Austria International Political News | International | EU | Domestic

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

Romania Keeps Majority Stake in Romgaz

Romania´s government will privatize 15% of the country´s biggest natural gas producer. The opening of the economy to foreign investors bears potential dangers.

October 12, 2013

Slovenia Does Not Fully Draw EU Funds

As the Slovenian projects will not be finished in time, the financially stricken country will fail drawing all funds.

October 12, 2013

Hungary: Borrowing Costs Decline

Yields on Hungarian sovereign bonds reached an all-time low. However, a rebound in 2014 is rather probable.

October 12, 2013

Federation of Austrian Industries Urges for Reforms

IV (Federation of Austrian Industries) has high hopes. The next Austrian government has to implement a number of reforms, IV´s President Georg Kapsch says.

October 12, 2013

Romania: “Aggressive Rate Cuts Likely”

In view of the accelerating disinflation in Romania, Vienna-listed RBI (Raiffeisen Bank International) expects the monetary policy to be eased further.

October 12, 2013

IMF: „Banks and Companies in a Vicious Circle“

Not only Greece, Spain or Portugal are struggling with a financially stricken banking sector. In Southeastern Europe, the situation is quite similar.

October 11, 2013

Serbia: FX Reserves Shrink

NBS FX reserves amounted to EUR 10,444.5 million at end-September, covering M1 by 333 percent and more than seven months of imports of goods and services. Inflation remains stable.

October 11, 2013

Austria: Venture Capital Market is Underdeveloped

According to the Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO), more funds for start-up enterprises would help boosting the economy.

October 11, 2013

Croatia: Inflation Moderate

At the session the CNB Council examined recent economic and monetary indicators, as well as expected further developments.

October 10, 2013

Trade in Austria Has Increased Since Opening of CESEE Market

Today the Austrian Institute for Economic Research (Wifo) published the “Analysis of the Austrian Balance of Trade“ on behalf of the Economic Ministry.

October 10, 2013

IMF: Serbia´s Reforms are Not Sufficient

On the occasion of a visit in Serbia, the IMF commented the efforts of the Serbian government to cut the budget gap. The austerity cuts are right, but the country needs further reforms, IMF´s team said.

October 10, 2013

Polish Government to be Rearranged

On Wednesday Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk announced that there will be personnel changes in November within the government which will be presented in November.

October 10, 2013

Slovenia Cannot Escape the Vicious Circle

Slovenia still aims to manage its banking crisis on its own. After the new economic forecast issued by Slovenia´s National Bank, this aim suffers another setback.

October 10, 2013

Czech Inflation Below Expectations

The Czech inflation rate slowed down to 1.0% in September. In the next months, the country faces a stagnating economy in the best case.

October 9, 2013

Romania Under Observation

The IMF wants Romania´s government to put more effort in austerity measures, market liberalization and privatization of state-owned assets.

October 9, 2013

Gazprom May Face Proceedings by Austrian OMV

OMV considers arbitral proceedings against Russian Gazprom in case no joint solution will be found.

October 9, 2013

Austria: Alpine Holds € 52m in Assets

Creditors of Alpine have very little chances of being compensated after the construction company declared bankruptcy. Currently Alpine holds € 52m in assets.

October 9, 2013

Austria: FMA Approves of Sale of Hypo Group

The Financial Market Authority has given green light for the selling of Austrian problem bank Hypo Alpe Adria to Indian Srei Group.

October 9, 2013

Bratusek: “We Are Paying for Your Debts”

On Tuesday Slovenian Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek presented the budget draft for 2014 and 2015 to the members of parliament.

October 9, 2013

Hungary and Croatia to Solve MOL/INA Issue

Both Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Janos Martonyi and his Croatian counterpart Vesna Pusic intend to solve the issue between Hungarian MOL and Croatian INA.

October 9, 2013

Serbia Fights Against National Bankruptcy

The Serbian government has decided to implement a new austerity package. Above all, civil servants face substantial salary cuts.

October 9, 2013

Serbia Gets Support by Former Italian Foreign Minister

On its path to EU integration, Serbia gets further well-known support.

October 8, 2013

Poland Hopes for Cheap Gas by Gazprom

The Polish government is hoping to be able to bargain prices with Russian energy giant Gazprom, Polish Minister for Economy Janusz Piechocinski announced today.

October 8, 2013

IMF Forecasts Only Minimal Growth for Austria in 2013

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts not even one half percent of GDP growth this year for Austria. However, 2014 has better chances for accelerated growth.

October 8, 2013

World Bank: 47 Banking Crises in the Past 40 Years

47 banking crises that have struck 116 countries in the past 40 years - World Bank

October 8, 2013

Austria: Alpine’s Bankruptcy Claims Amount to € 4.15bn

In regard to construction company Alpine’s insolvency, creditors have so far registered claims in the amount of € 4.15bn, as announced by liquidator Stephan Riel in the run-up to Wednesday’s examination hearing.

October 8, 2013

Poland: Amazon to Establish Three Logistic Centers

Leading online retailer Amazon will open three major logistic centers in Poland. According to the company’s own proclamation, this step does not relate to the latest striking problems in Germany.

October 8, 2013

Fekter Presses for Provisional Budget Financing

Finance Minister Maria Fekter (ÖVP) does not count on the government to present a budget draft in time, which was scheduled October 22 and involves the Finance Act until the end of the year.

October 8, 2013

Austria: President Prefers Grand Coalition

President Heinz Fischer has confirmed his wish for the formation of a grand coalition as this would be “the most reasonable solution”, according to him. Other possibilities were afflicted with too many uncertainties.

October 7, 2013

Romania: Bucharest Stock Exchange to Be Enlarged?

Ludwik Sobolewski, new CEO of Romania’s Bucharest Stock Exchange (BSE), is toying with the idea of enlarging the institution and making it a competition to Budapest, Vienna and Prague withing two years only.

October 7, 2013

Hungary Rejects Extradiction of Head of Mol

A Hungarian court rejected the extradiction of Zsolt Hernadi, who is alleged of having bribed former Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanander.

October 7, 2013

Porr: Capital Increase and Rise in Profits Expected

CEO of listed Austrian construction company Porr Karl-Heinz Strauss is still in favor of a capital increase in 2014 or 2015 and calls upon the government to create “projects for the future”.

October 7, 2013

Bulgaria Takes out Schuldschein Note Loan via German Banks

The Bulgarian government has decided to take out a Schuldschein note loan in the amount of € 360m through German banks, media reports claim.

October 7, 2013

Voestalpine Expects Turnaround

The European demand in steel is increasing. Austrian steel manufacturer voestalpine expects the worst of the crisis for the steel industry to be over.

October 7, 2013

Hungary´s Government: Budget Draft “Risky”

This week, Hungary´s government has submitted the budget draft to the Hungarian Parliament. The basic assumptions are rather optimistic.

October 5, 2013

Political Crisis in Slovenia to Sharpen Further

The power struggle between Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek and Ljubljana´s mayor Zoran Jankovic escalates. Jankovic is said to receive more support from his party.

October 5, 2013

Hungary: Easing Cycle Nears Its End

After the interest cut last week, there is still downward potential. However, MNB must be cautious, Hungary´s rate setter Gyula Pleschinger told WSJ.

October 4, 2013

Romania: Recovery Depends on External Factors

Thanks to foreign demand and foreign investors, Romania´s economy accelerates. However, domestic demand is still the country´s weak point.

October 4, 2013

Sevelda: Not the Right Time for Capital Increase

In an interview with Financial Times (FT) Karl Sevelda, CEO of RBI, states that a capital increase would be difficult at the moment due to an unfavorable economic environment.

October 4, 2013

Wifo: Austrian Economy Sees Upturn

Today the Austrian Institute for Economic Research (Wifo) has released its prognosis for 2013 and 2014. The institute sees the first signs of an economic recovery.

October 4, 2013

Bulgaria: Shrinking Workforce Leading to Lower Growth

Bulgaria is facing a number of challenges resulting from shifting demographics.

October 4, 2013

Keuschnigg Advises Austria to be Patient

According to Keuschnigg it was not possible to increase the core capital quota of the banks to the level necessary or to reduce public debts by 120 percent in two years only.

October 4, 2013

Hungarian MOL May Withdraw from Croatia

The Hungarian government considers selling MOL´s Croatian peer INA.

October 4, 2013

Austria: Downsizing Models for Hypo

Currently, everything revolves around the establishing of a bad bank despite of Finance Minister Maria Fekter’s objection. However, now, after the elections, this issue needs to be resolved.

October 4, 2013

Economic Recovery and Interest Rate Turnaround Also in Austria?

Not only Germany but also the peripheral areas of the European Union see economic recovery supported by an increasing export activity.

October 3, 2013

Romania: Consumption Remains Sluggish

In order to support Romania´s economy, the National Bank of Romania continues its monetary easing policy.

October 3, 2013

Poland Increases Funding for SMEs

According to Polish Finance Minister Rostowski, the government plans on extending a funding program for the support of small and medium sized companies in order to improve the country’s economy.

October 3, 2013

World Bank Supports Financial Reporting in CESEE

The World Bank launched a new program to strengthen corporate financial reporting in the countries of the EU’s Eastern Partnership.

October 3, 2013

UniCredit Toying With Idea of Take-Over in Poland

Italian bank UniCredit considers to extend business at the growing Polish market by a take-over.

October 3, 2013

Moody’s Honors Austrian Banks in CESEE

Only a year ago, the rating agency downgraded Austria because of its banks’ engagement in Eastern Europe. However, the situation has changed to the better.

October 3, 2013