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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
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