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Vienna International Community - Top Politicians - Latest Headlines
Read updated news about key politicians in Vienna's international community
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
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