Austrian Economic Policy News and Analysis

Read the latest headlines about policies and laws influencing the business and investment environment of Vienna and Austria

Russia: Stronger Regulations for Market for Consumer Loans

Business with consumer credits have started comparatively late in Russia. Now, the market is supposed to be regulated further.

July 29, 2013

Romania: Privatization as a Potential Driver for Economy

Romania has to privatize more state-owned enterprises to become one of fastest emerging economies in the European Union.

July 29, 2013

ECB: No Risk of Deflation in Europe

The European Central Bank (ECB), in contrast to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), does not see the danger of a general downward trend in prices with all its negative effects for the economy.

July 29, 2013

Bulgarian Deputy PM: “They Want Social Justice“

In an interview with Austrian newspaper Standard, Bulgarian Justice Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Zinaida Zlatanova (40) talks about the reasons for the protest movement, planned reforms and critizism from abroad.

July 27, 2013

Czech Republic: President Zeman Names 15 New Ambassadors

The step had been delayed for several months over Zeman’s dispute with Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg over the filling of ambassadorial posts in Bratislava and Moscow.

July 26, 2013

Slovenia: Economy to Shrink Despite of Austerity Measures

Slovenian economy expected to contract 2.2 percent in 2013. Prior forecast: -1.9 percent.

July 26, 2013

Bulgaria: Signs of Economic Recovery

Bulgaria services sector marks the highest growth of FDI

July 26, 2013

Latvia: Saying Goodbye to the Lat

The introduction of the Euro in the Baltic country has been postponed due to the financial crisis. Latvia originally planned to join the single currency union in 2008 already.

July 26, 2013

Czech Republic to Remain in Recession

The Czech economy will, according to the Finance Ministry in Prague, shrink by 1.5 percent and only start growing again in 2014 by 0.8 percent.

July 26, 2013

Summit of Former Yugoslav Countries

Balkan leaders meet to support EU Accession.

July 26, 2013

72 Percent of Bulgarians Regard Situation as “Unbearable”

Every day since June 14 protesters are gathering in front of the parliament in Sofia to express their anger about corruption in the country and demand the current government to step down.

July 26, 2013

Poland: President Komorowski Most Trusted by Citizens

Poles trust president much more than party leaders.

July 26, 2013

Hungary Abandons Radical Resolution On Foreign Exchange Loans

Foreign currency denominated mortgages for home purchases shall be phased out.

July 25, 2013

Fekter: Debt reduction and tax reform are our absolute priorities

"We are on the right track"

July 25, 2013

KapschTrafficCom Still Struggling in South Africa

The South African government cannot start the project since the state-controlled toll company is already in desperate straits. Further financial aids are not in sight.

July 25, 2013

Poland: First Signs of Recovery from Crisis

Deputy Finance Minister Janusz Cichon expressed his optimism about the country’s soon economic recovery via Twitter by referring to Poland’s industrial performance and retail sales in the last month.

July 25, 2013

Croatia Might Join Schengen Zone in Three Years

Croatia to start procedures for no-passport zone in 2015.

July 25, 2013

Austria: First Tax Tranche from Switzerland Transferred

The first tranche of the tax agreement between Austria and Switzerland in the amount of € 416.7m was transferred. Fekter considers it “a great success for Austria and the taxpayers”.

July 25, 2013

Austria: 82 Percent of Alpine Employees With New Jobs

After the construction company’s bankruptcy, 82 percent of Alpine employees have found a new job again. Around 100 persons are still working on the winding up of the company.

July 25, 2013

Czech Republic: CEZ to Postpone Completion of Temelin

Czech energy company CEZ announced that the decision for the finalization of nuclear power plant Temelin will take at least a year longer than planned.

July 25, 2013

Bulgarian Protests As Sign of New Understanding of Values

The great wave of protests in Bulgaria continues to sweep the country. Experts regard the demonstrations as a sign of a new understanding of values.

July 25, 2013

Hypo Group: Massive Losses in Italy

The Italian affiliate of Austrian problem bank Hypo Alpe Adria has notched up considerable losses.

July 25, 2013

Poland: Opposition Calls for Parliamentary Inquiry

PiS chief opposition calls for parliamentary inquiry into public finances.

July 24, 2013

Uniqa Places € 350m Capital Bond

UNIQA successfully places €350 million supplementary capital bond.

July 24, 2013

Voestalpine: Cartel Proceedings Finally Settled

voestalpine AG response to the German Cartel Office's rail cartel announcement issued yesterday.

July 24, 2013

Serbia and Bulgaria to Team Up in Energy Policy

Serbia and Bulgaria discuss South Stream, Nis-Sofia gas interconnection and the completion of the section of Corridor 10

July 24, 2013

Austria: Economists Predict Rosy Days

The Austrian economy will be growing by 1.7 percent on an annual basis and is developing much better than the rest of the Eurozone, the Austrian Institute for Higher Studies (IHS) predicts.

July 24, 2013

China: Big Plans for Ljubljana Airport

China Southern, Asia’s biggest airline company, plans to establish a hub in Ljubljana for SEE.

July 24, 2013

Alpine Inable to Pay in Mid-2012 Already

Former CFO supposed to have asked Spanish parent company FCC for liquidity assistance in the amount of € 115m, otherwise “we are dead”.

July 24, 2013

Bulgaria: Protests About to Escalate

Heavy clashes between protestors and policemen in Bulgaria´s capital Sofia are endangering the political stability.

July 24, 2013

Poland: Dispute Between NBP and Finance Ministry

Finance Minister Jacek Rostowski and Governor of Polish National Bank Marek Belka are blaming each other for the poor performance of Poland´s economy.

July 23, 2013

Hypo Group: Current Capital Injection Not Enough

Klaus Liebscher, head of the supervisory board of the nationalized Austrian problem bank, thinks that the Ministry of Finance will have to inject further money.

July 23, 2013

Orban: Not Joining Eurozone in the Next Ten Years

Hungary´s Prime Minister thinks that his country should not become a member of the euro area in the medium term.

July 23, 2013

Russia: Inflation on the Rise

In the first six months of 2013, the inflation rate came at 3.5%. Compared to the reference period of 2012, the inflation rate was up by 0.4 percentage points.

July 23, 2013

Turkish National Bank Raises Base Rate

Today, Turkey´s National Bank has increased the base rate from 6.5% to 7.25%. Turkey wants to prevent a devaluation of the lira.

July 23, 2013

Hungarian Central Bank Cuts Base Rate Again

At its meeting on 23 July 2013, the Monetary Council reviewed the latest economic and financial developments and voted to reduce the central bank base rate by 25 basis points from 4.25% to 4.00%, with effect from 24 July 2013.

July 23, 2013

Hungary Plans New Burden for Banks

Hungarian households are still over-indebted. Prime Minister Viktor Orban aims to help them on the expense of the banking sector.

July 23, 2013

Croatia Receives Major Loan from EIB

The European Investment Bank grants a € 250m loan for the new EU member.

July 23, 2013

Poland to Enter the Eurozone in the Medium Term

The biggest new EU member country will become a member of the Eurozone, political observers say unanimously. The only question is when.

July 23, 2013

Austria Suffers from Company Exodus

Due to the relocation of businesses, the Austrian state has lost tax intake of € 1.3bn since 2008. The Austrian group taxation model must not be abolished experts of the Austrian Ministry of Finance say.

July 22, 2013

Russia: Recession Not Excluded Anymore

Above all, Russia suffers from a shrinking industrial sector and a decline in foreign direct investments.

July 22, 2013

Poland: Budget Deficit to Peak in 2013

This year, Poland´s budget deficit is expected to reach 4.4% of GDP. The country still has a stable public sector, Moody´s comments.

July 22, 2013

CESEE Countries Show More Fiscal Discipline

Euro area government debt up to 92.2% of GDP. EU27 debt up to 85.9%. The debt increase in Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania and the Baltic countries was very decent or even negative.

July 22, 2013

Austrian Appointed Head of the OSCE in Albania

Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs congratulates Ambassador Raunig on his appointment as head of the OSCE Presence in Albania.

July 22, 2013

Czech Banking Industry Reduces Lending Significantly

According to a survey issued by the Czech National Bank, banks tightened their credit standards in all the monitored credit market segments in 2013 Q2.

July 22, 2013

Hypo Group Needs Even More Money

The nationalized Austrian bank needs fresh funds of more than € 700m. For the Austrian taxpayers, the banking package becomes more and more costly.

July 21, 2013

Kommunalkredit to be Liquidated

The EU Commission has approved the plans submitted by the Austrian government. The nationalized bank will need further state aids.

July 20, 2013

Federation of Austrian Industry Defends Group Taxation

The Federation of Austrian Industry (IV) argues that the Austrian business location would be endangered without the group taxation.

July 20, 2013

NBP Wants Government to Adapt Budget

After the Polish government has announced to postpone its austerity plans, the National Bank of Poland calls the government to submit an updated fiscal outlook.

July 19, 2013

Austrian Audit Court Criticizes Group Taxation

The costs of the Austrian group taxation model total about € 450m, the Audit Court said in a current report.

July 19, 2013