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Western European Expats in Vienna, Austria | Bilateral Relations
Austria and Western European countries - Read the latest headlines about bilateral relations in the areas of economy, diplomacy and culture


Slovenia: FDI to Remain Low in 2014

No improvement in increasing foreign direct investments in Slovenia is expected this year. The country has one of the smallest shares in inward FDI among EU member countries.
January 2, 2014


Austria: High Tax Country

According to the new tax report of PrinceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the tax burden in Austria is ten percent higher than the average tax rate in the European Union and even beats Sweden.
November 19, 2013


Industrial Sector: Growth Painfully Slow

According to a survey by research institute Markit, industrial production in the Eurozone increased in October for the fourth time in a row. However, the rate of growth is still low.
November 4, 2013


Boost for Municipal Infrastructure in the Western Balkans

EBRD and KfW launch new €100 million fund
November 4, 2013


World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2014

Davos-Klosters, Switzerland 22-25 January. The Reshaping of the World: Consequences for Society, Politics and Business
October 29, 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


Austria Placed 9th in Competition Ranking

According to the latest EU Competition report 2013, Austria ranks ninth among 28 member states. The leaders in the ranking are Sweden, followed by Germany and Denmark while Bulgaria, Latvia and Romania are at the lowest positions.
September 25, 2013


Porr Lands Ikea Contract in Poland

The Austrian construction company Porr has landed two contracs in North Poland for a total volume of € 150m.
September 24, 2013


WKO: Austrian Enterprises Miss out on Potential in Turkey

According to a commercial councelor at the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) in Istanbul, Austria is focused too much on Eastern Europe. Switzerland exports triple the amount to Turkey.
September 19, 2013


Austria: WKO Demands Impulses for R&D

Deputy President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO), Martha Schultz, demands new impluses for research and innovation in the years from 2014 to 2020.
September 19, 2013


Wifo: Economy Remains Competitive Despite High Wages

Head of Wifo (Austrian Institute for Economic Research), Karl Aiginger, calls for a change of views in economic policy as competitiveness is more than just low costs.
September 18, 2013


Strabag Lands Major Order in Sweden

Strabag developing and building infrastructure highlight Orgelpipan 6 at Stockholm's Citybanan commuter station.
September 16, 2013


Austria Requires More Risk Capital

On an international level, the risk capital investments in domestic enterprises are low at only 0.04 percent of GDP.
September 12, 2013


OMV: Oil Discovery in Northern Europe

Austrian Energy Enterprise OMV has discovered significant amounts of oil in the Barents Sea. Around 200m to 500m barrel are estimated to be exploitable.
September 6, 2013


Kapsch: Enormous Problems at Austrian Business Location

President of Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) Georg Kapsch confirms the criticism voiced by President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) Christoph Leitl and several other politicians by the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP).
August 28, 2013


OMV: Biggest Additional Purchase in Company’s History

OMV invests billions in a participation in the North Sea: The Austrian energy company acquires stakes of Norwegian enterprise Statoil in oil and gas fields in the North Sea for around € 2bn.
August 19, 2013


Austria: Alpine-Energie to be Taken Over by Triton

Former affiliate of construction company Alpine Bau Alpine-Energie, which is based in Linz and was temporarily “parked” with a special company, has a new owner.
August 13, 2013


Austria: First Tax Tranche from Switzerland Transferred

The first tranche of the tax agreement between Austria and Switzerland in the amount of € 416.7m was transferred. Fekter considers it “a great success for Austria and the taxpayers”.
July 25, 2013


OMV: Problems in Libya Slow Down Production

The total production of OMV in the second quarter of 2013 has decreased compared to the same period of time in the previous year and the first quarter of the current year.
July 24, 2013


OMV Continues Expansion in Norway

OMV has been awarded six additional offshore exploration licenses in Norway, acting as operator for two of them.
July 5, 2013


Borealis to Invest EUR 65 Million in Porvoo Borstar PE Plant

Borealis, a leading provider of innovative solutions in the fields of polyolefins, base chemicals and fertilizers, has announced a major upgrading project at its production site in Porvoo, Finland.
June 28, 2013


Leitl: „Austrian Enterprises Need Further Growth Impulses“

The Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) commits to budget consolidation but growth is the basis for a balanced state budget.
June 27, 2013


Polish Road Authority As Tardy Payer

Prime Minister Tusk seems unimpressed about ambassadors from six countries filing a complaint.
June 19, 2013


Bankruptcy Case Mayr-Melnhof in Switzerland

In Domat/Ems, Switzerland’s biggest sawmill was supposed to be operated. The only thing left now, however, is a financial hole running in the millions. Erste Group is concerned by losses as well.
June 17, 2013


Mayer-Melnhof Expands to Norway

MM Karton expands raw material supply for cartonboard production.
June 11, 2013


Major Contract for Andritz in Switzerland

Andritz to modernize Innertkirchen 1 and Handeck 2 hydropower stations, Switzerland
June 11, 2013


WKO Export Day in Vienna

On June 20, the Export Day (Exporttag) of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) will take place in Vienna. Economic delegates from all over the world will be present.
June 8, 2013


WIIW: FDI in CESEE to Decline

The Vienna Institute for Economic Studies (WIIW) forecasts a decrease of 20 percent in foreign direct investments.
June 7, 2013


Czech Republic: Dumping Offers for Building of Highway

Major construction companies screw down prices for the building of a highway segment from Linz to Prague.
June 3, 2013


Leitl: „There Is No More Time To Waste“

Switzerland and Sweden pull away from the rest of the European countries in regard to international competitiveness, according to the latest IMD report, while Austria has been falling behind.
May 31, 2013


World Competitive Ranking: Austria Loses 7 Ranks

The World Competitive Ranking of Lausanne IMD Private School of Economics has become one of the most significant location comparisons on an international basis in the last 25 years.
May 29, 2013


Banking Secret until 2015 in European Union

The banking secret for tax foreigners in the European Union could finally be completely aborted by 2015. There is an ambiguity about Luxembourg’s position in advance to the EU mini-summit over the extended EU Savings Directive (EUSD).
May 22, 2013


World Economic Forum on East Asia 2013

Courageous transformation for inclusion and integration. Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, 5-7 June 2013.
May 21, 2013


Austrian Bank Secret: Faymann Vs. Fekter

Austria‘s agreement to an automatic exchange of data has become a personal match between Chancellor Faymann and Finance Minister Fekter.
May 13, 2013


Austria: Haselsteiner to Increase Share at Westbahn

Hans Peter Haselsteiner, CEO of Strabag, is going to increase his stake in Westbahn to 47 %, the railway company, which is in majority privately held and main competition for Austrian Railways (ÖBB).
April 23, 2013


Montana Tech Components: Record Results Again in 2012

The industrial group Montana Tech Components AG could once again surpass the year 2011 and completed the financial year 2012 with new record levels in sales and earnings. This course of growth is set to continue in 2013.
April 19, 2013


Austria: How to Finance Future Innovations

„Austria’s Future Needs Innovation” was the title of a discussion organized by the Research Council, the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT) and the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV).
April 9, 2013


Gazprom to Be Joined By Shell

Russian energy giant Gazprom and British-Dutch oil producer Shell announced cooperation.
April 9, 2013


EU’s Austerity Cuts Adverse to Health

EU’s austerity measures negatively affect citizen’s health, is the result of a health study carried out by “The Lancet”. The Commission was supposed to examine the political effects.
March 27, 2013


Austria Showing Less Reforming Zeal

According to the so-called „D-A-CH-Reformbarometer“, a study which was commissioned by the Chamber of Commerce, Austria’s will to reform has diminished.
March 20, 2013


Future of the EU Requires Solidarity And Integration

The EU has declared the year 2013 to be the “year of citizens”. The citizens of the EU should become aware of their European identity and their rights that come along with it.
March 15, 2013


Meeting of German-speaking Finance Ministers in Berlin

On Wednesday, 13 March 2013, German Finance Minister Dr Wolfgang Schäuble welcomed the German-speaking Finance Ministers of Europe to talks in Berlin. The talks focused on current finance and fiscal policy issues.
March 15, 2013


Andritz Lands Major Contract With Mondi

Andritz to support Mondi’s program for energy optimization and environmental protection with supply of state of the art plants and technologies
March 12, 2013


Lithuania: Exports Decreased by 7.6 % in January

Foreign trade in January 2013 decreased. Major losses in Agricultural sector.
March 8, 2013


Bulgaria/Romania: Schengen-Entry Postponed

The two countries will not become part of the Schengen-zone in 2013. EU interior ministers meet to discuss problem of “social tourism”.
March 7, 2013


Tax Deal with Liechtenstein: Austria Expects Substantial Tax Intake

Austria and its small neighbor country Liechtenstein will sign a tax deal. The treaty between Switzerland and Austria is a role model.
January 24, 2013


Hungary Wants Tax Treaty with Switzerland, Germany and Austria

Hungary tries to levy a lump sum tax on deposits of Hungarian nationals in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, the UK and Cyprus.
January 17, 2013


Heineken Shuts Down Viennese Headquarters

The Dutch beer producer shifts its CEE-headquarters from Vienna to Amsterdam.
January 14, 2013


OMV: Final Investment Decision for Aasta Hansteen Gas Field

World’s largest floating spar platform in the Northern Norwegian Sea: Final investment decision taken to develop the promising Aasta Hansteen gas field including new pipeline infrastructure.
January 9, 2013


Switzerland Ratifies Tax Treaty with Austria

Switzerland has approved the tax deal with Austria and the UK. The treaty will come into force by January 2013.
December 20, 2012