Sponsored Content
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


Austria and Switzerland Signed Tax Treaty

Austria´s Finance Minister Fekter signed the tax treaty with her Swiss colleague Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf. In 2013, additional tax intake of € 1.0bn is expected.
April 14, 2012


Moderate Growth at Wintersteiger

In 2011, the Austrian machine manufacturer could raise revenues by 9.0% to € 101.8m.
April 14, 2012


Swiss-Austrian Tax Treaty to be Signed

The tax treaty between Austria and Switzerland will be signed tomorrow on Friday. The tax rate is set at 38%.
April 12, 2012


AUA Expected to Record High Losses Again

This year, Lufthansa-owned Austrian Airlines is anticipated not to reach the profit zone. In the first quarter, fees and fuel caused higher costs of € 28m.
April 12, 2012


Tax Treaty with Switzerland Close to be Finished

Austria aims for reach a tax agreement with Switzerland in order to tax illegal funds deposited by Austrian nationals at Swiss banks. An agreement seems to be within reach.
April 11, 2012


Where is Austria´s Gold?

The major part of Austria´s gold reserves should be located in the U.S. The Austrian Central Bank does not answer any questions.
April 10, 2012


Financial Transaction Tax: Schieder Raises Pressure on EU

Austria´s Financial State Secretary Andreas Schieder threatens to vote against higher EU contributions. To discuss about alternatives of the financial transaction tax is “too early.”
April 10, 2012


Zielpunkt: „Not for Sale“

The new owner of the Austrian supermarket chain, Jan Satek, says that there are no plans to re-sell Zielpunkt.
April 10, 2012


Lutz Continues Expansion Program

The world´s second largest furniture house intends to grow in Eastern and Southeastern Europe.
April 7, 2012


Eder Ticks Off Rail Cartel

Voestalpine´s CEO Wolfgang Eder underlines the new compliance rules of voestalpine. Another participation in a cartel would be “impossible”.
April 7, 2012


„AUA Must Achieve Turnaround on its own“

Christoph Franz, CEO of Lufthansa explains that the Austrian subsidiary will act independently also in future. Also the restructuring must be completed without Lufthansa´s help.
April 7, 2012


Oberbank Aims For „Organic Growth“

The Upper-Austrian regional bank continues its growth course and underlines its financial stability and independence.
April 6, 2012


Strabag Germany Cancels Profit Warning

In November, the German subsidiary of the Austrian construction company published a profit warning. Now, the initial expectations were recovered.
April 6, 2012


Most Important Cities: Vienna Catches Up

In the ranking of the most important global cities, the Austrian capital could improve substantially. The most severe weakness is the economic activity.
April 3, 2012


Strong Rise in Foreign Direct Investment

According to Austrian Business Agency (ABA), total investment increased by 34%. 1,822 new jobs were created.
March 30, 2012


Schlecker: „Jobs in Austria are in Safety“

The Austrian subsidiary of the insolvent German chemist chain Schlecker is not affected by the shut-down program. Jobs are “relatively safe”.
March 30, 2012


Rewe Austria Shows Solid Growth

The German retail chain achieved sales of € 7.47bn in Austria last year, which is a rise of 6.26%.
March 30, 2012


Economic Upswing for Austria?

The economic research institutes IHS and WIFO anticipate that the Austrian economy accelerates by summer 2012. Both warn of “too much euphoria”, however.
March 29, 2012


Andritz Receives Order from ThyssenKrupp

The Austrian technology group is awarded to supply equipment for stainless steel production to ThyssenKrupp Nirosta, Germany.
March 29, 2012


Major Order at Strabag´s German Subsidiary

Ed. Züblin, a subsidiary of the Austrian construction group Strabag, was awarded to build new universites in Hamm and Lippstadt. The contraction volume amounts to € 100m.
March 29, 2012


Swiss Tax Treaty: Austria Under Pressure

The Austrian Minister of Finance is optimistic to conclude the Swiss tax deal by 2013. Proceeds of € 1.0bn are expected.
March 28, 2012


Austria Insists on Financial Transaction Tax

Despite Germany’s finance minister sees little chance of a European Union agreement on the levy, Austria is sticking to plans for a financial-transaction tax in Europe to help consolidate its budget.
March 27, 2012


BNP: Austrian Economy Recovers

GDP in Austria contracted slightly in Q4 2011 as exports fell, but weak growth is likely to have resumed at the beginning of 2012, says BNP Paribas.
March 26, 2012


Alpine to Build Railroad Tunnel for Stuttgart 21

The Austrian construction company is involved in the German Railroad’s large-scale Stuttgart 21 project.
March 26, 2012


MAN Austria Records Lower Revenues

The Austrian subsidiary of the German truck producer registers a decline in revenues by 12%. The number of produced driver cabs was up significantly.
March 21, 2012


Allianz Austria Improves Premium Intake

The Austrian subsidiary of the German insurance group could enhance results in all its segments. Due to a decline in investment results, net profits were down significantly.
March 20, 2012


AUA: „Restructuring, Not Breaking Up“

Jaan Albrecht, CEO of Austrian Airlines wants to make the airline competitive again. A new foundation is “no issue”.
March 19, 2012


Lufthansa Claims Exemption of Air Ticket Tax

In order to restructure the Austrian loss making subsidiary AUA, the German airline pushes the Austrian government to abandon the air ticket tax.
March 17, 2012


Tax Agreement with Switzerland May Be Postponed

The plans of the Austrian government to conclude a tax agreement with Switzerland soon is unlikely. For the budget, this could cause a loss of revenues.
March 17, 2012


Unemployment of Older Aged Workers Increases Disproportionately

The Austrian labor market registers a rise both in employment and unemployment of persons aged beyond 50. Especially unemployment of male persons aged beyond 50 rises dramatically.
March 17, 2012


Austrian Government Holds on Financial Transaction Tax

In spite of discordance at the EU-level, the Austrian government is convinced to impose taxes on financial transactions by 2014.
March 17, 2012


Lufthansa Grants Capital Injection to AUA

The German Airline raises the capital of the loss-making subsidiary by € 140m with reservations.
March 15, 2012


AUA Prepares Transfer of Undertakings

Austrian Airlines increases pressure on its aircrew. The deadline to negotiate the new collective agreements was extended again by one month.
March 14, 2012


Voestalpine Closes TSTG Schienentechnik

The shutdown of German TSTG is due to a “lack in efficiency”. Because of the current cartel proceedings, the Austrian steel company has to build provisions of € 205m.
March 13, 2012


Stagnation at Vienna Stock Exchange

At the moment, the Viennese Stock Exchange (VSE) has no new IPO´s to announce. The atmosphere in Vienna would be not investment-oriented enough, market observers say.
March 13, 2012 · Updated: March 13, 2012; 19:11


AUA: Negotiations Failed

Negotiations between Austrian Airline´s management and the aircrew representation ended without any concrete results. Yesterday, the workforce seemed to be willing to reach a compromise.
March 13, 2012


AUA: Compromise May Be Reached

After weeks of negotiations, the works council at Austrian Airlines seems to make concessions to the management. Tomorrow, the deadline expires.
March 12, 2012


Emirates Tries to Lure AUA´s Pilots Away

As uncertainty among Austrian Airline´s workforce is rising, the marketing officer at Emirates, Thierry Antinory, wants to attract AUA´s aircrew.
March 9, 2012


BWB Finishes Razzia at Rewe Austria

Due to suspicions of price arrangements, the Austrian Federal Competition Authority (BWB) secured comprehensive documents of Rewe Austria. The longest razzia in BWB´s history is finished.
March 9, 2012


Imports Grow Stronger than Exports

January to December 2011: Austrian imports rose by 15%, exports increased by 12%.
March 9, 2012


AUA: Confrontation of Management and Workforce Sharpens

The management of Austrian airlines must find an agreement with its pilots until March 13. A solution is not in sight.
March 8, 2012


Foreign Direct Investment in Austria Increasing

In 2011, a moderate decline in new enterprise settlements was registered. Investments grew by 34%.
March 8, 2012


Henkel CEE Achieves Stable Results

The Vienna based CEE-headquarters of the German Henkel Group raised sales by 7.2% in 2011.
March 8, 2012


Tax Treaty: Conflict with EU

The EU rejects Austrian tax treaty plans with Switzerland. Austria insists on the bilateral agreement.
March 7, 2012


Rewe is Said to Constrain Investigations

The Austrian Federal Competition Authority (BWB) suspects Rewe Austria to have made price arrangements. Rewe should have constrained BWB´s investigations.
March 6, 2012


EU ‘Surprised’ Austria Didn’t Warn on VBAG, Almunia Says

The European Commission was “surprised” Austria didn’t warn it about plans to bail out Oesterreichische Volksbanken AG (VBPS), according to Joaquin Almunia, the region’s commissioner responsible for approving state aid.
March 5, 2012


AUA: Negotiations Go On

Austrian Airlines does not face strikes. Not only AUA´s management is under pressure. Workers fear a new foundation of AUA or a re-sale.
March 5, 2012


Voestalpine Awarded Major Contract in the UK

Austrian voestalpine Group has been awarded a major contract for the supply of roughly 20,000 tons of pre-cut heavy-plate shapes for Siemens Wind Power for the London Array offshore wind tower project in the United Kingdom.
March 5, 2012


Razzia at Rewe Austria Continues

Investigators announced to have found substantial evidence at Rewe Austria, which is suspected of having made price agreements.
March 3, 2012


Komptech Increases Turnover to € 111m

The Austrian environmental specialist enjoys the best year in its company history. Infrastructure projects enable continued growth.
March 3, 2012