Vienna International Community - People in the News - Latest Headlines

Read updated news about key players in Vienna's international community, such as expats, executives, politicians, diplomats, investors, artists and others.

Bratusek: Slovenia Will Manage Bank Rescue

According to Prime Minister Bratusek, Slovenia will manage the bank rescue on its own.

December 3, 2013

Poland: GDP Growth Speeds up

The long-awaited economic recovery starts to accelerate in Poland.

December 2, 2013

Austria: Bawag to Pay back Participation Capital

The Austrian Bawag announced its plans about paying back a further tranche of the state capital participation.

December 2, 2013

Hungary: Matolcsy Demands Resignation of EU Commissioner

György Matolcsy, Governor of the Hungarian National Bank (MNB), demands a better rating for Hungary and the resignation of EU Commissioner Olli Rehn.

December 2, 2013

Bank Austria: Sales Proceeds for Kazakh Affiliate Dropped

Sales proceeds of Bank Austria’s Kazakh affiliate ATF Bank only came at € 294m which is significantly less than announced by the bank in the first half year.

December 2, 2013

Austria: President Presses for Progress in Coalition Negotiations

It has been two months after since the coalition negotiations started after the elections for the National Assembley. However, there has been not visible progress.

December 2, 2013

Controversials at conwert

Clemens Schneider was appointed as new CEO of the Vienna-listed real estate group. Not everybody is happy with the decision.

November 30, 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

„We Can Exclude a Bankruptcy of Hypo Group”

Ewald Nowotny, governor of the Austrian National Bank (OeNB) and Klaus Liebscher, head of Hypo Group´s supervisory board argue that the nationalized bank will be downsized according to plan.

November 29, 2013

Austria: Tax Losses Amount to € 2bn in 2014

The Austrian People’s Party estimates tax losses in the amount of € 2bn for the coming fiscal year as announced by State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Reinhold Lopatka in an interview with radio station Ö1.

November 29, 2013

RBI Calls for Better SME Financing in Europe and CEE

RBI CEO Karl Sevelda calls for improvement of SME financing.

November 28, 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

Germany Claims Key Positions at EU Banking Regulator

The German federal government claims one key position in the European banking regulator.

November 28, 2013

Poland Looking for Investors for PHN

Polish real estate group PHN (Polski Holding Nieruchomości S.A.) is searching for an investor.

November 28, 2013

Croatia: Milanovic Promises Economic Recovery

Prime Minister vows that Croatia's economy will be put on a sounder footing.

November 28, 2013

New CEO at conwert

Today, the Austrian real estate group has presented its new chief executive officer to the public. As of February 1, Clemens Schneider will manage conwert.

November 27, 2013

RBI Faces Austerity Measures.

Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) does not take into consideration capital increase.

November 27, 2013

EU Financial Transaction Tax to Become a Flop?

Experts do not expect the financial transaction tax to become effective next year.

November 27, 2013

Croatia: HNB Pushes Credits

According to reports by Reuters, the Croatian National Bank (HNB) intends to issue HRK 4bn (US-$ 707m) to support credits. Further details will be published by the Central Bank later this week.

November 27, 2013

RBI: Profits Decline by More than Half

Raiffeisen Bank International with consolidated profit of € 411 million in the first three quarters 2013.

November 27, 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

Immofinanz to Enlarge Buwog’s Portfolio

Austrian real estate company Immofinanz plans on acquiring a large portfolio in Germany. The purchase price of around € 900m is supposed to be raised by the company itself.

November 26, 2013

Czech Republic: CNB Aquires Foreign Currencies

During monetary interventions CNB has purchased foreign currencies in the amoung of CZK 200bn.

November 26, 2013

WKO: Better Framework Conditions for SMEs

Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), with between 10 to 249 persons employed, are a driver of the European economy, creating jobs and contributing to economic growth. WKO calls for better framework conditions for SMEs.

November 26, 2013

Austria: “Budget on Target“

State Secretary for Finance Andreas Schieder points out that “the figures from the Finance Ministry for the budget performance until October show that the budget 2013 is on target.” Social Minister Hundstorfer calls for reforms.

November 25, 2013

ECB Does Not See Danger of Deflation

Benoit Coeure, member of ECB’s supervisory board, does not see the danger of deflation in Europe.

November 25, 2013

Germany: Austrian Real Estate Enterprises under Pressure

Austrian real estate companies have invested hundreds of millions Euros in apartments in Germany since yields are around 30 percent higher; however the German government plans on putting a hold to the upward trend.

November 25, 2013

Faymann Calls for Sense of Proportion

Chancellor Faymann does not consider a drastic austerity package necessary.

November 25, 2013

Szczurek: EU Funds to Create Growth

Poland´s designated Minister of Finance Mateusz Szczurek explained that EU contributions will be used to support Polish GDP growth.

November 23, 2013

Slovakia Benefits Substantially from EU

In the next fiscal term from 2014 to 2020, Slovakia will receive net contributions of € 14bn. Without the EU contributions, Slovakia´s fiscal situation would be difficult.

November 23, 2013

Ukraine Leaves Path Towards EU

After the Association Agreement between the Ukraine and the European Union failed head of state Mykola Asarov stated economic reasons for the abrupt stop.

November 22, 2013

Czech Republic: CNB Facing Investigations

Czech Senator Dryml ordered the head of counter-intelligence service (BIS) Jiri Lang to initiate investigations against the Czech National Bank (CNB).

November 22, 2013

Slovenia Looking for New Economy Minister

According to media reports, Prime Minister Bratusek is supposed to have shortlisted three potential candidates for the position.

November 22, 2013

Croatia: Amendmends to Cosumer Credit Law

Interest rates on housing loans pegged to Swiss Franc dropped by 30 percent.

November 22, 2013

Czech Republic: Sobotka Commissioned to Form Government

Czech President Milos Zeman engages the head of the social democrats (CSSD) Bohuslav Sobotka to form a new cabinet.

November 21, 2013

Eurozone: Nouy New Manager of ECB’s Banking Suvervision

Daniele Nouy will become the new head of the ECB’s banking supervision.

November 21, 2013

Szczurek Stresses Importance of Balanced Fiscal Policy

Poland´s new Minister of Finance Mateusz Szczurek underlines the importance of a fiscal stability.

November 21, 2013

Austria: Cernko Favors Participation in Bad Bank

CEO of Bank Austria Willibald Cernko is in favor of Austrian banks participating in a bad bank for Hypo Group Alpe Adria.

November 21, 2013

Czech National Bank Not Intending Further Forex Interventions

According to Miroslav Singer, governor of the Czech National Bank, the authority is not planning on taking further measures at the forex market to weaken the Czech Crown (CZK).

November 21, 2013

Poland: Reshufflement at Government

A major reshufflement is currently under way at the Polish government.

November 20, 2013

Buwog Aquires Portfolio in Berlin

Buwog has once more acquired apartments at the German real estate market.

November 20, 2013

Austria: Budget Contradiction Causes Irritation

Opposition demands immediate resignation of Finance Minister Fekter.

November 20, 2013

Austria: Wifo’s Estimates More Optimistic

Wifo forecasts Austria to keep its growth advantage if “smart” consolidation measures are carried out by the government.

November 20, 2013

Albania: Governor Calls For Measures for Balanced Financial System

Financial institutes in Albania are struggling with a weak demand in credits as the country has been affected by the economic and financial crisis.

November 20, 2013

Austria: High Tax Country

According to the new tax report of PrinceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the tax burden in Austria is ten percent higher than the average tax rate in the European Union and even beats Sweden.

November 19, 2013

Romania: Banks Keep Risk Margins Unchanged

In spite of the recent cut in the key rate to an all-time low of four percent the financial institutes will not loosen risk policies.

November 19, 2013

RBI Examines Sale Offers in Hungary

Apart from the withdrawal from Ukraine, Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) considers an exit from Hungary.

November 19, 2013

Fekter: Austrian Budget Gap Based on Unfavorable Economic Forecast

Yesterday afternoon current Finance Minister Maria Fekter and State Secretary of Finances Andreas Schieder met with the parliamentary budget committee. The opposition parties demanded answers and clarification in regard to the budget gap.

November 19, 2013

Nowotny: Must Avoid Bubble in CESEE

In order to avoid another asset bubble like in 2008, loan growth has to be monitored, governor of Austrian National Bank Ewald Nowotny says.

November 19, 2013

„Not Enough Bank Insolvencies“

Andrea Enria, head of the European Banking Authority (EBA), claims that the banking landscape did not change sufficiently.

November 18, 2013