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Austria and Germany - Read the latest headlines about bilateral relations in the areas of economy, business, investment, diplomacy, culture and tourism

Common Energy Strategy for Germany, Austria and Switzerland

After the German nuclear exit, Switzerland and Austria should act as “green battery”.

May 2, 2012

ESM: The Final Ruin of Europe

Solidarity with financially stricken EU countries cannot justify the irrevocable loss of national sovereignty. The transfer union will only work until the financial collapse of Germany and Austria.

May 2, 2012

CA Immo Focuses on Berlin

The Austrian real estate group sees high demand and low supply in the German capital´s property market. In 2012, investment volume reached € 245m in Frankfurt and Berlin.

May 2, 2012

AUA´s Workforce May Decide Against New Collective Agreement

After months of heated debates, the works council and the management agreed on a new collective agreement. The aircrew must approve the agreement.

April 28, 2012

CA Immo Expands in Munich

The Austrian real estate company has a new tenant in office building in Munich's Arnulfpark.

April 27, 2012

Conwert Establishes Joint Venture in Germany

The Austrian real estate company expands in Germany. Sales volume of the construction project in Bamberg is estimated to reach € 100m.

April 27, 2012

Small Growth in Austrian Winter Season

The current tourism winter season 2011/12 recorded a rise in overnights by 2.1%.

April 26, 2012

Immofinanz Group Acquires Office Development Project in Düsseldorf

The Austrian Group announces the acquisition of the remaining 50% stake in the Panta Rhei, a planned office development project in Düsseldorf, from the co-owner Frankonia Group.

April 26, 2012

Business Insolvencies Expected to Increase

After two years of decreasing business insolvencies, the Austrian economy faces a rising number of business insolvencies again.

April 26, 2012

Waldner: “Germany and Austria are Role Models in the Eurozone“

The Austrian State Secretary Wolfgang Waldner had a work meeting today with his colleague in the German Federal Foreign Office, Minister of State Michael Link.

April 23, 2012

Former GDR Funds: Bank Austria Has to Pay € 245m

Bank Austria lost a Zurich retrial over German demands for repayment of more than € 245m linked to the former East German Communist Party.

April 21, 2012

AUA Resolves Transfer of Undertakings

The supervisory board of Austrian Airlines decided to switch to cheaper collective agreements. The transfer of undertakings is “crucial for AUA´s survival”.

April 20, 2012

„AUA is no Protected Area Anymore“

Lufthansa´s CEO Christoph Franz underlined not to accept permanent losses of the Austrian subsidiary AUA. “There is no protected area at Lufthansa anymore.”

April 18, 2012

Uniqa Sells German Mannheimer Group

The Austrian insurance company concludes the sale of its majority stake in Mannheimer AG.

April 16, 2012

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