Austria International Political News | International | EU | Domestic

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

Slovenia: Former Prime Minister Accused of Money Laundering

Former Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa’s image is further tarnished as he is alleged of having paid money to a relative’s bank account.

September 6, 2013

Austria: Spindelegger in Favor of “Creative Model“ for Banks

Deputy Chancellor Spindelegger seems willing to lead open discussions about the extension of bank levies.

September 6, 2013

Serbia: UK Enterprises Likely to Invest in Serbia

70 British companies are interested in investing in Serbia's economy.

September 6, 2013

Another Austerity Package in Austria?

Due to the dismal situation of nationalized banks, the economist Christian Keuschnigg anticipates another austerity package after the election at the end of September.

September 6, 2013

EU Commission Threatens Croatia with Sanctions Once More

EU Commissioner Reding has not yet resolved the issue with Croatia. She announced to expect an easy change of the law.

September 5, 2013

President of Ukraine Presses for Faster Progess

President Yanukovych urges the parliament to adopt laws for a faster progress to the country’s European integration

September 5, 2013

Haselsteiner as Candidate for NEOS

Austrian party NEOS has added former CEO of Strabag Hans-Peter Haselsteiner as top candidate for the parliamentary elections. Haselsteiner has so far supported the party behind the scenes.

September 5, 2013

Serbia's Government Regards Economy as Priority Issue

"Solving economic problems is a priority of the reshuffled government"- Serbian Prime Minister.

September 5, 2013

Eurogroup: Greece Requires Further Aids

Crisis-struck Greece will require further support by Eurozone member countries, according to head of the Eurogroup Jeroen Dijsselbloem.

September 5, 2013

VBAG to Start Selling Process of Volksbank Malta Ltd.

The Austrian VBAG has started the selling process of its affiliate Volksbank Malta Ltd. (VB Malta).

September 5, 2013

Faymann: “Banks Should Pay for Hypo”

Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann does not consider a new austerity package necessary despite of the threatening billions of Euros for the selling and winding-up of the ailing bank.

September 5, 2013

Polish Central Bank Holds Interest Rate Flat

Poland´s economy begins to recover. NBP leaves the base rate at 2.5%.

September 5, 2013

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