Austria International Political News | International | EU | Domestic

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

Hypo Group to Get a Bad Bank?

Chancellor Faymann confirmed negotiations about the establishing of a bad bank for non-performing loans.

April 30, 2013

Lopatka: „Poland Important Economic Partner and Ally of Austria in EU“

Austrian State Secretary encourages bilateral relations and trade between the two Central European countries as well as improved relations between EU and US.

April 30, 2013

Joint Energy Diversification Plans for Ukraine and EU

Ukraine and EU share Energy Diversification Plans - Energy Community Official.

April 30, 2013

Romania: OMV Petrom, Exxon And Transgaz To Team Up

According to Romanian officials, OMV Petrom, Exxon and Transgaz might partner to transport the Black Sea gas onshore.

April 30, 2013

Austria Still With Lowest Unemployment Rate

Euro area unemployment rate at 12.1%. EU27 at 10.9%

April 30, 2013

Austria: Government Shows Unanimity About Banking Secret

Fekter criticized Social Democrats.

April 30, 2013

Cyprus: Parliament to Vote on Bail-Out Package Today

Narrow majority of MPs expected to vote in favor.

April 30, 2013

Asmussen: “New Eurozone Members Will Reap Benefits of Initial Phase”

CEEs and The Crisis: Current Challenges and Benefits

April 30, 2013

Selling of Hypo Group Would Cost Austria Dearly

The selling of Hypo Group would cost the Austrian state around € 16bn.

April 29, 2013

„Slovenia Can Manage On Its Own“

In an interview with Austrian newspaper Kurier, President of the Slovenian Bankers Association France Arhar stresses that Slovenia is not the new Cyprus.

April 29, 2013

EU Ready to Adopt Measures Over CEZ in Bulgaria

Van Rompuy promised to take actions during his visit in Prague.

April 29, 2013

Eurozone: Household Savings Rate Decreased Significantly

Household saving rate down to 12.2% in the euro area and to 10.7% in the EU27. Household real income per capita fell by 1.1% in the euro area.

April 29, 2013

Tax Burden: Austria Above EU Average

The overall tax-to-GDP ratio in the EU27 up to 38.8% of GDP in 2011. Labour taxes remain major source of tax revenue.

April 29, 2013

Austria: Solution for Bank Secret Issue Until May 22

After the recent turbulances within the Austrian government coalition, Chancellor Werner Faymann hopes to find an agreement with the EU concerning the bank secret until May 22.

April 29, 2013

Kapsch TrafficCom Last Bidder for Major Project in Slovenia

Austrian listed electronic toll system provider Kapsch is the only bidder for the establishing of an electronic toll system for trucks in Slovenia.

April 26, 2013

Van Rompuy Encourages Romania to Become Eurozone Member

During his one-day visit to the Romanian capital, President of the European Council Van Rompuy noted Romania’s progress and stressed the importance of a banking union within the Eurozone.

April 26, 2013

Poland: Trade Union Threatens With Protests

The conflict between the trade union Solidarnosc (solidarity) and the Polish Government aggravates.

April 26, 2013

EU Commission to Start Proceedings Against Hungary

On Wednesday, Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding told reporters in Brussels that the EU Commission will probably launch infringement proceedings against Hungary.

April 26, 2013

Foreign Enterprises Complain About Romanian Policy Making.

Regulations in energy sector were changed overnight.

April 26, 2013

Verbund AG: Closing of The Asset Swap With E.ON

Verbund, Austria’s leading electricity company, and E.ON, one of the world’s largest energy providers, finalised the asset swap that was signed on 3 December 2012.

April 26, 2013

US: Kapsch TrafficCom Opens TDM Protocol

Kapsch and E-ZPass® Group paves the way for nationwide electronic tolling interoperability

April 26, 2013

Alpine and Porr to Be Compensated by Serbia

The Austrian construction companies Alpine and Porr claim € 71m from Serbia before the court of arbitration due to a flopped major project for the building of a highway.

April 26, 2013

Rosneft: Ambitious Plans

Russion oil producer intends to increase its shareholder value by 60 % in the next two years.

April 26, 2013

Austria: Faymann Betrays Ignorance

Chancellor Faymann claims not to have known about the controversial letter which has reached the media yesterday. He fears that Austria would now become a “laughingstock”.

April 26, 2013

Austria: Four Conditions For Commission In Return for Bank Secret

In a letter to Tax Commissioner Semeta Austrian Finance Minister Fekter and Chancellor Faymann set the conditions for the agreement of a negotiation mandate with third countries about the exchange of information.

April 25, 2013

Poland: Audit at Oil and Gas Company PGNiG

Poland’s new Treasury Minister Wlodzimierz Karpinski announced on Wednesday to carry out an urgent audit at Polish state-controlled oil and natural gas company PGNiG.

April 25, 2013

Austria: Green’s Motion of Censure Denied

The Green Party’s motion of censure against Finance Minister Fekter was denied by almost all parties in the National Assembly.

April 25, 2013

NCR to Expand Business Activity in Serbia

US corporation National Cash Registers is to employ a further 300 staff members.

April 25, 2013

Austria Proves Attractive Business Location For International Companies

Strong results for consultancy firm ABA - Invest in Austria: 201 companies started business operations in Austria in 2012, a rise of 10% on 2011.

April 25, 2013

Poland to Support Serbia's European Integration

Dacic and Tusk agreed on improving cooperations, enhancing bilateral trade and increase Polish investments in Serbia.

April 25, 2013

Poland: Public Deficit Targed Missed

Rowstowski does not expect the excessive deficit procedure to be lifted.

April 24, 2013

Ukraine and Ireland to Sign Double Tax Agreement

Ukraine and Ireland signed a Double Tax Agreement in Kyiv during the official visit of Irish Minister of State at the Department of Finance Brian Hayes.

April 24, 2013

Czech Republic: New Rounds of Negotiations for Temelin Tender

Czech power provider CEZ has started another round of talks with bidders in the offer to extend the Temelin nuclear power plant in southern Bohemia.

April 24, 2013

Austrian Greens Put Forward Motion of Censure Against Fekter

The Austrian Greens intend to file a motion of censure against Finance Minister Maria Fekter. Party Leader Eva Glawischnig announced a “match of Greens against Fekter”.

April 24, 2013

Romania: Criticism from EU for Budget Projection

The EU Commission criticizes Romania’s budget projections for the use of EU funds in the time frame between 2014 and 2020.

April 24, 2013

Fekter: "Proposed Reform Creates Security"

Government-Sponsored Pension Plans – Bill Under Review. Objective: Increase the attractiveness of government-sponsored pension plans and improve transparency for customers entering into agreements

April 24, 2013

Albania: Under EU’s Watch

Brussels called for further modernizations of the judiciary in Albania before the EU considers Accession talks with the country. Futhermore the union announced to keep a close eye on the elections in June.

April 24, 2013

Slovenia: Government to Vote On Regulations

Changes to the acts on Slovenian state-owned enterprises are supposed to help restructure and remove the lid from the amount of state aid money granted.

April 24, 2013

Czech Republic: Schwarzenberg Threatens to Leave Government

Statements made by Czech President Milos Zeman concerning the dispute about the appointment of ambassadors during his recent visit in Vienna, have incensed Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg.

April 24, 2013

Hungary: New Political Competition For Orban

Former Finance Minister founds “conservative, pro-European” party.

April 23, 2013

EU Commission Waiting For Austria’s Decision

The EU Commission expects a uniform stance in regard to Austria’s bank secret and the transition to automatic exchange of information.

April 23, 2013

Hungary: MNB Cuts Interest Rate by 0.25 %

The Central Bank of Hungary (MNB) has cut interest rates by a quarter percentage point for the ninth month running.

April 23, 2013

Austria: KA Finanz Not Planning On Needing More State Funds

After last week’s S&P report said KA Finanz was prone to needing further state funding, the rating agency apologized to the banking institute.

April 23, 2013

Spindelegger: "Brave Agreement Between Serbia and Kosovo Important Sign of Liberation for Entire Region"

Win-win agreement should now quickly be implemented to the benefit of the people. The EU will have to deliver on its promise

April 23, 2013

Nowotny Concerned About Reputation of Austrian Banks

Ewald Nowotny, Govenor of the Austrian National Bank (OeNB), is critical towards the continuing debate about keeping the bank secrecy. He fears that doubts in the integrity of the domestic banking sector could emerge.

April 22, 2013

Former Polish President: “EU Needs Ukraine”

In an interview with Polish news magazine Wprost, former Polish president Aleksandar Kwasniewski explains that in the future, the EU will need Ukraine.

April 22, 2013

EU Accession Date for Serbia Voted on Today

On Friday, heads of Serbian and Kosovar government Ivica Dacic and Hashim Thaci have come to an agreement under the the special guidance of EU Commissioner for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton.

April 22, 2013

Austria: National Assembly to Vote on Bail-Out Package for Cyprus

In order for Cyprus‘ bail-out package to become effective, many national parliaments have to vote in favor of it. Austrian’s opposition is against it.

April 22, 2013

Czech President to Visit Austria

New President of the Czech Republic Milos Zeman is going to visit Austria with his wife Ivana Zemanova on Tuesday and Wednesday.

April 22, 2013

Hungary: Lopatka Presses For Legal Security for Austrian Enterprises

State Secretary Reinhold Lopatka met with Hungarian State Secretary for European Affairs Gergely Pröhle in Budapest toda to urge for legal security for Austrian enterprises in the neighboring country.

April 19, 2013