Austria International Political News | International | EU | Domestic

Read the latest headlines about developments in Austrian politics with reference to the international interest

Czech Republic: Social Democrats to Win

Tomorrow, the Czech Republic will hold early elections. All polls are indicating a clear change in power. Bohuslav Sobotka is expected to become the next head of government.

October 25, 2013

Without CESEE Business Alpine Would Still Exist

According to reports by auditor BDO and liquidator Stephan Riel, business in Austria remained profitable for insolvent construction company. If Alpine had never expanded business to CESEE it would still exist.

October 25, 2013

Hypo Group: Worst Expectations May be Exceeded

For the Austrian state, the ailing nationalized banking group may become a financial GSA. The legal dispute with the former owner BayernLB bears enormous dangers for Austria´s public finance.

October 25, 2013

Albania: World Bank Satisfied with Progress

Piero Cipollone, Executive Director of the World Bank Group visited Albania from October 21-22, 2013. In his role as Executive Director, he represents Albania’s interests as a shareholder on the World Bank’s Board.

October 25, 2013

Bulgarian President Calls for TTIP

Bulgaria’s economy would benefit from a free trade agreement between EU and USA.

October 25, 2013

EU Summit Calls for Finalization of Joint Guidelines for ESM

The EU Summit presses for faster changes to achieve the aim of a banking union.

October 25, 2013

Romania: Precautionary Financial Assistance Approved

The Council of the European Union has approved a new precautionary financial assistance program for Romania in extend of € 2bn in connection with a loan by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

October 25, 2013

Austria to Remain at AA+

Austria has not yet been given back Standard & Poor’s Triple A.

October 25, 2013

Hungary: Orban Underlines National Sovereignty

On the occasion of Hungary´s national holiday, Prime Minister Viktor Orban stressed the importance of values. The high public debt limits Hungary´s effective sovereignty, however.

October 24, 2013

Fiscal Policy: Austria in the Danger Zone

Although Austria´s public finances are relatively stable, the structural problems are growing year after year. The apparent stability involves big dangers.

October 24, 2013

Poland: Key Rate to Remain Low

In order to support the positive growth trend, the Polish National Bank (NBP) will keep the key rate flat next year. Poland´s economic growth is mainly based on foreign demand, though.

October 24, 2013

“We Need to Pull Down the Iron Curtain in Our Heads“

In an interview with Austrian daily “WirtschaftsBlatt“ Johannes Seiringer, Director of the Austrian office of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) calls for incentives for enterprises to continue investing in CEE.

October 24, 2013

RBI Discussing New Ways of Global Banking Regulations

RBI welcomes global finance at the ICC Banking Commission Meeting 2013.

October 24, 2013

Czech Republic: Four Banks too Big to Fail

CNB has determined four domestic banks that could potentially endanger the country’s financial system in case of bankruptcy, as reported by daily “Hospodarske noviny” (HN).

October 24, 2013

Serbia: Komercijalna Banka Supported by EFSE

Serbian Komercijalna Banka received a credit line of € 20m from the European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE).

October 24, 2013

ECB: “Uniform Assessment for Banks Important Step for Europe”

Assessment of ECB is an important step in the preparation of the single supervisory mechanism.

October 24, 2013

Serbia Wants to Become Full EU Member Asap

The Western Balkan is serious in building a relationship with the European Union.

October 23, 2013

Poland Intends to Keep Banking Sector Small

The Polish financial regulator intends to keep the frequency of bank shops low and avoid risks and bailout by this.

October 23, 2013

Public Debt: CESEE Countries Below EU Average

At the end of the first half of 2013, the EU public debt quota reached 86.8% of GDP. Western Europe´s public debt level is significantly higher than in Eastern Europe.

October 23, 2013

Croatia: 2012 Budget Deficit Revised

Because of the different EU methodology, Croatia had to revise its budget gap. The fiscal situation remains critical.

October 23, 2013

Slovenia: Govenor of National Bank demands “Change of Mentality”

At a lecture planned by the Institute for Middle-East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES), Bostjan Jazbec, govenor of Banka Slovenije, pointed out that the country could only blame itself for the current state it was in.

October 23, 2013

Austrian Banks Expected to Pass Auditing

According to the financial supervisors, the Austrian banks are likely to pass the ECB’s (European Central Bank) auditing since there are no significant adjustment requirements.

October 23, 2013

Slovenia: Real Estate Tax Wobbles

The ruling parties could not agree on a common standpoint yet. The controversial real estate tax may fail.

October 22, 2013

Poland: Economy Below Potential

In the first half of 2013, investments dropped significantly. Consumption was up moderately. In total, Poland´s economic growth accelerates gradually.

October 22, 2013

House Searches at Strabag Subsidiary in Croatia

The corruption scandal at the Croatian Chamber of Economy affects public road authority HAC and construction companies that were commissioned, among them Austrian Strabag and Alpine.

October 22, 2013

Amazon to Open Distribution Centers in the Czech Republic

The world’s largest online retailer Amazon plans to create 10,000 jobs in the Czech Republic within the next three years.

October 22, 2013

Slovenia: Banka Sparkasse Provided with Loan by EIB

EIB continues to support SME and mid-cap projects in Slovenia.

October 22, 2013

Austria: Bank Aids Burden State Budget

Since the beginning of the financial crisis, Austria has lost billions of Euros.

October 22, 2013

Serbia Cuts Interest Rate

The executive board of the Serbian National Bank decided to lower the key policy rate by half a percentage point, to 10.5 percent.

October 21, 2013

EBRD Analyzes Slovenia´s Difficulties

From October 21 to 25, a delegation from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will visit the ailing country.

October 21, 2013

Eurozone: Economy Starting to Grow

Experts at Ernst&Young; forecast economic growth of 0.9 percent in 2014 in consequence of an improved global economic performance.

October 21, 2013

German Rail Manufacturing Plant of Voestalpine to be Closed

At the end of October voestalpine will shut down its rail manufacturing plant TSTG Schienen Technik GmbH & Co KG in Duisburg, Germany.

October 21, 2013

Austria: State Debts Could Amount to 74.5 Percent of GDP

The statistical office of the European Union, Eurostat, raised doubts about the Austrian budget deficit and public debts because of the financial scandal of the government of the province of Salzburg.

October 21, 2013

Hypo Group Reigned by Greed and Criminal Activities

In an interview with Austrian daily “Standard“ forensic expert of nationlized Hypo Group Christian Böhler revealed that former managers of the bank enriched themselves personally.

October 21, 2013

Poland: IMF Upgrades Growth Forecasts

According to the IMF, Poland´s GDP growth will reach 2.4%. In the prior forecast, the IMF anticipated a 2.2% growth rate.

October 21, 2013

Slovakia: New Burden for Insurance Industry

The Slovak government extends special taxes for companies operating regulated sectors. The bank tax will be abolished in the course of the next years.

October 21, 2013

Romanian Romgaz Starts IPO

Tomorrow, Monday, the Romanian government sells a 15% stake in Romgaz via the stock exchange. In the last months, the IMF has urged Romania to accelerate the privatization policy.

October 21, 2013

Croatia: EU-Membership Did Not Help Yet

In the first months of its EU membership, the situation in Croatia´s industrial sector deteriorated further.

October 19, 2013

“Problems in the CESEE Region Are Mainly Fundamental”

In an interview with Gazeta Wyborcza, Reza Moghadam, director of the IMF´s European Department, says that the weakness of the CESEE region is not only cyclical.

October 18, 2013

Slovenia: Massive Concerns Against Real Estate Tax

The Slovenian government plans to introduce property taxes in order to reduce the budget deficit. The opposition warns that the tax may be “highly counterproductive”.

October 18, 2013

Nowotny Demands Same Rules for All Banks

Govenor Nowotny urges for a discussion about the capital requirements (Basel III) for banks, which applies only for the major banking institutes in the US but for all banks in Europe.

October 18, 2013

Turkey: Green Light for EU Accession Talks

On Tuesday, the EU Commission intends to give green light to accession negotiations with Turkey starting at the beginning of November.

October 18, 2013

RBI Considers Participation in Hypo Group’s Bad Bank

In a radio interview with “Ö1”, Karl Sevelda, CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI), announced that he regards a particpation of his bank as possible.

October 18, 2013

OMV: Weakest Refining Margin Since 2009

Compared to the same period in 2012, the whole production of Austrian oil company OMV has decreased in the third quarter as well as compared to the previous quarter.

October 18, 2013

Bulgaria to Encourage Chinese Investments

Investments from China in Bulgaria currently come at € 85m, reports SME Times.

October 18, 2013

IMF Warns of Financial Instability in CESEE

Due to the high non-performing loan quota and the deleveraging of Western banks, the countries of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe are still far from financial stability.

October 18, 2013

„Czech Republic Does Not Fully Use Its Potential“

Czech Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok thinks that the performance of the Czech economy is not dramatically bad. However, the Czech Republic must use its opportunities more effectively.

October 17, 2013

Mitterlehner: “2014 Will Become Significantly Better“

Austrian Minister for Economy Reinhold Mitterlehner considers the Austrian economy to be in a spirit of optimism as an upturn in Europe has become evident. According to him, 2014 is supposed to become “significantly better” than 2013.

October 17, 2013

Serbia: EU Candidacy to Accelerate Reforms

On the occasion of a meeting with head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Serbia´s Prime Minister Ivica Dacic expressed his willingness to deepen the reform process.

October 17, 2013

Slovenia Introduces Property Tax

In order to reduce the massive fiscal shortfall, Slovenia is looking for new revenues. The property tax may bring more than € 400m.

October 17, 2013