Austrian Economic Policy News and Analysis
Read the latest headlines about policies and laws influencing the business and investment environment of Vienna and Austria
Polish Road Authority As Tardy Payer
Prime Minister Tusk seems unimpressed about ambassadors from six countries filing a complaint.
June 19, 2013
Hypo Group: Business With Russian Oligarch
Austrian magazine „News“ unveils a remarkable business connection of Hypo Group from 2008.
June 19, 2013
Spindelegger: "Clear Signal for Serbia and Kosovo Expected from EU Summit at End of June"
Austrian Vice-Chancellor with Prime Ministers of Serbia and Kosovo at the Europaforum Wachau conference; clear commitment for EU expansion in the Balkans
June 19, 2013
Cyprus Demands Further Capital Aid
In a letter to the European Union, President of Cyprus Nikos Anastasiades demands further capital support for the Bank of Cyprus, the “Wallstreet Journal” reports. According to him, Cyprus’ economy depended on it.
June 19, 2013
Russia Pays Off Debt to Serbia and Slovakia
On Tuesday, the Russian Finance Ministry announced that the country has paid off a $ 2bn debt remaining from the Soviet era to Serbia and Slovakia.
June 19, 2013
Alpine Facing Bankruptcy
The restructuring of Austria’s second biggest construction company Alpine has failed. The enterprise therefore has to face bankruptcy.
June 19, 2013
Hungary: Taxes to Be Raised
Shortly before the parliamentary summer recess taxes were raised by the government of Viktor Orban.
June 18, 2013
Croatia’s EU Accession as a Chance For Austria
Soon, there are more than 1,000 Austrian businesses operating in Croatia and the volume of trade is supposed to increase.
June 18, 2013
Lopatka: "EU Enlargement is a Driver for Reforms and Rule Of Law"
State Secretary Lopatka on DARUM EUROPA information tour.
June 18, 2013
Poland: Deputy Transport Minister Dismissed
Former Deputy Transport Minister alleged of corruption. Austrian construction company Alpine involved.
June 18, 2013
Croatia: Agrokor Becomes Biggest Retailer in SEE
After the take-over of Slovenian chain of retail stores Mercator, Croatian corporation Agrokor employs 60,000 persons in the region of former Yugoslavia.
June 18, 2013
Bulgaria: Eight People Injured During Protests in Sofia
Thousands of Bulgarian citizens walked the streets of Bulgaria’s capital Sofia for the fourth day in a row to demonstrate for Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski’s resignation.
June 18, 2013
Bankruptcy Case Mayr-Melnhof in Switzerland
In Domat/Ems, Switzerland’s biggest sawmill was supposed to be operated. The only thing left now, however, is a financial hole running in the millions. Erste Group is concerned by losses as well.
June 17, 2013
Austria: „Death Blow for Economy“
The Austrian Economic Association (Wirtschaftsbund) announced that the realization of all demands in the Austrian Trade Unions’ (ÖGB) leading proposal would come at € 21.9bn. The Austrian economy would be burdened with € 14bn.
June 17, 2013
Protests in Bulgaria
Almost two weeks after the assumption of office of the new Bulgarian government, demonstrators have once more demanded the resignation of the predominantly socialist cabinet.
June 17, 2013
Slovakia and Unicredit in a Dispute
In Slovakia a dispute between Unicredit and the state has incensed. This could negatively affect the planned merger with a Czech affiliate in 2014.
June 17, 2013
V4 Want Free Trade Zone Between EU and Japan
The Visegrad Four Group (V4), which consists of Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary, support the creation of a free trade zone between the European Union and Japan.
June 17, 2013
Czech Republic: Necas Steps Back
Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas draws the conclusion from his corruption scandal and announced to step back.
June 17, 2013
Turkey: Protests About to Escalate
Further unrests after forceful clearing of Gezi Park.
June 17, 2013
Strabag: Haselsteiner to Leave as CEO
Russia will not surpass Germany as the most important market, the outgoing CEO explains. He expresses his disappointment in the market.
June 14, 2013
Czech Republic In Turmoil Over Corruption Scandal
The Czech Republic’s political landscape is in turmoil due to the scandal. The investigations have begun on Thurday with country-wide raids. More and more bizarre details seem to appear.
June 14, 2013
Turkey: Erdogan Gives In
In the dispute about Gezi Park in Istanbul, which has led to weeks of protests and even violence, the Turkish government leadership now wants to give in.
June 14, 2013
Slovenia: Mercator to be Finally Sold
It is the ninth sale attempt for Slovenian trade chain Mercator today, but it could be finally sealed. Croatian corporation Agrokor is the interested party. A dozen owners will decide about the retail chain’s fate.
June 14, 2013
World Bank: EU11 Countries Remain Attractive for Foreign Investors
Despite the slow recovery of economic activity, EU11 countries nonetheless remained attractive for foreign investors.
June 14, 2013
Changes at EVN: Reduction of the Board
The Supervisory Board of EVN AG has decided in its meeting on June 12th, not to fill the vacant position due to the retirement of the Member of the Board Herbert Pöttschacher.
June 13, 2013
Dispute About Tender for Orient Express
The Orient Express once led through Romania. These days, this section is cause for legal disputes in connection with the tender in the amount of € 330m.
June 13, 2013
Bulgaria: Sofia One Of Best European Destination for Manufacturing
The Bulgarian capital Sofia was labeled as one of the best destinations for opening a manufacturing plant in Europe.
June 13, 2013
Poland: PKO BP to Acquire Polish Assets of Nordea
Bank PKO BP strikes deal to buy Nordea's Polish assets.
June 13, 2013
Verbund to Write Off Gas Power Plants
During an analyst’s conference in London and after the closing of the stock exchange, energy company Verbund announced dampened earning prospects.
June 13, 2013
Alpine’s Fate Hanging By A Thread
The fate of Austrian construction company Alpine is hanging by a thread. If negotiations fail Alpine has to face its ruin.
June 13, 2013
Turkey: Erdogan Considers Referendum
After international criticism was voiced for the use of tear gas by the Turkish police against tens of thousands of demonstrators, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan raised the issue of a referendum.
June 13, 2013
Verbund Puts Wind Farms in Romania into Operation
One of the largest onshore wind farms of Europe with a 225 megawatt capacity near the Black Sea coast.
June 13, 2013
Greece: Public Broadcast Station Shut Down
Greece has pulled the plug for the public broadcast station ERT yesterday.
June 12, 2013
Gazprom Withdraws from Greek Privatization Offer
The months of courtship were in vain. The Russian enterprises Gazprom and Sintez allowed the period prescribed for the privatization of Greek gas company Depa to expire.
June 12, 2013
EU Commission to Support Steel Industry
EU Commissioner for Industry Antonio Tajani has presented the annouced steel action plan.
June 12, 2013
EU Abandons Quarterly Reports
Listed enterprises in the European Union do not have to present quarterly reports from 2015 on.
June 12, 2013
Fekter: „Bad Bank for Hypo Not The Most Creative Solution“
The Austrian Greens affirm their demand for the establishing of a bad bank for the ailing Hypo Group and a respective bill.
June 12, 2013
Macedonia to Join South Stream Pipeline Project
Contracts will be signed next week in St. Peterburg.
June 12, 2013
Austria: Wienerberger Alarmed About Shrinking Residential Building
Building material group Wienerberger is alarmed about the declining figure in residential building even though the market is significantly undersupplied with affordable housing space.
June 12, 2013
Turkey: Taksim Square Forcefully Cleared
Protests expected to continue despite of severe measures.
June 12, 2013
Ukraine Leaps to Business Deregulation
One of the reform priorities for Ukraine in 2012 has become the deregulation of business activity.
June 11, 2013
Turkey: Police Force Attacks Protesters At Gezi Again
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan seems ready for talks with representatives of the demonstrators, who will be received by him on Wednesday. However, earlier he has demonstrated inexorable hardness.
June 11, 2013
Serracchiani: „Will Do Everything I Can“
In an interview with Austrian newspaper “Kleine Zeitung“ Debora Serracchiani, new regional president of the province Friuli in Italy announced to do everything so that Hypo Group Italy will survive.
June 11, 2013
Moody’s: Rate Cuts Credit-Negative for Polish Banks
The recently passed cut in interest rates by Poland’s Monetary Policy Council has a negative effect on credits for Polish banks, rating agency Moody’s announced.
June 11, 2013
Fekter: The North Feeds The South
Finance Minister Fekter compares the situation in Europe with the economic circumstances in Italy.
June 11, 2013
United States Will Always Keep Its Eye on the Balkans
Montenegro's Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic met with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Riker.
June 10, 2013
Bulgaria: Protests Against Shale Gas Exploration
Protests will make it problematic for the new Bulgarian government to lift the moratorium on shale gas exploration.
June 10, 2013
Poland: Sale of Foreign Currencies to Stabilize Zloty
After lowest rate in one year, the Polish government had to take actions.
June 10, 2013
Bosnia and Herzegovina Accelerates WTO Membership Negotiations.
Chairperson Major explains that Bosnia and Herzegovina has entered final lap of accession procedure.
June 10, 2013
Siemens VAI to Modernize Ukrainian Steel Plant
The signing of a major contract in Ukraine for Upper-Austrian industrial plant construction company Siemens VAI is in its final steps.
June 10, 2013
