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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
“2012 was a good year for the domestic banking industry”
Ihor Sorkin, governor of the National Bank of Ukraine underlines that the performance of the Ukrainian banking industry was satisfying last year.
February 12, 2013
Bulgaria: Inflation Reaches 4.2%
The past 2012 ended with 4.2% annual inflation after in December the reported monthly increase of the price level totalled 0.4%, Raiffeisen Research Reports.
February 12, 2013
Slovakia: Tax Intake to Decrease
Despite the higher income tax rates, the Slovak state revenues are expected to fall by € 360m this year.
February 12, 2013
Spindelegger: “Acceptable Result for Austria”
“For Austria, this result is not exactly a reason to be euphoric, but it is important both for Europe and for us that we have managed to reach an agreement.” Austria´s Minister of Foreign Affairs said.
February 12, 2013
Austrian Governing Parties Disagree on EU Budget
The Austrian people´s party (ÖVP) has criticized Federal Chancellor Werner Faymann (SPÖ). The social democrats argue that the coalition partner ÖVP has “no team sprit”.
February 11, 2013
Slovenia Faces New Elections
The Slovenian government is under massive pressure. A government collapse is more than likely.
February 11, 2013
Despite Budget Cut: Poland Receives More Money
“This is one of the happiest days of my life.” Poland´s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.
February 11, 2013
Satisfying Fiscal Situation in Bulgaria
The 2012 budget deficit stands much lower than planned: 0.5% of GDP. Public debt falls after Eurobond repayment in January 2013, Raiffeisen Research analyzes.
February 11, 2013
Russia: National Bank Under Pressure
Russia´s National Bank faces a growing inflation rate. At the same time, the economic growth flattens.
February 9, 2013
Erdogan Praises Slovakia´s Support for Turkey
Turkey´s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed his gratitude to his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico for Slovekia´s support for Turkey´s EU membership.
February 9, 2013
„Slovenia Will Become a Star Again“
In an interview with the Austrian daily newspaper “Presse”, Slovenia´s President Borut Pahor demonstrates optimism. He admits that many Slovenians feel injustice.
February 9, 2013
Voestalpine to Announce Decision on Expansion Into North America
The Austrian steel group plans a major investment in North America. According to voestalpine´s CEO Wolfgang Eder, the decision will be announced in February.
February 9, 2013
“Not Enough Support for Growth and Competitiveness“
Georg Kapsch, President of the Federation of Austrian Industries criticizes that the EU budget does not contain enough future investments.
February 9, 2013
EU Budget: Poland Among Main Beneficiaries
Although the EU budget was cut, Poland will receive more EU-funds than in the current period.
February 8, 2013
2014 - 2020: Austrian Net Contributions Rise Substantially
In the financial period from 2014 to 2020, Austria loses almost the half of its discount. The net contributions total € 1.15bn per year.
February 8, 2013
Ukraine: Foreign Exchange Reserves on the Rise
International reserves increased by USD 106 million over January 2013.
February 8, 2013
Poland Underlines Necessity of Cohesion Funds
At the EU summit, Poland wants to secure as much cohesion payments in the next multiannual financial framework from 2014 to 2020.
February 7, 2013
Klaus Recommends to Split Eurozone
According to the outgoing Czech President, the separation of the eurozone would be cheaper than maintaining the currency union.
February 7, 2013
Dispute Between Croatia and Slovenia Solved
Regarding the Slovenian banking group NLB, the Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and his Croatian counterpart have found a compromise.
February 7, 2013
Hungary´s Economy to Recover?
Hungarian Minister of Economics György Matolcsy says that the country may achieve the turnaround this year. Last year, several adverse factors occurred at the same time, Matolcsy explained.
February 7, 2013
IMF Is Satisfied With Progress in Ukraine
This week, the meeting between the senior officials of the National Bank of Ukraine and experts from the IMF's European Department took place in Kyiv. The co-operation will be intensified.
February 7, 2013
NBP Cut Interest Rate Again
The Council of the National Bank of Poland decided to decrease the interest rates by 0.25 percentage points.
February 7, 2013
Erdogan Met Orban in Budapest
Turkey´s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has met his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban in Budapest. Orban praised the success of Turkey´s government.
February 6, 2013
Romania Privatizes Freight Division of National Railways
Romania´s government sells a 51% stake in CFR Marfa, the publicly held rail freight company.
February 6, 2013
Serbia: Key Policy Rate Raised to 11.75 Percent
In its meeting, the NBS Executive Board voted to raise the key policy rate by 0.25 percentage points to 11.75 percent.
February 6, 2013
Romania Keeps Interest Rate Flat
In its meeting, the Board of the National Bank of Romania decided to keep the monetary policy rate unchanged at 5.25 percent per annum and too ensure adequate liquidity management in the banking system.
February 6, 2013
Necas Supports Turkish EU Membership
On the occasion of Prime Minister Erdogan´s visit in Prague, his Czech counterpart Necas assured to support Turkey´s candidacy.
February 6, 2013
Size of Austrian Bank Aid: € 20bn
Since 2008, the Austrian state has injected more than € 8bn into domestic banks. Guarantees total € 12bn.
February 5, 2013
„Hungary Needs Sustainable Reforms“
The IMF underline that the country must restore the confidence of international investors. At the moment, Hungary´s government is not forced to continue the talks with IMF.
February 5, 2013
Slovenia´s Banking Industry in Distress
Due to the economic crisis, the lending business goes down. The indebtedness of the real economy remains high. Funding costs are increasing.
February 5, 2013
Austrian Government May Put Veto Against EU Budget
Members of the Austrian government fear that Austria may lose its discount. The annual loss would come at more than € 180m.
February 5, 2013
„Croatia Has No Answer to the Crisis“
Economists fear that the economic crisis in Croatia will continue this year. The government does not implement enough reforms, observers say.
February 4, 2013
Serbia Faces Political Crisis
After severe allegations against Prime Minister Ivica Dacic, the Serbian governing socialists reject to hold new elections. The coalition partner still supports Dacic.
February 4, 2013
Poland: Banks Continue to Tighten Lending Policy
NBP Report: In the fourth quarter of 2012, the banks continued to reduce the availability of loans to households and small and medium-sized enterprises. The banks expected demand for housing loans to decline sharply in the first quarter of 2013.
February 4, 2013
Tusk: “Poland Becomes a Full Member of the EU”
Poland´s Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Poland will join the Fiscal Pact. The conservative opposition rejects this step.
February 2, 2013
Austria´s Net Contributions to Brussels to Increase Significantly
At the moment, Austria´s net contributions come at 0.2% of GDP. From 2014 to 2020, the figure may increase to 0.36% of GDP.
February 2, 2013
Hungary: “EU funds to be spent on economic development”
In the 2014-2020 fiscal period of the European Union, Hungary will allocate the 60 percent of EU resources to stimulating growth and the development of the economy,
February 2, 2013
Czech Republic Returns to Growth Slowly
According to the Czech Ministry of Finance, the recovery will be only gradual. This year, GDP is expected to increase by 0.1%.
February 2, 2013
Bulgaria: Deficit Lower than Planned.
The budget balance under the Consolidated Fiscal Programme (CFP) for 2012 is negative, amounting to BGN 350.2 million, or 0.45% of the planned GDP.
February 2, 2013
Schwarzenegger Calls for a “Sexy, Hip” Approach at the Vienna R20 Conference
Arnold Schwarzenegger called for an end to “doom and gloom” environmentalism and more of a “sexy, hip” approach at the Vienna R20 Conference.
February 1, 2013
Croatia: New Difficulties for Banks Ahead
Croatia´s National Bank is said to increase the coverage ratio for non-performing loans.
February 1, 2013
Lower Constraints for Romanian National Bank
Central bank to remain on hold, but room to ease control over liquidity conditions has increased, Raiffeisen Research reports.
February 1, 2013
Orban: „Agreement with IMF Unlikely“
According to Hungary´s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the IMF tries to put pressure on Hungary.
February 1, 2013
Romania: „Ongoing fiscal consolidation in 2012“
According to Raiffeisen Research, Romania´s public finance begins to improve. However, the budget execution still shows some weaknesses.
February 1, 2013
Fekter: "Our measures are having an effect"
Austrian Finance Minister Maria Fekter pleased regarding preliminary administrative budget deficit.
February 1, 2013
Erdogan Considers Joining „Shanghai Five“
Turkey´s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan increases the pressure on the EU. He considers a political re-orientation towards the east.
February 1, 2013
Austria: Budget Deficit Lower than Anticipated
The Austrian federal government's administrative deficit during 2012 was approx. € 7bn. Relative to the budgeted figure of approx. € 11.1bn, this represents a savings of approx. € 4.2bn.
February 1, 2013
Slovakia and Austria to Put more Effort in Coordination for EU Issues
20 years of diplomatic relations between Austria and Slovakia.
February 1, 2013
Czech Republic: Disputes Over Fiscal Pact
In the Czech Republic, the ruling coalition parties do not have a common point of view.
January 31, 2013
Poland to Fulfill Convergence Criteria Gradually
Governor of NBP (National Bank of Poland) Marek Belka argues that the country will not meet all the Maastricht Criteria simultaneously.
January 31, 2013