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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.
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
Serbia’s Participation in South Stream Not at Risk
According to Petar Skundic, Serbian energy advisor to the Prime Minister, the gas pipeline project is not imperiled by the government’s austerity measures.
October 14, 2013
Serbia: FX Reserves Shrink
NBS FX reserves amounted to EUR 10,444.5 million at end-September, covering M1 by 333 percent and more than seven months of imports of goods and services. Inflation remains stable.
October 11, 2013
Erste Observes SEE Region Intensively
Vienna-listed Erste Group, which is the third-biggest lender in the CESEE region, wants to expand into Southeastern Europe.
October 11, 2013
Telekom Austria: No Expansion into Serbia
For Telekom Austria, the entry in Serbia fails for the second time. The Austrian telecommunication group will not submit an offer for Serbia Broadband (SBB).
October 10, 2013
Southeastern Europe: Property Market Clashes
Since mid-2012, the property market in Southeastern Europe shrinks drastically. In Croatia, house prices fell by 20%.
October 10, 2013
IMF: Serbia´s Reforms are Not Sufficient
On the occasion of a visit in Serbia, the IMF commented the efforts of the Serbian government to cut the budget gap. The austerity cuts are right, but the country needs further reforms, IMF´s team said.
October 10, 2013
Serbia Fights Against National Bankruptcy
The Serbian government has decided to implement a new austerity package. Above all, civil servants face substantial salary cuts.
October 9, 2013
FriedlResearch has Published the Q3-2013 Company Report of Erste Group Bank AG
This report contains in depth information and data about Erste Group and its operations and markets. It contains a company overview, business and strategy description, financial ratios, valuation & forecast data, SWOT analysis, plus data on key events.
October 8, 2013
Serbia Gets Support by Former Italian Foreign Minister
On its path to EU integration, Serbia gets further well-known support.
October 8, 2013
Latest Edition of the SWOT Report of Raiffeisen Bank International has been Published
FriedlResearch has announced the publication of the latest edition of the "Raiffeisen Bank International AG - SWOT Analysis & Company Report". This report contains in depth information and data about RBI and its operations and markets.
October 8, 2013
Serbia: IMF as Last Exit
After unsuccessful negotiations in spring, Serbia is forced to ask the IMF for financial support. The fiscal policy is not the only weak point of the Balkan country.
October 8, 2013
UK: Growth Potential in CESEE
According to the IMF, the UK economy is not diversified sufficiently. Now, UK promotes exports to the CESEE region.
October 5, 2013
CESEE: Recovery Slow, but Stable
Corporate sentiment improving in major CEE countries as well, as the economic recovery begins to take root. Low point in interest rates has essentially been reached, rises in yields to follow trends in the developed markets, RZB says.
October 4, 2013
World Bank Supports Financial Reporting in CESEE
The World Bank launched a new program to strengthen corporate financial reporting in the countries of the EU’s Eastern Partnership.
October 3, 2013
Pecik to Buy Hypo Group´s SEE-Affiliates?
The Austrian investor Ronny Pecik is said to be interested in acquiring the Southeast European subsidiaries of nationalized Hypo Group.
October 2, 2013
New Economic Strategy for SEE
On Tuesday, economic experts held a meeting in the Albanian capital Tirana to examine a draft strategy for development and employment in the SEE region until the year 2020.
October 2, 2013
IMF Watches Serbia Carefully
Serbia still considers entering a loan agreement with the IMF. First talks were initiated this week.
October 1, 2013
Serbia: Minor Growth of GDP
Serbia's real GDP growth in second quarter of year stands at 0.2%
October 1, 2013
Serbia’s EU Accession Talks to Start in January 2014
Talks on Serbia's EU accession to start no later than January.
October 1, 2013
