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Austrian Economic Policy News and Analysis
Read the latest headlines about policies and laws influencing the business and investment environment of Vienna and Austria
Tough Negotiations Epected in Austria's Electrical Industry
Collective agreement negotiations for about 50,000 workers in the electrical industry start today.
March 18, 2011
Manufacturing Industry Supports Reform of the Energy System
Federation of Austrian Industries: "Energy efficiency has to get back into focus, the development of hydropower is a priority for Austria"
March 17, 2011 · Updated: March 18, 2011; 01:24
Vienna Reacts to Predicted Housing Shortage
Union and construction industry welcome the "housing offensive" of the city government.
March 17, 2011
Wlodkowski: "Renewable Energy is the Only Road for the Future"
The President of the Chamber of Agriculture calls for the promotion of renewable energies. A "Fossil-lobby" allegedly wants to prevent this.
March 15, 2011
Significant Savings Potential by the Administration
Efficiency potential in public expenditure of over € 500 million. Felderer: "Significant savings potential”.
March 11, 2011
Economic Chamber Demands Redeployment of "Manual Workers Regulation" in Favor of Research
The Austrian Economic Chamber presented a list of demands to the federal government. Critics say it is to no purpose.
March 10, 2011
Leitl Favors EU Financial Transaction Tax
The President of the Austrian Economic Chamber says: "The EU Parliamen has taken an important step towards EU financial transaction tax"
March 10, 2011
New Sharp Criticism of the Pension System
Austria's Young Industry's opinion on pensions: "politicians can no longer deny reality" There are many known weaknesses in the system.
March 9, 2011
Austria's Businesses Satisfied with Government Research Initiative
The strategy of the Federal Government regarding RTI (Research, Technology and Innovation) is an important step for the location Austria, according to the opinion of the Economic Chamber.
March 9, 2011
Demand for Minimum Wage meets with Hostility
The proposal by the Minister for officials, Gabriele Heinisch-Hosek, to introduce a minimum wage of € 1300, is mere populism, according to the Economic Chamber.
March 8, 2011
Demand for Increase in Retirement Age
Austrian Young Economy demands again a "sustainable" pension system. Less early retirement, but more later pensioning is required.
March 8, 2011
Leitl: "Research Support Should Be Pushed Now!"
The President of the Austrian Economic Chamber (WKÖ) speaks in favor of increasing the research bonus.
March 5, 2011
Austrian Clearingbank Concludes Activities
The activities of the Oesterreichische Clearingbank, founded in 2008 to handle liquidity shortages at commercial banks end presently.
March 5, 2011
Economic Policy: Criticism of Berlin, Praise for Vienna
The leader of the German Left Party, Gregor Gysi, says that Vienna has lead a better economic policy after the fall of the Soviet bloc than Berlin.
March 4, 2011
Workers Continue Seeing the Situation on the Labor Market as Critical
The work climate index of the Austrian Chamber of Labour (AK, Arbeiterkammer Österreich) indicates that workers continue considering the situation on the labor market as critical despite rising employment.
March 4, 2011
Leitl and Juncker Support a "Marshall Plan for Africa"
Austria and Luxembourg drive for support. Special attention is paid to education and know-how.
March 3, 2011
FPÖ Intends to Establish Itself as an Economic Party
In an interview with the "Wirtschaftsblatt", FPÖ chairman Heinz-Christian Strache says that the party wishes to address entrepreneurs more strongly in future.
March 3, 2011
Mitterlehner: "Companies are Taking On More Apprentices Again"
The Austrian Minister of Economy sees positive developments on the labor and apprenticeship market. The promotion of apprenticeships has proved to be successful.
March 2, 2011
WKÖ: Development Plan for North Africa
Given the dramatic situation in North Africa, Christoph Leitl, President of the Economic Chamber (WKÖ) pleads for a ‘European Marshall Plan'.
March 1, 2011
Leitl Fears Falling Back behind Asia
During a state visit to Singapore the President of the Austrian Economic Chamber (WKÖ) again urges the Austrian government to undertake reforms.
February 24, 2011
Increase of Inflation Forecast
The Austrian Institute of Advanced Studies (IHS) increases its inflation expectations to 2.4% due to the increase in energy prices
February 24, 2011
Leitl Demands More Support for SMEs
The Small Business Act must be also implemented at national level in a sustained way, says the President of the Austrian Economic Chamber.
February 24, 2011
Molterer Nominated as Vice-President of the EIB
Former Vice-Chancellor and Finance Minister Wilhelm Molterer is nominanted as candidate for Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB).
February 23, 2011
Manufacturing Industry Welcomes Red-White-Red Card"
IV-President Sorger: Innovative immigration system is an incentive for highly skilled workers; the abolition of the quota is a major political location signal.
February 23, 2011
Kazakhstan as a Chance for Foreign Trade
Austrian Economic Chamber promotes further development of economic relations with Kazakhstan.
February 23, 2011
WKÖ: "Clear Commitment to the Brenner Base Tunnel is Needed”
The chairman of the Austrian Economic Chamber considers the tunnel between Italy and Austria as a pioneering infrastructure project.
February 23, 2011
Brenner Tunnel: ÖBB will not pay
The Austrian Federal Railways will only accept to build the tunnel for € 10bn, if the costs are passed on to the state.
February 22, 2011
Austrian Economic Chamber pursues contacts in New Zealand
A business delegation led by WKÖ President Leitl visits New Zealand and Australia to strenghten economic relations.
February 22, 2011
Austrian Economic Chamber in Singapore
The Austrian Economic Chamber’s delegation pursues contacts with potential partners during the state visit of President Fischer.
February 22, 2011
Minister for Social Affairs: Retirement Age to be Raised
The Austrian Minister for Social Affairs, Rudolf Hundstorfer, intends to raise the retirement age until 2025.
February 19, 2011
Free Trade Agreement with South Korea
WKÖ: Additional trade potential for Austrian companies in South Korea for € 350m.
February 19, 2011
The IHS insists on higher retirement age
The Institute of Advanced Studies (IHS) admonishes the Austrian government to raise the retirement age.
February 18, 2011
Shortage of Highly Skilled Workers in Austria
The lack of highly qualified employees in Austria turns into an increasingly strong competitive disadvantage.
February 18, 2011
EU Requests Nabucco to Enter a Cooperation
The European Union is pushing a merger between Nabucco and the ITGI pipeline project.
February 18, 2011
Austria's Budget Deficit is Lower than Expected
The preliminary budget outcome for 2010 is 0.6% better than forecast. However, the results of the ÖBB could increase the deficit again.
February 17, 2011
Austrian Economic Chamber criticizes Pension System
The Premium Model of the Economic Chambers rewards working longer instead of early retirement.
February 17, 2011
Vacancies in Austria up by 64%
78,900 job vacancies in the fourth quarter 2010, an annual percentage change of +64%.
February 17, 2011
Real Estate Privatization: Proceeds up to € 1.5bn
According to a study, the Austrian government could generate around € 1.5bn from the partial privatization of its real estate company.
February 16, 2011
aws: Investments in Austria Rise Again
"Companies are investing more heavily in expanding and adding production capacity", reports the management of aws (Austria Wirtschaftsservice).
February 16, 2011
Eder Favors Further Privatizations
The CEO of Austria's largest steel company, voestalpine, would like to see the state pushed away from business still further.
February 15, 2011
ECB: Praet Succeeds Tumpel-Gugerell
The Belgian Peter Praet succeeds the Austrian Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell as new member of the Executive Board of the ECB (European Central Bank).
February 15, 2011
SPÖ against expanding the ÖIAG
The expansion urged by Industrial Association and the ÖVP meets the resistance of the Social Democratic coalition partner.
February 15, 2011
Stepic: Austria is Destroying its Business Location
The CEO of Raiffeisen International Bank (RBI), Herbert Stepic, considers the domestic business location to be in grave danger.
February 12, 2011
Lopatka Demands Structural Reforms and Budgetary Discipline
The State Secretary for Finance at the German-Austrian Financial and Economic Forum.
February 11, 2011
Massive Increase in Public Debt
Austrian public debt could rise dramatically soon by a new calculation involving separate legal entities.
February 10, 2011
Property Restoration Provides Hopes for Growth and Employment
With the release of € 400m for thermal rehabilitation, five times as much is to be generated in sales. Up to 80% of this amount stays in Austria.
February 10, 2011
Tension between ÖBB and ÖVP
The conflict over the finances of the Austrian State Railway between the ÖBB and the ruling ÖVP goes on.
February 8, 2011
"Feibra" to Function as Discount Post
The Austrian Post is expanding its subsidiary Feibra. Letters are also to be sent in future.
February 5, 2011
WIFO Promotes Expansion of the State Holding
The Director of the Austrian Institute of Economic Research wants to concentrate all Austrian state-owned enterprises in the ÖIAG.
February 5, 2011
Eder Considers European Manufacturing Industry is at a Disadvantage
For the CEO of the Austrian steel company voestalpine, the European manufacturing industry is at a disadvantage, despite innovative leadership.
February 5, 2011