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        Austria's News in English
Read the latest headlines about other developments in Vienna and Austria
          
 
    
        Leitl: Government Plans “Complete Nonsense“ 
      
      
According to Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, the “great” suggestions planned by his working group are not realized by the government.
                                  December 10, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Austria: Oppositional FPÖ Wants Return to Shilling 
      
      
The largest Austrian opposition party wants to leave the Eurozone.
                                  December 7, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Sevelda: „We Are Close to the Breaking Point“ 
      
      
In a guest comment published by the Austrian business magazine Format, CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International Karl Sevelda refers to the high burden for Austrian banks.
                                  November 29, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Leitl: Growth Stimulating Measures for Budget Consolidation 
      
      
Leitl calls for growth stimulating measures which are the basis for the consolidation of the Austrian budget.
                                  November 28, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Poland: Szczurek Calls for Radical Tax Reform 
      
      
Poland´s designated Minister of Finance Mateusz Szczurek wants the change the current Polish tax system fundamentally.
                                  November 26, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Interest Rate Cut: “Very Effective Property Tax“ 
      
      
Economists have judged the ECB’s cut in interest rate differently. According to Brezinschek, chief analyst at Raiffeisen International, savers that are not involved in speculative investments will not benefit from the latest key rate cut.
                                  November 8, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Austria: Compulsory Levy on Assets Simply “Out of Question“ 
      
      
Top bankers and economists in Austria consider the compulsory levy of ten percent on household assets “out of question” and “ludicrous”.
                                  November 5, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Analysis - Vienna Stock Exchange on a “Sustainable Upward Trend” 
      
      
After five downhill years, the Vienna Stock Exchange is finally seeing something like a silver lining.
                                  October 30, 2013           · Updated: November 5, 2013; 18:00                              
    
 
    
        “Property Tax Cannot Finance Wage Tax Cut” 
      
      
Bernhard Felderer, head of the Austrian public debt committee, stresses that the Austrian government must reduce the public debt level as soon as possible.
                                  October 31, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Fiscal Policy: Austria in the Danger Zone 
      
      
Although Austria´s public finances are relatively stable, the structural problems are growing year after year. The apparent stability involves big dangers.
                                  October 24, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        “We Need to Pull Down the Iron Curtain in Our Heads“ 
      
      
In an interview with Austrian daily “WirtschaftsBlatt“ Johannes Seiringer, Director of the Austrian office of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) calls for incentives for enterprises to continue investing in CEE.
                                  October 24, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        „Czech Republic Does Not Fully Use Its Potential“ 
      
      
Czech Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok thinks that the performance of the Czech economy is not dramatically bad. However, the Czech Republic must use its opportunities more effectively.
                                  October 17, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        „CESEE Is Not the Devil Anymore“ 
      
      
Regarding the development of the CESEE equity market, Birgit Kuras, CEO of Vienna Stock Exchange (VSE) demonstrates optimism.
                                  October 14, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Federation of Austrian Industries Urges for Reforms 
      
      
IV (Federation of Austrian Industries) has high hopes. The next Austrian government has to implement a number of reforms, IV´s President Georg Kapsch says.
                                  October 12, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        "European bank supervision sends a strong signal to financial markets" 
      
      
Austrian Federal Minister of Finance Maria Fekter welcomes favourable European Parliament decision on bank supervision.
                                  September 28, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Does Austria Need Further Privatizations? 
      
      
Voestalpine´s CEO Wolfgang Eder wants to support the Vienna Stock Exchange. Without further privatizations, the stock market in Vienna could be history soon.
                                  September 24, 2013           · Updated: September 25, 2013; 11:30                              
    
 
    
        Leitl: “Grand Coalition Did Not Fulfill Expectations“ 
      
      
Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO), favors a change in the governing parties as the grand coalition has not realized the necessary reforms.
                                  September 24, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Austria: 80 Percent Opposed to 12-Hour-Working Day 
      
      
A survey of a Socialist trade union shows that 80 percent of employees are opposed of a working day of twelve hours.
                                  September 19, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Leitl Recommends Parties Not to Raise Hopes 
      
      
President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, Christoph Leitl considers the demand of the Social Democrats and Chancellor Werner Faymann for a tax relief as soon as 2015 utopian.
                                  September 17, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Schieder: IMF Confirms SPÖ-Claims 
      
      
State Secretary for Finances, Andreas Schieder regards the demands by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as a confirmation of those by the Social Democrats (SPÖ).
                                  September 11, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Keuschnigg: “We Already Have The Flat Tax in Austria” 
      
      
The head of IHS demands tax relief instead of further tax burdens and the adjustment to the inflation rate.
                                  September 3, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Schwarzenberg Criticizes Spindelegger 
      
      
The former Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Karel Schwarzenberg thinks that Austria´s Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger mainly focuses on domestic politics. The CEE region should co-operate closer in future, he claims.
                                  August 24, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Leitl: “Austria Screwed Up” 
      
      
If the US, as the perpetrator of the financial and economic crisis, shows two percent in economic growth, while Austria only 0.2 percent, then this was a “disgrace”, Leitl announced during the economic forum in Alpbach.
                                  August 21, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Austria: Spindelegger Demands Flexibility of Working Hours 
      
      
Working hours have become the main issue of the election campaigns. The dispute was incensed by the claims of Minister of Economy Mitterlehner to allow up to twelve hours of work per day.
                                  August 19, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Schieder: “Successful Employment and Regional Economic Policy Has to Be Continued“ 
      
      
Austrian State Secretary rejects unreliable surveys “talking down” Austrian economy.
                                  August 14, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Leitl: Positive Export Development Despited of Economically Difficult Times 
      
      
The Austrian economy should, according to the President of WKO, focus export growth in third countries and distant markets.
                                  August 10, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        RBI Considers Withdrawing from Hungary 
      
      
The Austrian banking group Raiffeisen Bank International wants to focus on other markets. Hungary and Slovenia are shrinking markets, CEO Karl Sevelda says.
                                  August 6, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        CESEE: „Growth Story Did Not End“ 
      
      
In an interview with the Austrian newspaper “Presse”, chairman of the CEESEG supervisory board Willibald Cernko explains that Central and Eastern Europe needs a new growth model.
                                  August 3, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Bulgarian Deputy PM: “They Want Social Justice“ 
      
      
In an interview with Austrian newspaper Standard, Bulgarian Justice Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Zinaida Zlatanova (40) talks about the reasons for the protest movement, planned reforms and critizism from abroad.
                                  July 27, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Federation of Austrian Industry Defends Group Taxation 
      
      
The Federation of Austrian Industry (IV) argues that the Austrian business location would be endangered without the group taxation.
                                  July 20, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Croatia’s EU Accession as a Chance For Austria 
      
      
Soon, there are more than 1,000 Austrian businesses operating in Croatia and the volume of trade is supposed to increase.
                                  June 18, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Leitl: „There Is No More Time To Waste“ 
      
      
Switzerland and Sweden pull away from the rest of the European countries in regard to international competitiveness, according to the latest IMD report, while Austria has been falling behind.
                                  May 31, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Leitl: „EU Has To Deliver Clear Confession to Business Location Europe” 
      
      
According to Leitl, the EU Summit has to deliver a “clear confession to business and industrial location” Europe.
                                  May 22, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Lopatka: „Poland Important Economic Partner and Ally of Austria in EU“ 
      
      
Austrian State Secretary encourages bilateral relations and trade between the two Central European countries as well as improved relations between EU and US.
                                  April 30, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        9.2 Million EU Citizens Wish To Work More Hours 
      
      
Labour Force Survey: Proportion of underemployed part-time workers up to 21.4% in the EU27 in 2012
                                  April 19, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Rothensteiner: „Strictly Against Discussion“ 
      
      
Head of RZB (Raiffeisen Zentralbank) Walter Rothensteiner is everything else but happy about the current discussion about the bank secret and deposit guarantee.
                                  April 17, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        "Croatia is Paving the Way for the Entire Balkans" 
      
      
Austria’s Vice Chancellor advocates the commission’s assessment and is looking forward to welcoming Croatia as a new EU member.
                                  March 29, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Spindelegger Criticizes Orban Sharply 
      
      
Austria´s Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger wants Hungary to “return to the European legal basis”.
                                  March 16, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Leitl: "Restructuring Instead of Cashing in" 
      
      
Christoph Leitl, head of WKO (Austrian Chamber of Commerce), dismisses further plans for a tax hike. The outcome would be fatal and the economy exposed to threats.
                                  March 6, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        “Financial transactions tax promotes fairness” 
      
      
According to Austria´s Minister of Foreign Affairs Michael Spindelegger, the financial transactions tax is strengthening the competitiveness in Europe through targeted reforms.
                                  February 15, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        “Not Enough Support for Growth and Competitiveness“ 
      
      
Georg Kapsch, President of the Federation of Austrian Industries criticizes that the EU budget does not contain enough future investments.
                                  February 9, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Klaus Recommends to Split Eurozone 
      
      
According to the outgoing Czech President, the separation of the eurozone would be cheaper than maintaining the currency union.
                                  February 7, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Nowotny Underlines Improving Outlook 
      
      
Ewald Nowotny, governor of Austrian National Bank (OeNB) stresses that not many countries were upgraded by the rating agencies in the last years.
                                  January 30, 2013           · Updated: January 30, 2013; 18:34                              
    
 
    
        „Our Future is Central and Eastern Europe“ 
      
      
Andreas Treichl, CEO of Austrian Erste Group, stresses the importance of the CESEE region and the necessity to become more efficient.
                                  January 29, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Erste Group´s CEO Wants to Create CESEE Stock Exchange 
      
      
Andreas Treichl, CEO of the Austrian banking group, would like to create an alliance between CEE Stock Exchange Group (CEESEG) and Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE).
                                  January 23, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Eder Reaffirms: „European Industrial Sector Is in Danger“ 
      
      
In an interview with the Austrian news magazine “Presse”, voestalpine´s CEO Wolfgang Eder criticizes the European industrial policy sharply.
                                  January 21, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Stepic: „CESEE Region Faces Challenging Year“ 
      
      
RBI´s (Raiffeisen Bank International) CEO Herbert Stepic explained that central, eastern and southeastern Europe is still Europe´s growth engine.
                                  January 15, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        2013: Where Will Growth Come From? 
      
      
Where Will Growth in the Euro Zone and the US Come From? GDP growth in Austria is expected to reach 0.9% this year, Erste Group says.
                                  January 9, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Austrian Industry Against Short-Time Work 
      
      
According to IV (Federation of Austrian Industries), short-time work is too expensive.
                                  January 8, 2013                                        
    
 
    
        Aiginger Praises and Criticizes Austria´s Economic Policy 
      
      
Although Austria´s economic situation is relatively satisfying, there is much improvement potential, the economist Karl Aiginger says.
                                  January 5, 2013                                        
     
           
       
    
