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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.
Erdogan Attacks Banks
Turkey´s Prime Minister wants to strengthen his fight against the over-indebtedness of private Turkish households. According to Erdogan, banks are responsible for the unfavorable situation.
July 18, 2013
Spanish and Polish Prime Minister Support EU-US Free Trade Agreement
On the occasion of a state visit in Madrid, Poland´s Prime Minister Donald Tusk declared that the free trade agreement between the U.S. and the EU would be a driver for economic growth. The EU must strengthen its energy strategy, Tusk said.
July 16, 2013
„Austrian Banking Sector Still Weakly Capitalized“
Austrian National Bank (OeNB) criticizes that the domestic banking sector did not improve the equity base sufficiently.
July 16, 2013
Fekter: Horror Figures with Hypo’s Restructuring Plan.
The restructuring plan for Hypo Alpe Adria involves several scenarios, which Finance Minister Fekter does not want to mention. The “horror figures” tax payers are burded with are set up “in an apocalyptical way”, according to her.
July 15, 2013
Czech Republic: Gloomy Prospects for Economy
The Czech economy is shrinking. According to experts, new Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok will not be able to change much. Enterprises have started to cut back on investments.
July 12, 2013
Serbia to Invest € 10bn in Energy Sector
Serbia will invest € 10 bn in the development of the energy sector in the next eight years.
July 12, 2013
Poland: Gowin Wants to Become Next Prime Minister
Conservative party member of PO Gowin is the sole challenger to Tusk for the position as party leader.
July 11, 2013
Fekter: Capital Aids for Hypo Included in Next Budgets
Finance Minister Maria Fekter sticks to it: „We will reach a zero deficit in 2016 and have a slight surplus in 2017,”she announced during the presentation of the economic report 2013 on Wednesday.
July 11, 2013
Slovenia Can Afford Bank Sector Cleanup Itself
Slovenia intends to use its own funds and avoid having to ask the Eurozone or IMF for aid to restore the stability of its banking sector, said the country's finance minister Uros Cufer.
July 10, 2013
Austria: Rumors about Fekter Resigning as Finance Minister after Elections
Will Fekter become President of the National Council after the elections? In government circles speculations are circling about Finance Minister Fekter quitting her post as after the national elections in September.
July 10, 2013
Turkey: Gezi Protests Claim Fifth Life
A 19-year-old, who was seriously injured during the protets against the government in Turkey, has died in hospital. The number of fatalities has now risen to five, according to press agency Dogan.
July 10, 2013
New Czech Government Sworn In
Czech President Milos Zeman has announced the new government of Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok on Wednesday and sworn in. The team of 15 mostly independent experts replaces the cabinet of Petr Necas, who has stepped back due to a corruption scandal.
July 10, 2013
Spindelegger: Fitness Program for Austria
Austrian economy supposed to be boosted by reforms of “Unternehmen Österreich 2025, and a rejection of new taxes.
July 10, 2013
Poland: Measures to Increase Employment
The polish government approved a package of measues becoming effective by 2014 to improve the situation on the labor market.
July 10, 2013
Serbia: Fight against Unemployment Key Aim of Government
Serbia's Government aims to cut down unemployment to below 20 percent and tries to attract new investors.
July 9, 2013
Slovenia’s Banking Sector Threatened by Delay of Bad Bank-Transfers
After the EU Commission denied approval for the first transfers of bad loans to the bank asset management by June 28, the reorganization of the banking system in Slovenia has been postponed.
July 9, 2013
Gazprom Runs Risk Of Losing Leading Position
Currently, only state-controlled energy giant Gazprom is permitted to export gas. Due to cooperations with French Total and Chinese enterprises, Moscow now intends to open the market.
July 9, 2013
Fekter: Eurozone More Stable Than A Year Ago
Austrian Finance Minister Maria Fekter has described the condition of the Eurozone as “better” than compared to a year ago.
July 9, 2013
Turkey: Gezi Park And Taksim Square Closed Again
Only a few hours after the reopening of Gezi Park, the police in Istanbul once more used violence against demontrators as they wanted to get inside.
July 9, 2013
Ukraine Looking for Alternative Gas Suppliers
Gas supply from Europe to Ukraine may stimulate pricing of Russian import.
July 8, 2013
OeNB Favors Examination of Bad Bank for Hypo
The Austrian National Bank (OeNB) has, according to Govenor Ewald Nowotny, requested to examine models for the establishing of a bad bank for Hypo Group. This was announced by Nowotny on Monday
July 8, 2013
Poland: Opposition Strengthens Front-Runner Position
According to a recent poll, conservative opposition party Law and Justice (PiS) has intensified its lead over ruling centrist Civic Platform (PO).
July 8, 2013
Orban Accuses European Union of “Soviet-style Methods”
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban criticized the “troops of bureaucrats" who were unable to solve the economic crisis in Europe and who were now trying to denounce Hungary, which was on the road to recovery again.
July 5, 2013
Turkey: Government Alleged to Have Known About Project Fail
A week before the forceful clearing of Gezi Park in Istanbul, the Turkish government was supposed to know about the fact that it had lost before court with its constructions plans. Protests went on, despite of that.
July 5, 2013
Bolivia: “We Don’t Need a US Embassy“
Bolivian President Morales is still infuriated over the flight incident and considers closing of US embassy in La Paz. He is supported by his counterparts from Venezuela and Ecuador.
July 5, 2013
Bulgarian Interior Ministry Going Bankrupt over Mass Protests
According to Interior Minister Tsvetlin Iovchev the security of the public order at the protests has cost the taxpayers BGN 3m.
July 5, 2013
Hypo: Greens vs. Fekter
The debate about a Hypo Group has turned out a genuine match between deputy chief of the Austrian Green Party Werner Kogler and Finance Minister Fekter.
July 4, 2013
Moody’s: Turmoils In Bulgaria Will Not Affect Fiscal Stability
According to rating agency Moody's, the ongoing political turmoil in Bulgaria is not expected to negatively affect the country's fiscal stability.
July 4, 2013
Diplomatic Uproar After Bolivian Emergency Landing in Vienna
After the allegedly forced stop of in Austria, Bolivian President Evo Morales has returned to his home country. International criticism arises, also in regard to Austria’s actions.
July 4, 2013
Turkey: Court Forbids Reconstruction of Taksim Square
Controversial construction project led to protests and brutal police force.
July 3, 2013
Slovenia: Trying to Make a Difference
The crisis measures approved by Brussels are partially starting to make an impact. Since July 1, the higher tax rate of 22 percent is binding. However, the country does much more than just raise taxes.
July 3, 2013
Vienna: Bolivian President Allowed to Continue Journey
Bolivan President Evo Morales had to land in Vienna after several European countries – among them Spain, France and Portugal – refused the right to overfly.
July 3, 2013
Fekter: Kranebitter „Weary of Office“
Hypo CEO Kranebitter resigns and settles a score with the Finance Ministry in an open letter. He decided to step back after three and a half years because “major parts of the work were damaged”.
July 3, 2013
Orban Attacks European Parliament
Prime Minister Orban claims that members of the EP would apply double standards on Hungary.
July 2, 2013
Rosneft to Take Over Itera Completely
Russian oil producer Rosneft has taken over gas corporation Itera completely and now wants to compete against energy giant Gazprom.
July 2, 2013
Croatia To Issue Licenses for Exploration of Oil and Gas
Croatia plans to issue lucrative concession for the production of oil and gas from 2014 on.
July 2, 2013
Snowden Applies For Asylum in Austria
Former US intelligence official Edward Snowden has applied for asylum in several countries, among them Austria, according to WikiLeaks.
July 2, 2013
No End to Protests in Bulgaria
Demonstrators demand the resignation of the government and early elections.
July 2, 2013
Hypo Group: CEO Kranebitter Steps Back
Kranebitter announced to stay until the half-year accounts are published. On Monday it became known that the ailing bank will in all likelihood require more state aid than planned.
July 2, 2013
Hypo Group: CESEE Units to be Sold Until Mid-2015
The threatened compulsory sale of nationalized Hypo Alpe Adria Group by the EU Commission until the end of this year, was, according to information by the Finance Ministry, fended off. An additional burden of € 2bn might await the Austrian taxpayers.
July 1, 2013
Putin Offers Snowden Right to Stay
Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered fugitive IT specialist Edward Snowden a right to stay as long as he will not further harm the US.
July 1, 2013
Alpine: 2,600 Jobs Secured
Social Minister Rudolf Hundstorfer assumes that a lot of Alpine employees will continue to be employed. Former CEO Schiefer announced that Alpine was “clinically dead” when he took over management in April 2013.
July 1, 2013
Faymann: Croatians Realistic With EU Membership
Austrians have a positive attitude towards Croatia’s new membership.
July 1, 2013
Hypo Group: Government Hopes For Expansion of Deadline
The restructuring plan for Hypo Group has been handed in to Brussels. It is still unclear whether the deadline will be expanded.
July 1, 2013
Austrian Coalition to Take Stock of Legislative Period
In a joint interview with several leading Austrian newspapers, Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann and Deputy Chancellor and Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger take stock of the legislative period so far.
June 28, 2013
Slovenia Likely To Require Bailout
According to Capital Economics Ltd. Slovenia will in all likelyhood ask for a bailout to bolster its ailing banking sector in case the debt crisis in Europe should worsen.
June 28, 2013
Leitl: „Austrian Enterprises Need Further Growth Impulses“
The Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) commits to budget consolidation but growth is the basis for a balanced state budget.
June 27, 2013
Nabucco: Flop for OMV and EU
Petrom will resume exploration drilling in offshore Black Sea block.
June 27, 2013