Austrian Economic Policy News and Analysis

Read the latest headlines about policies and laws influencing the business and investment environment of Vienna and Austria

OMV could be an accomplice in war crimes and crimes against humanity

OMV produced oil from 1997 to 2003 in sector 5A in Sudan. The current report of the European Coalition on Oil in Sudan (ECOS) provides new evidence that there is a direct link between oil production and the intensification of the conflict.

June 14, 2010

Austria has 39,077 dollar-millionaires

The number of dollar millionaires did not only rise in Austria but also increased substantially worldwide.

June 11, 2010

Pröll - Austria will introduce a bank tax in a solo attempt.

"The bank tax will be discussed together with the banks and it will be implemented, I stand for that," announced Finance Minister Pröll.

June 11, 2010

Hochhauser - Austria's business landscape is becoming more and more an female entrepreneur landscape

Special Prize of the Economic Chamber of Austria "women in leading positions" goes to Margaret Fürtbauer.

June 11, 2010

Green Party Vienna sharply criticises the Summit Bank

"Scandalous interplay of politics and banks'

June 11, 2010

Fresh money for upcoming infrastructure projects

If it was for the BZÖ party, parts of the ÖBB should by privatised by being listed.

June 10, 2010

Austrian President Dr. Heinz Fischer - banks should also make contribution to costs of the crisis

Austrian President Dr. Heinz Fischer said today at the IIF conference in Vienna "a developed social system and equitable distribution of income and wealth for the economic efficiency and political stability of a country are particularly important".

June 10, 2010

Vassilakou - 50,000 new green jobs in Vienna possible

"50,000 new green jobs are possible in Vienna," says the club chairwoman of the Greens Vienna, Maria Vassilakou, in reference to a study by Greenpeace presented today in Berlin, that the world could produce 8.5 million jobs in the renewable energy.

June 7, 2010

Schieder wants ban on short selling

The Financial Secretary sees Germany as role model.

June 4, 2010

Tumpel - draw lessons from the crisis

"The financial markets and their actors have brought the worst economic crisis since the Second World War "says Austrian Chamber of Labour President Herbert Tumpel...

June 2, 2010

Tumpel pleased with labour market revitalization

"The recovery in the labour market is a welcomed development. This shows that the economic stimuli programmes and actions of the Minister of Social Affairs are important and correct, "says AK President Herbert Tumpel.

June 1, 2010

Telekom Austria approves dividend of 75 cents

Austria's telecommunications service provider Telekom Austria decided at its regular meeting today, a dividend of 0.75 euros for 2009.

May 28, 2010

Austrian federal government is now sole owner of the Federal Reserve

The price fluctuations in international currency markets helped the Austrian National Bank (OeNB) in 2009 to a strong profit increase.

May 27, 2010

New FMA standards against money laundering

In the future, all transfers in Austria can be traced back; donations to certified organizations and payments of up to € 1000 are exempt.

May 27, 2010

Austria's energy - unilateral emission reduction not purposeful

“The European Commission’s statement on a planned unilateral act on emission reduction is rejected by the Austrian energy sector, "said Secretary General Schmidt.

May 26, 2010

Leitl - No to Bank tax charged - European financial transaction as better solution

"The economy needs a permanently stable financial system. But not at the expense of savers and Investors"

May 26, 2010

Jank - Vienna also requires No. 1 for business friendliness

Chamber of Commerce Vienna President Brigitte Jank is delighted about Vienna’s top spot in the current Mercer survey. For international managers, Vienna continues to claim the title as the city with the highest quality of life.

May 26, 2010

ÖBB (Austrian Nationalised Railway) - Bures: Save three billion €

Infrastructure Minister Doris Bures announced structural adjustments of various railway projects. As for the Brenner Base Tunnel, long-term financing is difficult to secure.

May 25, 2010

Solo attempt at transaction tax is possible says Chamber of Labour

"At purchase of every sausage roll a value-added tax is due, then why don’t financial speculators have to pay no sales tax for market transactions?

May 21, 2010

Mitterlehner - IMD-Ranking as a confirmation of Austria’s growth

Minister of Commerce Reinhold Mitterlehner welcomes the better position of Austria in IMD's ranking of Competitiveness.

May 21, 2010

Stock Exchange opposes government’s attempt policy regarding introduction of transaction tax

Austria Stock Exchange expresses vehement discontent with the Austrian government’s intention to introduce the transaction costs in a solo attempt.

May 20, 2010

Solo attempt as an infringement of regulation

It sounds uneventful, also hardly known by relevant experts however contains explosive substance in the context of the debated transaction tax.

May 20, 2010

Mitterlehner relaxed about Euro crisis

People’s Party (ÖVP) Minister Reinhold Mitterlehner has said he will "observe the Euro crisis in a relaxed manner for the next few weeks."

May 19, 2010

National Council pro "Euro security shield"

Social Democrats SPÖ, People Party ÖVP and Green Party members Van der Bellen and Moser vote pro coalition while the freedom party rejects the referendum.

May 19, 2010

Transaction tax - SPÖ plans a referendum

The Social Party Austria together with the German Social Party (SPD) plans to start a referendum on a financial transaction tax as well as financial regulation. It would constitute the first EU-referendum.

May 18, 2010

WIFO-head - transaction tax yes, but not solo

If a tax is limited to one country it would result into a stock tax says the head of Austrian Institute of Economic Research Austria (Wirtschaftsforschungs Institut Österreich WIFO) Karl Aiginger.

May 18, 2010

Transaction tax is favourable to bank tax according to WIFO

According to WIFO (Institute of economic research Austria) a financial transaction tax (TT) is favourable to a bank tax (BT) on multiple grounds.

May 17, 2010

Austrian health insurance sector recorded a small deficit

After last year’s surplus Austria’s 19 health insurance companies are expecting a minor deficit in 2010. According to May’s forecast a €11.8m decline is expected at an overall budget of 14.5 billion euros.

May 17, 2010