Austria's News in English

Read the latest headlines about other developments in Vienna and Austria

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

„No Tax Reform Before 2016“

Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, emphasizes that the government should focus on austerity measures.

January 4, 2013

Outlook: Europe Remains Under Threat

The European debt crisis will remain a major issue, Austrian Erste Group says.

December 28, 2012

Nowotny Puts Pressure on Austrian Government

Ewald Nowotny, governor of Austrian National Bank (OeNB) wants the Austrian government to continue the austerity course.

December 28, 2012

Turkey: „The EU Needs Us“

On the occasion of a visit in Hungary, Turkey´s Minister of European Affairs Egemen Bagis argued that the EU would benefit from Turkey´s accession.

December 11, 2012

Austrian Industry Calls for Flexibilization of Short-Time Work

Austrian businesses expect that short-time work may return. Three years ago, the

December 4, 2012

„Property Taxes are Nonsense“

Austria´s Minister of Finance Maria Fekter reaffirms that property taxes must be prevented.

November 30, 2012

„Too Many Banks in Austria“

Hannes Androsch, President of the Austrian bank holding Fimbag, warns that Austria´s exposure in CESEE countries is disproportionately high.

November 28, 2012

Nowotny: „CESEE Needs New Growth Model“

Ewald Nowotny, governor of Austria´s National Bank (OeNB), thinks that the current growth model for the region is outdated.

November 26, 2012

Austrian Industrial Federation Wants Higher VAT

Georg Kapsch, President of the Federation of Austrian Industries (I) calls for a VAT increase. The VAT rate remains unchanged at 20% of decades.

November 23, 2012

OMV Underlines Necessity of Shale Gas Production

The Austrian oil and gas group stresses that shale gas may reduce the dependency on Russian natural gas.

November 20, 2012

Steel Industry: „Up to 100,000 Jobs Endangered“

Wolfgang Eder, CEO of the Austrian steel company voestalpine, warns of the persistently high oversupply in the European steel industry.

November 17, 2012

Nowotny: More Power for Big Countries

The governor of Austrian National Bank OeNB Ewald Nowotny proposes to amend the voting rights at ECB.

November 7, 2012

„Strengthening Relation with Russia“

Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) argues that Europe must co-operate closer with Russia in order to manage the crisis.

October 25, 2012

Austrian Banking Industry to Downsize Radically

According to Bank Austria´s CEO Willibald Cernko, the Austrian banking industry must cut its number of branches radically.

October 23, 2012

Voestalpine: Eder Does Not Exclude to Leave Austria

Wolfgang Eder, CEO of the Austrian steel company voestalpine, underlines to stay in Austria “as long as possible”.

October 15, 2012

Austrian Industry Reaffirms: „We need structural reforms”

The President of IV (Federation of Austrian Industries) Georg Kapsch argues that more justice cannot be achieved with new taxes.

October 13, 2012

Stepic: “Must Reduce Lending in CESEE”

The CEO of Austrian RBI (Raiffeisen Bank International) Herbert Stepic explains that new lending in Eastern Europe must be reduced substantially.

October 11, 2012