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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´s National Bank Fights Against Inflation
Today, the Serbian National Bank raised the base rate from 10.50% to 10.75%. IMF has lowered the economic outlook for Serbia.
October 9, 2012
"Serbia can count on Austria to be its partner"
The Austrian State Secretary encourages Serbia to embark on pro-European course.
October 5, 2012
CEE Countries Must Work Upon Economic Convergence
CEE countries are struggling with weaker external demand and uncertain consumers, whereas in most cases fiscal policy is under control. Labour productivity, costs and competitiveness of CEE region give reason for optimism.
October 5, 2012
EU as „Serbia´s Most Important Market“
The U.S. economist Paul Krugman thinks that Serbia´s future is the European Union. The EU is worried about the turn towards Russia.
October 4, 2012
Serbia to Grow in 2013
The Serbian economist Jurij Bajec explained that the Serbian economy will recover next year. Real GDP growth will reach 2.0%, he says.
October 1, 2012
Serbia Expects Rising Tax Intake
In order to meet demands of IMF, the Serbian Parliament approved the revised 2012 budget. The tax intake will not solve the country´s problems, economists consider.
September 29, 2012
Serbia: Bad Loans Declining Slightly
At the end of June, the share of non-performing loans came at 19.5%.
September 29, 2012
Serbian Industrial Production Still Shrinks
According to Raiffeisen Research, the crisis in the industrial sector goes on. Real wages are shrinking.
September 27, 2012
Serbia Asks China for Loan
The Serbian Minister of Finance Mladjan Dinkic asked the Chinese Exim Bank for a € 850m loan in order to realize construction projects. IMF is not satisfied with Serbia´s austerity policies yet.
September 26, 2012
Dacic: „Reforms, Attracting Investments and Starting EU Integration“
The Serbia Prime Minister Ivica Dacic underlined that the government will implement reforms in order to stop the economic crisis.
September 26, 2012
Macedonia to Stimulate Economic Growth
Due to the recession in the Eurozone, exports are shrinking. Next year, Macedonia will overcome the crisis, the local government says.
September 24, 2012
Serbia: „EU Cannot Force Us to Recognize Kosovo´s Independence“
The Serbian Prime Minister is ready to continue talks with Kosovo at a higher political level. For the EU, a recognition of Kosovo´s indepence is the precondition for Serbia´s EU accession.
September 22, 2012
Serbia to Privatize Publicly Held Companies
In order to reduce the budget deficit, the Serbian Minister of Finance Mladjan Dinkic plans to sell a part of the state-owned companies.
September 22, 2012
Serbian EU Approach Endangered
The Serbian government rejects making concessions to Kosovo. The EU accession may be damaged, however.
September 19, 2012
EVN and Verbund Open the Ashta Hydropower Plant in Albania
The project company “Energji Ashta“ and its owners EVN and Verbund are opening the first section of the Ashta hydropower plant (Ashta I) on the Drin River in Northern Albania.
September 18, 2012
Vienna Insurance Group Becomes Market Leader in Macedonia
After the acquisition of QBE Makedonija, Vienna Insurance Group ranks first in the Macedonian insurance market.
September 17, 2012
INA Underlines Interest in OMV´s Petrol Stations
The Croatian oil group wants to take over the petrol station business of Austrian OMV in Croatia and Bosnia.
September 12, 2012
“A new chapter begins for Kosovo”
Austrian Vice-Chancellor Michael Spindelegger underlined the success of the Ahtisaari UN Office in Pristina .
September 12, 2012
Serbia Lifts VAT Rate
In order to prevent the national bankruptcy, the Serbian government raises the VAT by two percentage points.
September 11, 2012
RWE Agrees to Strategic Collaboration with Serbian Energy Utility EPS
The German energy group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding on further development of energy generation in Serbia. The focus will be on laid on hydropower.
September 11, 2012
Temporary Surplus in Serbia´s Budget
Due to the VAT intake, Serbia faced a budget surplus in July. In June, Serbia recorded a massive deficit.
September 8, 2012
Serbia: Exports Decline, Foreign Deficit Goes Up
According to RCB (Raiffeisen Centrobank), the draught in Serbia is likely to reduce the corn yield exports volumes. The trade deficit rose by 13.6% in June.
September 8, 2012
Serbian Industrial Production Declines
In June, Serbia´s industrial production fell by 4.0% against 2011. The outlook is not promising, RCB says.
September 7, 2012
Takeover of OMV´s Petrol Stations: INA Faces Legal Restrictions
The Austrian OMV Group plans to withdraw from Croatia and Bosnia. The Croatian subsidiary of MOL is interest in OMV´s petrol stations, but may face legal restrictions from a competition law point of view.
September 7, 2012
Serbia´s Current Account Deficit on the Rise
According to RCB (Raiffeisen Centrobank), the current account gap widened in June by 15.6% mom supported by remittances fall (-32.0% mom),
September 7, 2012
Croatian INA Submits Offer to OMV
Austrian OMV sells its petrol station business in Croatia and Bosnia. The Croatian subsidiary of Hungarian MOL has submitted a binding offer.
September 5, 2012
Hypo Group Reduced Capital at Croatian Subsidiary
The Austrian nationalized bank cut the stock capital of the Croatian subsidiary by € 100m.
September 3, 2012
Croatian Crisis Aggravates
For Croatia, the end of the severe recession is not foreseeable. Croatia´s real economy is hit hard, the financial sector suffers from bad loans.
August 31, 2012
Serbian Government Tries Act of Liberation
Serbia´s economy weakens, the outlook is negative. Even a bankruptcy is not excluded anymore.
August 29, 2012
Croatian Labor Market Crisis Deteriorates
Not only the unemployment rate is increasing. Croatia has the third-highest youth unemployment rate in Europe.
August 29, 2012
Croatia Said to Become Part of South Stream Pipeline
Good news for Croatia: Gazprom and Plinacro are said to have agreed on a natural gas pipeline across Croatia. The pipeline may enhance employment and reduce natural gas costs.
August 27, 2012
Serbians Push Government for Reforms
The support for an EU membership has fallen below 50%. However, more Serbians call for economic and social reforms.
August 27, 2012
Serbia: Rise in Poverty Expected
The economic crisis in Serbia sharpens. Millions of households are not able to repay their debts.
August 25, 2012
Economic Crisis: Croatians are Pessimistic
According to the Croatian website politika plus, 84% of the Croatians believe that the current economic crisis will sharpen further.
August 24, 2012
Croatian Unemployment Rate Reaches 17.5%
In July 2012, the Croatian unemployment rate was up by 0.2 percentage points to 17.5%.
August 23, 2012
Croatia: Non-Performing Loans on the Rise
Almost one out of seven loans is classified as “non-performing.” A further aggravation is rather likely.
August 22, 2012
EBRD Grants Major Loan to Macedonia
Macedonia was granted € 46.4m by EBRD for construction of the railroad to Bulgaria.
August 22, 2012
New Property Tax in Croatia
Slavko Linic, Finance Minister of Croatia, confirmed that Croatia will introduce a property tax in 2013. There would be no need for an IMF loan, Linic argues.
August 21, 2012
Dispute Over Hypo Group
Despite the relatively good results, the nationalized bank needs further capital injections. What is more, the capital shortfall at Hypo Group is highly controversial.
August 16, 2012
Croatian Banks Record Lower Profits
In the first six months of 2012, the net income generated by Croatian banks was down by 19%. The Croatian economy is expected to shrink this year.
August 16, 2012
Demerger at Hypo Group Resolved
In order to become re-sold, the Austrian subsidiary of Hypo Group shifts risky assets to the holding company.
August 14, 2012
Hypo Alpe-Adria-Bank in the Red Again
Today, the nationalized bank announced its half yearly result for 2012. Net Results reached € 10m.
August 13, 2012
Hypo Alpe Adria Divests TLM-TVP in Croatia
The nationalized Austrian bank successfully has sold the aluminum hot-rolling mill TLM-TVP d.o.o. in Croatia to the Vienna-based Euris.
August 13, 2012
OMV to Focus on Gas Business
The Austrian oil and gas company intends to exploit natural gas in proximity to Europe. The Black Sea and the North Sea are the strategically most important areas.
August 8, 2012
Serbia: Struggle for Central Bank Sharpens
After the resignation of governor Dejan Soskic, the EU warns Serbia of abolishing the independence of the Serbian Central Bank.
August 6, 2012
Budget Crisis: Serbia to Reduce Foreign Exchange Reserves
In order to mend Serbia´s budget hole, the government plans to amend the Central Bank law.
August 2, 2012
Croatian Bridge Construction Project: Strabag Withdraws
The biggest Austrian construction group withdraws from the € 20m contract.
July 27, 2012
Poland as CESEE´s Locomotive
This year, the CESEE region should record a growth rate of 1.7%. However, the situation is highly different.
July 25, 2012
Rising Serbian Budget Deficit Causes Worries
This year, Serbia has to borrow € 4.2bn. A budget deficit of € 300m is forecasted in 2012.
July 24, 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
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