Austria International Political News | International | EU | Domestic

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

Slovenia: Economic Outlook Deteriorates

Slovenia has slipped back into recession as its real GDP declined by 2.3 % in 2012.

September 26, 2013

Croatia: Major Reforms Required for Economic Upturn

Croatia continues to suffer from recession - its economy has not grown since 2008, contracting in 2012 by 2% and in 2013 by 1%.

September 26, 2013

Ukraine: Provisional Free Trade with EU

According to Polish News Agency PAP, the EU countries have agreed to grant Ukraine a temporary use of a number of terms of the Association Agreements which will become effective even before the ratification process is completed.

September 26, 2013

Austria Placed 9th in Competition Ranking

According to the latest EU Competition report 2013, Austria ranks ninth among 28 member states. The leaders in the ranking are Sweden, followed by Germany and Denmark while Bulgaria, Latvia and Romania are at the lowest positions.

September 25, 2013

Raids at Ukrainian Affiliate of Bank Austria

Ukrsotsbank in Kiev was searched on Friday due to unclear ownership structures of non-performing loans which led to disputes between banks and clients. Within the Unicredit Group Bank Austria is responsible for banks in Eastern Europe.

September 25, 2013

Does Austria Need Further Privatizations?

Voestalpine´s CEO Wolfgang Eder wants to support the Vienna Stock Exchange. Without further privatizations, the stock market in Vienna could be history soon.

September 24, 2013 · Updated: September 25, 2013; 11:30

Slovenia: Controversies Over New Budget

Slovenia´s Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek links the approval to the austerity budget to a vote of confidence.

September 25, 2013

Alpine: Almost All Former Employees Have New Jobs

Because of the construction company’s bankruptcy, almost 5,000 employees lost their jobs. Currently 133 persons are still looking for a job.

September 24, 2013

Poland Leads Ranking of Top Enterprises in CEE

Credit insurance company Coface has for the fifth time published a study about the Top 500 enterprises in Central and Eastern Europe.

September 24, 2013

ESM Charges € 262 From Every Austrian

The establishing of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) burdens every Austrian citizens with an average amount of € 262. Luxembourg is the country contributing the most per capita followed by Ireland.

September 24, 2013

Serbia: EU Screening in Late September

Serbia’s EU accession explanatory screening will start in Brussels on 25 September.

September 24, 2013

Austria: SPÖ and ÖVP Hold Slight Majority of Votes

According to the latest survey, the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) will have to face losses in the elections of the National Assembly on Sunday. However, they should be able to hold the majority.

September 24, 2013

Leitl: “Grand Coalition Did Not Fulfill Expectations“

Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO), favors a change in the governing parties as the grand coalition has not realized the necessary reforms.

September 24, 2013

Croatia to Issue Dollar Bonds

In order to cover its foreign exchange needs, Croatia will issue a dollar bond with a size of $ 2.7bn.

September 24, 2013

CNB: No Monetary Interventions Necessary

The Czech Republic´s economy moves forward slowly. A weaker koruna is not necessary.

September 24, 2013

Poland: 71 Percent Dissatisfied with Domestic State of Affairs

According to a new poll by TNS Polska, the majority of Polish citizens are displeased about the country’s situation reports Polish news agency PAP.

September 23, 2013

China to Acquire Ukrainian Farmland

In the coming fifty years crops are supposed to be grown and animals should be bred in the Ukraine for the Chinese market.

September 23, 2013

RBI: Sevelda to Remain CEO unil 2017

Karl Sevelda, who was appointed new CEO of listed Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) at the beginning of June, does not regard himself as interim head of the bank.

September 23, 2013

Czech Enterprises Will Not Cut R&D Expenses

According to a survey carried out by consulting company Deloitte, almost 90 percent of Czech enterprises will keep the amount of expenses in research and development unchanged or even increase the spendings.

September 23, 2013

Poland: Budget for 2014 Realistic

According to Witold Kozinski, Deputy Govenor of the National Bank of Poland (NBP), the budget plan for 2014 is “realistic” and the risk of amendmends to the budget minimal.

September 23, 2013

Slovenia in a Decisive Phase

According to Bostjan Jazbec, Govenor of the Bank of Slovenia, the coming weeks will be critical for the small Eurozone member country.

September 23, 2013

Further Nationalizations in Hungary?

In order to acquire further foreign-owned bank and energy companies, Hungary issues new sovereign bonds.

September 23, 2013

Turkey: „Perhaps We Will Never Join the EU“

Turkey´s Minister of European Afffairs Egemen Bagis stated that Turkey feels insulted.

September 23, 2013

Meet U.S. Ambassador-designate to Austria Alexa Lange Wesner

"I am aware of the great honor to come in 2013 as a representative of President Obama to Austria. In that year, our two countries celebrate the 175th anniversary of diplomatic relations", says the U.S. ambassador-designate Alexa L. Wesner.

September 21, 2013

Austria: Tax Burden Grows

The Austrian public revenue ratio is significantly above the average tax quota in the Eurozone. The upward trend goes on.

September 21, 2013

Austrian Government Highlights Close Relations to Hungary

“Border region between Austria and Hungary as a dynamic place.”

September 21, 2013

Fitch: Croatia Cut to Junk Status

Due to the fiscal situation, Fitch cuts the credit rating of the newest EU member country. The economic frame conditions do not leave enough room for reducing the public debt level, Fitch argues.

September 21, 2013

Romania: High Dependence from FDI

Without the inflow of foreign direct investments, Romania´s economy would shrink. The industrial sector is highly controlled by foreign investors.

September 21, 2013

Faymann: Austria as Role Model for Investments and Employment Programs

The Austrian Chancellor calls for a fair distribution of wealth and lower taxes on wages.

September 20, 2013

Keuschnigg: Losses of Hypo Compensated by Privatizations

Christian Keuschnigg, head of the IHS (Austrian Institute for Higher Studies) suggests to privatize OMV, Post and Telekom Austria to pay for Hypo Group.

September 20, 2013

Slovenia: First Budget Surplus in 2013

For the first time this year, Slovenia shows a budget surplus of € 15m. However, the deficit of the first eight months is as high as € 1.3bn, according to data by the Finance Ministry.

September 20, 2013

Turkey: Enthusiasm about EU Membership Shrinks

Fewer and fewer Turkish citizens are keen on an EU membership of their country.

September 20, 2013

Slovenia: Privatization Program to Boost FDI?

The government of the financially ailing country is forced to privatize a substantial part of the publicly held companies. Prime Minister Bratusek hopes foreign direct investments to increase.

September 20, 2013

Austria: 80 Percent Opposed to 12-Hour-Working Day

A survey of a Socialist trade union shows that 80 percent of employees are opposed of a working day of twelve hours.

September 19, 2013

Poland Trying to Eliminate Povery

The country plans on spending € 2bn in the combat against poverty.

September 19, 2013

Bank Austria to Close Subsidiaries in Hungary

Because of higher costs caused by a tax on financial transaction, which was introduced during the current year, the affiliate of Italian UniCredit intends to downsize operations in Hungary.

September 19, 2013

WKO: Austrian Enterprises Miss out on Potential in Turkey

According to a commercial councelor at the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) in Istanbul, Austria is focused too much on Eastern Europe. Switzerland exports triple the amount to Turkey.

September 19, 2013

Austria: WKO Demands Impulses for R&D

Deputy President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO), Martha Schultz, demands new impluses for research and innovation in the years from 2014 to 2020.

September 19, 2013

Romania Is Recovering According to PM

Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta presented the key issues on the new agreement with the EU Commission, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank to the parliament on Tuesday.

September 19, 2013

Croatia: No End of Recession in Sight

For the seventh quarter in a row, Croatia´s GDP was down. The main problem is the weakening domestic consumption and the high unemployment quota.

September 19, 2013

“Serbia Becomes the Driver of Reforms on the Western Balkans”

The Austrian government supports Serbia’s pro-European course.

September 18, 2013

Wifo: Economy Remains Competitive Despite High Wages

Head of Wifo (Austrian Institute for Economic Research), Karl Aiginger, calls for a change of views in economic policy as competitiveness is more than just low costs.

September 18, 2013

Hungary: Orban Forecasts Growth of 2 Percent

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban forecasts economic growth of 2 percent next year as the country has managed to surpass several difficulties.

September 18, 2013

Austria: ÖVP Rejects Tax Reforms by Social Democrats

Chancellor and Leader of the Social Democrats Werner Faymann is in favor of lower taxes on wages. His model includes reliefs of up to € 1,011 annually. However, coalition partner, the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) rejects the plans.

September 18, 2013

EU Commissioner Füle Encourages Albania

EU Commissioner Štefan Füle discusses Albania's path to EU with new PM

September 18, 2013

Treichl: Requirements for Banks Increased Massively

According to the CEO of Erste Group, the requirements for banks have increased by three to six times. Moreover it has become harder for banks to finance small and medium sized enterprises (SME).

September 17, 2013

Barroso: “Albania’s Future Is in The European Union”

President of the EU Commission Barroso is confident about Albania’s commitment.

September 17, 2013

Austria: Fekter Demands “More Intelligent Model“ for Hypo

Finance Minister Fekter plans on introducing a “more creative model“ than a bad bank.

September 17, 2013

Gazprom to Team Up With Macedonia

Russian energy giant Gazprom is interested in cooperating with FYR Macedonia.

September 17, 2013

Slovenia: Unemployment Increases Further

The unemployment rate in Slovenia went up to 12.9%.

September 17, 2013