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Austria and Spain - Read the latest headlines about bilateral relations in the areas of economy, business, investment, diplomacy, culture and tourism

Alpine to Cut a Third of its Workforce

The Austrian financially stricken construction company has to implement radical restructuring measures.

December 21, 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

“Eurozone On Stable Ground”

Austria´s Minister of Finance Maria Fekter is optimistic. Spain, Portugal and Ireland are making substantial progress. However, the crisis is not over yet, she notes.

December 1, 2012

Conference on European Economic Integration

Bank of Finland and Oesterreichische Nationalbank to organise a Conference on European Economic Integration in Helsinki.

November 23, 2012

Treichl: Austria Should Cooperate with CEE Countries

Erste Group´s CEO Andreas Treichl thinks that CEE countries and Austria should create a model region in Europe like the Scandinavian countries did.

November 16, 2012

Alpine: Funding is Secured

The financially stricken construction company has reached an agreement with its creditors.

November 10, 2012

RHI Opens Largest Raw Material Fusion Plant

Largest on-shore investment in Norway. Independence from Asian imports strengthened.

November 9, 2012

IHS: Collapse of Eurozone would Cost 157,000 Jobs

The Austrian Institute of Advances Studies IHS says that Austria´s economic growth would be lower by 11 percentage points until 2016.

November 5, 2012

Palfinger Takes Over Norwegian Bergen Group Dreggen

The Austrian crane manufacturer today announced that it has agreed to take over Bergen Group Dreggen AS, a Norwegian producer of marine and offshore cranes and lifting equipment.

October 30, 2012

FCC Considers Downsizing Alpine

The financially stricken Austrian construction company may sell several business units. A sale of Alpine seems unlikely.

October 20, 2012

Alpine: CEO Dotter Resigns

The management of the financially stricken Austrian construction group reshuffles. The holding company FCC decided to change the management.

October 17, 2012 · Updated: October 17, 2012; 19:15

OMV Signs Major Oil Acquisition in Norway

“A further important move to establish Norway as core country in OMV’s Exploration and Production portfolio”: The Austrian oil group acquires a 20% stake in the Edvard Grieg oil field development from RWE.

October 16, 2012

Alpine Confirms „Substantial Losses“

The Austrian construction company is in severe difficulties. The management demonstrates optimism.

October 15, 2012

Spain: Kapsch Achieves Major Order

Austrian Kapsch CarrierCom successfully completes another project in Spain: Kapsch equipped 80 kilometers of the short-line network of the state railway operator Adif in Bilbao.

October 15, 2012

Alpine Needs Help from Banks

The Austrian construction company faces liquidity constraints. Talks with banks were started already.

October 11, 2012

Erste Group´s Core Shareholder Sells 14 million Shares+

Erste Stiftung, the core shareholder of Austrian Erste Group, remains the biggest shareholder, though.

October 2, 2012

Public Debt: New EU Members Are More Flexible

Compared to old EU member states, the new member states have more fiscal leeway to overcome the crisis.

September 24, 2012

Fekter: “Spanish Banks Need € 60bn”

According to Austria´s Minister of Finance Maria Fekter, the European Union focuses on Spain. A Greek exit would be no issue anymore.

September 18, 2012

Euro-Crisis Enters Austria

In the second quarter, the Austrian GDP only grew by 0.1%, WIFO says (Austrian Institute of Economic Research). A recession is not excluded anymore.

September 10, 2012

Fekter: „Spain is No Bail-Out Candidate“

Austria´s Finance Minister Fekter says that only Spain´s banks may need help from the EU.

August 31, 2012

Austrian Guarantees Total € 80bn

In the worst case, Austria´s public debt quota may increase up to 100%, the Austrian opposition warns.

August 27, 2012

Declining Real Income: UBS Defends Report

Paul Donovan, author of the controversial study, was criticized by Austria´s Central Bank and Bank Austria. Donovan underlines that his study is correct.

August 24, 2012

Grexit: Aiginger Warns of Shock in the Balkan Region

Wifo´s (Austrian Institute of Economic Research) director Karl Aiginger thinks that a Greek exit would not only cause big problems for Greece itself, but for the whole Balkan region.

August 21, 2012

Nokia Moves from Vienna to Budapest

The Finnish cell-phone company regroups and shifts its sub-headquarters for the CEE region from Austria to Hungary.

August 20, 2012

Austrian Real Income Fell Dramatically

Economists often say that Austria has benefitted from the euro. According to a study of UBS, Austria has lost a substantial degree of prosperity, however.

August 20, 2012

Engineering Companies to Finland

Seven Austrian companies working in mechanical engineering are going to visit Tampere and Helsinki from September 19 to September 21 2012.

August 20, 2012

Does the Euro Collapse Now? (Part 2)

The nervousness among Europe´s leaders is growing. Not only Finland warns of a breakdown.

August 18, 2012

Does the Euro Collapse Now? (Part 1)

The nervousness among Europe´s leaders is growing. Not only Finland warns of a breakdown.

August 17, 2012

Kommunalkredit´s KA Finanz Needs New Guarantees

Because of its exposure in Greece, the nationalized Austrian lender needs further guarantees from the Austrian state.

August 6, 2012

Government Puts Kommunalkredit for Sale

The nationalized Austrian lender Kommunalkredit should be sold until 2013. Offers must be to submit to Morgan Stanley until August 16.

July 26, 2012

Nowotny Wants Bank License for ESM

The governor of OeNB (Austrian Central Bank) Ewald Nowotny told the news agency Bloomberg that there would be some good reasons for this solution.

July 26, 2012

Insolvencies in CESEE on the Rise

In 2011, the number of business insolvencies rose by 25% in the CESEE region. Hungary ranks first.

July 25, 2012

Aiginger: „Feeding Banks Makes No Sense“

The director of WIFO (Austrian Institute of Economic Research) thinks that Spanish banks must be able to become insolvent.

July 24, 2012

Fekter: Greek Exit is „No Issue“

Austria´s Finance Minister Maria Fekter thinks that a Greek exit is no option for the time being. „We wait for the report of the Troika.“

July 24, 2012

New Supervisory Board at Alpine

Baldomero Falcones assumes the function of Chairman of the Supervisory Board at the Austrian construction company Alpine.

July 13, 2012

OMV Steps into Deep Water Gas Development in Northern Norwegian Sea

OMV acquires 15% stake in the Aasta Hansteen field development from ExxonMobil and increases its stake in the Norwegian Sea Gas Infrastructure project by 6.15%.

July 13, 2012

Fischer Wants to Check ESM

Austria´s Federal President Heinz Fischer does not sign the ESM approval by the Austrian Parliament yet. „I am not under time pressure.“ he says.

July 11, 2012

Economic Report: „Reducing Dependence on Europe“

Today, the Austrian government published its "Economic Report 2012".

July 9, 2012

Alpine Strengthens Domestic Market Austria

The second-biggest Austrian construction group changes ist management for the biggest market. The new corporate strategy should be implemented now.

July 6, 2012

Strong Increase in Unit Labor Costs

Since 2008, the Austrain economy records a disproportionately high increase in unit labor costs. The average of the eurozone amounts to 6.4%. In Austria, the unit labor costs were up by 11.1%.

June 29, 2012

Euro-Crisis Continues

According to RCB, the factional dispute between Germany and France decisive for the eurozone. An easing of the situation is not expected.

June 29, 2012

Austrian Show Case „Engineering“ in Denmark

From 5. September 2012 to 6. September 2012, the Austrian consulting and engineering sector presents its knowledge and skills in Copenhagen.

June 29, 2012

Infineon to Invest € 250m in Austria

In 2012, Infineon Austria´s CEO Monika Kircher-Kohl wants to make investments of € 250m. The high tech company is already looking for new staff.

June 28, 2012

WIFO Wants Unlimited Firewall

According to the Austrian Institute of Economic Research, the firewall must be big enough in order to make speculation against the euro unattractive.

June 28, 2012

Fiscal Pact More Expansive for Austria than for Germany

According to the latest calculations, small Eurozone member states would have to pay higher transfers than Germany.

June 26, 2012

Austrian Banks Affected by European Crisis

Bank Austria´s CEO Willibald Cernko still believes in the common currency. Last year, earnings went down by 14.6%.

June 26, 2012

Survival of the Euro Questionable

Regarding the future of the common currency, the Austrian economist Fritz Breuss is highly skeptical.

June 26, 2012

Treichl: „Europe Does Not Need the Euro“

Andreas Treichl, CEO of Austrian Erste Group thinks that the European Union would work very well without the common currency. A common army would be more important.

June 25, 2012

Nowotny: „Bank Aids Rescue Economy“

The governor of the Austrian Central Bank OeNB underlines the necessity of the bail-out of Spanish banks.

June 23, 2012

New IV´s President Dissatisfied with Political System

The corruption scandals oft he past would damage Austria´s reputation as business location, Georg Kapsch thinks.

June 23, 2012