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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
Spindelegger Appeals Israel and Palestine to End the Conflict
Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs: “Idle run in Middle East increases extremist danger for the region”
April 26, 2012
Small Growth in Austrian Winter Season
The current tourism winter season 2011/12 recorded a rise in overnights by 2.1%.
April 26, 2012
“Russia now among top 10 Austrian Trading Partners”
Austrian Foreign Minister Spindelegger meets with Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Zubkov.
April 25, 2012
Austria Wants to Raise Efficiency in EU Funds
The Austrian State Secretary Waldner participates in the negotiations of the EU financial framework 2014-2020 and calls for setting a regional and environmental course.
April 25, 2012
Austria to Intensify Cooperation with Croatia
The Austrian Minister of Economics met his Croatian counterpart in Vienna. Above all, the EU-accession and investments were discussed.
April 24, 2012
MOL May Leave Nabucco Project
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that MOL the country’s largest company by market capitalization, is leaving the € 7.9bn ($ 10.4bn) Nabucco natural gas pipeline project.
April 24, 2012
IMF: Austria´s Contribution to Reach € 6.0bn
The capital increase at the International Monetary Fund costs Austria € 6.0bn. Austria may receive an executive director. Schieder considers introducing Eurobonds.
April 23, 2012
Fekter meets British Chancellor of the Exchequer Osborne
The Austrian Minister of Finance Maria Fekter and George Osborne talked about Basel III, the EU budget and taxation.
April 23, 2012
Maastricht Criteria: Austria in the Middle Field
In 2011, the government deficit of both the euro area (EA17) and the EU27 decreased in absolute terms compared with 2010, while the government debt rose in both zones.
April 23, 2012
Waldner: “Germany and Austria are Role Models in the Eurozone“
The Austrian State Secretary Wolfgang Waldner had a work meeting today with his colleague in the German Federal Foreign Office, Minister of State Michael Link.
April 23, 2012
Nowotny: “ECB Uses Bond-Buying Program Extremely Cautiously”
The governor of Austrian Central Bank (OeNB) Ewald Nowotny said the bank only buys government bonds in certain situations and with “extreme” caution.
April 21, 2012
Triple-A Will Not Return Soon
The U.S. rating agency S&P dashes hopes that Austria may get back its “AAA” soon. Austrian banks may still face risks as the crisis is over yet, S&P says.
April 20, 2012
Austrian Railways: € 33bn Investment Package Resolved
The Austrian National Council decided the infrastructure package for ÖBB (Austrian Railways). Until 2017, investments of € 33bn will be made.
April 19, 2012
Felderer: „Women Must Have More Children”
The director of the Austrian Institute of Advanced Studies (IHS) sees a demographic problem in Austria as well as in Europe. Migration cannot solve the problem, Felderer says.
April 19, 2012
Waldner Wants Closer Cooperation with Spain
Austrian State Secretary Waldner is meeting his counterpart in the Spanish Foreign Ministry, State Secretary Gonzalo de Benito Secades, and EU State Secretary Inigo Mendez de Vigo today.
April 19, 2012
Austrian Opposition Increase Criticism on Swiss Tax Deal
For FPÖ, the tax deal with Switzerland is a “gift for tax evaders”. The Green Party sees support for tax fraud.
April 18, 2012
€ 8.0bn for Upgrade of Austrian Power Grid
According to the Austrian E-Control authority, the Austrian economy needs massive investments in the power grid. The upgrade to “smart grids” would be essential.
April 18, 2012
Former Bawag CEO Criticizes Cerberus Sharply
Helmut Elsner, former CEO of Bawag, accuses the new owner Cerberus to abuse the bank as “garbage dump” for toxic assets.
April 18, 2012
Roiss Claims European „Fracking“ Strategy
OMV´s CEO Gerhard Roiss calls for a common strategy to exploit shale gas. The European industrial sector should become more competitive.
April 18, 2012
Felderer: „Another Downgrade Less Probable“
The Austrian economist Bernhard Felderer thinks that the risk of another downgrade of Austrian sovereign bonds has decreased.
April 18, 2012
Mitterlehner: „AAA is still Far Away“
Austria´s Minister of Economics does not believe that S&P gives back the “AAA” rating soon. However, the debate about Austria´s rating is overvalued, he thinks.
April 17, 2012
Labor Time: Resistance Against SPÖ´s Plans
The governing Social-Democrats want to reduce labor time. Industrialists, the Chamber of Commerce and FPÖ decline that idea.
April 17, 2012
Austrian Industry Underlines Austerity Policy
After the rating agency Fitch retained Austria´s triple A, the Austrian industry sees a confirmation of the need for austerity. Finance Minister Fekter emphasized to push for further reforms.
April 17, 2012
Austria Supports EU Capitalization Plans for Banks
Regulators in the European Union may be allowed to impose capital surcharges on banks
April 17, 2012
OeNB: “Nationalizations Are Clean Up”
Austria’s central bank (OeNB) said that the nationalization of three of the nation’s lenders helped clean up the structure of the domestic banking industry.
April 17, 2012
Tax Deal Fiercely Criticized
Last week, Austria concluded a tax treaty with Switzerland. For experts, the deal does not solve the main problems.
April 16, 2012
Austrian Opposition Aims to Bring Back Gold Reserves
The two Austrian opposition parties FPÖ and BZÖ push the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB) to disclose information about the gold reserves. OeNB refuses to do so.
April 14, 2012
Austria and Switzerland Signed Tax Treaty
Austria´s Finance Minister Fekter signed the tax treaty with her Swiss colleague Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf. In 2013, additional tax intake of € 1.0bn is expected.
April 14, 2012
Fekter Nominates Koren as VBAG´s Chief Executive
Maria Fekter, the Austrian Minister of Finance said that Stephan Koren already agreed to become CEO of the partly nationalized bank VBAG.
April 14, 2012
Austria Tries to Adapt its Image
In order to attract foreign investors, Austrian companies are attempting to amend the country’s image. Instead of tourism and culture, the industrial sector and the expertise should be underlined.
April 13, 2012
Fekter to Remain as Finance Minister
This week, rumors on the replacement of the Austrian Finance Minister Maria Fekter occurred. Claus Raidl, who was said to replace Fekter, denies this.
April 13, 2012
Swiss-Austrian Tax Treaty to be Signed
The tax treaty between Austria and Switzerland will be signed tomorrow on Friday. The tax rate is set at 38%.
April 12, 2012
Call for Structural Reform of Social Policy
The Federation of Austrian Industries reaffirms the high non-wage labor costs and intends to raise efficiencies in the health sector. The retirement age would be too low.
April 12, 2012
Austrian Industry Underlines Importance of „South Axis“
According to a recent study, the Southern Railway (Südbahn) creates 15,000 new jobs. The value creation totals € 15.5bn.
April 12, 2012
Health Insurances Reduce Debts
Over the last three years, Austrian health insurance institutes could cut debts by € 1.0bn, which is substantially more than expected.
April 12, 2012
Psychic Diseases: Costs of € 3.3bn
The number of staff away sick in Austria rose by 100% since 1995.
April 11, 2012
Tax Treaty with Switzerland Close to be Finished
Austria aims for reach a tax agreement with Switzerland in order to tax illegal funds deposited by Austrian nationals at Swiss banks. An agreement seems to be within reach.
April 11, 2012
Nowotny Ask For Alternative to Financial Transaction Tax
The governor of the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB) sees a good sign in Austria´s low interest rate on sovereign bonds. The introduction of a European financial transaction tax is unrealistic, the governor says.
April 11, 2012
Where is Austria´s Gold?
The major part of Austria´s gold reserves should be located in the U.S. The Austrian Central Bank does not answer any questions.
April 10, 2012
Financial Transaction Tax: Schieder Raises Pressure on EU
Austria´s Financial State Secretary Andreas Schieder threatens to vote against higher EU contributions. To discuss about alternatives of the financial transaction tax is “too early.”
April 10, 2012
Failed Austerity Package: „Austrian Rating Not Affected“
Bernhard Felderer, director of IHS (Institute of Advanced Studies) thinks that the incomplete austerity package has no effect on Austria´s prospects to return to the Triple-A status.
April 7, 2012
„Natural Gas to Become Most Important Energy Source“
Gerhard Roiss, CEO of the Austrian oil and gas group OMV pushes the EU to recognize the importance of natural gas.
April 7, 2012
Austria Rejects Bank Bonds of Southern Euro-Members
The Austrian Central Bank will join Germany’s Bundesbank in rejecting as collateral bank bonds guaranteed by member states receiving aid from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.
April 4, 2012
Kyoto Protocol: Austria Spends € 160m
Austria will invest € 160m ($213.4 million) in climate protection projects in Europe to cover the gap it faces to meet commitments under the Kyoto Protocol, Environment Minister Niki Berlakovich said.
April 4, 2012
Austria Must Underline its Headquarter Function
Austria as hub for CEE markets is still popular. Nevertheless, there is a lack in a sustainable and flexible strategy. The geographical proximity to CEE countries is insufficient.
April 2, 2012
Euro-Group: Fekter Presses Ahead
Jean-Claude Juncker, head of the euro-group is angry at the Austrian Minister of Finance, Maria Fekter, who presented the summits´ results before Juncker´s press conference.
March 31, 2012
Economic Upswing for Austria?
The economic research institutes IHS and WIFO anticipate that the Austrian economy accelerates by summer 2012. Both warn of “too much euphoria”, however.
March 29, 2012
Swiss Tax Treaty: Austria Under Pressure
The Austrian Minister of Finance is optimistic to conclude the Swiss tax deal by 2013. Proceeds of € 1.0bn are expected.
March 28, 2012
Romania Plans Further Privatizations
Above all, a sale of the minority stake in the oil company Petrom could bring up to $ 600m. The Austrian OMV, which is the majority owner of Petrom, could be interested.
March 27, 2012
Austria Insists on Financial Transaction Tax
Despite Germany’s finance minister sees little chance of a European Union agreement on the levy, Austria is sticking to plans for a financial-transaction tax in Europe to help consolidate its budget.
March 27, 2012