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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