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Germans in Vienna | Deutsche in Wien | Bilateral Relations
Austria and Germany - Read the latest headlines about bilateral relations in the areas of economy, business, investment, diplomacy, culture and tourism
Poland's Donald Tusk to Become European Council President
Current council president Herman Van Rompuy tweeted the announcement from the EU summit. Mr Tusk, Poland's centre-right prime minister since 2007, will become the European Council's president. Italy's Federica Mogherini, a centre-left politician and foreign minister will replace the UK's Catherine Ashton as EU foreign policy chief.
August 30, 2014
Signa Buys Karstadt for €1
Austria's Signa Holding takes over struggling German department store chain Karstadt. Signa acquires a 100 per cent stake in Karstadt Warenhaus GmbH from Berggruen Holdings. Berggruen Holdings is going to withdraw from Karstadt Warenhaus GmbH, Karstadt Premium and Karstadt Sports as well as from from each property. The deal ends weeks of speculation over the company's future after the CEO left in July. Rene Benko will pay just €1 for the department store chain. Karstadt operates more than 80 stores across Germany and employs more than 17.000 people.
August 15, 2014
Hydrogen: OMV to Invest EUR 20 Mln in Key Technology
OMV is currently conducting intensive research on hydrogen as alternative fuel. According to CEO Gerhard Roiss hydrogen is already part of OMV’s everyday business. The group earmarkes around EUR 20 mln for hydrogen projects.
August 4, 2014
Analysis: Russia - Assessment of EU and Tightened US Sanctions
Special analysis covering the most recent escalation in terms of Western economic and financial sanctions against Russia: EU and US sending bold diplomatic signals without inflicting too much near-term economic and financial damage. In comparison to the US sanctions by the EU are capped in duration. Recent escalation adds to uncertainty in doing business with Russia, which is an ultimate goal of sanctions. Near-term impact of current sanctions still limited, which implies a risk that they may remain for longer.
July 31, 2014
Austrian FDI: Current Developments 1Q 2014
In the first quarter of 2014, Austrian FDI abroad reached a value of 2.8 billion euros, which is less by about 30% than in the same period of 2013. Foreign direct investments in the same period into Austria stood at 1.4 billion euros. This is about 37% less than in the same period of last year.
July 29, 2014
Cost of Living Rankings: CEE Capitals Cheaper, Vienna is 32nd Most Expensive City
The Mercer's 2014 Cost of Living Rankings have been published and cover 211 cities across five continents. While Western European cities have all risen in the rankings mainly due to the strengthening of the Euro against the US dollar, most cities in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), however have fallen in the ranking as a result of local currencies depreciating against the US dollar. Bratislava (#84), Prague (#92), Kiev (#98), Ljubljana (#116), Zagreb (#120), Budapest (#135), Warsaw (#142), Belgrade (#184).
July 25, 2014
Tengelmann to Launch Online Gardening DIY Chain in Austria
The German online gardening DIY chain GartenXXL, a subsidiary of the Tengelmann group, is setting up in Austria. The range of offered products includes over 20,000 products from brands such as Gardena, Fiskars, Bosch or Kettler. The products shall be offered via gartenxxl.at. After successful launching in Austria, GartenXXL intends to expand to other countries in CEE/CESEE.
July 22, 2014
FDI in Austria up by EUR 25 Million
In the first half of 2014 the number of international companies setting up business operations in Austria with the assistance of ABA in cooperation with the regional investment promotion agencies climbed from 88 to 114. Total investment volume was up 15.9 % in the first half of 2014 to EUR 179.97 million from EUR 154.33 million in the prior year period.
July 11, 2014
German Investment: New EUR 140 Mln Data Center for the City of Vienna
A 140 million Euro investment from Frankfurt based e-shelter strengthens Vienna as an international ICT center.
July 3, 2014
BUWOG Closes Acquisition of DGAG Portfolio
The BUWOG Group has closed its acquisition of approx. 18,000 units in Northwestern Germany after antitrust clearance by the German Cartel Office and completion of further conditions precedent according to schedule.
June 30, 2014
TTIP-Myths and Realities According to AmCham Austria
The American Chamber of Commerce in Austria (AmCham Austria) promotes the expansion and strengthening of trade and commerce relations between Austria and the US. Talks on a future EU-US trade deal started in July 2013 and are set to continue throughout 2014. The talks are part of a trade and investment deal, known as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or TTIP.
June 3, 2014
BSH Vienna is Partially Taken Over by German BSH Group
With the goal of strengthening its international market presence, the TROX Group acquired parts of BSH Group.
May 31, 2014
Emirates: The Air Rights Quarrel Between Austria and UAE Continues
The Arab airline demands considerably more landings in Vienna.
May 23, 2014 · Updated: May 24, 2014; 16:15
Yakunin: Broad-Gauge System from Vladivostock to Vienna to Be Established
Vladimir Yakunin, head of the Russian Railways (RZD), wants to stick to his strategic plans and establish an uninterrupted rail link between Vienna and Vladivostock.
May 24, 2014
Hypo Alpe Adria Appoints New Supervisory Board
At an Extraordinary General Meeting of Hypo Alpe Adria International on Friday, a new Supervisory Board was appointed.
May 23, 2014
Switzerland: IMD Releases the World Competitiveness Yearbook Ranking 2014
The US leads, Europe recovers, and big emerging markets struggle.
May 22, 2014
Exporttag: Meet All Austrian Trade Delegates at the Export Day 2014
On June 24, the Export Day (Exporttag) of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) will take place in Vienna. Economic delegates from all over the world will be present.
May 20, 2014
Conwert Slips into the Reds
Austrian residential real estate enterprise is facing a hard time in Germany.
May 14, 2014
Czech Republic: CEZ Losing With RWE Contract?
A gas contract with German RWE is causing the Czech energy group losses in the billions.
May 12, 2014
Croatian Brodosplit Landed Important Contract
The Croatian ship manufacturing company Brodosplit has signed a contract with Germany’s Kranunion.
May 12, 2014
German Retailer Metro Faces Massive Losses in CEE
Sales in CEE declined 14.8 percent last year for German retail and wholesale enterprise Metro Group.
May 9, 2014
Michelin to Downsize in Hungary
French tyre producer Michelin announced to shut down ist tyre plant in Budapest and relocate to Romania.
May 9, 2014
Sanction Imposed on Expobank
Russian-Latvian Expobank was added to the Canada’s black list.
May 9, 2014
Austria: Calls for More Competence in Real Estate Management Become Louder
Stock Exchange Guru Alexander Proschofsky and real estate expert Peter Hohlbein are fighting for a seat at Conwert’s administrative board. Proschofsky has been criticizing the strategy of the listed Austrian real estate company.
May 5, 2014
EU Enlargement: A Success Story for Central Europe
Austria is one of the main beneficiaries of the EU enlargement of 2004.
April 30, 2014
Situation for Austrian Banks in Russia is “Sensitive”
According to the latest statistics, Austrian banks are considerably more engaged in Russia than assumed so far. Debts to domestic financial institutes amount to € 50bn.
April 29, 2014
Hypo Group: Already a “Catastrophe“ in 2006
In the court proceedings against the former member of the supervisory board of regional lender BayernLB former head of Hypo Group’s board Wolfgang Kulterer called the situation Hypo was in a “catastrophe”.
April 28, 2014
Banks Still Losing in Trust
The trust in banks is continuing to decline. The scepticism towards the financial branch has increased among 39 percent of Austrians while trust in banks only increased among five percent.
April 28, 2014
Real Estate: Buwog Shares Taking Off
The highly anticipated primary listing of residential real estate affiliate of listed Immofinanz, Buwog, will be completed on Monday.
April 28, 2014
Do Taxes Justify a Relocation of Business?
Tax sensitive business operations should be relocated to other areas if necessary, according to the head of Erste Bank Austria.
April 24, 2014
Buwog Soon to be Listed at Three Stock Exchanges
Immofinanz‘ residential real estate affiliate Buwog will celebrate its IPO at the stock exchanges in Frankfurt and Vienna on Monday, April 28 and in Warsaw on Tuesday, April 29.
April 24, 2014
Austria: Branch Network of Raiffeisen Shrinking
Because of the high number of mergers, the number of branch shops of Raiffeisen Group is dropping. However, the Austrian lender still has a market share of 43 percent.
April 18, 2014
Hypo Group: Privatization of Balkan Business Until 2015
The nationalized problem bank intends to sell its Balkan business within 2014.
April 17, 2014
Austria: RLB OÖ Still Threatening to Leave
According to managing director of Raiffeisenlandesbank Oberösterreich (RLB OÖ) Heinrich Schaller, the tax burden is too high in Austria. The bank is still threatening to leave for Germany if the bank levy will not be changed.
April 17, 2014
Conwert to Leave Germany?
A consortium of investors is highly interested in the German subsidiary of the Austrian real estate group. The consortium is led by conwert´s former board director Johannes Meran.
April 16, 2014
Industrial Location Austria Losing Attractiveness
Among other things, labor costs and energy prices are too high, according to the Austrian Federation of Industries.
April 16, 2014
Austria: RLB OÖ Rows Bank on Threat to Leave
Last year regional lender RLB OÖ (Raiffeisen Landesbank Oberösterreich), part of Raiffeisen group, saw a decline of six percent in its balance sheet totals while the operating results increased by almost three percent.
April 16, 2014
Massive Dispute at Conwert
The Austrian real estate group faces troubles: representatives of small shareholders want to join the administrative council. Major shareholder Hans Peter Haselsteiner wants to dispatch his own representatives.
April 15, 2014
Fricke: “Man Needs Relatively Little Bank”
Fricke, chief economist at the European Climate Foundation and author of “Wie viel Bank braucht der Mensch?" (How much bank does man need?)
April 15, 2014
Raiffeisen Branch to Leave Austria?
One of the provincial units of Raiffeisen Group, regional lender Raiffeisen Landesbank Oberösterreich (RLB OÖ), is considering relocating its headquarters to Germany.
April 11, 2014
Serbia’s Goal to Join EU until 2020 “Realistic”
According to former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, Serbia’s aim to become a member of the European Union until 2020 is realistic.
April 11, 2014
Moldova: Urgent Call for EU-Membership
Getting out of the zone of uncertainty and instability, this is the aim of the Moldovan Prime Minister Iurie Leanca.
April 10, 2014
Austria: Hypo Group’s Investigation Committee Ready for Action
The group of foreign experts at the investigation commission for Hypo Group Alpe Adria is supposed to guarantee the required objectivity. The first results are expected to be published at the end of the year.
April 10, 2014
Erste Group to be Relocated to the Czech Republic?
CEO of Erste Group, Andreas Treichl, has informed Czech President Milos Zeman about the bank’s intention to move to Prague in the coming years.
April 9, 2014
Poland: Growth Forecast Raised Again
The International Monetary Fund has raised the forcast of GDP growth in Poland.
April 9, 2014
Hypo Group too Expensive for BayernLB
According to an official expert, regional German lender BayernLB’s fatal decision to take over Hypo Group Alpe Adria was based on questionable company evaluations.
April 7, 2014
Poland: No Danger of Deflation
According to Marek Belka, governor of the National Bank of Poland (NBP), there is not threat of deflation.
April 7, 2014
Hypo Group: „We Are not the Only One Who Must Pay“
Austrian Minister of Finance Michael Spindelegger underlines that the Austrian taxpayers are not the only ones who must bear the losses of the nationalized lender Hypo Group Alpe Adria.
April 5, 2014
Wealthy Investing in Real Estates in Vienna
Vienna is considered a “safe haven” for real estate investments. In particular, luxury homes, such as the Palais Principe for instance, are more than attractive for wealthy investors.
April 4, 2014
Hungary: OTP Approaches Acquisition of MKB
MKB, the Hungarian loss-making affiliate of German regional lender BayernLB, is approaching its acquisition by the biggest lender OTP.
April 3, 2014
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