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Read updated news about key politicians in Vienna's international community

Serbia's Government Regards Economy as Priority Issue

"Solving economic problems is a priority of the reshuffled government"- Serbian Prime Minister.

September 5, 2013

Faymann: “Banks Should Pay for Hypo”

Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann does not consider a new austerity package necessary despite of the threatening billions of Euros for the selling and winding-up of the ailing bank.

September 5, 2013

Lopatka Demands Reform for Austrian Railways

State Secretary Lopatka demands Minister of Infrastructure Bures to tackle the expensive pension system at the Austrian Railways by doing away with privliges for emplyoees in order to unburden tax payers.

September 4, 2013

Slovenian Finance Minister: “Enough Tax Burdens“

On Tuesday, the Slovenian Finance Minister Uros Cufer announced that enough additional tax burdens have been introduced.

September 4, 2013

President Fischer Urges Austria to “Roll Up Sleeves“

In regard to the current election campaigns, the Austrian President Heinz Fischer has urged the parties for joint efforts.

September 4, 2013

Austria: Up to € 11.7bn for Downsizing Hypo Group

Years of discussion went by; now the EU Commission has approved the downsizing plan for nationalized Hypo Alpe Adria.

September 4, 2013

Poland: Tusk Demonstrates Optimism

This year, Poland´s economic growth begins to accelerate. According to Prime Minister Donald Tusk, the growth rate will be higher than 1.5%.

September 4, 2013

Hypo: New Risky Loan Agreements Even in 2012

According to the EU Commission, risky loans were granted by ailing Hypo Group even in 2012.

September 3, 2013

Keuschnigg: “We Already Have The Flat Tax in Austria”

The head of IHS demands tax relief instead of further tax burdens and the adjustment to the inflation rate.

September 3, 2013

Serbian Parliament Approves Cabinet Reshuffle

The Serbian parliament has approved a profound reshuffle of Prime Minister Ivica Dacic’s cabinet.

September 3, 2013

Cyprus: Waiting for the Next Bailout Tranche

Crisis-struck member of the Eurozone Cyprus will have to wait for the next payment out of the bailout-package. Before the next tranche will be transferred the small country has to implement key measures.

September 2, 2013

“Ukraine Will Fulfill Necessary Conditions for SAA”

President Viktor Yanukovych announced during his press conference on August 29 that Ukraine will fulfill the required conditions for signing the Association Agreement with the European Union.

September 2, 2013

Austria: Unemployment Quota Increased to 6.9 Percent in August

The gradual economic recovery has not yet reached the domestic labor market. The number of jobseekers in Austria has increased by 323,111 persons compared to the previous year.

September 2, 2013

Croatia: „Insufficient Move Towards the Positive Direction“

Croatia hopes its economy is moving in the "positive direction".

September 2, 2013

Survey: Faymann Best Chances of Becoming Chancellor

According to a survey carried out for Austrian daily “Standard”, the Social Democrats are gaining in votes while the Austrian People’s Party is slightly falling behind.

August 30, 2013

Romania: Planning on Energy Sufficiency by 2018/19

Gas pipeline between Romania and Moldova is set to become operational this year.

August 30, 2013

Serbia: SMEs Driver for Economy

Serbia's private sector employs 45% of the total number of employees.

August 30, 2013

EU Commissioner Sees First Signs of Economic Turn-Around

EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Olli Rehn can see the first signs of an economic turn-around in the European Union.

August 29, 2013

Romania Claims Compensations for Nabucco

Romania claims EU compensation for abandoned Nabucco project.

August 29, 2013

Austria: Faymann Mocks Schwarzenberg

The Austrian Chancellor reacts to Schwarzenberg’s criticism against Foreign Minister Spindelegger.

August 28, 2013

Poland: Opposition to Gain Support

The percentage of support for leading centrist Civic Platform (PO) under the lead by Prime Minister Donald Tusk dropped to 22 percent in late August.

August 28, 2013

Croatia Backs Down in EU Arrest Warrant

In the dispute about the extradition of a retired officer of the secret service to Germany, Croatia now seems to back down to the pressure put on by the European Union.

August 28, 2013

Czech Republic: Early Elections on Their Way

On Wednesday Czech President Milos Zeman has signed the dissolution of the House of Representatives.

August 28, 2013

Strache: „No New Aids for Greece“

Heinz-Christian Strache, leader of the Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ), demands that further bail-out funds for Greece should be stopped immediately.

August 27, 2013

Austrian Economy Minister: “No Time for Idle Complacency”

Austrian Minister of Economics and former general secretary of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO), Reinhold Mitterlehner avoids any dispute with Christoph Leitl, President of WKO but signals a different opinion.

August 27, 2013

Alpine: Former Employees to Receive Wages

Almost 5,000 former employees of bankrupt construction company Alpine can feel relieved as this week the insolvency contingency fund will start with settlements. However, creditors will only be given a rate of five percent.

August 27, 2013

Austria: First Chancellor’s Duel

Chancellor Werner Faymann (SPÖ) and Deputy Chancellor Michael Spindelegger (ÖVP) had their first official chancellor’s duel on TV on Monday. However, people waiting for a major dispute had been disppointed.

August 27, 2013

Poland: Tusk Remains Leader of Civic Platform

With almost 80 percent of votes Prime Minister Tusk wins elections for Civic Platform’s (PO) party leader.

August 26, 2013

EU Commission Threatens Croatia with Sanctions

Only a few weeks after its EU Accession, Croatia is facing threats of sanctions by the EU Commission.

August 26, 2013

2013: Decisive Year for Ukraine

Ukrainian World Congress: European integration as the key to Ukraine’s independence

August 26, 2013

Bulgaria and Romania to Strenthen Relations

Bulgaria and Romania plan to strengthen relations at bilateral, regional and European level.

August 26, 2013

Czech Republic: Klaus Reconsiders Returning to Politics

On Saturday, August 24, former Czech President Vaclav Klaus told Czech Television (CT) he is “seriously considering” returning to politics.

August 26, 2013

Erdogan Considers Leaving U.N.

Turkey´s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan puts pressure on the United Nations. The representation of the Security Council is not balanced, Erdogan criticizes.

August 26, 2013

Schwarzenberg Criticizes Spindelegger

The former Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Karel Schwarzenberg thinks that Austria´s Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger mainly focuses on domestic politics. The CEE region should co-operate closer in future, he claims.

August 24, 2013

Faymann: Joint Combat against Unemployment

During a meeting with Slovenian Prime Minister Bratusek and Croatian Prime Minister Milanovic and Austria’s second biggest city Graz, Austrian Chancellor Faymann pointed out the governments’ key tasks.

August 23, 2013

EU Commission: Unacceptable Russian Trade Ban

Stefan Füle, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neigborhood Policy, expressed his anger at Russia’s measures to ban Ukrainian products from the domestic market.

August 23, 2013

Austria: Leitl Reiterates Criticizm

State Secretary Schieder considers Leitl’s statements “totally out of place”.

August 23, 2013

Polish Airline LOT Puts Pressure on Boeing

Polish carrier LOT is threatening Boeing with claims for compensations. Dreamliner purchased by the airline company were faced with weeks of grounding due to a series of technical problems. Losses are estimated in the amount of up to € 25m.

August 23, 2013

Austria: “Painful Cuts“ at RBI

According to the most recent results, the bank has losses in profits of more then 60 percent. A strict cost reduction program

August 22, 2013

Austria: Fekter Reserved About Further Aids for Greece

In the debate about a third bail-out package for Greece worth billions, Austrian Finance Minister Fekter presented herself restrained.

August 22, 2013

Czech Republic: Zeman Signs Parliamentary Dissolution

Zeman will sign the parliamentary dissolution on August 28. The path is now clear for early elections at the end of October.

August 22, 2013

Ukraine Diversifies Sources of Reverse Gas Supply

Ukraine plans on soon opening two more routes through Romania and Slovakia.

August 22, 2013

RBI Net Profit Below Analysts’ Expectations: Minus 60.5 Percent

Raiffeisen Bank International with consolidated profit of € 277 million in the first half 2013.

August 22, 2013

Turkey: Tear Gas against Demonstrators in Istanbul

The police has once more used tear gas against a new demonstration of critics of the government.

August 21, 2013

Leitl: “Austria Screwed Up”

If the US, as the perpetrator of the financial and economic crisis, shows two percent in economic growth, while Austria only 0.2 percent, then this was a “disgrace”, Leitl announced during the economic forum in Alpbach.

August 21, 2013

Poland: Budget Amendment Passed in Parliament

In order to adapt to the slow economic growth the government has amended the budet by permitting this year’s budget deficit to increase to PLN 16bn as well as approving PLN in spending cut, as announced at a press conferenced on Tuesday.

August 21, 2013

Former Austrian Chancellor to Counsel Serbian Government

Former Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer (SPÖ) was invited by the Serbian government to advise and support it on their path to the European Union.

August 21, 2013

Half of Bulgarian Citizens in Favor of New Elections

Only three months after elections in Bulgaria more than half of voters favor new elections, according to a survey. Supporters of the ruling Socialists are outnumbered.

August 21, 2013

Political Dissatisfaction in Poland Grows

Seven out of ten Poles are disappointed with Polish parliament

August 21, 2013

Czech Parliament Votes for New Elections

The Czech House of Representatives has decided its dissolution on Tuesday evening and therefore clears the way for early parliamentary elections, which in all likelyhood will take place on October 25 and 26.

August 21, 2013