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Austrian Economic Policy News and Analysis
Read the latest headlines about policies and laws influencing the business and investment environment of Vienna and Austria


Romania: Construction Industry to Grow by 1.9 Percent

The growth rate in the construction industry is even higher than economic growth in real terms.
September 12, 2013


Hungary: Monetary Easing Policy to be Continued

Hungary´s National Bank MNB has decided to extend the “lending for growth” program until 2014. In total, the program´s volume comes at € 7.0bn.
September 12, 2013


Hypo Group Needs up to € 17bn

The scenarios for the nationalized Austrian banking group become even more pessimistic.
September 12, 2013


Austria: Enormous Amounts Could Pile Up For Hypo Group

According to Austrian daily “Standard“, the winding down of the ailing bank Hypo could be even more expensive than assumed so far. The amount of required capital reanges between € 6.2bn (until the end of 2014) and € 17bn (until 2017).
September 11, 2013


Schieder: IMF Confirms SPÖ-Claims

State Secretary for Finances, Andreas Schieder regards the demands by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as a confirmation of those by the Social Democrats (SPÖ).
September 11, 2013


Turkish Airlines Not Interested in Croatia Airlines

The Turkish airline carrier has denied rumors of acquiring states at Croatia Airlines.
September 11, 2013


Slovenia: Employment Outlooks Deteriorated

Outlooks for Slovenian jobseekers have darkened. According to a recent survy of temporary employment company Manpower presented on Tuesday, employment outlook has dropped from 7 percent to zero.
September 11, 2013


Romania: Chinese Investors to Support Infrastructure Projects with € 3bn

According to the Romanian Infrastructure and Foreign Investments Department (DPIIS), investors from China will support the construction of new highways and electricity generating power plants in the amount of more than € 3bn.
September 11, 2013


Austria: Spindelegger Confident About Becoming New Chancellor

The intense elections campaign for the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) has officially started on Tuesday. Deputy Chancellor and party leader Spindelegger promised more jobs and housing space.
September 11, 2013


IMF: Praise and Criticism for Austria

According to the IMF´s country report, Austria´s main problem is the fiscal situation.
September 11, 2013


VIG: Downsizing Business in Italy

Donau Versicherung, affiliate of VIG, has to make provisions in the amount of € 35m.
September 10, 2013


Turkish Dogus Group Not Interested in Hypo Alpe Adria

A high-ranking representative of Turkish Dogus Group denied that the corporation was interested in taking over Austrian bank Hypo Alpe Adria. In an interview with “Wall Street Journal” he claimed there had been no negotiations with Hypo.
September 10, 2013


Czech Republic: One Third to Vote for CSSD

According to a poll, 28 percent of Czechs would vote for the Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD) if an election was held now.
September 10, 2013


Turkey: Strong Industrial Production at Start of Q3

Turkey saw a strong industrial production at the start of the third quarter, according to official data, which gives hope for an improved economic growth as the country is facing more and more economic difficulties.
September 10, 2013


Austria: Weak Growth Impulses

Today, the Austrian Institute for Economic Research (Wifo) has corrected the economic outlooks for Austria downwards. Growth impulses have been very weak so far.
September 10, 2013


Poland: Unemployment Dropping Slightly

The number of registered jobseekers decreased in August.
September 10, 2013


Faymann Underlines Necessity of Property Taxes

Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann (SPÖ) calls for new taxes. In total, property taxes should bring tax revenues of more than € 2.0bn.
September 9, 2013


Orban on Foreign Banks: „Colonization is Over“

Hungary´s Prime Minister Viktor Orban emphasizes that foreign banks have to pay for foreign exchange loans.
September 9, 2013


Poland: Government Gives Green Light to Budget Draft

The Polish Government has approved the budget plan for 2014 with the deficit gap closing further after a refurbishment of the private pension system.
September 9, 2013


Hungary May Reprogram EU Regional Aid

Hungary is faced with the reprograming of up to 5 percent or a volume of up to € 250m of its current EU regional aid.
September 9, 2013


Slovenia Shuts Down Two Small Banks

In order to ensure the stability of its financing sector, Slovenia decided to liquidate two banks, Factor Banka and Probanka. According to state officials, the step was also taken to avoid international bailout.
September 9, 2013


Romania: West Region to Catch Up Economically

Romania's West Region aims to catch up with its more developed peers in the European Union.
September 9, 2013


TAP: Surveys with Contractors to Begin

Trans Adriatic Pipeline has authorized its contractors to start surveys.
September 9, 2013


Croatia: Record Year in Tourism

Croatia will have a record year in tourism says Minister.
September 9, 2013


Serbia: Plans to Reform Pension System

Serbia plans reform of pension system by year end.
September 9, 2013


Poland: Re-Nationalization of Pension Scheme

Poland takes back the partial privatization of pension system. The re-nationalization does not affect Poland´s sovereign debt rating.
September 7, 2013


Eight Austrian Banks to be Supervized by ECB

The European Central Bank will supervise 130 banks in the Eurozone. 18 German and six Austrian banks will have a new supervision authority.
September 6, 2013


„Demand for Loans Will Grow“

In an interview with „Wirtschaftsblatt“, Vice-President of EIB (European Investment Bank) Wilhelm Molterer indicates that banks may not be prepared for an increasing demand for loans.
September 6, 2013


Romania to Issue New Bonds

Romania plans to generate at least € 1bn from a second bond issue.
September 6, 2013


Hungary: New Threats for Foreign Banks

Hungary´s government is determined to convert foreign exchange loans at the expense of banks again.
September 6, 2013


Croatia: New Trial for Pre-Bankruptcy Settlement

Croatia giving fourth chance to reach pre-bankruptcy settlement.
September 6, 2013


Slovenia: Former Prime Minister Accused of Money Laundering

Former Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa’s image is further tarnished as he is alleged of having paid money to a relative’s bank account.
September 6, 2013


Austria: Spindelegger in Favor of “Creative Model“ for Banks

Deputy Chancellor Spindelegger seems willing to lead open discussions about the extension of bank levies.
September 6, 2013


Serbia: UK Enterprises Likely to Invest in Serbia

70 British companies are interested in investing in Serbia's economy.
September 6, 2013


Another Austerity Package in Austria?

Due to the dismal situation of nationalized banks, the economist Christian Keuschnigg anticipates another austerity package after the election at the end of September.
September 6, 2013


EU Commission Threatens Croatia with Sanctions Once More

EU Commissioner Reding has not yet resolved the issue with Croatia. She announced to expect an easy change of the law.
September 5, 2013


President of Ukraine Presses for Faster Progess

President Yanukovych urges the parliament to adopt laws for a faster progress to the country’s European integration
September 5, 2013


Haselsteiner as Candidate for NEOS

Austrian party NEOS has added former CEO of Strabag Hans-Peter Haselsteiner as top candidate for the parliamentary elections. Haselsteiner has so far supported the party behind the scenes.
September 5, 2013


Serbia's Government Regards Economy as Priority Issue

"Solving economic problems is a priority of the reshuffled government"- Serbian Prime Minister.
September 5, 2013


Eurogroup: Greece Requires Further Aids

Crisis-struck Greece will require further support by Eurozone member countries, according to head of the Eurogroup Jeroen Dijsselbloem.
September 5, 2013


VBAG to Start Selling Process of Volksbank Malta Ltd.

The Austrian VBAG has started the selling process of its affiliate Volksbank Malta Ltd. (VB Malta).
September 5, 2013


Faymann: “Banks Should Pay for Hypo”

Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann does not consider a new austerity package necessary despite of the threatening billions of Euros for the selling and winding-up of the ailing bank.
September 5, 2013


Polish Central Bank Holds Interest Rate Flat

Poland´s economy begins to recover. NBP leaves the base rate at 2.5%.
September 5, 2013


Lopatka Demands Reform for Austrian Railways

State Secretary Lopatka demands Minister of Infrastructure Bures to tackle the expensive pension system at the Austrian Railways by doing away with privliges for emplyoees in order to unburden tax payers.
September 4, 2013


Slovenian Finance Minister: “Enough Tax Burdens“

On Tuesday, the Slovenian Finance Minister Uros Cufer announced that enough additional tax burdens have been introduced.
September 4, 2013


Alpine: Creditors in Austria and Poland Claim Refunds

Not only the labor market in Austria is burdened but also thousands of creditors have invested in bonds of the construction company and are now facing enormous losses.
September 4, 2013


President Fischer Urges Austria to “Roll Up Sleeves“

In regard to the current election campaigns, the Austrian President Heinz Fischer has urged the parties for joint efforts.
September 4, 2013


Riots before Bulgarian Parliament

Government opponents tried to break through security fences.
September 4, 2013


Austria: Up to € 11.7bn for Downsizing Hypo Group

Years of discussion went by; now the EU Commission has approved the downsizing plan for nationalized Hypo Alpe Adria.
September 4, 2013


Hungarian Government Wants Further FX Debt Reliefs

The government has talks with the Hungarian banking association. In order to de-burden indebted Hungarian households, Prime Minister Viktor Orban wants to reach a debt relief plan.
September 4, 2013