Austria International Political News | International | EU | Domestic

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

Hypo Alpe Adria Threatened with Losses of up to € 3.5bn

According to the restructuring plan and in a worst case scenario, even more losses could amount than in the past five years together. Reports by the media say, this year alone figures never seen before could pile up.

August 29, 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

Massive Losses for Alpine: € 5bn in Debts

According to the reports of the insolvency administrators, reasons like a chaotic management and low-price offers that did not prove cost-covering led to massive losses in projects abroad.

August 29, 2013

Kapsch: Enormous Problems at Austrian Business Location

President of Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) Georg Kapsch confirms the criticism voiced by President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) Christoph Leitl and several other politicians by the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP).

August 28, 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

Austria: Raiffeisen Group Takes Over VBAG Loans

Loans worth more then € 748m will be taken over by Raiffeisen Group

August 28, 2013

Austria: Hypo Group in “Crisis Mode“

According to Austrian daily “Standard“, there are daily reports about Hypo Group being forwarded to the Austrian National Bank (OeNB).

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

Hypo: Half-Year Results Expected August 28

In order to be able and balance, nationalized Hypo Group required € 700m in capital by the Austrian state.

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

Electricy Thieves Caused Losses for EVN in Bulgaria.

Austrian energy provider EVN lost € 800,000 because of electricity thieves.

August 27, 2013

Austria: Bawag to Pay Back Further State Aid

Due to lower costs and provision profits of the Austrian bank Bawag increased. From the coming year on the bank intends to pay back further state aids and plans on further withdrawing from CESEE.

August 27, 2013

Bulgaria: Gross External Debt Amounts to 91.4 Percent of GDP

Bulgaria's gross external debt has amounted to 91.4% of GDP

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

EU Commission: EU Integration Important for Macedonia

"EU integration continues to be important to all political parties in FYR Macedonia" - Füle

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

Russia: Disappointed About Joining WTO

A year ago, Russia joined the World Trade Organization (WTO). However, the country is not satisfied with the results despite of having negotiated about joining for 19 years.

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

Czech Republic: Early Vote No Danger for Sovereign Debt Rating

The current instable political situation is no significant risk factor for the Czech rating yet, the U.S. rating agency Fitch says.

August 25, 2013

Adria Airways to be Acquired by China Southern Airlines

Chinese Southern Airlines wants to gain a foothold in the Slovenian air traffic sector. Besides Adria Airways, Ljubljana Airport will be privatized.

August 25, 2013

Austria: Fekter Does Not Publish Controversial Industrial Location Study

According to a recent study on the quality of Austria´s industrial location, the number of leaving multinational companies is growing.

August 25, 2013

Turkey: Overall Dissatisfaction Grows

A new poll carried out by Gallup shows that about a third of the Turks feel themselves suffering from an economic point of view.

August 25, 2013

Russian National Bank Underlines Stability of Ruble

Russian National Bank emphasizes that the Russian ruble will not devalue.

August 24, 2013

Czech Republic: SME Suffer from Credit Crunch

The recession in the Czech Republic is mainly due to the restrictive lending policy of the domestic banking sector.

August 24, 2013

Turkey: Capital Outflow Endangers Economic Stability

The monetary and economic stability is under enormous pressure. Turkey´s National Bank does not have sufficient reserve to support the Turkish lira.

August 24, 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

Romanians Not Satisfied with Wages

More than half of Romanian employees claim not to be paid enough for their work.

August 22, 2013

Eurozone: Strongest Growth Rates in Two Years

The Eurozone continues to recover. Businesses in industrial production and in the service sector increased to a new high in more than two years. However, growth in both sectors is still not enough for the creation of new jobs.

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

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

Austria: Kapsch Wins Bid For 450 Mhz Frequency Band

Kapsch CarrierCom has acquired nine frequency blocks in the 450 MHz range. The invitation to tender had been announced by RTR GmbH last March.

August 21, 2013