Austria International Political News | International | EU | Domestic

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

OECD Criticizes Gender Pay Gap in Austria

Although the education level of women has improved in the last decades, a greater education attainment level of women is not matched with labour market outcomes, OECD says.

December 17, 2012

Lopatka: “Communitisation of debts is the wrong message”

State Secretary Lopatka lacks understanding for proposals made by Federal Chancellor Faymann.

December 17, 2012

Austrian Competition Authority May Prevent Orange-Takeover

This week, the EU-Commission has approved the acquisition of the third-biggest telecommunication company by Hutchison Austria. Austria´s BWB (Federal Competition Authority) is seen as risk factor.

December 15, 2012

WIFO: South Europe Needs New Industrial Policy

The Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO) stresses that Spain, Greece and Portugal need new growth measures instead of austerity cuts.

December 15, 2012

Kazakhstan: „Among the Top 30 in 2050“

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev predicts an economic boom in the next decades.

December 15, 2012

Banking Union: Czech Republic Cautious

For the time being, the Czech Republic will not join the single supervising mechanism.

December 15, 2012

Austrian Municipalities: Real Deficit Ahead

Until 2016, Austrian municipalities expect that the financial resources for investments and debt reduction will decrease.

December 14, 2012

Polish Government Considers Joining Banking Union

Today, Poland´s Prime Minister Donald Tusk explained that Poland may become a member in the single supervision mechanism.

December 14, 2012

“Risks to Financial Stability Remain High”

The European sovereign debt crisis continues to impact international financial markets. Despite the stabilizing effect of monetary and financial policy measures the risks to financial stability remain at a high level, OeNB says.

December 14, 2012

“Eurozone More Stable Now”

Banking union and rescue umbrella making a substantial contribution to Eurozone stabilization, Austria´s Minister of Finance Maria Fekter says.

December 14, 2012

CEE Countries May Join Banking Union

ECB will become the main supervisor for the Eurozone´s banking industry. Non-Eurozone member countries are entitled to opt-in.

December 13, 2012

Euro Introduction: Latvians Still Skeptical

The Latvian government aims to introduce the common currency in 2014. The Latvian Budget and Finance Committee approved the introduction.

December 13, 2012

Hungary: Financial Transaction Tax May Increase

As the tax proceeds are behind the government´s expectations, the controversial tax may increase

December 13, 2012

Austrian Banking Package: Losses total € 1.9bn

According to Austria´s Financial State Secretary Andreas Schieder, preliminary losses of the banking package come at € 1.9bn. Further losses are expected.

December 13, 2012

IMF to Visit Hungary Again

In January, the International Monetary Fund will come to Budapest. The talks between the Hungarian government and IMF were postponed several times.

December 12, 2012

Hungary Resolves 2013 Budget

Today, Hungary´s Parliament approved the budget for 2013, which contains a number of tax increases. According to critics, the budget will not hold.

December 12, 2012

Czech Finance Minister: „No Reason to Veto Banking Union“

The Czech Minister of Finance Miroslav Kalousek announced that the Czech Republic has no concerns against the banking union in the Eurozone.

December 12, 2012

WIFO: South Europe Needs Change in Strategy

The Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO) underlines that the austerity policy in South European countries did not help at all.

December 12, 2012

Czech Republic: Migration Declines

The population of the Czech Republic increased by 7.8 thousand to 10 513.2 thousand during the first three quarters of 2012.

December 12, 2012

Austria in Favour of Initiating Accession Negotiations with Macedonia

Austria´s State Secretary Reinhold Lopatka speaks at General Affairs Council in Brussels.

December 12, 2012

Vienna Aims to Become UN's Energy Hub

New UN Office for Sustainable Energy will be opened in Vienna.

December 12, 2012

Gasparovic Meets Klaus

The Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic was officially received by his Czech counterpart Vaclav Klaus.

December 11, 2012

„Eurobonds Are No Solution“

Latvia´s Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis argues that euro-bonds may be implemented at the end of the convergence process.

December 11, 2012

Turkey: „The EU Needs Us“

On the occasion of a visit in Hungary, Turkey´s Minister of European Affairs Egemen Bagis argued that the EU would benefit from Turkey´s accession.

December 11, 2012

Romania: Basescu Under Pressure

After the decisive victory of Prime Minister Ponta, Romania´s President Traian Basescu has no other alternative than to appoint Ponta again.

December 10, 2012

Serbia Receives $ 800m Loan

The World Bank grants Serbia a loan of $ 800m. The loan covers Serbia´s budget deficit and enable the government to put more effort into infrastructure investments.

December 8, 2012

Croatia Considers Leasing Out Highways

In order to reduce the budget deficit, Croatia plans to privatize its highway network.

December 8, 2012

Croatia: EU Scepticism Grows

After German officials considered postponing Croatia´s EU accession, Croats become more critical to the European Union.

December 8, 2012

Slovenia Sharpens Austerity Measures

The Slovenian Parliament resolved the budgets for 2013 and 2014. The country tries to fulfill the Maastricht criteria.

December 8, 2012

Fiscal Policy: OECD Warns Slovakia

OECD´s Secretary General Angel Gurria calls Slovakia to improve its fiscal efficiency. The tax collection must be professionalized, he says.

December 8, 2012

Southeast Europe Agrees on Growth Strategy

In order to meet the 2020 growth strategy of the EU, the Balkan countries plan to co-operate more closely. Turkey and Bulgaria emphasize their good relations.

December 8, 2012

Czech Republic: Klaus Rejects ESM

Czech Republic´s President refuses to grant consent to the ESM bill.

December 7, 2012

Slovakia: Strong Increase in Foreign Trade

In September 2012, compared with the corresponding period last year, the total export of goods increased by 9,6 % to EUR 5 616,6 million and the total import by 7,7 % to EUR 5 277,3 million.

December 7, 2012

Serbia: Government Demonstrates Optimism

Serbian Minister of Economics Mladjan Dinkic expects that the country´s exports will grow substantially in the next years.

December 7, 2012

"Increasing polarisation in Egypt puts the country's development at stake"

Austria´s Vice-Chancellor Michael Spindelegger is concerned about latest development in Egypt.

December 6, 2012

Belka: “Poland Is Free of Economic Imbalances”

The governor of the Polish National Bank (NBP) admits that the economic slowdown is substantial, but no fundamental problem.

December 6, 2012

Juncker´s Succession: Faymann Out of the Race

The talks about the succession of Jean-Claude Juncker as chairman of the Euro-Group are going on. Austria´s Chancellor has only little prospects.

December 6, 2012

Slovakia: Unemployment Grows

In the third quarter of 2012, the Slovak unemployment quota was up by 0.5 percentage points to 13.7%. At the same time, employment is growing substantially.

December 6, 2012

Bulgaria Puts Pressure on Nabucco

Bulgaria wants the Nabucco project to start as soon as possible.

December 5, 2012

Czech Republic Still May Use Veto Against Banking Union

The Czech government wants to secure the rights of national regulation authorities.

December 5, 2012

Polish Government Retains Budget Assumptions for 2013

Poland´s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that there is no need to change the economic assumptions at the moment.

December 5, 2012

Slovakia: Flat Tax Replaced New Tax Model

After nine years, Slovakia abolishes the flat tax. Corporate profit tax was increased from 19% to 23%.

December 5, 2012

Transparency International: Austria Falls Back

According to TI´s corruption index, Austria lost several places again.

December 5, 2012

Survey: More and More Austrians Affected by Financial Crisis

Compared to 2010, the number of Austrian citizens who see themselves affected by the current financial crisis grew by 50%.

December 5, 2012

Measuring Poverty in the EU: third International EU-SILC Conference in Vienna

The third International Conference on EU Statistics about Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) will be opened in Vienna on Thursday, 6 December 2012.

December 5, 2012

Serbian Government Emphasizes Austerity Policy

Next year, the Serbian budget deficit is expected to come at 3.3% of GDP. Until 2015, the deficit will be lowered further, the government says.

December 4, 2012

„Banking System Becomes More Solid“

The chairman of OeNB (Austrian National Bank) Ewald Nowotny thinks that the banking supervision and the Basel III framework will stabilize the financial markets.

December 4, 2012

Banking Supervision: Fekter Calls for Flexibility

Today, the meeting of the Finance Ministers of EU countries was unsuccessful. Austria´s Finance Minister Maria Fekter comments that quality is more important than speed.

December 4, 2012

Faymann as Juncker´s Successor?

Austria´s Federal Chancellor Werner Faymann is said to have relatively good prospects to become head of the Euro Group.

December 4, 2012

Austrian Industry Calls for Flexibilization of Short-Time Work

Austrian businesses expect that short-time work may return. Three years ago, the

December 4, 2012