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Vienna International Community - Top Politicians - Latest Headlines
Read updated news about key politicians in Vienna's international community
Hungary: Stable Economy, Weak Currency
According to Prime Minister Orban the volatility of the Hungarian Forint is based on global factors.
January 31, 2014
Austrian Government Skirting around Decision over Hypo
A paper reporting about the four options for downsizing Hypo Group has not been published by the government yet.
January 31, 2014
Poland: Economic Growth in 2013 above Expectations
GDP growth in Poland came at 1.6 percent year-on-year in 2013 which is 0.1 percent above expectations.
January 31, 2014
Bawag to Be Sold?
According to rumours, the fifth largest Austrian lender may be sold.
January 31, 2014
Austrian Industrial Sector only Sees Weak Recovery
The Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) warns about a fragile economic recovery.
January 30, 2014
Poland: NBP Sees No Reason for Weakening Zloty
According to Eugeniusz Gatnar, board manager of the National Bank of Poland (NBP), there was no fundamental reason for monetary intervention.
January 30, 2014
VIG to Do Up Romanian Division
Difficulties in Romania and Italy for Vienna Insurance Group (VIG) lead to a massive decline in profits.
January 29, 2014
WKO Rejects Further Financial Burdens for Banks
According to the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO), the financial burdens of banking institutes in Austria are significantly higher than those of their competitors in other EU member states.
January 29, 2014
Euro-Introduction: Cutting Debts Precondition for Poland
Finance Minister Mateusz Szczurek stressed that cutting debts was a key condition for Poland before it could be admitted to the single currency union.
January 29, 2014
Slovenia: Dispute with Croatia Just Begun
Slovenian Foreign Minister Erjavec announced to continue dispute against Croatia.
January 29, 2014
Austria: Government Makes € 1bn for Hypo Group Available in Budget
Nationalized problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria has listed a need for state subsidies in the amount between € 400m and € 900m in this year’s downsizing plan.
January 29, 2014
Austria: IHS Against Bank Levy
Christian Keuschnigg, director of the Austrian economic research institute IHS stresses that the bank resolution funds would replace the bank levy.
January 28, 2014
Spindelegger: “No Exploitation of Resolution Funds”
Among the finance ministers in Europe, there are still different perceptions regarding the bank resolution fund.
January 28, 2014
Capital Increase at RBI Hungary
RBI (Raiffeisen Bank International) will make a capital injection of € 55m in its Hungarian affiliate
January 28, 2014
Austria: Opposition Presses for Information
The Austrian Greens demand information in regard to problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria.
January 28, 2014
New Czech Government in Dispute
The new Czech government is in dispute even before it was officially sworn in.
January 28, 2014
Poland: New Indices at WSE
GPW, the operator of the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) will introduce two new indices.
January 28, 2014
Austria: Bank Particpation Still Uncertain
It is still unclear whether the Austrian banks will participate in a downsizing construction of Hypo Group. First results will be presented in February
January 28, 2014
OECD Shows Great Concern over Hungarian Economy
According to the OECD, the country’s recovery from recession will be weak in 2014 and 2015
January 27, 2014
Nowotny: “We Want Clarity“
The governor of the Austrian National Bank presses the government for swift actions to find an acceptable downsizing solution for Hypo Group. Further steps will only be made in February.
January 27, 2014
Restrained Optimism in Polish Financial Market
According to Finance Minister Szczurek, the Polish Financial Market will have to face another challenging year.
January 27, 2014
Bank Austria: Massive Staff Reduction Ahead
Until 2025, Bank Austria will reduce its workforce by 4,000 employees in Austria, Doris Tomanek told the Austrian daily „Presse“. Since 2005, Doris Tomanek works as head of Human Resources CEE.
January 25, 2014
Hypo Group Denies New Capital Shortfall
The nationalized Austrian lender Hypo Group Alpe Adria is said to require fresh founds in the amount of € 500m. The bank´s management claims the opposite.
January 25, 2014
Romania´s President Opposes the IMF
Traian Basescu is strictly against imposing an additional tax on fuel. Whether Romania will achieve the budget target is highly uncertain.
January 24, 2014
Austria: OeNB Forecasts Modest Economic Growth
According to the Austrian National Bank (OeNB) economic growth in Austria only came at 0.3 percent last year.
January 24, 2014
Czech Republic: New Government Appointed in Late January
Zeman expected to appoint even “problematic” candidates.
January 24, 2014
Foreign Banks Leaving Bulgarian Market
In the past three years three non-domestic banks have left the Bulgarian market.
January 24, 2014
RBI Not to Be Sold to Hungarian State
Hungarian Minister Varga announced that the Hungarian state had no interest in taking over RBI’s local affiliate. Instead, RBI announced that staying in Hungary was “the right decision”.
January 23, 2014
Eurozone: Highest Economic Growth in Two Years
The purchase manager index for the private economy increased to 53.2 points up by 1.1 points, as published by Markit research institute on Thursday.
January 23, 2014
Bulgaria Imposes Interest Ceiling on Quick Loans
The Bulgarian parliament plans on putting a lid on the interst rates of quick loans.
January 23, 2014
Poland: PKO BP Bond Rated A2
Rating agency Moody’s gave an “A2” with a negative outlook on the € 500m bond by Polish key lender PKO BP.
January 23, 2014
Hypo Group: Decision Within First Quarter of 2014
The long-awaited meeting between the government and Hypo Group’s taskforce has been fixed to find a solution of the Austrian problem bank. The option of a bank participation is still on top of the list.
January 23, 2014
Austria: Savings to Shrink Further
According to Erste Group, the amount to be saved continues to shrink substantially. What is more, average loan amounts are declining moderately.
January 22, 2014
Uniqa Growing Faster Than Czech Insurance Market
Insurance group Uniqa reveals a significant increase in premiums in the first three quarter in 2013. Moreover, Uniqa showed an increase of CZK 3.3bn in the sector non-life insurance and CZK 877m in life insurances.
January 22, 2014
Bank Dispute between Croatia and Slovenia Reappears
Last year Slovenia was ordered in the first instance to pay back the foreign currency deposits of LB’s former affiliate in Sarajevo.
January 22, 2014
Austria: Debt Rate Rises Unstoppably
In the third quarter last year the Austrian public debt rate increased significantly compared to the previous quarter.
January 22, 2014
Croatia Supports Albania in EU Accession Course
Albania hopes that EU Accession Negotiations will take place in June 2014.
January 22, 2014
Austrian Bank Levy: “Penalty Gone Wild”
On the basis of a new method of calculation around € 90m more in bank levy should be generated compared to the previous year.
January 22, 2014
Vienna Congress comsult 2014: "Europe - Setting Directions"
Distinguished participants from industry, politics and the business community such as the former German Minister of Finance and Member of the German Bundestag Peer Steinbrück, the former President of the Czech Republic Václav Klaus, Deputy Prime Minister of Liechtenstein Thomas Zwiefelhofer, Mastermind of David Cameron, Phillip Blond, Member of the European Parliament Paul Rübig, economist and co-founder of AfD Bernd Lucke and Iain Begg, professorial research fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science are currently dicussing this issue in Vienna.
January 21, 2014
Czech Economy to Grow Not Sooner than 2016
The Czech economy will struggle to show economic growth both this and next year, according to the Czech Federation of Trade Unions CMKOS.
January 21, 2014
Austria: Nowotny Calls for Fast Decision on Hypo Group
The Governor of the Austrian National Bank (OeNB) presses the government to act quickly and avoid further straining the budget and burdening the taxpayers.
January 21, 2014
Erste to Maintain Business in Hungary
According to CEO of Erste Group’s Hungarian affiliate, the bank will remain in the country to expand business activity.
January 21, 2014
Serbia: "Kosovo Part of Whole Package"
Serbia hopes to join the union until the year 2020. The solving of the issue with Kosovo remains a key condition. Austrian Foreign Minister Kurz stresses the importance of the region becoming a part of the European Union.
January 21, 2014
Czech Republic: New Government Facing Bumpy Road
The first obstacles for forming a new government seem to have been surmounted – for the time being.
January 21, 2014
Spindelegger Met Almunia: „Bank Aids Were No Issue“
Today, Austrian Minister of Finance Michael Spindelegger has met Commissioner for competition Joaquin Almunia.
January 20, 2014
Austria: Fischer Calls Upon Respect of Human Rights
At the New Year Reception for the diplomatic corps in Austria, President Heinz Fischer called upon the strict compliance to human rights.
January 20, 2014
Poland to Do without Further Bond Issues
Poland will abstain from issuing new US-Dollar or Eurobonds.
January 20, 2014
Kotian: “Growth in CEE is Accelerating“
In an interview with Austrian daily “Wirtschafts-Blatt”, CEE expert at Erste Group, Juraj Kotian, points out that the bond market is expected to see growth supported by the successful reduction of debts and high economic growth.
January 20, 2014
Austrian Banks to Resist Further Burdens?
Podium discussion at Viennese law firm Binder Grösswang.
January 20, 2014
Austrian Office Market: Boom is Over
The increase in new construction has reached a new low. According to Bernhard Reikersdorfer (CEO of Remax Austria), the price situation will remain stable.
January 20, 2014