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

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

Stable Outlook for Austrian Industrial Sector

Austrian industrial enterprises expect production, order intake and employment tob e stable in the second half of 2012. The uncertainty remains.

July 11, 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

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

Immofinanz Expands into Netherlands

With the acquisition of a property in the Dutch city of Den Bosch during mid-June, the Austrian real estate Group has further expanded its self-storage portfolio.

June 26, 2012

Fekter Promotes Financial Transaction Tax

There was no agreement on a common financial transaction tax in all EU member states. Austria´s Finance Minister Fekter wants to introduce the tax in a group of countries instead.

June 23, 2012

Green Party: ESM Approval Depends on Financial Transaction Tax

The Austrian Green party will only vote for the ESM if there is a basic consent for the financial transaction tax.

June 22, 2012

„Austria Must Not Become Mediocre“

The Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) and the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) call for an acceleration of reforms as the Austrian position in competitive rankings deteriorates.

June 18, 2012

Euris Interested in Croatian TLM-TVP

The Austrian aluminum trader Euris shows interest in the Croatian aluminum rolling mill. Austrian Hypo Group is the seller, the Swiss Montana Tech Components is still a potential buyer.

June 18, 2012

Tax Treaty with Switzerland Finally Confirmed

The second chamber oft he Swiss Parliament approved the tax deal with Austria, Germany and the U.K.

June 16, 2012

Montana Tech Components Achieves Record Results

The Swiss-based MTC Group could reach a new record in revenues and earnings.

June 16, 2012

Austrian Foreign Currency Loan Level Declining

FMA Q1 2012 Quarterly Survey on Changes in Foreign Currency Loans: Volume of outstanding FX loans continues long-term fall.

June 13, 2012

Austria Stresses Balance Between Growth and Austerity

At the negotiations on the EU financial plan 2014 – 2020 in Denmark, Austria proposes to establish a growth fund accessible to SMEs.

June 13, 2012

Andritz Biomass Plant Opened in Sweden

The operation of Andritz' third biomass power plant in Sweden has been successfully transferred to its owner, Bollnäs Energi, during a celebration on 25 May 2012.

June 6, 2012

Slow Growth in Austrian Foreign Trade

January to March 2012: small increase in imports (2.3%) and exports (2.8%).

June 6, 2012

Austrian Furniture Industry Increases its Exports

In 2011, the total production of the Austrian furniture industry decreased by 3.3 percent to close to € 2.3bn according to the latest figures.

June 6, 2012

Alpine: Major Contract in Norway

The Austrian construction company gained another contract in Norway. The contract value amounts to € 170m.

May 31, 2012

The Euro - A Big Error (Part 4)

The common currency did not create convergence, but widened the gap between Northern and Southern Eurozone member states.

May 31, 2012

Switzerland Ratifies Tax Treaty with Austria

The Swiss National Council approved the tax deal with Austria. Illegal funds of Austrian nationals in Switzerland will be taxed.

May 30, 2012

Switzerland: Resistance Against Tax Deal with Austria

Swiss parties are against the tax agreement with Austria. The social democrats and the Swiss People´s Party oppose the plan.

May 29, 2012

AUA: 250 Aircrew Member Leave

Until now, 80 pilots and 170 flight attendants decided to leave Austrian Airlines. The deadline runs until the end of May.

May 25, 2012

New Records for Austrian Tourism

Winter season 2011/12: with 64.3 million overnights still at a high level; new record of 16.4 million arrivals.

May 24, 2012

Black Labor Decreases

In Austria, the share of black labor is still big. However, there is a downward trend.

May 22, 2012

Slim to Enter Telekom Austria?

The Mexican investor Carlos Slim, who is currently the world´s richest man, is said to acquire stakes in Telekom Austria.

May 18, 2012

Strong Increase in Austrian FDI

Only in 2007, Austrian investors made more investments abroad. Last year, FDI totaled € 22bn.

May 14, 2012

Major Orders for Sandvik Austria

The Austrian subsidiary of the Swedish plant construction group achieved two major orders in Brazil and Laos.

May 11, 2012

ÖIAG Seeks For Partner Against Pecik

The Austrian Industrial Holding ÖIAG, which is still the largest shareholder of Telekom Austria, wants to gain a strategic investor.

May 5, 2012

Common Energy Strategy for Germany, Austria and Switzerland

After the German nuclear exit, Switzerland and Austria should act as “green battery”.

May 2, 2012

ESM: The Final Ruin of Europe

Solidarity with financially stricken EU countries cannot justify the irrevocable loss of national sovereignty. The transfer union will only work until the financial collapse of Germany and Austria.

May 2, 2012

AMAG Sale Completed

The last tranche in the Austrian aluminum producer AMAG was sold by CP Group/One Equity Partners to the Austrian B&C Industrieholding AG.

April 25, 2012

Former GDR Funds: Bank Austria Has to Pay € 245m

Bank Austria lost a Zurich retrial over German demands for repayment of more than € 245m linked to the former East German Communist Party.

April 21, 2012

Austrian Opposition Increase Criticism on Swiss Tax Deal

For FPÖ, the tax deal with Switzerland is a “gift for tax evaders”. The Green Party sees support for tax fraud.

April 18, 2012

Tax Deal Fiercely Criticized

Last week, Austria concluded a tax treaty with Switzerland. For experts, the deal does not solve the main problems.

April 16, 2012

Austria and Switzerland Signed Tax Treaty

Austria´s Finance Minister Fekter signed the tax treaty with her Swiss colleague Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf. In 2013, additional tax intake of € 1.0bn is expected.

April 14, 2012

Swiss-Austrian Tax Treaty to be Signed

The tax treaty between Austria and Switzerland will be signed tomorrow on Friday. The tax rate is set at 38%.

April 12, 2012

Tax Treaty with Switzerland Close to be Finished

Austria aims for reach a tax agreement with Switzerland in order to tax illegal funds deposited by Austrian nationals at Swiss banks. An agreement seems to be within reach.

April 11, 2012

„AUA Must Achieve Turnaround on its own“

Christoph Franz, CEO of Lufthansa explains that the Austrian subsidiary will act independently also in future. Also the restructuring must be completed without Lufthansa´s help.

April 7, 2012

Swiss Tax Treaty: Austria Under Pressure

The Austrian Minister of Finance is optimistic to conclude the Swiss tax deal by 2013. Proceeds of € 1.0bn are expected.

March 28, 2012

Norway Is one of Austria´s Most Important Wine Market

Austria's wine sector set a new export record at € 126m (an increase of 2.6% over the previous year) in 2011.

March 28, 2012

Strabag Expands in Switzerland

The Swiss subsidiary of Austrian Strabag enters into strategic partnership with BH-Holding AG in Zurich and Zug.

March 22, 2012

Denmark: Alpine Participates in Major Tender

New Railway Line in Copenhagen: Invitation to tender for Austrian company Alpine Bau GmbH.

March 20, 2012

Telekom Austria: Pecik Denies Sales Talks

The Austrian investor Ronny Pecik is said to have had sales talks with China Mobile. Pecik reaffirms to remain at Telekom Austria as “long-term investor”.

March 19, 2012

New Record in Swedish-Austrian Bilateral Trade Volume

Austrian exports to Sweden reached a new record level in 2011. Moreover, the first surplus could be registered.

March 17, 2012

Tax Agreement with Switzerland May Be Postponed

The plans of the Austrian government to conclude a tax agreement with Switzerland soon is unlikely. For the budget, this could cause a loss of revenues.

March 17, 2012

Unemployment of Older Aged Workers Increases Disproportionately

The Austrian labor market registers a rise both in employment and unemployment of persons aged beyond 50. Especially unemployment of male persons aged beyond 50 rises dramatically.

March 17, 2012

Pecik Aims to Become Telekom´s Biggest Shareholder

The second-largest shareholder of Telekom Austria, the investor Ronny Pecik, wants to enlarge his stake further in order to initiate a restructuring.

March 17, 2012

Japanese NTT to Enter Telekom?

Telekom Austria will get a new partner. Newest rumors say that NTT could buy Pecik´s stake. Norwegian Telenor is still interested.

March 16, 2012

Downsizing of Nabucco Plans

The companies behind the proposed 3,900km Nabucco pipeline that would carry natural gas from the Caspian region to Europe have pitched a slimmed-down version of the project.

March 16, 2012

Pecik Content to Hold Telekom Stake

The shareholder at Telekom Austria will not sell his stake in the near future. Norwegian Telenor is said to be interested in entering Telekom Austria.

March 15, 2012