Austria International Political News | International | EU | Domestic

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

Austrian Budget: 3.2% Deficit in 2012

Today, the Austrian Minister of Finance, Maria Fekter, presented the budget for 2012. The debt quota rises further until 2015.

October 19, 2011

Solution Found: Wage Increase by 4.2%

After heated debates and strike threats, representatives of the Austrian metal industry and the trade union came to an agreement.

October 18, 2011

Metal Industry: New Bargaining Rounds

The Austrian trade union of metal workers and industry representatives could avert a strike. However, a compromise is still not found.

October 17, 2011

€ 4.0bn Capital Requirement for Austrian Banks

After the industrialist Hannes Androsch, also the Vice-President of the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB), Wolfgang Duchatczek, sees a need to support domestic banks.

October 17, 2011

Austrian Metal Industry: Strike Threatens

After a warning strike on Friday, representatives of the metal industry and the trade union still reached no agreement. Now, a full strike threatens.

October 15, 2011

Austria Ranks Third in EU Productivity Study

The report points out structural weaknesses and suggests more effective public spending in the fields of education, research and innovation.

October 14, 2011

Slovakia Approved EFSF

After unsuccessful voting on Tuesday, Slovak lawmakers supported today the enlargement of the European Financial Stability Fund.

October 13, 2011

Innovation Indicator 2011: Austria Has Improved Markedly

In a ranking of 26 industrialized countries, Austria has risen to the eighth place. The R&D ratio has climbed to 2.8% of GDP.

October 13, 2011

Bargaining Suspended – Metal Workers Take Industrial Action

Employees of more than 140 Austrian companies went on strike after negotiators had failed to agree on wage increases.

October 13, 2011

Slovakia Against the Enlargement of the Euro Zone Bailout Fund

After six hours of heated debate Slovak lawmakers failed to approved the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF).

October 12, 2011

Chamber of Labor Claims Substantial Wage Increase

The Austrian Chamber of Labor calls for a massive rise in wages for metal workers. The union refers to increase profits of the metal industry.

October 10, 2011

€ 2.7bn Profits Due to Rededications

According to a new study by Kreutzer, Fischer & Partner, 280km2 of agricultural area were rededicated into building area from 2007-2011. Yearly profits therefrom amount to € 2.7bn.

October 10, 2011

Trainees in Vienna „Not Satisfied“

A study of the Viennese chamber of labor published, that a large number of trainees is not satisfied with their apprenticeships.

October 8, 2011

Austrian Government: Sharp Critics from Industrialists

The Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) attacks the government massively. For the industrialists, the new taxation plans are not acceptable.

October 8, 2011

ÖVP: Privatization of ÖBB “Unrealistic”

A privatization of the Austrian Federal Railways as suggested by Finance Minister Fekter is not an option at the moment.

October 7, 2011

Androsch „Another Three to Four Billions for Hypo Group“

The former Minister of Finance, Hannes Androsch fears a loss of Austria´s AAA-rating. “We are being observed accurately.”

October 4, 2011

Ranking: Austria Among the Most Non-Transparent Financial Centers Worldwide

Today, the Financial Secrecy Index (FSI) of the Tax Justice Network (TJN) has been published. 73 countries have been analyzed.

October 4, 2011

Mitterlehner: „Settlement of Headquarters Key Question for Austria“

The Austrian Minister of Economics, Reinhold Mitterlehner, wants to push the development of the domestic location through improving framework requirements steadily.

October 4, 2011

Dispute Over A-Tec´s Liquidation

After the Sale of the insolvent Austrian A-Tec has failed, the subsidiaries will be sold separately. Austrian politicians warn of the loss of jobs, technology and tax revenue.

October 3, 2011

Economic Crisis: Austrians Pessimistic

The majority of Austrians thinks that the economic crisis will persist and will become even worse.

October 1, 2011

Public Debt Increased to 71.8% of GDP in 2010

Austrian public finance 2010: Public deficit up to 4.6%, public debt grew by 2.3 percentage points.

September 30, 2011

ÖBB with Positive Operating Result in First Half of 2011

The Austrian Federal Railways continue their restructuring program. Management expects to leave the loss zone by 2013.

September 29, 2011

Spindelegger Wants New Impetus for Nabucco

The Austrian Vice-Chancellor calls for a quick realization of the pipeline project which is stalling at the moment.

September 28, 2011

Level of General Financial Education in Austria “Not Satisfactory”

Latest survey shows: 4 in 10 Austrians don’t even know where to start when defining term “interest”.

September 27, 2011

Metal Workers Start Autumn Bargaining Round

Salaries of 190,000 employees in the metal industry will be negotiated. Trade unions demand substantial increases.

September 22, 2011

IMF: „NPL in Eastern Europe Decreasing“

After the announcement of the Hungarian government to convert foreign currency loans at the expense of banks, the IMF has good news for Austrian banks.

September 21, 2011

Management Rewards Rise Considerably

In 2011, Austrian managers benefit from an increase of their salaries by 4.1% on average. Most of the Austrian managers receive additional payments.

September 21, 2011

Austrian Population Forecast 2050: Growth from 8.4m to 9.4m People

The Austrian population is growing – and becomes older. In 2030, 9.0m people will live in Austria, 9.4m in 2050.

September 21, 2011

German and Austrian Economy Claim Improvements for Company Loans

Representatives of the German and Austrian Economy fear adverse impacts for company loans from the new Basel III rules.

September 20, 2011

FPÖ Claims New Currency Area

The chairman of the Austrian Freedom Party, Heinz-Christian Strache, calls for the creation of a “core Europe” with a new currency.

September 19, 2011

RH Warns: Alarming Increase in Public Debt

Austrian government debt is growing rapidly. From 2006 to 2010, government expenditures went up by 18.2%.

September 15, 2011

„Education at a Glance“: Austria Falls Behind

According to the study of the OECD, Austria has a slightly rising level of graduates. Nevertheless, the difference to the OECD average is still substantial.

September 13, 2011

New Difficulties for Brenner Tunnel

The project of the alpine tunnel between Austria and Italy, which is the core of a trans-European axis, faces new problems. The Italian government plans to tender the license for the highway Europe-wide.

September 12, 2011

Austrian Minister of Science: € 1.00bn for Universities

Karlheinz Töchterle (ÖVP), announced that Austrian universities may receive € 1.00bn from 2013 to 2015 separately. However, critics already commented the plan.

September 12, 2011

Austrian Telekom: Social Democrats Warn of „Unfriendly Takeover“

For the executive director of the SPÖ, Günther Kräuter, “a new major shareholder from Egypt or Russia would be problematic.”

September 12, 2011

Austria Considers Lawsuit Against Hungary

The Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Michael Spindelegger (ÖVP) threatens Hungary to file a lawsuit at the European Court of Justice. Hungary plans to stress banks massively.

September 12, 2011

Saloon Talks in Polish Ambassy: „Europe Needs New Leadership“

In the Polish Ambassy in Vienna, the former Prime Ministers of Poland, Aleksander Kwasniewski and Austria, Wolfgang Schüssel, talked about their vision for the European Union.

September 8, 2011

Austrian Competitiveness Shrinks Further

According to a market survey of the consulting group Ernst & Young, Austria´s international competitiveness has still worsened and fell from rank 18 to 19.

September 7, 2011

Bank Aid Package is a Loss for Austria

For the Austrian Republic, the recapitalization measures for Austrian business banks is a losing deal. Losses amount to € 237m.

September 7, 2011

CEE Economic Forum: Green Trends for Eastern Europe

In 2011, Forum Velden in Carinthia celebrates its 5th anniversary. Since its foundation in 2006, over 1.500 experts, top-managers and politicians from over 25 countries have participated in the Forum.

September 7, 2011

IMF Puts Pressure on Austria

The IMF shows itself content with the Austrian post-crisis policies. But now, Austria has to reduce new indebtedness.

September 7, 2011

Federation of Austrian Industries: “No New Taxes!”

The debate about the introduction of property taxes in continues. The Institute of Economic Research (WIFO) approves such taxes.

September 6, 2011

Joschka Fischer: „Nabucco is in time“

The former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany, Joschka Fischer, is optimistic regarding the realization of the Nabucco Gas Pipeline.

September 6, 2011

Leitl: „Austrian Economy Suffers from Lack in Skilled Labor“

According to Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, 70% of all enterprises have difficulties in finding highly-skilled workers.

September 6, 2011

Green Party: Accusations against OMV

The member of the Austrian Parliament, Peter Pilz (Greens) considers bribe payments from the oil and gas company OMV to Mensdorff-Pouilly.

September 6, 2011

Ex-Chancellor Schüssel Resigns from Parliament

Wolfgang Schüssel retires from the political stage as a consequence of the market manipulation and corruption affair at Telekom Austria.

September 5, 2011

“Telekom, Post and OMV Could Be Privatized Immediately”

Karlheinz Kopf calls for privatizations in the infrastructure sector. Last year, the Austrian state earned € 244m from its shareholdings.

September 5, 2011

Property Tax : € 25.000 for Every Rich Person?

The Austrian Socialist Party (SPÖ) claims to introduce property taxes. About 80.000 people in Austria would be concerned.

September 5, 2011

Fekter: No Nationalization of VBAG

The Austrian Finance Minister has the right to nationalize the bank if it does not pay a dividend on the state’s € 1bn of participation capital.

September 2, 2011

OMV Affected by Sanctions against Syria

The Austrian oil and gas company does not have a local production but buys 7% of its oil supplies from the Arabic country.

August 29, 2011