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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.
Commerzbank: Austria to Miss Budget Goals
Without a new austerity package, Austria will run up more debts than calculated in the bugdet plan, German Commerzbank says. The country’s AAA ratings are likely to decrease.
August 12, 2013
Czech Republic: Schwarzenberg to Run for Parliamentary Elections
The former Foreign Minister named “autocratic” President Zeman as a motivation.
August 10, 2013
Austria: Spindelegger Wants Reform Government
The next government has to be a “reform government”, according to Austrian Vice Chancellor Michael Spindelegger, since the one in office now has only shown little reform zeal.
August 9, 2013
Austria: Banks Indignant At Chancellor Faymann
Chancellor Werner Faymann has started the election campaign with an attack against the banks. However, CEO of Bank Austria Willibald Cernko points out that the banking industry secures 70,000 jobs in Austria.
August 9, 2013
Romania: Good Prospects for Economic Upturn
In Romania, the inflation forecast for 2013 and for 2014 has been lowered to 3.1 percent which is 0.1 percent less compared to previous figures.
August 9, 2013
Early Elections in Czech Republic Likely
After Czech’s new Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok failed the vote of confidence, there are many indicators that President Milos Zeman will announce early elections.
August 9, 2013
Hungary: Land Reform Evokes Conflict
“Hungarian soil belongs to Hungarian people“. This is the maxim of national-conservative ruling party of Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
August 8, 2013
Czech Government Loses Vote on Confidence
The cabinet of experts of Prime Minister Rusnok only receives 93 out of 200 votes. October may be the month for early elections.
August 8, 2013
Hypo Group: Reason for “Budget Lie”
The situation of ailing bank Hypo Alpe Adria may be worse than assumed. The supervisory board of the bank and the taskforce are discussing about the half-yearly report.
August 7, 2013
Serbia: Attempted Murder on Deputy PM Vucic Prevented
According to Belgrade daily “Nase novine“, Serbian Intelligence Service BIA was able to prevent an attempted murder on Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic.
August 7, 2013
Czech Republic: Will Rusnok Remain in Parliament?
Today, August 7, 2013, the members of parliament in Prague will carry out a vote on confidence on the new government of Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok. It is unlikely that Rusnok will remain in parliament.
August 7, 2013
„CESEE Will Come Back“
Andreas Brandstetter, CEO of the Austrian insurance group Uniqa, thinks that Central and Eastern Europe will recover.
August 6, 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
Bad Bank for Hypo Group?
According to market rumors, Austria´s government wants domestic banks to participate in a bad bank for the nationalized Hypo Group. Finance Minister Maria Fekter denies such reports.
August 5, 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
Austria: Verbund to Take Austerity Measures
Only a few months ago, CEO of Verbund Wolfgang Anzengruber promised that “2013 will become the best year in the company’s history”. However, there have been bad news for the energy company ever since.
August 1, 2013
Turkey: Tear Gas Against Protesters Again
Once more, the Turkish police uses tear gas to fight off protesters.
August 1, 2013
Serbia: No Early Elections Despite of Break of Coalition
Dismissal of Finance Minister Mladjan Dinkic. URS is leaving the governmental alliance. Despite of a break of the coalition, there will be no early elections in Serbia.
July 31, 2013
Czech Republic: Unwilling to Join Eurozone?
In 2012, the country missed two out of four criteria for the introduction of the single currency. According to the statistical office it was the worst result in five years. It is not yet clear when the Czech Republic is ready to join the Eurozone.
July 31, 2013
Romania: Drop of VAT on Bread and Baked Goods
Around 70 percent of Romanian bread and baked goods are sold on the black market. A drop in VAT is supposed to change that.
July 31, 2013
Slovenia Likely to Overcome Problems in Banking Sector
Slovenia’s problems in banking sector are controllable, according to experts.
July 31, 2013
Protests: Bulgaria in a Political and Social Crisis
Thousands of protesters are still marching the streets of Sofia. It is particularly the educated middle class that has had enough of the raging corruption of the political elite.
July 30, 2013
Slovenia Lures Russian Investors
Slovenia invites Russian investors to participate in privatization plans.
July 30, 2013
Russia: Stronger Regulations for Market for Consumer Loans
Business with consumer credits have started comparatively late in Russia. Now, the market is supposed to be regulated further.
July 29, 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
Czech Republic: President Zeman Names 15 New Ambassadors
The step had been delayed for several months over Zeman’s dispute with Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg over the filling of ambassadorial posts in Bratislava and Moscow.
July 26, 2013
Czech Republic to Remain in Recession
The Czech economy will, according to the Finance Ministry in Prague, shrink by 1.5 percent and only start growing again in 2014 by 0.8 percent.
July 26, 2013
72 Percent of Bulgarians Regard Situation as “Unbearable”
Every day since June 14 protesters are gathering in front of the parliament in Sofia to express their anger about corruption in the country and demand the current government to step down.
July 26, 2013
Poland: President Komorowski Most Trusted by Citizens
Poles trust president much more than party leaders.
July 26, 2013
Hungary Abandons Radical Resolution On Foreign Exchange Loans
Foreign currency denominated mortgages for home purchases shall be phased out.
July 25, 2013
Fekter: Debt reduction and tax reform are our absolute priorities
"We are on the right track"
July 25, 2013
Poland: First Signs of Recovery from Crisis
Deputy Finance Minister Janusz Cichon expressed his optimism about the country’s soon economic recovery via Twitter by referring to Poland’s industrial performance and retail sales in the last month.
July 25, 2013
Croatia Might Join Schengen Zone in Three Years
Croatia to start procedures for no-passport zone in 2015.
July 25, 2013
Austria: First Tax Tranche from Switzerland Transferred
The first tranche of the tax agreement between Austria and Switzerland in the amount of € 416.7m was transferred. Fekter considers it “a great success for Austria and the taxpayers”.
July 25, 2013
Bulgarian Protests As Sign of New Understanding of Values
The great wave of protests in Bulgaria continues to sweep the country. Experts regard the demonstrations as a sign of a new understanding of values.
July 25, 2013
Poland: Opposition Calls for Parliamentary Inquiry
PiS chief opposition calls for parliamentary inquiry into public finances.
July 24, 2013
Serbia and Bulgaria to Team Up in Energy Policy
Serbia and Bulgaria discuss South Stream, Nis-Sofia gas interconnection and the completion of the section of Corridor 10
July 24, 2013
Poland: Dispute Between NBP and Finance Ministry
Finance Minister Jacek Rostowski and Governor of Polish National Bank Marek Belka are blaming each other for the poor performance of Poland´s economy.
July 23, 2013
Hypo Group: Current Capital Injection Not Enough
Klaus Liebscher, head of the supervisory board of the nationalized Austrian problem bank, thinks that the Ministry of Finance will have to inject further money.
July 23, 2013
Orban: Not Joining Eurozone in the Next Ten Years
Hungary´s Prime Minister thinks that his country should not become a member of the euro area in the medium term.
July 23, 2013
Good Outlook for Austrian Airlines
CEO Jaan Albrecht thinks that the Austrian subsidiary of German Lufthansa will record positive results this year.
July 22, 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
NBP Wants Government to Adapt Budget
After the Polish government has announced to postpone its austerity plans, the National Bank of Poland calls the government to submit an updated fiscal outlook.
July 19, 2013
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
