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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


Lopatka Demands Reform for Austrian Railways

State Secretary Lopatka demands Minister of Infrastructure Bures to tackle the expensive pension system at the Austrian Railways by doing away with privliges for emplyoees in order to unburden tax payers.
September 4, 2013


Slovenian Finance Minister: “Enough Tax Burdens“

On Tuesday, the Slovenian Finance Minister Uros Cufer announced that enough additional tax burdens have been introduced.
September 4, 2013


Alpine: Creditors in Austria and Poland Claim Refunds

Not only the labor market in Austria is burdened but also thousands of creditors have invested in bonds of the construction company and are now facing enormous losses.
September 4, 2013


President Fischer Urges Austria to “Roll Up Sleeves“

In regard to the current election campaigns, the Austrian President Heinz Fischer has urged the parties for joint efforts.
September 4, 2013


Riots before Bulgarian Parliament

Government opponents tried to break through security fences.
September 4, 2013


Austria: Up to € 11.7bn for Downsizing Hypo Group

Years of discussion went by; now the EU Commission has approved the downsizing plan for nationalized Hypo Alpe Adria.
September 4, 2013


Hungarian Government Wants Further FX Debt Reliefs

The government has talks with the Hungarian banking association. In order to de-burden indebted Hungarian households, Prime Minister Viktor Orban wants to reach a debt relief plan.
September 4, 2013


Poland: Tusk Demonstrates Optimism

This year, Poland´s economic growth begins to accelerate. According to Prime Minister Donald Tusk, the growth rate will be higher than 1.5%.
September 4, 2013


Hypo: New Risky Loan Agreements Even in 2012

According to the EU Commission, risky loans were granted by ailing Hypo Group even in 2012.
September 3, 2013


Keuschnigg: “We Already Have The Flat Tax in Austria”

The head of IHS demands tax relief instead of further tax burdens and the adjustment to the inflation rate.
September 3, 2013


Serbia: SAA Agreement with EU in Effect

SAA agreement between EU and Serbia is now in effect.
September 3, 2013


Polish Alpine Files for Bankruptcy in Vienna

More affiliates of Alpine are affected.
September 3, 2013


Serbian Parliament Approves Cabinet Reshuffle

The Serbian parliament has approved a profound reshuffle of Prime Minister Ivica Dacic’s cabinet.
September 3, 2013


Czech Republic: Monetary Policy to Loosen Further

According to the member of CNB (Czech National Bank) Lubomir Lizal, the country needs further monetary policy steps. CNB is considering starting currency interventions.
September 3, 2013


German Affiliate of Alpine Sold

By the selling of the German affiliate of construction company Alpine 520 out of 1,250 employees will lose their jobs.
September 2, 2013


Cyprus: Waiting for the Next Bailout Tranche

Crisis-struck member of the Eurozone Cyprus will have to wait for the next payment out of the bailout-package. Before the next tranche will be transferred the small country has to implement key measures.
September 2, 2013


“Ukraine Will Fulfill Necessary Conditions for SAA”

President Viktor Yanukovych announced during his press conference on August 29 that Ukraine will fulfill the required conditions for signing the Association Agreement with the European Union.
September 2, 2013


Austria: Unemployment Quota Increased to 6.9 Percent in August

The gradual economic recovery has not yet reached the domestic labor market. The number of jobseekers in Austria has increased by 323,111 persons compared to the previous year.
September 2, 2013


Poland: Economic Growth to Speed Up

According to GUS, the Polish Central Statistical Office, GDP grew by 0.8 percent in the second quarter of 2013 on a year-on-year comparison basis, which is an increase of 0.3 percent from 0.5 percent in the first quarter of the year.
September 2, 2013


Croatia: „Insufficient Move Towards the Positive Direction“

Croatia hopes its economy is moving in the "positive direction".
September 2, 2013


Hungary: Another Base Rate Cut

Hungary´s National Bank (MNB) has cut the base rate from 4.00% to 3.80%. This is a new record low. Nevertheless, MNB was expected to decide a lower cut.
August 31, 2013


Hypo Group Considers IPO

The Austrian nationalized bank takes an IPO of its Eastern subsidiaries into account.
August 31, 2013


Poland: Economy Begins to Accelerate

In the third quarter of 2013, Poland´s economy will grow by 1.0% year on year.
August 31, 2013


Survey: Faymann Best Chances of Becoming Chancellor

According to a survey carried out for Austrian daily “Standard”, the Social Democrats are gaining in votes while the Austrian People’s Party is slightly falling behind.
August 30, 2013


Romania: Planning on Energy Sufficiency by 2018/19

Gas pipeline between Romania and Moldova is set to become operational this year.
August 30, 2013


Uher: “Banking Union in Eurozone Great Danger“

Thomas Uher, member of the board of directors at Erste Bank, warns of a banking union that is only limited to the Eurozone.
August 30, 2013


Turkey Wants to Become 9th Largest Economy by 2050

Turkey is hoping to become the ninth largest economy worldwide by the year 2050. Growth rates will be around 5.2 percent in the years from 2012 to 2017.
August 30, 2013


Alpine: Nine out of Ten Former Employees Have a Job

90 percent of former Alpine employees have a new job. However, 404 persons are still looking for a new employment.
August 30, 2013


Eurozone: Unemployment at 12.1 Percent

A total number of 26.7 million persons in the European Union are unemployed, according to estimates by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union,
August 30, 2013


Serbia: SMEs Driver for Economy

Serbia's private sector employs 45% of the total number of employees.
August 30, 2013


Austria: OeNB Increases Growth Forecast for 2013

The Austrian National Bank (OeNB) has slightly increased its growth forecast for Austria in 2013 from 0.2 percent to 0.5 percent. Govenor Nowotny said there was a better development than expected in the second quarter.
August 30, 2013


Mersch: Banking Supervisory Could Be Delayed

At the Forum Alpbach Yves Mersch, member of the ECB’s (European Central Bank) executive board, presented himself sceptical about whether or not a punktual start of a uniform European banking supervision could take place.
August 29, 2013


VBAG: First Half Year with Losses of € 87m

Partly-nationalized VBAG made net losses in the amount of € 87m in the first half of 2013. In the first half year of 2012 high book profits caused profits to be slightly above zero.
August 29, 2013


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