Western Balkan Countries in Austria | Bilateral Relations

Austria and the Western Balkans as a Region (Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia). See also each country individually.

Emerging Markets Face Decrease in Risk Appetite

Foreign investors become more and more cautious about investing in emerging markets. Regions like Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe are highly dependent on foreign sentiments.

December 14, 2013

Austrian Banking Industry Depends on Russia and Czech Republic

For the Austrian banking sector, the CESEE region is highly heterogeneous. In the first six months of 2013, net earnings totaled € 1.4bn in the region.

December 12, 2013

Austrian Banking Sector: € 35bn NPL

Due to the gloomy economic situation in CESEE and the stagnating domestic economy, Austrian banks suffer from growing non-performing loans.

December 9, 2013

Sale of Hypo Group: Small Number of Potential Buyers

In 2014, Hypo Group´s assets will be sold. It is not certain whether there will be a bad bank or not. Even a bankruptcy is not completely excluded.

December 7, 2013

Economic Recovery in CESEE Supported by Exports

According to the GDP data for some Central and South Eastern European countries published today, economic recovery was backed by a strong increase in export activity.

December 5, 2013

Bank of Albania Presses for Agreement with IMF

The Albanian economy from short-term adjustment toward long-term sustainable growth. Why Albania needs an agreement with the IMF.

December 4, 2013

Uniqa on Successful Growth Path in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Provisions increased by 15.2 percent in the first three quarters of the year and generated the second-highest growth rate. Moreover, the market share was extended to 12.2 percent.

December 3, 2013

Bosnia: NPLs Increasing Dramatically

Almost 15 percent of the total volume of loans in Bosnia are bad.

December 2, 2013

Sevelda: „We Are Close to the Breaking Point“

In a guest comment published by the Austrian business magazine Format, CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International Karl Sevelda refers to the high burden for Austrian banks.

November 29, 2013

„We Can Exclude a Bankruptcy of Hypo Group”

Ewald Nowotny, governor of the Austrian National Bank (OeNB) and Klaus Liebscher, head of Hypo Group´s supervisory board argue that the nationalized bank will be downsized according to plan.

November 29, 2013

CESEE: Slight Growth Acceleration, but Uncertainties Persist

The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw) has published the economic forecast for the CESEE region today. The economic performance varies substantially from country to country.

November 28, 2013

Serbia: Inflation Rate at Lowest Level in a Decade

The Western Balkan country is expected to reach the lowest inflation rate in ten years.

November 25, 2013

Wide Parts of CESEE Region Below Pre-Crisis Level

In terms of economic output, a large number of CESEE countries have not reached the level of 2008 yet. The growth outlook remains cautious.

November 25, 2013

Albania: Governor Calls For Measures for Balanced Financial System

Financial institutes in Albania are struggling with a weak demand in credits as the country has been affected by the economic and financial crisis.

November 20, 2013

Western Balkans Struggling with NPL

The high percentage of non-performing loans in the Western Balkan region is affecting the financial stability of the region’s countries.

November 11, 2013

CESEE: Growth Remains Below Potential

Today, the EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development) has published its economic outlook for the CESEE region. The reform pressure is growing, Anthony Willams at EBRD wrote.

November 11, 2013

UniCredit: Net Income Driven By CESEE

Italian UniCredit Group´s quarterly net income was down by 40%. Losses in Italy could be more than offset by the results in Poland and Bank Austria´s contributions.

November 11, 2013

Macedonia: Foreign Currency Lending Massively Up

Parents of Macedonian banks have only very limited influence on their subsidiaries, the EBRD reports.

November 9, 2013

Albania: Domestic Banks Struggling to Keep Up

According to a report by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Albanian financial sector is dominated by foreign banks. Domestic banks are struggling to keep up with the internationally operating competition.

November 8, 2013

Serbia: Only Minor Growth Expected

In 2014 the Western Balkan state is expected to achieve only an insignificant economic growth rate.

November 6, 2013

Banking Sector Reduces Lending

Instead of offering loans to the corporate sector, banks tend to invest in sovereign bonds. The CESEE region is particularly affected by this.

November 6, 2013

CESEE Region: Booming Exports Prevent Recession

The underlying reason for the improving economic sentiment in the CESEE region is the expanding industrial sector. However, the region remains vulnerable to foreign trade and foreign investments.

November 5, 2013

Serbia: FDI as Driver for Economy

Further decline in FDI could affect economic growth in the Western Balkan state. The Serbian government announced to push forward with amendmends to improve business environment and boost economic growth.

November 4, 2013

Boost for Municipal Infrastructure in the Western Balkans

EBRD and KfW launch new €100 million fund

November 4, 2013

Visegrad Countries Encourage Western Balkans to Join EU

Representatives from Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary support the EU accession of Western Balkan countries.

October 31, 2013

Lopatka: EU Enlargement Process of Western Balkans Decisive for Austria

“Non-Enlargement” of Western Balkan states would be fatal for Austrian businesses operating in the region and the national economy.

October 31, 2013

World Bank: Croatia Showing Progress

Despite notable progress the country slipped back to beigt 89th out of 185 countries in the ranking “Doing Business” by the World Bank.

October 31, 2013

Slovenia on Top of Prosperous Countries in Emerging Europe

Slovenia is leading the list of prosperous countries in Emerging Europe. Bulgaria is on the last position.

October 30, 2013

Greek Banks Want to Leave Western Balkans

According to “Kathimerini”, the exit of Greek banks froms the Western Balkan region is a difficult undertaking.

October 29, 2013

Serbia: Privredna Banka to Face Bankruptcy Proceedings

National Bank of Serbia annuls the operating license from Privredna banka. Bankruptcy proceedings are ahead.

October 29, 2013

CESEE: „The Growth Model Was not Sustainable“

Franz Seiringer, economist at EBRD, underlines that the CESEE countries are on the right track. The region is working on a new growth model, he told “Wirtschaftsblatt”.

October 29, 2013

Albania Fighting NPLs

The Bank of Albania discusses introducing a policy for reducing non-performing loans and enhance lending.

October 28, 2013

Southeastern Europe Initiates Common Economic Strategy

In Croatia´s capital Zagreb, the Southeast European countries agreed on putting more common effort into innovation based growth strategies.

October 26, 2013

Hypo Group: Worst Expectations May be Exceeded

For the Austrian state, the ailing nationalized banking group may become a financial GSA. The legal dispute with the former owner BayernLB bears enormous dangers for Austria´s public finance.

October 25, 2013

Albania: World Bank Satisfied with Progress

Piero Cipollone, Executive Director of the World Bank Group visited Albania from October 21-22, 2013. In his role as Executive Director, he represents Albania’s interests as a shareholder on the World Bank’s Board.

October 25, 2013

“We Need to Pull Down the Iron Curtain in Our Heads“

In an interview with Austrian daily “WirtschaftsBlatt“ Johannes Seiringer, Director of the Austrian office of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) calls for incentives for enterprises to continue investing in CEE.

October 24, 2013

Serbia Wants to Become Full EU Member Asap

The Western Balkan is serious in building a relationship with the European Union.

October 23, 2013

Southeastern Europe: Dramatic Labor Market Conditions

In Southeastern Europe, the labor market conditions are similarly bad as in Southern Europe. Above all, youth unemployment is extremely high.

October 22, 2013

Uniqa to Aquire Western Balkan Insurance Companies

Listed insurance company Uniqa will take over Croatian and Serbian affiliates of Swiss insurance group Baloise (Basler) to strengthen its market position in the Western Balkan states.

October 22, 2013

Serbia Cuts Interest Rate

The executive board of the Serbian National Bank decided to lower the key policy rate by half a percentage point, to 10.5 percent.

October 21, 2013

Hypo Group Reigned by Greed and Criminal Activities

In an interview with Austrian daily “Standard“ forensic expert of nationlized Hypo Group Christian Böhler revealed that former managers of the bank enriched themselves personally.

October 21, 2013

“Problems in the CESEE Region Are Mainly Fundamental”

In an interview with Gazeta Wyborcza, Reza Moghadam, director of the IMF´s European Department, says that the weakness of the CESEE region is not only cyclical.

October 18, 2013

IMF Warns of Financial Instability in CESEE

Due to the high non-performing loan quota and the deleveraging of Western banks, the countries of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe are still far from financial stability.

October 18, 2013

Serbia: EU Candidacy to Accelerate Reforms

On the occasion of a meeting with head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Serbia´s Prime Minister Ivica Dacic expressed his willingness to deepen the reform process.

October 17, 2013

EU Enlargement: Commission Recommends to Take Up Albania and Macedonia

In a set of annual reports adopted, the European Commission recommends granting EU candidate status to Albania and for the fifth time in a row, the opening of accession negotiations with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

October 17, 2013

Bulgaria Supports Trans Adriatic Pipeline

During yesterday’s world media meeting, on behalf of his country Bulgarian President Rosen Plevniev expressed his support of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline project (TAP).

October 16, 2013

Austrians Opposed to EU Enlargement

According to a survey, the majority of Austrians are opposed to an EU Accession of Turkey and Western Balkan States.

October 16, 2013

Albania: Economic Growth below Potential

Structural reforms are needed to boost productivity and competitiveness and avoid weaknesses, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

October 15, 2013

Austria: Purchasing Power Grows Slightly

According to a study published by RegioData Research, Austria could improve its level of purchasing power in the years from 2008 to 2012.

October 15, 2013

Experts Urge Serbia to Accelerate Austerity Measures

It is still questionable whether the austerity measures announced by the Serbian government are sufficient.

October 15, 2013