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

Ghizzoni: „Austrian Bank Tax Is Painful“

The Chief Executive Officer of UniCredit, the holding company of Bank Austria emphasizes not to sell the Austrian subsidiary. The bank tax is “unfair”.

March 10, 2012

„The Public Sector Does not Get Enough“

Klaus Pöttinger, President of Upper Austria´s IV takes Switzerland as model. Taxes would be too high, efficiency of the public sector is too low, he says.

March 9, 2012

Emirates Tries to Lure AUA´s Pilots Away

As uncertainty among Austrian Airline´s workforce is rising, the marketing officer at Emirates, Thierry Antinory, wants to attract AUA´s aircrew.

March 9, 2012

Leitl: „Austerity Package Is Not Enough“

For Christoph Leitl, the President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ), the recently resolved austerity package does not contain the essential reforms.

March 9, 2012

Orange Takeover: Hutchison is Optimistic

The Hong Kong-based telecommunication company Hutchison 3 is sure that the takeover of Orange will be approved by the competition authorities. The competitor T-Mobile is not convinced at all.

March 9, 2012

Cernko Criticizes VBAG Bail-Out

Willibald Cernko, CEO of Bank Austria considers that the Austrian state reacted too late. A partly nationalization could have taken place already one year before.

March 9, 2012

Pecik Unwanted at AMAG

A major shareholding in Austrian AMAG will be sold. Ronny Pecik, who is said to be interested, is not welcome.

March 7, 2012

RHI Has Growth Plans

The Austrian producer of fireproof ceramics puts effort into growth. Major investments and acquisitions are planned.

March 7, 2012

Bank Taxes: Nowotny Supports Government

OeNB´s governor Ewald Nowotny defends the coalition plans to raise bank taxes by 25%.

March 7, 2012

Tax Treaty: Conflict with EU

The EU rejects Austrian tax treaty plans with Switzerland. Austria insists on the bilateral agreement.

March 7, 2012

Public Debt Agency: “Unnecessary to Change Bonds Issuance Plans”

Austria sees no need to change its debt issuance program and is sticking to its plan to stay below the European Union’s deficit ceiling this year even as it injects cash into Oesterreichische Volksbanken AG (VBPS) and KA Finanz.

March 6, 2012

Uniqa: Changes in Supervisory Board

RZB´s supervisory board chairman Christan Konrad will leave Uniqa. RZB´s CeO Walter Rothensteiner succeeds Konrad.

March 6, 2012

Fekter: "Eurogroup Chief Must Be Head of Government"

Austria’s Finance Minister Maria Fekter said the next leader of the group of euro-area finance ministers has to be a head of his or her government in order to have the necessary authority.

March 6, 2012

Again Criticism on Austerity Package: „Lack in Sustainability“

The President of the Viennese Federation of Austrian Industries (IV), Georg Kapsch, misses details of the austerity package. The package is not ambitious enough, Kapsch considers.

March 5, 2012

Beyrer Aims For Strategic Investor at Telekom Austria

The head of the state holding ÖIAG and Telekom Austria´s supervisory board believes that Ronny Pecik will not remain as shareholder. A strategic partner is desired.

March 5, 2012

Eder: „Environmental Policy Endangers Economy“

Voestalpine´s CEO criticizes environmental specifications made by EU and domestic politics. Eder sees the danger of a de-industrialization.

March 5, 2012

Austerity Package: Sorger Misses Reforms

The President of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV), Veit Sorger, sees a massive lack in structural reforms. The austerity package is a “missed opportunity”.

March 3, 2012

Fekter: Up to € 1.0bn for Kommunalkredit

In case of a default of Greek sovereign bonds, the Austrian state would have to grant € 1.0bn to the nationalized bank Kommunalkredit.

March 3, 2012

VBAG´s Executive Board Asked to Resign

Parts of the Volksbanken sector, which hold stakes in VBAG, offer resistance to the management board.

March 3, 2012

Fiscal Treaty: Austrian Economy Satisfied, Opposition Criticizes

After the signing of the EU fiscal treaty at the EU Summit today, reactions in Austria are very different. The largest opposition party FPÖ calls for a popular vote.

March 2, 2012

Austrian Economy Appreciates Serbian Approach to EU

Serbia officially became candidate for the EU-access. Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the importance of the “European perspective” for Serbia.

March 2, 2012

Austerity Package Threatens to Fail

The strict timeline of the Austrian austerity package could cause its preliminary failure. Federal President Fischer says not to have enough time to control the act.

March 2, 2012

Board Member Bierwirth Leaves AUA

Andreas Bierwirth, member auf Austrian Airline´s management board, will exit. It is supposed that the austerity package caused controversies within AUA´s management.

March 2, 2012

Nowotny: „Austrian Banking Activities in CEE Better than their Reputation”

According to the governor of the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB), Ewald Nowotny, Austrian banks engaged in Central and Eastern Europe are more stable than they are supposed to be.

March 1, 2012

Banking Industry As „Cash Cow“?

For RZB´s CEO Rothensteiner, the increase in bank tax is “not fair”. The government plans to raise bank taxes by 25%.

February 29, 2012

„Banks are the Real Austrian Problem“

The Austrian opposition criticizes the rescue of VBAG by the government massively. Further bank aids are feared.

February 28, 2012

New Criticism on Austerity Package

For the chief economist at RZB, Peter Brezinschek, the austerity package is not ambitious enough. The President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, Christoph Leitl, criticizes the introduction of new taxes.

February 28, 2012

Polytec Aims For Expanding in Asia

Friedrich Huemer, CEO of the Austrian automotive supplier, wants to start investments in China and India.

February 27, 2012

OeNB´s Nowotny Says Regaining AAA Credit Rating Can Take Years

European Central Bank Governing Council member Ewald Nowotny said history has shown that it can take years for a country to win back an AAA rating.

February 25, 2012

Austria Discussing Top Banks’ Capital Rules With EU Commission

Austria’s regulators are discussing rules for its top banks that will curb excessive lending in Central and Eastern Europe with the European Commission.

February 25, 2012

EIB: Fewer Funds for Austrian Companies

After a record in 2011, the European Investment Bank (EIB) will reduce lending to Austrian companies this year.

February 24, 2012

Sawiris Aims to Stay in Telekom Austria

The Egyptian investor Naguib Sawiris, the partner of the Austrian investor Ronny Pecik, wants to maintain his engagement in Telekom Austria.

February 24, 2012

Pecik is Said to Enter AMAG

The Austrian investor, who holds a 20% stake in Telekom Austria, seems to be interested in the Austrian aluminum producer AMAG

February 23, 2012

Telekom Austria Extends Contract with CFO

Hans Tschuden, Chief Financial Officer at Telekom Austria will remain until 2015 at least.

February 22, 2012

Expansion of the Board of ATB

The Management Board of ATB Austria Antriebstechnik AG was enlarged: the British national Ian Lomax becomes Chief Operating Officer.

February 21, 2012

Fekter: „Austerity Package is Structural Reform Package“

In spite of criticism by economists, for the Austrian Minister of Finance, the austerity package is a “big success”.

February 20, 2012

Stepic Criticizes Rating Agencies Sharply

For Herbert Stepic, CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI), statements given by the U.S. rating agencies are “undifferentiated”.

February 20, 2012

Telekom Austria Faces Severe Image Difficulties

Many details over bribery payments from Telekom Austria to politically exposed persons were revealed. Now, the company sues its former executives.

February 18, 2012

Voestalpine Amends Expansion Plans

The Austrian steel producer intends to use its technologic leadership in the automotive component business for further expansion steps.

February 18, 2012

German Justice Puts Pressure on Former Hypo Group Executives

In order to get damage compensation, the German justice opens legal proceedings against the former CEO´s of Austrian Hypo Group, Tilo Berlin and Wolfgang Kulterer.

February 18, 2012

„Bank Austria´s Brand Will Remain“

Last year, it was said that Bank Austria´s brand will be abandoned. According to Helmut Bernkopf, board member at UniCredit, Bank Austria´s private banking business will be strengthened.

February 18, 2012

Retirement Plan: „Austria is Negative Example“

The Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) argues that Austria would be a negative example for the sustainability of the retirement plan. Early retirements should be limited, IV claims.

February 17, 2012

Cernko Against „Talking Down Austrian Banks“

Bank Austria´s CEO is strictly against an undifferentiated view on CEE-countries. Austrian banks with an exposure in the CEE region shall not be talked down.

February 17, 2012

Siegfried Wolf Enters Sberbank

The Austrian national and executive at Magna in Russia becomes President of VBI´s supervisory board.

February 16, 2012

Cernko: „Triple A Only in the Medium Term“

Bank Austria´s CEO Willibald Cernko does not think that Austria re-gains its “AAA” status within the next three years.

February 16, 2012

Leitl Pushes for Reforms

The President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce appreciates that actions worsening the Austrian business location conditions were prevented.

February 15, 2012

Vienna Airport to Cut Personnel Costs

The Vienna International Airport aims for reducing personnel costs at the new terminal “Skylink”.

February 15, 2012

„Financial Transaction Tax Could Cause Recession“

According to the CEO of Vienna Stock Exchange, Michael Buhl, a financial transaction tax would cost productivity at enterprises.

February 14, 2012

Rasinger: „Telekom Austria Needs New Executives“

The spokesman of Austrian retail investors, Wilhelm Rasinger, wants to change Telekom Austria´s management, which are “untroubled”.

February 14, 2012

Moody's Put Austria on Warning

The Austrian “AAA” rating has been confirmed by the U.S. rating agency. However, credit-watch is put on “negative”.

February 14, 2012