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

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

Hypo Group Sold AluFlexPack to MTC

After months of negotiations, the Austrian nationalized bank sold the Croatian aluminum company to the Switzerland-based Montana Tech Components.

November 30, 2012

Austrian Gold Stored in UK

80% of Austria´s gold reserves are stored in the U.K. Only 17% of the reserves are kept in Austria.

November 24, 2012

New Record Results for Montana Tech Components

The Switzerland-based industrial group Montana Tech Components AG (MTC-Group) recorded an increase in turnover by 10%. EBITDA was up by 33%.

November 23, 2012

Conference on European Economic Integration

Bank of Finland and Oesterreichische Nationalbank to organise a Conference on European Economic Integration in Helsinki.

November 23, 2012

Treichl: Austria Should Cooperate with CEE Countries

Erste Group´s CEO Andreas Treichl thinks that CEE countries and Austria should create a model region in Europe like the Scandinavian countries did.

November 16, 2012

Borealis to Acquire Dutch DEXPlastomers

The Austrian chemical group expands into the Netherlands.

November 12, 2012

RHI Opens Largest Raw Material Fusion Plant

Largest on-shore investment in Norway. Independence from Asian imports strengthened.

November 9, 2012

Palfinger Takes Over Norwegian Bergen Group Dreggen

The Austrian crane manufacturer today announced that it has agreed to take over Bergen Group Dreggen AS, a Norwegian producer of marine and offshore cranes and lifting equipment.

October 30, 2012

OMV Signs Major Oil Acquisition in Norway

“A further important move to establish Norway as core country in OMV’s Exploration and Production portfolio”: The Austrian oil group acquires a 20% stake in the Edvard Grieg oil field development from RWE.

October 16, 2012

Poland´s Komorowski: “Strong Swiss Franc Causes Problems”

On the occasion of a visit in Switzerland, the Polish President Bronislav Komorowski explained that the strong Swiss franc is a problem for both countries.

October 5, 2012

Tax Deal with Switzerland: No Referendum

The opponents of the treaty between Austria and Switzerland could not collect enough votes. About 47,500 signatures could be collected.

October 2, 2012