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Austria: Spindelegger Still Does Not Exclude Hypo’s Bankruptcy
In an interview with daily “Österreich” Finance Minister Michael Spindelegger announced his intention of very carefull examining the task force’s final report about ailing bank Hypo Group.
March 8, 2014
Austria: State Aids for Banks Almost Exhausted
The financial framework for the banking aid for Hypo Group Alpe Adria is almost exhausted. So far the federal state of Austria has spent up to € 6.2bn.
March 8, 2014
Austria: Hypo Group’s Final Report Eagerly Awaited
The eagerly awaited final report of Hypo Group’s task force is supposed to be presented to the government this weekend.
March 8, 2014
Ukrainian Crisis: Czech Republic Against Sanctions
Instead of economic sanctions against Russia, diplomatic talks should de-escalate the tense situation. President Zeman wants to create a Ukrainian Federation.
March 8, 2014
Austria: Opposition Still Hopes for Government to Come Around
NEOS offer the government the chair for the parliamentary investigation committee with regard to the nationalization of ailing Hypo Group Alpe Adria and its former parent company BayernLB.
March 7, 2014
Slovenia: Government Envisages Reform Measures
After the EU Commission delivered a warning to Slovenia over the macroeconomic imbalances Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek announced yesterday she had expected such a report.
March 7, 2014
Austria: Banking Supervision Reveals Deficiencies
An intern test report of the Austrian National Bank (OeNB) and the Financial Market Authority (FMA) reveals insufficiencies in the documentation of the banking supervision.
March 7, 2014
Slovenia: Commissioner Calls for Reforms and Further Privatizations
EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Olli Rehn said that Slovenia had to continue to push forward with further privatizations and economic reforms.
March 6, 2014
Romania: New Government Formed
Romanian President Traian Basescu approved the new minister of the new coalition government just in time.
March 6, 2014
Austria: Opposition against “Council of Whitewashing“
The Austrian opposition, the Green Party foremost, is putting more pressure on the government to create a parliamentary investigation committee for problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria.
March 6, 2014
Poland Reconsiders Joining Eurozone
The current political crisis in Ukraine is also causing turmoil at the Polish financial markets letting the national currency drop significantly against the Euro.
March 5, 2014
Austria: Calls for Investigation Committee Get Louder
Calls for establishing a parliamentary investigation committee for Hypo Group Alpe Adria, as demanded by the Austrian opposition, are becoming louder.
March 5, 2014
Polish Financial Market Proves Strong
The financial market in Poland is resistant towards negative impacts resulting from the current political crisis in neighbor country Ukraine.
March 5, 2014
Banks Striving to Leave Ukraine
While Austrian insurance companies intend to stay on the Ukrainian market banks are facing write-offs running in the billions.
March 5, 2014
Serbia: Dacic Unsure of Future Government
Outgoing Prime Minister and leader of the Serbian Social Party (SPS) Ivica Dacic is unsure about how the new government will be formed.
March 4, 2014
Austria Losing in Innovation Ranking
The EU member countries are catching up with the US and Japan in regard to innovation. However, Austria is not among the top players.
March 4, 2014
Austria: Controversies Around “Council of the Wise“
Finance Minister Spindelegger claims the appointing of the “Council fo the Wise” for problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria was the idea of Chancellor Faymann.
March 4, 2014
Hypo Group: Decision about Downsizing Expected Soon
At the beginning of next week the final report for the planned downsizing of Hypo Group will be presented.
March 4, 2014
Ukraine: Poland Wants to Put Pressure on Russia
Poland´s President Bronislaw Komorowski underlined that the U.S. has given assurances on Poland´s security. Prime Minister Tusk calls for solidarity with Ukraine.
March 3, 2014
Austria: Unemployment Rate Rises Once Again
Once again the unemployment rate in Austria saw a significant rise. More than 440,000 persons were registered jobsless in February.
March 3, 2014
“Serbia Has to Become Economically and Politically Stable”
Prime Minister Dacic promised to continue to follow the path to an EU membership. Former Austrian Chancellor Gusenbauer underlines Serbia’s importance among Western Balkan states.
March 3, 2014
Hypo Group: Risk Identified Already in 2009
Three months after a report on the risk and susceptibility to fraud of Hypo Group’s leasing affiliates was published by PwC, ailing Hypo Group was nationalized.
March 3, 2014
„The World is Close to an Enormous Conflict“
Poland´s Prime Minister Donald Tusk is highly concerned about the developments in Ukraine. Tusk warned insistently of an escalation of the conflict, which might entail “unforeseeable consequences”.
March 2, 2014
„Austria Needs an Excellent Minister of Finance“
Andreas Treichl, CEO of the third-biggest lender in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe expressed subtle doubt as to whether Michael Spindelegger is the right person for the job.
March 2, 2014
„EU Did Not Care About Ukraine“
Herbert Stepic, former CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International, criticizes the EU fiercely.
March 1, 2014
Austria/Ukraine: Bank Accounts of Former Leading Politicians to be Frozen
Austria imposes unilateral sanctions against 18 members of the overthrown Ukrainian regime. Among the high-ranking officals are former president Viktor Yanukovych and his son Oleksander Yanukovych.
February 28, 2014
Hypo Group: Decision about Future Delayed
The decision about the future of Austrian problem bank Hypo will be delayed.
February 28, 2014
Hypo Group: “Worst Thing If Government Does Not Make Decision”
According to Felderer, President of the Fiscal Council, a downgrade in the country rating must not be taken “too seriously”.
February 28, 2014
Austria: Bank Accounts of Ukrainians to be Frozen
At the instigation of the new Ukrainian government Austria will freeze the bank accounts of 18 Ukrainians at domestic banks until further notice.
February 28, 2014
Erste Group: Profits Decline
Erste Group posts net profit of EUR 61.0 million in 2013 and improves capital ratios.
February 28, 2014
Romania: Ponta Clinging to Leadership
Reforms in Romania will be carried out even if Ponta’s new government’s majority will be reduced in parliament.
February 27, 2014
Hypo Group: New Figures Added to Number Games
The number games in regard to Hypo Group’s downsizing to not seem to cease. New figures will be released by the bank’s task force at the beginning of next week.
February 27, 2014
“Sebastian Kurz is Hope for Austria“
According to Czech politician and former Foreign Minister Schwarzenberg, Kurz is intelligent, efficient and asks the right question.
February 27, 2014
Slovenia: Economy Minister Rejects New Corporate Taxes
According to newly-appointed Slovenian Minister of Economy, Metod Dragonja, the main driver for economic growth is trade and exports. Instead of introducing new corporate taxes he calls for a fund for domestic enterprises.
February 26, 2014
Serbia to Start Talks with IMF
Officials of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have started negotiations with Serbia on Wednesday.
February 26, 2014
Hypo Group Insolvency to Cost € 10bn at Least
Taxpayers in Austria would be burdened with at least € 10bn if Hypo Group was sent into insolvency.
February 26, 2014
Poland: Fastest Growing Economy in EU
According to the EU Commission, Poland will see the fastest growth in 2014 among the largest former communist countries of the European Union.
February 26, 2014
Hungary: Customers Fleeced by Banks
For the first time in three years Hungarian commercial banks have returned to profitability. However, extra cost, caused by political circumstances, was passed on to clients.
February 26, 2014
Austria: National Assembley Rejects Investigation Committee
The parliamentary investigation committee for Hypo Group, demanded by the opposition parties, was rejected in a roll-call vote in the National Assembley.
February 26, 2014
Romanian Government Falls Apart
After the ongoing dispute about administrative posts Romania is left without a government. Moreover, the opposition calls for Prime Minister Viktor Ponta’s resignation.
February 26, 2014
Leaders from Western Balkans Meeting at EBRD
Prime Ministers from the Western Balkans are gathering to discuss economic cooperations.
February 25, 2014
Austria: Hypo Group Council to Strain Budget Even More
The Finance Ministry will appoint an international consulting team for the downsizing of nationalized problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria. However, costs are increasing dramatically by this step.
February 25, 2014
CNB Not to Stop Monetary Interventions Just Yet
Exchange rates in the Czech Republic will not go back to the state before monetary interventions were carried out by CNB.
February 25, 2014
Austria: “Council of the Wise“ for Hypo Group
Instead of a parliamentary investigation committee the coalition expressed its wish to appoint a “Council of the Wise” for the the assessment of the ailing bank’s nationalization.
February 25, 2014
Austrian Bank Secrecy to be Abolished by 2016
EU Commissioner Algirdas Semeta recently stated that bank secrecy in Austria will expire since by then the automatic exchange of information will be implemented as a standard.
February 24, 2014
Slovenia: SMEs Protest Against Real Estate Tax
Tax bills would rise by many times for small business owners.
February 24, 2014
Hypo Group: Nowotny Calls for Fast Proceeding
Newly designated head of Hypo Group’s task force, Governor of the Austrian National Bank (OeNB) Ewald Nowotny, calls upon the government to fastly proceed with the downsizing of the ailing bank.
February 24, 2014
Austria: Spindelegger under Attack
Finance Minister Spindelegger is under attack by former head of Hypo Group’s task force, Liebscher.
February 24, 2014
Slovenia: NLB Reports Losses in Business Year 2013
The biggest lender in Slovenia has amounted considerable losses because of having been forced to create loan loss provisions.
February 22, 2014