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