Austrian Economic Policy News and Analysis
Read the latest headlines about policies and laws influencing the business and investment environment of Vienna and Austria
Wifo: Economic Growth with Brakes On
Economic upswing will take time. Considering the individual branches an uneven picture emerges.
August 9, 2013
Early Elections in Czech Republic Likely
After Czech’s new Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok failed the vote of confidence, there are many indicators that President Milos Zeman will announce early elections.
August 9, 2013
Poland: VAT Receipts Increased 10 Percent
Value added tax (VAT) receipts increase 10 percent year on year.
August 8, 2013
Hungary: Land Reform Evokes Conflict
“Hungarian soil belongs to Hungarian people“. This is the maxim of national-conservative ruling party of Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
August 8, 2013
Erste Paid Back € 1.22 to Austrian State
On Thursday, Erste Group announced that the participation capital in the amount of € 1.76 was paid back completely.
August 8, 2013
Slovenia: Stakes of at Least 80 Enterprises
The Slovenian state owns shares in at least 80 companies directly or indirectly.
August 8, 2013
Czech Government Loses Vote on Confidence
The cabinet of experts of Prime Minister Rusnok only receives 93 out of 200 votes. October may be the month for early elections.
August 8, 2013
Hypo Group: Reason for “Budget Lie”
The situation of ailing bank Hypo Alpe Adria may be worse than assumed. The supervisory board of the bank and the taskforce are discussing about the half-yearly report.
August 7, 2013
Serbia: Attempted Murder on Deputy PM Vucic Prevented
According to Belgrade daily “Nase novine“, Serbian Intelligence Service BIA was able to prevent an attempted murder on Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic.
August 7, 2013
Czech Republic: Will Rusnok Remain in Parliament?
Today, August 7, 2013, the members of parliament in Prague will carry out a vote on confidence on the new government of Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok. It is unlikely that Rusnok will remain in parliament.
August 7, 2013
Credit Crunch in CESEE?
The capital outflow in the CESEE region accelerates. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) fears negative consequences for the real economy.
August 7, 2013
Romania: Another Major Privatization Ahead
Romania´s government intends to sell the publicly held share in the telecommunication group Romtelecom.
August 6, 2013
Ukraine: Negotiations with IMF as Last Exit
Seeking for an IMF loan is the last remaining alternative for the financially stricken country.
August 6, 2013
Czech Republic: Employment is the Highest Since 1998
The total employment in Q2 2013 increased by 64.9 thousand persons compared to the same period of 2012.
August 5, 2013
Croatia: Foreign Currency Loans No Danger for Banks
About 8% of the loan portfolio in Croatia consists of Swiss franc loans. Banks would be able to bear losses.
August 5, 2013
Bad Bank for Hypo Group?
According to market rumors, Austria´s government wants domestic banks to participate in a bad bank for the nationalized Hypo Group. Finance Minister Maria Fekter denies such reports.
August 5, 2013
Austria: Property Distribution Highly Unequal
About 10% of Austria´s population owns 70% of the nation´s wealth. The governing social democrats reaffirm that Austria needs property taxes.
August 5, 2013
Romania Initiates Structural Reforms
In order to receive a precautionary loan from the IMF, Romania´s government will implement a series of reform steps. Above all, Romania starts privatizations again. Romania´s economic outlook continues to brighten.
August 3, 2013
Croatia: Upwsing Depends on Return of Investors
Vedrana Jelusic, head of EBRD Croatia, thinks that Croatia benefits from the joining the EU. Introducing the euro is no issue yet, she told “Wirtschaftsblatt”.
August 3, 2013
Czech Republic: Interest Rates Remain Flat
The Czech National Bank (CNB) holds the base rate at its historical low. In the course of 2014, the Czech economy is expected to recover.
August 2, 2013
Poland: Slow, but Steady Progress
Poland´s National Bank anticipates a longer term of interest rate stabilization. The economic trend reversal will come in the third quarter, rate setter Andrzej Bratkowski stated.
August 2, 2013
Austria: Leitl Demands Impulses for Growth and Employment
Enterprises need to be motivated instead of being burded by further taxes, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) Christoph Leitl argues.
August 1, 2013
CESEE Remains Attractive for Austrian Investors
According to a survey, the region of CESEE is still attractive to Austrian investors. Particulary the bigger countries – Poland, Turkey and Russia – are becoming even more popular.
August 1, 2013
Austria: Verbund to Take Austerity Measures
Only a few months ago, CEO of Verbund Wolfgang Anzengruber promised that “2013 will become the best year in the company’s history”. However, there have been bad news for the energy company ever since.
August 1, 2013
Turkey: Tear Gas Against Protesters Again
Once more, the Turkish police uses tear gas to fight off protesters.
August 1, 2013
Romania’s Economic Recovery Expected to Strengthen.
Staff teams from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the European Commission (EC), and the World Bank visited Bucharest Romania during July 17–31.
August 1, 2013
Cyprus Is Showing Progress
According to estimates by its international creditors, Cyprus is showing progress at the reorganization of its state budget.
July 31, 2013
Serbia: No Early Elections Despite of Break of Coalition
Dismissal of Finance Minister Mladjan Dinkic. URS is leaving the governmental alliance. Despite of a break of the coalition, there will be no early elections in Serbia.
July 31, 2013
Czech Republic: Unwilling to Join Eurozone?
In 2012, the country missed two out of four criteria for the introduction of the single currency. According to the statistical office it was the worst result in five years. It is not yet clear when the Czech Republic is ready to join the Eurozone.
July 31, 2013
Slovenia: New Record for People Leaving the Country
According to the Statistics Office, the number of Slovenian citizens moving from the country came to a new record in 2012.
July 31, 2013
Romania: Drop of VAT on Bread and Baked Goods
Around 70 percent of Romanian bread and baked goods are sold on the black market. A drop in VAT is supposed to change that.
July 31, 2013
Slovenia Likely to Overcome Problems in Banking Sector
Slovenia’s problems in banking sector are controllable, according to experts.
July 31, 2013
Eurozone: Business Investments Decreased to 18.8 Percent
Business investment rate down to 18.8% in the euro area and to 18.3% in the EU27 Business profit share at 37.7% and at 37.2% respectively
July 31, 2013
Bulgaria: Danger of Policy Drifting
Bulgaria's fundamentals are strong but politics suggest policy drift.
July 31, 2013
Eurozone: Household Real Income Increased 0.5 percent
Household saving rate up to 13.1% in the euro area and to 11.0% in the EU27 Household real income per capita increased by 0.5% in the euro area
July 31, 2013
Ukraine’s Banking System to Approximate EU Standards
Introduction of Basel-II regulation earlier in 2013 helped banks create more reserves.
July 31, 2013
Trend: Service Industry Drifts to CESEE
Lower costs in the service sector in CESEE countries, particularly Romania, are compensated by higher expenditures in securing quality standards.
July 30, 2013
EVN Forced to Lower Electriciy Prices in Bulgaria
Austrian energy provider EVN is ordered by the regulator to drop electricity prices.
July 30, 2013
Protests: Bulgaria in a Political and Social Crisis
Thousands of protesters are still marching the streets of Sofia. It is particularly the educated middle class that has had enough of the raging corruption of the political elite.
July 30, 2013
Poland: Estimates for 2014 Lowered
Forecast by IbnGR: Poland's GDP will grow 1.2 percent in 2013 and 2.6 percent in 2014.
July 30, 2013
Czech Republic: US Export-Import Bank Offers Loan for Temelin
The official export credit agency of the United States offers a loan under the condition that Westinghouse wins the tender.
July 30, 2013
Bulgaria to Lower Electricity Prices by August
Bulgaria will lower the price of electricity on August 1st
July 30, 2013
Poland: Foreign Trade Deficit Grows Substantially
Poland's final 2012 trade deficit comes at € 10.584 bn, according to statistics office.
July 30, 2013
Slovenia Lures Russian Investors
Slovenia invites Russian investors to participate in privatization plans.
July 30, 2013
47.5 Percent Compulsory Levy in Cyprus
Major investors are losing almost half of their assets.
July 30, 2013
Meager Profits for Erste Group in First Half 2013
Erste Group posts net profit of EUR 301.2 million for first half of 2013; risk costs decline
July 30, 2013
RBI Trying to Avoid Becoming “Cash Cow“ in Hungary
In an interview with “Wirtschaftsblatt“, CEO of RBI Karl Sevelda talks about further burdens in Hungary and the bank’s reaction to them, capital increase and how participation capital can be replaced.
July 29, 2013
Gazprom Acquires Kirghiz Gas Network
In return for a symbolic purchase price, the Kirghiz natural gas network is taken over completely by Gazprom. The Russian energy giant intends to invest billions of rubel in infrastructure.
July 29, 2013
Two Interested Parties for Hypo Alpe Adria Italia
Two investors have shown their interest for the take-over of Italian affiliate of nationalized Hypo Alpe Adria. Banca Popolare di Vicenza and a British-Indian Group are claimed of being interested.
July 29, 2013
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