Eastern European Countries and Austria | Bilateral Relations

Austria and Eastern European countries - Latest headlines about bilateral relations in the areas of economy, business, diplomacy, culture and tourism

Bulgarian Foreign Trade Balance Positive

In September the current account was positive (€ 332.7m), which is typical for that month of the year, mainly due to the realization of revenues from tourism and agricultural exports, Raiffeisen Research states.

December 15, 2012

Banking Union: Czech Republic Cautious

For the time being, the Czech Republic will not join the single supervising mechanism.

December 15, 2012

Bulgarian Labor Market: Participation Rate Grows

A repeated Eurozone recession could additionally deteriorate the state of employment, Raiffeisen Research says.

December 15, 2012

Bulgaria: Lending Growth Close to Freezing Point

The increase in deposits also decelerates. The annual rate of growth of money supply (measured by means of the M3 aggregate) slowed down in October to 8.6% (it was 8.8% in the previous two months), Raiffeisen Research says.

December 14, 2012

Polish Government Considers Joining Banking Union

Today, Poland´s Prime Minister Donald Tusk explained that Poland may become a member in the single supervision mechanism.

December 14, 2012

Bulgaria: „The pace of economic growth is sustained“

The domestic demand compensates for the deceleration in export, Raiffeisen Research says.

December 14, 2012

Hungary: Industrial Production Declines

The volume of industrial production decreased by 1.7% in October.

December 14, 2012

EU Guarantees Stability of Czech Banking Sector

The Czech Republic will not use its right to veto. In return, the EU guarantees the stability of the Czech financial sector.

December 14, 2012

CEE Countries May Join Banking Union

ECB will become the main supervisor for the Eurozone´s banking industry. Non-Eurozone member countries are entitled to opt-in.

December 13, 2012

Euro Introduction: Latvians Still Skeptical

The Latvian government aims to introduce the common currency in 2014. The Latvian Budget and Finance Committee approved the introduction.

December 13, 2012

Hungary: Financial Transaction Tax May Increase

As the tax proceeds are behind the government´s expectations, the controversial tax may increase

December 13, 2012

GDP per Capita: Romania and Bulgaria Tail-Lights in EU

GDP per capita varied by one to six across the Member States in 2011. Austria ranks third behind Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

December 13, 2012

Immofinanz Develops New Project in Poland

The Austrian real estate company expands activities in Poland: Start of construction on Nimbus office development project

December 13, 2012

IMF to Visit Hungary Again

In January, the International Monetary Fund will come to Budapest. The talks between the Hungarian government and IMF were postponed several times.

December 12, 2012

Hungary Resolves 2013 Budget

Today, Hungary´s Parliament approved the budget for 2013, which contains a number of tax increases. According to critics, the budget will not hold.

December 12, 2012

Czech Finance Minister: „No Reason to Veto Banking Union“

The Czech Minister of Finance Miroslav Kalousek announced that the Czech Republic has no concerns against the banking union in the Eurozone.

December 12, 2012

Poland Grants State Aid to LOT

Poland´s national airline LOT gets financial support of more than € 100m.

December 12, 2012

Lithuania and Slovakia Record Biggest Increase in Industrial Production

From October 2011 to October 2012, Industrial production down by 1.4% in euro area.

December 12, 2012

Czech Republic: Migration Declines

The population of the Czech Republic increased by 7.8 thousand to 10 513.2 thousand during the first three quarters of 2012.

December 12, 2012

Austria in Favour of Initiating Accession Negotiations with Macedonia

Austria´s State Secretary Reinhold Lopatka speaks at General Affairs Council in Brussels.

December 12, 2012

Zavarovalnica Maribor Remains Slovenian

The Slovenian insurance company was taken over by the Sava Re. NKBM has to increase its equity quota.

December 11, 2012

Gasparovic Meets Klaus

The Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic was officially received by his Czech counterpart Vaclav Klaus.

December 11, 2012

Polish National Bank Criticized

Poland´s Minister of Finance Jacek Rostowski thinks that NBP (National Bank of Poland) does not cut interest rates quickly enough.

December 11, 2012

Bulgaria: Foreign Trade Growing

According to the Bulgarian National Statistical Institute, Bulgarian Trade with Third Countries for the Period January - October 2012 grew by 11%.

December 11, 2012

Hungary: Inflation Grows Further

In November consumer prices increased by 5.2% compared to November 2011.

December 11, 2012

Slovakia: Industrial Sector Grows

Today, the Slovak Statistical Office published data on turnover in selected sectors of economy in October 2012. In most industries, turnover is increasing.

December 11, 2012

Slovakia: Real Wages Decline in Selected Industries

Today, the Slovak Statistical Office published data on employment and average monthly wage in selected sectors of economy in October 2012.

December 11, 2012

„Eurobonds Are No Solution“

Latvia´s Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis argues that euro-bonds may be implemented at the end of the convergence process.

December 11, 2012

Turkey: „The EU Needs Us“

On the occasion of a visit in Hungary, Turkey´s Minister of European Affairs Egemen Bagis argued that the EU would benefit from Turkey´s accession.

December 11, 2012

Czech Unemployment on the Rise

In November, the Czech unemployment quota reached 8.7% after 8.5% in the previous month.

December 10, 2012

Romania: Basescu Under Pressure

After the decisive victory of Prime Minister Ponta, Romania´s President Traian Basescu has no other alternative than to appoint Ponta again.

December 10, 2012

Slovak Growth Flattens

NBS published the Medium-Term Forecast (MTF-2012Q4). Next year, Slovakia´s economic growth comes at 1.6%, NBS says.

December 10, 2012

Slovak Industrial Production Grows Significantly

Industrial production index (IPI) increased by 8,1 % in October 2012, compared with October 2011. The development was affected by a rise in manufacturing by 8,7 %.

December 10, 2012

Slovak Construction Shows Strong Growth

In October, construction output decreased, year-on-year, by 11 % to EUR 484 million. After seasonal adjustment, it increased by 1 % compared with September 2012.

December 10, 2012

Czech Construction Output Decreases

In October 2012 the construction output decreased by 4.3%, year-on-year (y-o-y), in real terms. Even a higher number of working days has not stopped the decline in construction output.

December 10, 2012

Czech Industry: More Working days, More Production

In October 2012, industrial production increased at constant prices by 4.1%, year-on-year; working days adjusted industrial production decreased by 3.3%.

December 10, 2012

CA Immo: New Tenants in Hungary

CA Immo was able to acquire new tenants for some 9,300 sqm office space in five Hungarian office properties over the past six months.

December 10, 2012

Ukraine Faces Recession

For the first time since 2009, Ukraine recorded a negative growth rate last quarter. Weak exports and a shrinking industrial sector are the most pressing issues.

December 8, 2012

Serbia Receives $ 800m Loan

The World Bank grants Serbia a loan of $ 800m. The loan covers Serbia´s budget deficit and enable the government to put more effort into infrastructure investments.

December 8, 2012

Croatia Considers Leasing Out Highways

In order to reduce the budget deficit, Croatia plans to privatize its highway network.

December 8, 2012

Croatia: EU Scepticism Grows

After German officials considered postponing Croatia´s EU accession, Croats become more critical to the European Union.

December 8, 2012

Slovenia Sharpens Austerity Measures

The Slovenian Parliament resolved the budgets for 2013 and 2014. The country tries to fulfill the Maastricht criteria.

December 8, 2012

Fiscal Policy: OECD Warns Slovakia

OECD´s Secretary General Angel Gurria calls Slovakia to improve its fiscal efficiency. The tax collection must be professionalized, he says.

December 8, 2012

Southeast Europe Agrees on Growth Strategy

In order to meet the 2020 growth strategy of the EU, the Balkan countries plan to co-operate more closely. Turkey and Bulgaria emphasize their good relations.

December 8, 2012

Czech Republic: Klaus Rejects ESM

Czech Republic´s President refuses to grant consent to the ESM bill.

December 7, 2012

Hungary: Recession Deepens

The gross domestic product of Hungary decreased by 1.5% in the third quarter of 2012 compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.

December 7, 2012

Czech Republic: Recession Continues

In Q3 2012, the gross domestic product adjusted for price, seasonal, and calendar effects decreased according to the refined estimate by 1.3%, year-on-year (y-o-y), and by 0.3%, quarter-on-quarter (q-o-q).

December 7, 2012

Czech Republic: Highest Exports and Imports Ever Recorded

In October 2012, according to preliminary data of ‘border statistics’, current price exports and imports rose by 7.5% and 8.2%, year-on-year (y-o-y), respectively.

December 7, 2012

Hypo Group: Deadline Expires

Today, the first deadline for the sale of Hypo Group´s subsidiaries in Southeast-Europe expires.

December 7, 2012

Serbia: Government Demonstrates Optimism

Serbian Minister of Economics Mladjan Dinkic expects that the country´s exports will grow substantially in the next years.

December 7, 2012