Sponsored Content
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.


Eurozone: Further Capital Injections at Banks Expected

The Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) is holding a summit today. The low inflation rate in the Eurozone is still a dilemma for the monetary authorities.
January 9, 2014


Hungary: Austrian Farmers Still Left in the Dark

There is still no clarification in the controversial Hungarian land law for Austrian farmers and land owners.
January 9, 2014


Slovenia: Growth through Diplomatic Network

Slovenian Finance Minister Karl Erjavec assured that throught diplomatic network the country’s economy will still be supported.
January 9, 2014


Orco Property Group: Cut in Number of Board Members

Shareholders of Luxembourger real estate company Orco Property Group voted to cut the number of board members from nine to five on Monday.
January 8, 2014


Austria: First Tax Package to Be Presented

The Austrian government intends to present the first tax package tomorrow.
January 8, 2014


Sobotka Presses for Appointment of Czech Government

As reported by Czech news agency CTK, party leader of the Czech Social Democrats (CSSD) Bohuslav Sobotka will get together with President Milos Zeman to request a fast appointing of the new government.
January 8, 2014


Slovenia: Calls for Reforms Become Louder

The Slovenian Chamber of Commerce (GZS) calls upon the government to accelerate the realization of reforms to boost economic growth.
January 8, 2014


Hungary: SZKB to Take over Hungarian RBI?

Hungarian Economy Minister Mihaly Varga considers it unlikely for Szecheny Commercial Bank (SZKB) to take over the Hungarian affiliate of Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI).
January 8, 2014


Serbia: One of Fastest Growing Economies

Last year Serbia was among the ten fastest growing economies in Europe, as pointed out by Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic.
January 8, 2014


Hungary Amending Figures of Budget Deficit

Hungarian Finance and Economy Minister Mihaly Varga announced that the budget deficit of 2013 will be below the target after it was lowered dramatically.
January 8, 2014


Meinl Bank: Plans of Growth in Czech Republic and UK

Meinl Bank has opened a new subsidiary in Prague. Growth plans for the core business in Central and Eastern Europe is well on its way, according to the bank’s officials.
January 7, 2014


Growing Evidence for RBI’s Withdrawal from Hungary

According to media reports, Hungarian partly nationalized Szechenyi Commercial Bank has placed an offer for the take-over of RBI’s Hungarian affiliate.
January 7, 2014


Poland: On Path of Recovery and Growth

The Polish economy has been growing steadily since the beginning of 2013. However, budget deficit slightly exceeded forecasts.
January 7, 2014


Hypo Group Alpe Adria: „Bad Bank Will Come“

Klaus Liebscher, chairman of Hypo Group´s supervisory board, underlines that a bad bank will be established for the nationalized lender. Nevertheless, the bank remains the biggest financial disaster in Austria´s history.
January 4, 2014


Austria: „El Dorado for Borrowers“

According to Bank Austria´s management board member Dieter Hengl, Austria is an oasis for borrowers. Interest rates have reached an all-time low.
January 4, 2014


Slovenia: More Resistance Against Real Estate Tax

On Friday a second petition was filed at the Constitutional Court against the property tax.
January 4, 2014


Czech Governor Awarded Banker of the Year 2014

Miroslav Singer, governor of the Czech National Bank (CNB) was given the Central Banker of the Year 2014 award for Europe by The Banker.
January 3, 2014


Austria: Personnel Changes at Immofinanz

Daniel Riedl succeeds Alexander Hoff as spokesman of the BUWOG Management Board.
January 3, 2014


Bank Austria Considers Establishing Sub-Brand

In the next years, the Austrian subsidiary of Italian UniCredit wants to put more effort into the development of the mobile and online banking segment.
December 31, 2013


Hypo Group: „The Wrong Decisions were Made“

Johannes Ditz, former chairman of the Austrian nationalized Hypo Group Alpe Adria, thinks that the Austrian government could have avoided a massive burden for the taxpayers.
December 28, 2013


Poland: Komorowski Approves Pension Reform

Poland´s President Bronislaw Komorowski has signed the nationalization act. However, he will send the law to the Constitutional Court.
December 28, 2013


Austria: „Lending Becomes More Expensive”

In an interview with the Austrian daily “Presse”, CEO of Hypo Vorarlberg Michael Grahammer talks about the future lending conditions. The corporate sector faces a drastic increase in borrowing costs.
December 27, 2013


Austria: Kapsch Delivers Warning to Policy-Makers

Georg Kapsch, President of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV), is very cautious about economic growth in Austria and warns the policy-makers of a budget consolidation on the basis of expectations of growth.
December 27, 2013


VBAG: Further State Aids Questionable

The governing Austrian social democrats (SPÖ) are against providing further funds to the partly nationalized banking group.
December 26, 2013


Austria Bought Time for Examining Hypo Deal

Austria was granted more time for a possible appeal of the purchase of problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria from former parent company BayernLB.
December 23, 2013


Serbia to Receive Pre-Accession Assistance from EU

Today the European Commission adopted the 2013 national programme for Serbia under the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA).
December 23, 2013


Slovakia: Date for Presidential Election Fixed

The first round for the presidential elections in Slovakia will take place on March 15, 2014.
December 23, 2013


Czech Republic: Zeman Rejects Proposed Ministers

The Czech Republic is facing new obstacles in the forming of a new government as President Zeman is not satisfied with the choice of some ministers.
December 23, 2013


„CESEE No Driver Yet“

Birgit Kuras, CEO of Vienna Stock Exchange, thinks that the Vienna Stock Exchange is highly influenced by the CESEE operations of listed companies.
December 23, 2013


Austria: Industrial Output Shrinks

In October the industrial production in Austria declined.
December 23, 2013


Slovenia: PM Bratusek Confident About Tackling State Debts

Even though the country is expected to issue new state bonds next year to tackle state debts Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek suggested that Slovenia does not require loans immediately.
December 23, 2013


CA Immo Sells Office Building in Warsaw

CA Immobilien Anlagen AG sells Lipowy office building in Warsaw.
December 23, 2013


Austria: New Government Already Disappoints in the First Week

In 2014, Austria will not achieve its fiscal objectives, new Minister of Finance Michael Spindelegger admitted. Austria´s fiscal situation is observed critically. The country faces a new austerity package.
December 23, 2013


New CEO at BCR Asigurari de Viata

Sorin Mititelu was appointed as new CEO of Romanian BCR Asigurari de Viata.
December 21, 2013


Rothensteiner: Austrian Sovereign Debt Rating Includes Bank Bail-Out

Unlike the rating agency Moody´s, head of RZB (Raiffeisen Zentralbank) Walter Rothensteiner thinks that the Austrian sovereign debt rating is not endangered by the nationalized banking sector.
December 20, 2013


Austria: Rules for Bank Tax to Be Changed

The governing parties call for changes in the bank tax which would increase the burden of some Austrian banks.
December 20, 2013


Austria: New CEO for Hypo Group Alpe Adria

The search for a new CEO for Hypo Group has ended. On Friday the bank has found a new head of the management board since the position was vacant after Gottwald Kranebitter’s resignation this summer.
December 20, 2013


Bulgaria: Economic Upturn Not Sooner Than 2015

As reported by Bulgarian daily Standart, an economist at World Bank pointed out that the country has not yet reached the economic situation of before the start of the financial crisis in 2008.
December 20, 2013


Austria: Options of Bad Bank for Hypo under Examination

Finance Minister Spindelegger intends to meet with experts to discuss options of a bad bank for Hypo Group Alpe Adria.
December 20, 2013


Buwog's Spin Off More Likely than IPO

Immofinanz plans on increasing the portfolio of its affiliate Buwog, which focuses on residential real estate, by acquiring a volume of 18,000 apartments in Northern Germany.
December 19, 2013


Slovenia: EU Commission Approves Bank Aid

On Wednesday the European Commission has approved state aid for five Slovenian banks.
December 19, 2013


Immofinanz Increases Net Profit by More than 50 Percent

Immofinanz Group increases net profit by more than 50% – five-year sales programme nearly completed.
December 18, 2013


Macedonian Banks Should Support Private Sector

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Stavreski calls upon Macedonian banks to support the private sector.
December 18, 2013


Slovak Prime Minister Confirms Presidental Candidacy

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who also serves as head of ruling left-winged Smer Party, announced his candidacy for the presidential office next year.
December 18, 2013


Slovenia: Three Arrestments at NLB

According to Slovenian authorities, three persons in the bank’s environment were arrested because of alleged malpractice.
December 18, 2013


Serbia: EU Accession Talks in January Fixed

Prime Minister Dacic considers results as “historic event” for Serbia.
December 18, 2013


RBI CEO under Suspicion of Prosecution against Corruption

Karl Sevelda, CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI), is suspected of having sold company’s shares of a commodity trader below their value. The prosecution in Vienna is now searching Sevelda’s office.
December 18, 2013


Hypo Group: Take-Over Almost Completed

British-Indian Anadi Financial Holding had to wait for months until the take-over of Austrian Hypo Group Alpe Adria was approved.
December 18, 2013


Czech Republic: Rusnok to become CNB Board Member

Outgoing Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok will be appointed new board member of the Czech National Bank (CNB) by President Milos Zeman.
December 18, 2013


Austrian Banks: “Less than No Interest” in Bad Bank Participation

According to Felderer, Austrian major banks have “less than no interest” in a participation of a Hypo Group’s bad bank.
December 17, 2013