues that the state budget may reduce pension costs by € 7.4bn if the reforms of Germany were implemented in Austria too.

August 29, 2012

Education: Vranitzky Shows Dissatisfaction with Austrian Government

The former Austrian Federal Chancellor Franz Vranitzky criticizes the Austrian government sharply. For him, the university sector is a “very bad example of inequality between the generations”.

August 29, 2012

Keuschnigg Pleads for Increasing Retirement Age

At the Alpbach Forum 2012, the Austrian economist Christian Keuschnigg explained the necessity of implementing reforms for the Austrian retirement plan.

August 29, 2012

Ametsreiter Calls for Activity

On the occasion of the Alpbach Forum 2012, Telekom Austria´s CEO Hannes Ametsreiter underlined the necessity of implementing reforms in Austria.

August 29, 2012

Kapsch: “We Cannot Risk the Welfare State”

At the Alpbach Meeting, the President of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) Georg Kapsch underlines the necessity of competition. The

August 28, 2012

Eder: „We are Cautious“

Wolfgang Eder, CEO of the Austrian steel company voestalpine, thinks that the market conditions will remain difficult.

August 27, 2012

Strabag: CEO Haselsteiner Is Said to Consider Delisting

The Austrian construction group Strabag may withdraw from Vienna Stock Exchange. “We do not need the stock exchange now.” He says in an interview with “Wirtschaftsblatt”.

August 27, 2012

Voestalpine Underlines Expansion Into Asia and America

For voestalpine´s CEO Wolfgang Eder, Europe is a stagnating market. By contrast, growth is expected to take place in the U.S.

August 25, 2012

Crisis in Eurozone: Stepic Is Optimistic

In an interview with the Austrian newspaper “Presse”, RBI´s CEO Herbert Stepic expects that the crisis will be managed until 2015.

August 25, 2012

Orban Underlines Success of Hungarian Crisis Management

Hungary´s Prime Minister Viktor Orban wants to lower the public debt quota further. Hungary´s recession would be due to the weak Eurozone, he says. Orban forgot to mention some details, however.

August 24, 2012

Kapsch Sees Austria´s Main Problem in Education Sector

In the last years, Austria fell behind in all competitive rankings. For the President of the Federation of Austrian Industries Georg Kapsch, education is the key factor.

August 22, 2012

Grexit: Aiginger Warns of Shock in the Balkan Region

Wifo´s (Austrian Institute of Economic Research) director Karl Aiginger thinks that a Greek exit would not only cause big problems for Greece itself, but for the whole Balkan region.

August 21, 2012

Rasinger Wants to Become ÖIAG´s Chairman

In July, the Austrian investor representative Wilhelm Rasinger confirmed his willingness to become ÖIAG´s new director.

August 18, 2012

Poland Does Not Expect Recession in 2013

The Polish Minister of Finance Jacek Rostowski explained that the Polish economy will grow by 2.5% this year.

August 18, 2012

Does the Euro Collapse Now? (Part 1)

The nervousness among Europe´s leaders is growing. Not only Finland warns of a breakdown.

August 17, 2012

IV Emphasizes: „New Taxes Harm Growth and Jobs“

Georg Kapsch, President of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV), calls for growth stimulating measures. The industrial sector is the growth engine for Austria, he argues.

August 17, 2012

Paierl Said to Become Next Chairman at ÖIAG

After months of discrete discussions, the new chairman of the Austrian Industrial Holding (ÖIAG) seems to be certain.

August 16, 2012

Austrian Railways to Record Profits

In the first six months of 2012, ÖBB (Austrian Railways) has recorded operating profits.

August 16, 2012

Stronach Enters Political Stage

The Austro-Canadian industrialist Frank Stronach founds his own party and intends to run for the next election in 2013. Stronach wants Austria to leave the Eurozone.

August 13, 2012

Succession: Difficult Search at ÖIAG

The search for a new director for the Austrian Industrial Holding proves difficult. In spite of the attractive job, many potential candidates rejected.

August 13, 2012

„30 Million Passengers in 2020“

In an interview with „Kurier“, VIA´s board member Julian Jäger explains why the third landing strip is essential for Vienna Airport.

August 8, 2012

Lenzing to Expand Further

Lenzing´s CEO explains that the frame conditions for Lenzing are highly satisfying at the moment. However, 2012 will not be another record year.

August 7, 2012

FMA Pushes for Bank Insolvency Law

The Austrian Financial Market Authority increases pressure on the government. Director Helmut Ettl says the Austria needs an insolvency law for banks as soon as possible.

August 7, 2012

Kommunalkredit´s KA Finanz Needs New Guarantees

Because of its exposure in Greece, the nationalized Austrian lender needs further guarantees from the Austrian state.

August 6, 2012

Austrian Railways „Fit for the Capital Market in a Few Years“

Horst Pöchhacker, chairman of the supervisory board of Austrian Railways (ÖBB) thinks that the transport group will face more competition. A privatization would take time.

August 6, 2012

ÖIAG: New Potential Candidate

Rumors on the succession of Markus Beyrer do not break up. The manager Werner Lanthaler seems to have good prospects.

August 6, 2012

Rising Profit at Bank Austria

Bank Austria posts net profit of € 646m for the first six months. Net operating profit was up by 11.1 per cent. Lending volume rises by 3.3 per cent to € 136bn.

August 3, 2012

ÖIAG: Search Goes On

The number of candidates for the succession of Markus Beyrer as CEO of the Austrian industrial holding keeps within limits.

August 2, 2012

Czech Republic: Erste Group´s CEO Advises Against Introducing the Euro

According to Andreas Treichl, the Czech Republic should not enter the Eurozone now.

August 2, 2012

SBO: „We are growing organically“

In an interview with the Austrian business magazine „Wirtschaftsblatt“, SBO´s CEO Gerald Grohmann underlines the company´s intention to keep the gearing low and generate further growth.

July 31, 2012

Telekom Austria: Expansion Program to be Accelerated

After the entry of Carlos Slim, Telekom Austria hopes to get more funds for further expansion steps.

July 30, 2012

Kommunalkredit Sale: „There are potential buyers“

Yesterday, the nationalized Kommunalkredit was put up for sale. According to Fimbag´s board chairman Klaus Liebscher, there are some interested parties.

July 27, 2012

Slim´s Entry at Telekom Austria Approved

The Austrian Federal Competition Authority (BWB) has no objections against the acquisition by Carlos Slim.

July 27, 2012

ÖIAG: Malanik to Succeed Beyrer?

In June, Markus Beyrer decided to leave the Austrian Industrial Holding (ÖIAG). The former management board member Malanik could succeed.

July 27, 2012

Roiss Claims Energy Strategy

Gerhard Roiss, CEO of the Austrian energy company OMV, warns of a withdrawal of the energy-intensive industry tot he U.S.

July 26, 2012

„AUA Must Be in the Black Numbers“

For Austrian Airline´s CEO Jaan Albrecht, the implementation of the austerity program and the transfer of undertaking is mandatory.

July 26, 2012