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

Suspicion on Money-Laundering at Hypo Group

Money transfers between the Carinthian Bank, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and the Caribbean are currently being checked extensively by the judiciary.

January 7, 2011

Former Member of the Board of BayernLB Arrested

Gerhard Gribkowsky, whose foundation in Austria was concealed to the German judiciary and is now known, is in custody

January 5, 2011

Black Economy is still Difficult to Control in Austria

About 14% of the economic product evades the Treasury in the Austrian economy, but experts say the trend is declining again.

January 5, 2011

Hypo Group: Little Enlightment Expected from Grasser and Berlin

The Chairman of the Inquiry Committee on the Hypo Group expects little gain of information by the summons of Karl-Heinz Grasser and Tilo Berlin.

January 4, 2011

Special Tax: Hungary Under Fire

Especially the Austrian economy criticizes the Hungarian special tax on large companies. The EU Commission has already started an investigation.

January 4, 2011

Kneissl: Insolvency Seems Inevitable

The traditional Austrian ski producer Kneissl, owned by the Arab investor Al Jaber, did not pay its mature liabilities for months.

January 3, 2011

Secret Foundation of BayernLB in Austria

In the hearings on the purchase of Austria's Hypo Group, a former Member of the Board of BayernLB concealed the existence of a foundation in Austria.

January 3, 2011

Austrian Federal Railways Needs € 400m

Christian Kern, CEO of the Federal Raiways (ÖBB), backed up his call for a capital increase.

January 3, 2011

Leitl Urges Implementation of Reform Plans

The President of the Austrian Economic Chamber shows himself pleased by the economic data 2010 and urges the continuation of educational and administrative reforms.

January 3, 2011

13 CEOs Call For Sanctions Against Hungary

Because of the new taxes introduced by the Hungarian government, a group of prominent European CEOs call for EU-sanctions.

January 2, 2011

Austrian Unemployment Further Declines

Unemployment numbers go down specifically in the production sector. Long-term unemployment also declines over average.

January 2, 2011

Red Bull Massively Invests in Upper Styria

The Austrian energy drink producer Red Bull re-opens the former Formula1 race track in Styria.

January 1, 2011

Drastic Job Cut at ÖBB

The Austrian Federal Railways cuts 650 posts at its freight division Rail Cargo Austria (RCA).

January 1, 2011

RLB OÖ Records Substantial Growth

Raiffeisenlandesbank Oberösterreich experiences a 11.8% increase in operating profits. Cost-Income ratio further decreases.

December 31, 2010

Austria's Minister of Social Affairs Wants to Extend the Years of Employment

Rudolf Hundstorfer wants to see older workers work longer, and is trying to get the consensus of businesses.

December 31, 2010

State Secretary for Finance: Euro-bonds as a Medium-term Strategy

The Austrian State Secretary for Finance, Andreas Schieder, does not discard Euro-bonds, against the majority view of German and Austrian politicians.

December 31, 2010

Profit Warning at S&T

The Q4 data of the Austrian software consulting company show negative operational results.

December 31, 2010

Kovats also Suffers Private Plight

The chairman of the insolvent A-Tec, Mirko Kovats, has to grant Raiffeisen liens on his personal properties

December 31, 2010

Immofinanz Sues Lobbyist

The Austrian real estate group Immofinanz sues its former adviser, Walter Meischberger, because of the "Buwog Affair".

December 30, 2010

Nowotny Calls for Consistent Budget Consolidation

The Governor of the OeNB draws balance at the end of the year and gives his outlook on the challenges for 2011

December 30, 2010

WIFO Director: "Crisis was not Taken Advantage of to Introduce Reforms"

In an interview with the newspaper "Kurier", the head of the WIFO criticizes the lack of commitment to reforms. His perspectives for Austria are nevertheless optimistic.

December 30, 2010

Creditors Wish Kovat´s Retreat

The creditors of the insolvent Austrian technology Group A-Tec prefer Mirko Kovats to retreat from his position as CEO.

December 30, 2010

Stronach Sells Shares to Magna

The founder and long-time Chairman of the board of the Austria-Canadian Magna Group, Frank Stronach, only holds 5.14% now.

December 30, 2010

State Visit from Qatar in Austria

As part of a three-day state visit by the Head of State of Qatar, talks on economic topics are mainly planned.

December 29, 2010

Leitl Demands Reforms

The President of the Austrian Economic Chamber calls for more Government work in administration, health and education.

December 29, 2010

Bank Austria CEO Cernko: Austrian Banks Fight Securities Tax

The CEO of Bank Austria, Willibald Cernko, was interviewed by the newspaper “Kurier”. He announced that Austrian Banks will call the Constitutional Court.

December 29, 2010

ATX Forecast 2011: High Yields, High Volatility

RLB Niederösterreich-Wien predicts a very good year for security investments and expects double-digit yields.

December 29, 2010

Spindelegger: Turkey's Joining the EU Will Not Happen Before 2024

In an interview with the "Wirtschaftsblatt", the Austrian Foreign Minister stresses the relevance of Turkey. Croatia should come into the EU much earlier EU.

December 29, 2010

Italian Support for Nabucco

The Italian power company Edison cooperates with the Nabucco gas pipeline project. The aim is to create synergies.

December 28, 2010

Chamber of Labor Calls for a More Equitable Distribution

Corporate profits on one hand and reduced working hours, dismissals and wage cuts on the other, are not compatible for the Chamber of Labor.

December 28, 2010

Meinl Bank Shows Losses

Due to the elimination of investments, Meinl Bank slips into the red zone. The loss amounts to € 37m.

December 28, 2010

Sanader Remains in Extradition Custody

Custody prior to extradition was imposed on the former Croatian Prime Minister Sanader. He complains about the "arbitrariness of the Croatian authorities".

December 28, 2010

Voestalpine: Franz Rotter taking over from Claus Raidl

Already on Monday 31st March 2010 the Supervisory Board of voestalpine AG appointed Mr. Franz Rotter to the Management Board of voestalpine AG, with effect from 1st January 2011.

December 27, 2010

Investigations Against Sanader Continue

The investigation of Austrian and Croatian authorities against the former Prime Minister of Croatia in the Hypo affair are being intensified. Many questions remain unanswered.

December 23, 2010

Hypo Group: Sanader Denies Payments of Commissions

The former Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, questioned in Salzburg, denies having ever received money from the Hypo Group.

December 22, 2010

AAA Rating Confirmed for Austria

The rating agency Standard & Poor’s; leaves Austria’s credit status unchanged.

December 22, 2010

Changes in Board of Bewag have been Completed

The energy supplier from Burgenland gets a new board after a seven-week long call for tenders.

December 22, 2010

Change in Magna´s Management

The Austrian-Canadian component supplier announces a change in its Board of Directors. Belinda Stronach leaves.

December 22, 2010

Leitl: Municipal Financial Problems Act as Growth Brake

The President of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ), Christoph Leitl, demands greater spending efficiency in the public sector in order to improve municipal finances.

December 22, 2010

New Markets for Red Bull and Rauch

The Austrian Food companies Rauch and Red Bull open new distribution networks through the Croatian Atlantic Group.

December 21, 2010

Urgent Need for Capital at Austrian Banks

Walter Rothensteiner, Chairman of RZB as well as the Credit Division of the Economic Chamber, considers that domestic banks are under massive capital pressure.

December 21, 2010

ÖIAG: Sale of the Post and Telekom is possible

Peter Michaelis, the departing CEO of the Austrian state holding company (ÖIAG) is considering the sale of interest holdings.

December 20, 2010

Potential of Austria's Creative Industries

Mitterlehner and Leitl: the Austrian creative industry accounts for 60,000 cross-industry jobs and acts as an export driver.

December 20, 2010

Higher Dividends at Telekom Austria

Telekom Austria Group Updates its Cash Use Policy and Provides Financial Outlook at its Capital Market Day.

December 20, 2010

Porr takes over TEERAG-ASDAG and starts reorganization

The Porr Group presents a new corporate structure. Focus is put on domestic civil engineering and road construction with TEERAG-ASDAG.

December 20, 2010

French SNCF Participates in Westbahn Project

The French National Railways acquire a stake of 25% in the Haselsteiner project.

December 17, 2010

Austrian Economic Chamber focuses Growth Market China

Minister of Economy Mitterlehner presented together with the President of the Economic Camber, Leitl, strategies for the export market China.

December 17, 2010

A-Tec Quota Too Low for Creditors

The group has not defined an overall quota yet. What is certain, however, is that the current offer will be too low for the creditors.

December 17, 2010

Austria's Tax Revenues are Higher than Expected

As the economy developed relatively well this year relatively, tax revenues increased. The deficit for 2010 might therefore turn out to be lower than planned.

December 17, 2010

Controversies About S&T Personnel

The chairman of the Vienna-based IT services provider, Thomas Streimelweger sues the supervisory board because of his dismissal, which he allegedly offered.

December 16, 2010