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

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

Garage Operator Company List Expands to Hungary
The Vienna-based List Group, which acts as real estate company, acquired the Wipark Group in Hungary.
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

Czech Railways Considers to Acquire ÖBB-Railjets
The Austrian Federal Railways doesn´t want to exercise its option to buy further Railjets from Siemens.
December 28, 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

Telekom Srbija: Minimum Price € 1.4bn
The Serbian Ministry of Economy announced today the minimum price for the majority stake in Telekom Srjbija. Telekom Austria is an interested party.
December 23, 2010

Raiffeisen Negotiates over Polbank
The Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) negotiates actively for the Polish Polbank.
December 23, 2010

Vienna Insurance Group Expands in Macedonia
Vienna Insurance Group granted life insurance licence in Macedonia. The project will be started with the Austrian bank Erste Group.
December 23, 2010

OMV Gas Project is Delayed
Austria's OMV is involved in a joint venture for a liquid gas project in Croatia. Delays are expected.
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

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

Austrian-Hungarian Know-How for Macedonia
The Hungarian and Austrian Stock Exchanges make their capital market know-how available to the Macedonian Stock Exchange.
December 21, 2010

New Project in Poland for Atrium
Atrium strengthens polish portfolio with € 168.5m acquisition of a shopping centre in Warsaw.
December 20, 2010

Accusations Against Sanader Grow Stronger
Many clues point to improper activities by former Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader in connection with the Hypo Group.
December 16, 2010

OeNB: Recovery of the Financial System in a Persistently Uncertain Environment
The OeNB considers that domestic banks benefit from the positive development in the CEE region. However, uncertainties stay on as before.
December 15, 2010

New Logistics Center for Gebrüder Weiss in Romania
The logistics company Gebrüder Weiss has entrusted the construction of a logistics center in Sibiu to the Unger Steel Group as general contractor again.
December 14, 2010

Contradictions about Sanader's Connection to Carinthia
The connection between the former Croatian Prime Minister Sanader and the Carinthian Hypo Group is multifaceted, but also full of contradictions.
December 14, 2010

The Croatia-Connection of the Hypo Group
The recent arrest of former Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader casts shadows on the Carinthian Hypo Group.
December 10, 2010

OMV: Nabucco Underway as Planned
Austrian OMV considers that the gas pipeline project of European energy companies is developing according to plans.
December 10, 2010

Difficult Times for Austrian Investors in Zagreb
The plan of an Austrian group of investors to build the largest shopping center in Europe in the Croatian capital threatens to fail.
December 10, 2010

It is Official: Telekom Austria Bids in Serbia
What has only been suspected until now, is official: Telekom Austria bids against well-known competitors for the privatized part of Telekom Srbija.
December 10, 2010

Austrian Economic Chamber Supports Development of the Danube as a Transportation Route
Austrian Economic Chamber President Christoph Leitl supports the EU's Danube region strategy to expand infrastructure between the Danube countries.
December 10, 2010

A Las Vegas for Europe
On the Austria-Hungarian border, the European “EuroVegas” gaming metropolis is to be built for € 5.0bn.
December 8, 2010

Romania Sells Stake in Petrom
The state share in the Romanian Petrom, a subsidiary of the Austrian OMV, is to be reduced. OMV is interested.
December 7, 2010

Raiffeisen Bank International's direct bank Zuno launches in Slovakia
Zuno, which target Internet-focused customers, launches operations in Slovakia. Additional CEE countries will follow in 2011.
December 6, 2010

Vienna Insurance Group Expands in Albania
The Acquisition of Interalbanian by the biggest Austrian Insurance company is successfully completed.
December 6, 2010

Strabag Receives Major Project in Poland
Construction of new railway and bus station of Katowice operated by the Austrian building company Strabag.
December 2, 2010

Austria's Position in the CEE Region Shakes
According to the Roland Berger consultancy agency, Austria receives not only competition in the CEE countries, but the importance of the region also decreases from a global viewpoint.
December 1, 2010

Kaufmann Group Builds for € 130 Million in Zagreb
The real estate Kaufmann group from Linz starts its second major project in the Croatian capital. The investment volume amounts to € 130 million.
November 30, 2010

bauMax Expands Further in Romania
On November 30, 2010 the Austrian DIY chain bauMax inaugurated its thirteenth Romanian market in Constanta.
November 30, 2010

Massive Lay Offs at Hypo Group
The still ailing Carinthian bank restructures the leasing division. 500 jobs are being cut.
November 30, 2010

Bank Austria: Growth Potential for Real Estate in Romania and Bulgaria
Despite the signs of economic revival, Bulgaria and Romania markets are still largely being ignored by international investors, says Bank Austria.
November 29, 2010

Vienna Insurance Group Takes a 100% Stake in TBIH
VIG now realizes an increased involvement in Turkey, Ukraine and Georgia.
November 26, 2010

Polbank: Intesa Bids, Raiffeisen Still in the Race
In the battle for the takeover of the Polish private bank Polbank, the Italian Intesa has already placed a bid. No comments are being made by Raiffeisen.
November 25, 2010

Solid Growth inTrade Between Austria and the Czech Republic
Exports between the two countries rise by around 20%. Cooperation is to be extended also to research.
November 22, 2010

UniCredit: Expansion to the Czech Republic, Poland and Turkey
UniCredit’s subsidiary Bank Austria functions as an Eastern Europe Holding. 40% of the net income of the group comes from the region by now.
November 19, 2010

OMV Sells 56 Gas Stations to PKN Orlen
56 gas stations in the German states of Thuringia and Saxony go to a subsidiary of the Polish oil group PKN Orlen.
November 19, 2010

Siemens Austria Participates in Construction of Zagreb’s Main Train Station
The consortium Siemens AG Österreich and Elektrokem d.o.o from Zagreb has been awarded the contract for the delivery of a modern electronic switch system
November 18, 2010

Immofinanz Expands into the Czech Republic and Slovakia
Immofinanz established a new retail concept: STOP.SHOP. has grown in both importance and size in recent years. The Czech Republic and Slovakia are the most important countries.
November 11, 2010

Erste Group: Job Reduction in Hungary
The Austrian bank plans to cut 250 jobs in Hungary. Reasons are the bad loans and the introduction of the bank tax.
November 11, 2010

Telekom Srbija: Sale is Resisted
The partially for sale Telekom Srbija which Telekom Austria is said to be interested in, raises passions in Serbia. Opposition to the sale is taking shape.
November 11, 2010

Strabag: Major Contract in Romania for 220 Million Euro
A consortium led by Austria's Strabag has won a contract to build a Romanian motorway for 220.6 million euro.
November 11, 2010

Erste Group: CEE Companies More Efficient than Western Counterparts
CEE companies are more efficient, more profitable and less indebted as Western companies. The German corporate sector is the only sector to compete with CEE companies.
November 10, 2010

Hypo Alpe Adria: Involvement in Southeastern Europe to be maintained
The Carinthian bank intends to continue operating in the Balkans. The active involvement is justified because the region is the one with most significant growth in Europe and Hypo has the status of a systemically important bank.
November 10, 2010

Nabucco: First Deliveries Before Year-End
While sharp criticism of the pipeline project is heard again from Moscow, there is optimism at Nabucco.
November 9, 2010

Raiffeisen CEO Stepic: CEE Continues Being Europe’s Growth Driver
The boss of Raiffeisen Bank International Bank (RBI), Herbert Stepic, sees the CEE region continuing as long-term growth driver for Europe.
November 8, 2010

Competition for Hungarian ÖBB Subsidiary
Rail Cargo Hungaria (RCH) is still fighting for restructuring success. Meanwhile, a new competitor has appeared in the freight business.
November 5, 2010

Strabag and Alpine Suspected of Cartelization
Damages for 2 billion euro (2.8 billion dollars) are said to be the result of forming a construction cartel for motorway construction in Slovenia.
November 3, 2010

Raiffeisen Participates in Bid for Polbank
Raiffeisen International Bank (RBI) tries to get into the act concerning the sale of Polbank. The eighth largest bank in Poland is currently owned by EFG Euro Bank, which is offering its Polish interest for sale.
November 3, 2010