Austrian Economic Policy News and Analysis
Read the latest headlines about policies and laws influencing the business and investment environment of Vienna and Austria
Austrian Industry Calls for Flexibilization of Short-Time Work
Austrian businesses expect that short-time work may return. Three years ago, the
December 4, 2012
Fischer Meets Kirchner
The Austrian President Heinz Fischer has started his state visit in Argentina.
December 3, 2012
Rothensteiner: „No Credit Crunch“
Walter Rothensteiner, CEO of Austrian Raiffeisen Zentralbank, thinks that the capital shortfall of European banks does not limit credit supply.
December 3, 2012
Poland: Piechocinski to Become New Deputy Prime Minister
After the resignation of Waldemar Pawlak, the Polish government will not collapse, observers say. PSL´s new party leader Janusz Piechocinski is expected to succeed Pawlak.
December 3, 2012
Poverty: People in Romania and Bulgaria Most Affected.
In 2011, 24% of the population were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, which is corresponding to around 120 million persons. The Czech Republic ranks first.
December 3, 2012
Hungary Considers Reducing Foreign Exchange Reserves
In order to repay loans, the Hungarian government is said to reduce the foreign exchange reserves of MNB (Hungarian National Bank). The government does not need to fear resistance by MNB.
December 1, 2012
“Eurozone On Stable Ground”
Austria´s Minister of Finance Maria Fekter is optimistic. Spain, Portugal and Ireland are making substantial progress. However, the crisis is not over yet, she notes.
December 1, 2012
Pension Costs to Increase Moderately
According to CNB (Czech National Bank), pension costs will increase by 3.0% of GDP in the next fifty years.
November 30, 2012
„Property Taxes are Nonsense“
Austria´s Minister of Finance Maria Fekter reaffirms that property taxes must be prevented.
November 30, 2012
Inflation in Ukraine Remains at Zero Level
“Effective management of the financial sector allows Ukrainian authorities to hold inflation.” NBU (National Bank of Ukraine) states.
November 30, 2012
"Croatia on the final stretch towards EU membership"
Austrian State Secretary encourages Zagreb to take final steps of reform.
November 30, 2012
Slovenia to Inject Further Money in NLB
The biggest Slovenian banking group NLB records a capital shortfall of € 375m. Risky loans reach more than € 1.5bn.
November 29, 2012
Poland: Measures Against Shrinking Population
Poland´s Prime Minister Tusk announced that the government will improve its social policy. In the next 40 years, the Polish population might decrease by 6 million.
November 29, 2012
IMF: Higher Risks for Austrian Banks in CESEE
In an interview with the Austrian news magazine “Presse”, IMF´s Executive Director Johann Prader explained that the European debt crisis has arrived in Central, East and Southeast Europe.
November 28, 2012
„Too Many Banks in Austria“
Hannes Androsch, President of the Austrian bank holding Fimbag, warns that Austria´s exposure in CESEE countries is disproportionately high.
November 28, 2012
Austrians Reject Further Bank Aids
About 61% of the Austrian citizens are against further bank aids by the Austrian state. Economists fear that the bank aids are lost forever.
November 28, 2012
Ukraine: “Stability of Currency Not Endangered”
Ukrainian businessmen are confident in the stability of hryvnia, the Ukrainian National Bank says.
November 28, 2012
Serbian Industrial Sector Expands
Surprising summer industry growth, local demand might hold more growth. Real wages grow slightly, Raiffeisen Research states.
November 28, 2012
Serbia: Budget Deficit Soared by 22.4%
This development was supported by sharper expenditures enlargement (+8.0% yoy) while fairly small revenue increase (+5.1% yoy), delivering public debt/GDP to 53.8% in September 2012.
November 28, 2012
"Foreign policy means security policy"
Vice-Chancellor explains Austria's foreign policy commitment in his annual address at the UNA-Austria and demands global nuclear disarmament.
November 28, 2012
Fekter: “We Have to Avoid Another Haircut”
Austria´s Minister of Finance Maria Fekter argues that another haircut would “constitute abuse of public office.”
November 28, 2012
CESEE: Social Protection Still Underdeveloped
EU27 spent 29.4% of GDP on social protection in 2010. The lowest ratios were observed in Romania, Latvia, Estonia and Bulgaria.
November 27, 2012
Austria and France Develop European Alpine Strategy
Austria´s State Secretary Lopatka discussed current issues of European policy with Minister of European Affairs Cazeneuve and Minister of Development Cooperation Canfin in Paris on 23 November
November 27, 2012
"There is no alternative to intercultural and interreligious dialogue"
UN Secretary General and high-ranking political representatives and religious leaders attend the opening of the new Dialogue Centre in Vienna.
November 27, 2012
Romanian Central Bank on Hold
Romania´s Central bank remained on hold at its most recent monetary policy meeting on 2 November, keeping the monetary policy rate unchanged at 5.25%.
November 27, 2012
Romania: Fiscal Situation Improves
“Public budget deficit amounted to only 1.2% of GDP at the end of September, which was better than we had expected.” Raiffeisen Research states.
November 27, 2012
Nowotny: „CESEE Needs New Growth Model“
Ewald Nowotny, governor of Austria´s National Bank (OeNB), thinks that the current growth model for the region is outdated.
November 26, 2012
"Austria remains a reliable partner for Albania on its way towards the EU"
Austria´s Vice-Chancellor Spindelegger at the opening of the Skanderbeg exhibition celebrating the 100th anniversary of Albania's independence and 20 years of Austrian development cooperation in Albania
November 26, 2012
“South Tyrolean autonomy must not be undermined”
State Secretary outlines Austria’s position to a delegation of the South Tyrolean Parliament
November 26, 2012
Austrian Gold Stored in UK
80% of Austria´s gold reserves are stored in the U.K. Only 17% of the reserves are kept in Austria.
November 24, 2012
More Hungarians Leave their Country
Especially high-skilled Hungarians tend to emigrate. The labor market conditions in Hungary are often precarious.
November 24, 2012
Austrian Municipalities in Troubles
Last year, the debt level of Austrian municipalities could be reduced. Nevertheless, the financial situation remains tensioned.
November 24, 2012
EBRD: CESEE Countries Must Improve Legal Security
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development underlines that banks need more stable legal systems in Eastern Europe.
November 24, 2012
KA Finanz: Capital Shortfall to Become Bigger
The financially stricken bank is expected to need further cash contributions.
November 24, 2012
Poland´s Population Expected to Shrink
In the next 40 years, the Polish population might decrease by 6 million.
November 24, 2012
Hungary: Small Concession for Banking Industry
The banking sector in Hungary is under pressure. The government in Budapest decided to pay back debts of municipalities by the end of the year.
November 24, 2012
S&P Downgrades Hungary
The U.S. rating agency lowers Hungary´s sovereign debt rating from “BB+” to “BB”.
November 23, 2012
Croatia Plans to Introduce Property Taxes
Croatia´s Finance Minister Slavko Linic plans to introduce a property tax next year. The rate will come at 1.5%.
November 23, 2012
9,500 Multinational Companies in Austria
Austria´s Minister of Social Affairs Rudolf Hundstorfer stresses the importance of multinational companies.
November 23, 2012
Conference on European Economic Integration
Bank of Finland and Oesterreichische Nationalbank to organise a Conference on European Economic Integration in Helsinki.
November 23, 2012
Austrian Industrial Federation Wants Higher VAT
Georg Kapsch, President of the Federation of Austrian Industries (I) calls for a VAT increase. The VAT rate remains unchanged at 20% of decades.
November 23, 2012
“We shall maintain tough position on EU budget until the very end”
Austrian Vice-Chancellor Spindelegger: “unambiguous about Austria’s position on EU financial framework“.
November 22, 2012
Czech Republic: Budget Approved
Next year, the Czech state budget is planned to reach 2.9% of GDP.
November 22, 2012
Nowotny: GDP Forecast Will not Hold
The governor of Austria´s National Bank Ewald Nowotny admits that the forecast on Austria will have to be revised.
November 21, 2012
Austrian National Bank: Basel III Will not Start in 2013
According to OeNB, the implementation cannot take place by the beginning of next year.
November 21, 2012
Nowotny: „Not Afraid of Inflation“
Ewald Nowotny, governor of Austria´s Central Bank (OeNB) thinks that the danger of a stagnating economy is bigger than the danger of an increasing inflation.
November 20, 2012
CNB: „Czech Republic Does Not Need Quantative Easing“
The Czech National Bank underlines that the country´s economy is fundamentally stable. The current situation would be managable.
November 20, 2012
Hungary: Public Debt Level Declines
Due to the favorable currency development, the public debt level fell slightly.
November 20, 2012
Austria: Majority Support Property Taxes
A clear majority of Austrian citizens think that the corporate tax rate should increase.
November 20, 2012
Slovenia to Sharpen Austerity Measures
The Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa announced that the austerity policy will be implemented even more consequently.
November 20, 2012
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