Austria International Political News | International | EU | Domestic

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

Rosneft to Take Over Itera Completely

Russian oil producer Rosneft has taken over gas corporation Itera completely and now wants to compete against energy giant Gazprom.

July 2, 2013

Poland To Enhance Supervision Over State Companies

Around twenty state-controlled enterprises will be watched more closely.

July 2, 2013

Alpine Holding: Insolvency Proceedings Now Official

The insolvency proceedings for Alpine Holding have now officially started at the Commercial Court in Vienna. Liabilities come at € 700m.

July 2, 2013

Croatia To Issue Licenses for Exploration of Oil and Gas

Croatia plans to issue lucrative concession for the production of oil and gas from 2014 on.

July 2, 2013

Abramovich Withdraws from Politics

Abramovich resigned from office as speaker of the parliament of the Koryakia Autonomous District.

July 2, 2013

Erste Group Successfully Completes EUR 660.6 Million Accelerated Bookbuild Offering

Issue size of the capital increase: 35,231,353 new shares at a final subscription and offer price of EUR 18.75 per share.

July 2, 2013

Snowden Applies For Asylum in Austria

Former US intelligence official Edward Snowden has applied for asylum in several countries, among them Austria, according to WikiLeaks.

July 2, 2013

No End to Protests in Bulgaria

Demonstrators demand the resignation of the government and early elections.

July 2, 2013

Hypo Group: CEO Kranebitter Steps Back

Kranebitter announced to stay until the half-year accounts are published. On Monday it became known that the ailing bank will in all likelihood require more state aid than planned.

July 2, 2013

Hypo Group: CESEE Units to be Sold Until Mid-2015

The threatened compulsory sale of nationalized Hypo Alpe Adria Group by the EU Commission until the end of this year, was, according to information by the Finance Ministry, fended off. An additional burden of € 2bn might await the Austrian taxpayers.

July 1, 2013

Putin Offers Snowden Right to Stay

Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered fugitive IT specialist Edward Snowden a right to stay as long as he will not further harm the US.

July 1, 2013

Crisis in Slovenia Might Take Longer Than Expected

According to the latest economic report by auditing firm Ernst&Young;, the financial crisis in Slovenia will take longer than expected beforehand. However, the country should still be able to avoid international bailout.

July 1, 2013

Alpine: 2,600 Jobs Secured

Social Minister Rudolf Hundstorfer assumes that a lot of Alpine employees will continue to be employed. Former CEO Schiefer announced that Alpine was “clinically dead” when he took over management in April 2013.

July 1, 2013

New Protests Against Government in Bulgaria

Demonstrators demand elections again.

July 1, 2013

TAP to Deliver Greece, Italy and CESEE

Shah Deniz targets Italian and Southeastern European gas markets through Trans Adriatic Pipeline.

July 1, 2013

Slovenia: Privatisations to Attract Investors

15 companies set for privatisation in Slovenia.

July 1, 2013

Faymann: Croatians Realistic With EU Membership

Austrians have a positive attitude towards Croatia’s new membership.

July 1, 2013

Hypo Group: Government Hopes For Expansion of Deadline

The restructuring plan for Hypo Group has been handed in to Brussels. It is still unclear whether the deadline will be expanded.

July 1, 2013

Austrian Coalition to Take Stock of Legislative Period

In a joint interview with several leading Austrian newspapers, Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann and Deputy Chancellor and Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger take stock of the legislative period so far.

June 28, 2013

Turkey Becoming Important Global Investor

According to the latest survey by UNCTAD, Turkey has become an important investor.

June 28, 2013

Austria: So Far Three Construction Companies Involved in Take-Over of Alpine

1,800 employees of bankrupt Alpine can feel relieved. In all probability three Austrian construction companies (Habau, Swietelsky and Hinteregger) will be involved in the regional rescue solution.

June 28, 2013

Austria: WIFO and IHS to Adjust Growth Perspectives Downwards

Experts at the Austrian Institute for Economic Research (WIFO) and the Institute for Higher Studies (HIS) have significantly cut their prognoses for the growth of domestic economy in 2013. However, both institutes are still optimistic for 2014.

June 28, 2013

Latvia Joining The Eurozone As 18th Member

Today the heads of states and governments of the European Union gave their blessing to Latvia’s entry to the Eurozone in 2014.

June 28, 2013

Austrian Public Debt to Rise Further

Quarterly government debt first quarter 2013: € 231.6bn or 74.2 % of GDP.

June 28, 2013

Slovenia Likely To Require Bailout

According to Capital Economics Ltd. Slovenia will in all likelyhood ask for a bailout to bolster its ailing banking sector in case the debt crisis in Europe should worsen.

June 28, 2013

Leitl: „Austrian Enterprises Need Further Growth Impulses“

The Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) commits to budget consolidation but growth is the basis for a balanced state budget.

June 27, 2013

Hungary: New Tax for Banks

According to a legislative proposal by Economy Minister Varga, banks would have to face a further burden of around € 250m.

June 27, 2013

Nabucco: Flop for OMV and EU

Petrom will resume exploration drilling in offshore Black Sea block.

June 27, 2013

RBI Will Take Its Time With the Repayment of Participation Capital

It is not yet clear when RBI will pay back state participation capital in the amount of € 1.75bn.

June 27, 2013

Alpine to Be Divided Up

Swietelsky plans to take over 1,500 employees. Strabag announced interest but remains unheard.

June 27, 2013

Austria: Harsh Blow for OMV

The pipeline “Nabucco”, a project with Austrian energy enterprise OMV taking the lead, will not receive gas from the gas field Sha Deniz II. This was announced by the mineral oil company on Wednesday.

June 26, 2013

Austrians to Invest Strongly in FDIs

Austrian investors have increased their direct investments in foreign countries by eleven percent to a total of € 145.5bn while FDIs in Austria remain unchanged at € 118.3bn.

June 26, 2013

Magna Not to Leave Austria for Eastern Europe

“There will be no impacts on Austria or Styria“, a spokeswoman announced. Instead, a plant in Belgium will “probably” be closed.

June 26, 2013

Hypo Group and BayernLB Keep on Fighting

Hypo Group responds to the BayernLB’s lawfile at the Regional Court in Munich. Both banks will not give up their very hard stance.

June 26, 2013

Ukraine Could Become Energy Hub in Europe

According to EU Enlargement Commissioner Füle, Ukraine is an important partner of the EU.

June 26, 2013

Alpine: Work to be Resumed At Construction Sites

Time pressure grows. Work at the closed down construction sites of bankrupt Alpine it to be resumed soon.

June 26, 2013

Hypo Group: Commisson Against Extension of Deadline

Austria will in all probability not be granted an extension of the deadline for the winding down of Hypo Alpe Adria. This was announced by EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia

June 26, 2013

Mitterlehner: Romania Offers New Chances for Austrian Economy

Austrian Economy Minister Reinhold Mitterlehner met his Romanian counterpart Varujan Vosganian in Vienna.

June 25, 2013

EU Accession Talks With Serbia Around the Turn of the Year

The EU Ministers for Foreign and European Affairs agree that EU Accession negotiations with Serbia should commence around the turn of the year.

June 25, 2013

Austria: Deputy Govenor Duchatczek Steps Back

After 37 years of service Duchatczek resigns from his position as Deputy Govenor of the Austrian National Bank (OeNB).

June 25, 2013

Czech Republic: Rusnok New Head of Government

Czech President Milos Zeman has appointed his confidant Jiri Rusnok head of a government of experts.

June 25, 2013

Raids at Hypo Group in Italy

Because of suspicions of tax fraud Hypo Group’s affiliate in Udine was searched by the Italian police.

June 25, 2013

NBP: Investments to Rise in Poland

According to a report on the financial situation of firms in the first quarter published by the National Bank of Poland (NBP), demands in investments in the forthcoming quarters should rise.

June 25, 2013

Fekter: "1.76 Billion Repayment by Erste Bank is Good News for Taxpayers"

Thanks given to Erste Bank for repayment of EUR 1.76 billion in participation capital

June 25, 2013

Austria: Government Agrees on Stimulus Package

Startled by construction company Alpine’s insolvency, the Austrian government has agreed on the fiercly discussed stimulus package. An amount of € 800m is required additionally.

June 25, 2013

EU Ready for Continuing Accession Talks

The European Union’s Foreign Ministers have agreed for the continuing of Accession negotiations with Turkey.

June 25, 2013

OMV Starts Seismic Acquisition in Bulgaria

OMV and partners start seismic acquisition activities offshore Bulgaria.

June 25, 2013

Alpine: Biggest Bankruptcy in Austrian History

Bankrupt-gone construction company Alpine operates at 1,400 construction sites and is supposed to complete orders in the amount of € 800m. The shutting down of the enterprise has been decided.

June 25, 2013

US: Active Investor in Romania

US companies remained active investors in Romania last year. Particulary the IT sector, automotive industry and oil/gas sector are increasingly strengthening their local position. Foreign direct investments from the US came at more than $ 1bn.

June 24, 2013

Rosneft to Supply China Over 25 Years

Russia’s Rosneft agreed to double oil supplies to China, in a deal worth $ 270bn.

June 24, 2013