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.

Austrian Budget Targets Will Not Hold

In August, Finance Minister Maria Fekter underlined that the budget deficit will not exceed 2.9% of GDP. Due to the banking package, the budget deficit will be higher, though.

October 1, 2012

Raiffeisen: CEE Network to be Closed

Austrian RBI (Raiffeisen Bank International) announces that the expansion in Central and Eastern Europe will be concluded soon.

October 1, 2012

Lenzing: Mandate of CEO Untersperger Confirmed

The Austrian fiber producer extends the management board mandate of Peter Untersperger until 2016.

October 1, 2012

Fekter Against Property Taxes

The Austrian Minister of Finance Maria Fekter (ÖVP) would support an income tax reform. Property taxes would not be acceptable, she says.

September 29, 2012

Stronach Calls For 25% Flat Tax

The Austrian industrial and new party leader Frank Stronach wants a radical tax reform.

September 29, 2012

Klaus: Exit Will Not Destroy Eurozone

The Czech President Vaclav Klaus says that a reduction of the member states will not destroy the Eurozone.

September 27, 2012

Telekom Austria: Acquisition of „Yesss!“ Uncertain

In an interview with „börseexpress“, Telekom Austria´s CFO Hans Tschuden explains that the takeover of Orange´s discount brand “Yesss!” must be re-considered.

September 27, 2012

Austrian Central Bank Looks for New Governor

Next year, the mandates of the board of directors are expiring. Ewald Nowotny is said to be re-elected in his current position.

September 27, 2012

Anzengruber: „Withdrawal from Turkey is no Issue Yet“

Wolfgang Anzengruber, CEO of the Austrian energy company Verbund, emphasizes that Turkey is a future market.

September 27, 2012

Spindelegger: "Political progress more urgently needed than ever before"

Austria´s Minister of Foreign Affairs meets President of the Palestinian National Authority Abbas and the Foreign Ministers of Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates in New York.

September 27, 2012

Stronach Founds New Party: „Historical Event“

The former CEO of the Canadian automotive group Magna has presented his new party “Team Stronach” today.

September 27, 2012

Poland: Joining Eurozone After Crisis

For the governor of the National Bank of Poland Marek Belka, entering the Eurozone is conceivable as soon as the Eurozone has recovered.

September 25, 2012

Austrian Elections 2013: Stronach Confirms Candidacy

This week, the former CEO of Magna Frank Stronach will present the program of his party. The name of the party is not fixed yet.

September 25, 2012

Waiglein Becomes Director of ESM

Austria´s Minister of Finance Maria Fekter mandates Harald Waiglein as member of the board of directors.

September 22, 2012

Austrian Industry Claims Tax Cut

The Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) wants a tax relief. In the coming years, the tax quota should be reduced to 38%.

September 20, 2012

„Turkey has a Right of being a EU Member“

On the occasion of a visit in Vienna, the Turkish Minister of Economics Zafer Caglayan complains about the “disingenuous manner” of the EU towards Turkey. In the end, only Turkey will decide on the accession.

September 19, 2012

Fekter: “Spanish Banks Need € 60bn”

According to Austria´s Minister of Finance Maria Fekter, the European Union focuses on Spain. A Greek exit would be no issue anymore.

September 18, 2012

Banking Supervision: Nowotny Warns of Over-Ambition

According to the governor of OeNB (Austrian Central Bank), it would be dangerous to establish new institutions without a democratic legitimization.

September 18, 2012

Klaus: Czechs Against Banking Union

The Czech President notes that the Czech Republic cannot achieve anything without a recovery of the European economy. However, it would be advantageous to stay outside the Eurozone.

September 18, 2012

„Situation in Slovenia is not so Dramatic“

Ewald Nowotny, governor of Austria´s Central Bank (OeNB) thinks that the economic situation in Slovenia is under control.

September 18, 2012

Bulgarian President Wants to Attract Austrian Investors

On the occasion with a meeting between the Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev, the Austrian President Heinz Fischer and Lower Austria´s governor Erwin Pröll, Plevneliev underlined the importance of Austrian investors for Bulgaria.

September 17, 2012

Semperit Announces Changes of Management Board

Richard Stralz to leave the Management Board effective November 30, 2012.

September 17, 2012

Eder Calls for Cut in Steel Production

The CEO of the Austrian steel producer voestalpine asks the European Union to introduce a controlled reduction of the steel production. The overcapacities would cause lower prices, Eder argues.

September 17, 2012

Poland Rejects Joining Banking Union

According to Poland´s Minister of Finance, a common supervision for banks is “not interesting”.

September 17, 2012

Nowotny: „Fiscal Union Still Far Away“

Ewald Nowotny, governor of OeNB (Austrain Central Bank) does not believe in a quick implementation of the fiscal union.

September 17, 2012

„Becoming Number Five Until 2015“

In an interview with the Austrian newspaper „Presse“, Uniqa´s CEO Andreas Brandstetter is optimistic to become a big player in the insurance industry in the CESEE region.

September 15, 2012

Klaus Does Not Want European Federation

The Czech President Vaclav Klaus rejects the idea of the head of the EU-Commission José Manuel Barroso.

September 14, 2012

Hungarian Central Bank Against Bank Taxes

According to the governor of Hungary´s Central Bank, the bank taxes are causing the lending freeze.

September 14, 2012

„The situation is inconvenient, but not dramatic“

In an interview with the Austrian newspaper Kurier, the Austrian Minister of Economics Reinhold Mitterlehner underlines that “we must keep our nerves”.

September 13, 2012

Nowotny: Not Overcharging ECB

Ewald Nowotny, governor of Austrian Central Bank (OeNB) argues that ECB should not control all banks.

September 13, 2012

Austrian Airlines Not Profitable Before 2013

The Austrian subsidiary of Lufthansa will not achieve a positive net income this year.

September 12, 2012

„I´m Concerned About the Atmosphere in Southeastern Europe“

In an interview with the Austrian newspaper “Presse”, the Croatian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vesna Pusic explains that Croatia still aims to become a member of the Eurozone. The Maastricht Criteria would not be fulfilled yet, she says.

September 11, 2012

Bank Austria: Bernkopf New Management Board Member

Helmut Bernkopf becomes Management Board member of Bank Austria with responsibility for the bank’s private and corporate customers

September 11, 2012

Soros: "Germany Must Lead or Leave"

In a talk on "The Future of the Euro" in Vienna, George Soros presented his vision of how the European financial crisis can be solved.

September 11, 2012

Kapsch Against Excluding Greece

The President of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) thinks that the Austrian pension system shows a substantial savings potential.

September 10, 2012

Slovenia: Juncker Calls for Reforms

The chairman of the euro-group Jean-Claude Juncker warned Slovenia. “The situation is critical, there is no time to lose.”

September 10, 2012

Austrian Railways: Pöchhacker Opposes to Privatization Plans

Horst Pöchhacker, President of ÖBB´s (Austrian Railways) is against a privatization of the company. Vice-Chancellor Michael Spindelegger (ÖVP) recently suggested to sell ÖBB to Frank Stronach.

September 10, 2012

Merkel and Faymann Reaffirm their Commitment to the Euro

The German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel met her Austrian counterpart Werner Faymann and Vice Chancellor Michael Spindelegger in Vienna. It was Merkel´s first state visit in Austria since 2006.

September 8, 2012

ÖBB to Become Privatized?

In the summer talks of Austria´s public broadcaster ORF, Vice Chancellor commented that the founder of Magna Frank Stronach should acquire ÖBB (Austrian Railways). A highly controversial debate has begun.

September 8, 2012

Czech Republic: No VAT Increase

The governing coalition failed in seeking approval by the parliament. In order to lower the budget deficit, the government intended to lift the VAT rates.

September 7, 2012

Kemler New CEO of ÖIAG

The former CEO of Hewlett Packard Austria was elected as new Chief Executive Officer of the Austrian Industrial Holding.

September 7, 2012

ÖIAG: Three Potential Candidates

The Austrian Industrial Holding needs a new chairman. Tomorrow, the decision should be published.

September 6, 2012

Hypo Group´s Capital Shortfall at € 2.2bn

Today, the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) announced its new estimation regarding the nationalized banking group. Insiders fear that Hypo Group needs even more money.

September 6, 2012

Bad Times for Vienna Stock Exchange

Compared to August 2011, stock turnover fell by 66% last month. Turnover only reached € 2.3bn.

September 4, 2012

„Europe Is Stronger than Many Think”

Austria´s Federal President Heinz Fischer thinks that the exclusion of certain member states out of the Eurozone is “highly problematic”. In two or three years, the crisis in the Eurozone is managed, he believes.

September 3, 2012

Slovenian Bankruptcy Would Hit Austria Particularly Hard

Prime Minister Janez Jansa announced that Slovenia may have to declare its national bankruptcy in October. Austria´s share in foreign direct investment made in Slovenia reaches about 50%.

September 3, 2012

Bank Union: Austrian Banking Industry Cautious

European Forum Alpbach: In mid-September, the EU Commission will present its plans regarding the bank union. The bank union should not be implemented too fast, the Austrian Financial Market Authority says.

September 1, 2012

FPÖ Wants Nowotny to Resign

The biggest Austrian opposition party criticizes the governor of Austrian Central Bank (OeNB) sharply. FPÖ´s leader Strache blames Nowotny to violate the “no bailout” clause.

September 1, 2012

Nowotny: Austrian Banking Sector “More Boring, but More Stable”

European Forum Alpbach: Ewald Nowotny, governor of the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB) thinks that banks will fight for deposits in future. In the last years, ECB had to prevent a collapse of the financial system several times.

August 31, 2012

Pribil: „ECB Must Not Become Safe Haven for Zombie Banks”

At the European Forum Alpbach, the Director of the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) Kurt Pribil stresses the importance of a centralized banking supervision authority.

August 31, 2012