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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
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
Oettinger Increases Pressure on OMV
In an interview with the daily newspaper "Presse", the European Commissioner for Energy considers that OMV must move now regarding Nabucco.
February 4, 2011
Leitl Urges to Invest in the Future
Despite consolidation needs, the government has to invest more in education, research and innovation, says the President of the WKÖ.
February 4, 2011
Below Average Privatization in Austria, according to ECEG
Regarding privatizations, Austria is still far behind, according to the European Coalition for Economic Growth (ECEG).
February 4, 2011
Manufacturing Industry on the Rise
The economic barometer of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) grows. Production increase and stable employment are expected.
February 4, 2011
Mitterlehner Wishes to Push SMEs and Venture Capital
The Austrian Minister of Economy launches an initiative with the aim of doubling the venture capital of Austrian companies to € 400m.
February 4, 2011
The Westbahn Complains Because of ÖBB-Subsidies
In December, the new “Westbahn” (Western Railway) will start competing with the ÖBB (Austrian state railways) which are allegedly being privileged by the government.
February 3, 2011
Industrial Association: Internal Solution for Succession
After the departure of Markus Beyrer, Christoph Neumayer as Secretary General and Peter Koren will lead the Austrian Industrial Association (IV).
February 3, 2011
Leitl Demands Support for Brenner Tunnel
The President of the Austrian Economic Chamber considers the Brenner Tunnel infrastructure project as crucial for the business location Austria.
February 2, 2011
ÖIAG: Markus Beyrer is the New Chairman
The so far Secretary General of the Industriellenvereinigung (Industrial Federation), Markus Beyrer, is Peter Michaelis’s successor on the board of the ÖIAG.
February 2, 2011
Declining Unemployment in Austria
Uunemployment could be reduced by 4.3% even in the traditionally for the labor market difficult winter months.
February 2, 2011
Austrian Retail Trade Accelerates Economic Upward Trend
In 2010, the Austrian retail trade rose by 4.0%. Thus, this figure represents the highest retail trade growth since the 1990s.
February 2, 2011
Austria's Credit Industry Appeals to the Constitutional Court
The price gains tax introduced as of January 1, 2011 encounters legal resistance. The Banking Division of the Chamber of Commerce announced a complaint of unconstitutionality.
February 2, 2011
Innovativeness in Austria Drops
In the European comparison, Austria’s innovativeness is dropping and is presently located only in the upper mid-range.
February 2, 2011
Austria's Budget Deficit is at 4.1%
Although the budget deficit is lower than expected, but the official national debt could increase considerably due to the ÖBB.
February 1, 2011
Skylink: Judicial Investigations are Presently being Conducted
The final report of the Audit Court on the Vienna International Airport Skylink project has been submitted. Criticism is devastating. Criminal investigations are starting.
February 1, 2011
Up to 150,000 Insolvent People in Austria
According to the Kreditschutzverband (KSV, Credit Protection Association 9,028 people were forced into personal bankruptcy last year. The number of people at risk is many times higher.
January 29, 2011
Hope for Austria's Photovoltaic Industry
The development of alternative energy sources is being pushed by additional funding. EVN is also promoting alternative energies.
January 28, 2011
Leitl Welcomes Medvedev's Idea for a European-Russian Economic Area
Closer cooperation between the EU and Russia would "stabilize economic and social development". Austria's foreign trade with Russia is flourishing.
January 28, 2011
U.S. Embassy on Hypo Group: "Mini-empire in the Balkans"
New Wikileaks documents indicate that the U.S. Embassy analyzed the symbiosis between the Austrian financial and political scene.
January 27, 2011
WKÖ Celebrates 40 years of Diplomatic Relations between Austria and China
The Austrian Economic Chamber stresses the relevance of China for Austria's foreign trade in the context of the anniversary.
January 27, 2011
Demand for Elimination of the ÖIAG
IAs part of the succession process for the CEO position at the Austrian industrial holding (ÖIAG) political representatives are increasingly imposing conditions.
January 27, 2011
Austria's Energy Self-sufficiency until 2050
The Minister for the Environment, Nikolaus Berlakovich presents a study on the Austrian energy supply. Self-sufficiency until 2050 is feasible.
January 27, 2011
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