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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
Cost of Living Rankings: CEE Capitals Cheaper, Vienna is 32nd Most Expensive City
The Mercer's 2014 Cost of Living Rankings have been published and cover 211 cities across five continents. While Western European cities have all risen in the rankings mainly due to the strengthening of the Euro against the US dollar, most cities in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), however have fallen in the ranking as a result of local currencies depreciating against the US dollar. Bratislava (#84), Prague (#92), Kiev (#98), Ljubljana (#116), Zagreb (#120), Budapest (#135), Warsaw (#142), Belgrade (#184).
July 25, 2014
FDI in Austria up by EUR 25 Million
In the first half of 2014 the number of international companies setting up business operations in Austria with the assistance of ABA in cooperation with the regional investment promotion agencies climbed from 88 to 114. Total investment volume was up 15.9 % in the first half of 2014 to EUR 179.97 million from EUR 154.33 million in the prior year period.
July 11, 2014
Country Analysis: The Tax Haven of Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein has the highest gross domestic product per person in the world when adjusted by purchasing power parity. Liechtenstein is the smallest yet the richest (by measure of GDP per capita) German-speaking country and the only country to lie entirely in the Alps. Since the late 1970s it used its low corporate tax rates to draw many companies to the country becoming one of the wealthiest countries in the world.
July 1, 2014
Analysis: Telecom Liechtenstein AG
Telecom Liechtenstein AG ist eine Aktiengesellschaft liechtensteinischen Rechts mit Sitz in Vaduz. Die TLI war bisher zu 100 % im Eigentum des Fürstentums Liechtenstein. Nun hat A1 Telekom Austria (mit Mobilkom Liechtenstein) 24.9 Prozent der Anteile übernommen.
July 1, 2014
Analysis: The South Stream Gas Pipeline
Due to the signing of the South Stream agreement between OMV and Gazprom for the Austrian part of the pipeline during Putin's visit to Vienna, we take a look at the background of the project.
June 25, 2014
CEE-Initiative: Strengthening Investment Fund Business in Central- and Eastern Europe (CEE)
The Hungarian association BAMOSZ and the Austrian association VÖIG initiated a closer collaboration and tighter co-operation between fund associations in CEE, the so-called „CEE Initiative“. The member associations of the „CEE Initiative“ are (in alphabetical order): Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine.
June 16, 2014
Suspicion of Murder: Meet Former Kazakh Ambassador to Austria
Rakhat Aliyev, the former son-in-law of President Nursultan Nazarbayev, has recently been arrested in Vienna, six years after fleeing Kazakhstan following a spectacular fall-out with his father-in-law. What is his background...
June 9, 2014
Vienna: Former Kazakh Ambassador to Austria has been Arrested
Rakhat Aliyev, ex-son-in-law of Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev, has been arrested in Vienna. Aliyev, who has been convicted in absentia in Kazakhstan on charges ranging from kidnapping and embezzlement to plotting a coup against Nazarbayev, has been detained because of a murder investigation against him, which has been opened in 2011.
June 7, 2014
Austria: Western Balkans Representatives are Meeting in Vienna
The Western Balkans Conference and the Central European Initiative (CEI) Ministerial Meeting are currently discussing questions regarding the EU enlargement, the role of the EU as a peace project and the economic situation in the Western Balkans.
June 3, 2014
Switzerland: IMD Releases the World Competitiveness Yearbook Ranking 2014
The US leads, Europe recovers, and big emerging markets struggle.
May 22, 2014
Exporttag: Meet All Austrian Trade Delegates at the Export Day 2014
On June 24, 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.
May 20, 2014
Helvetia Takes Over Basler in Austria for EUR 130 Million
Helvetia takes over Basler Versicherungen in Austria for EUR 130 million, thereby becoming one of the Top 10 Austrian insurance companies.
May 16, 2014
Swiss Telecoms Services Provider TalkEasy to Enter the Austrian Market
TalkEasy aims to target the unhappy customers of Telekom Austria, which recently raised its tariffs substantially.
May 12, 2014
Hypo Group: Shady Deals with Balkan Diplomats
The Austrian problem bank Hypo Group has troubles recovering debts.
May 3, 2014
Poland: BNP Paribas Bank Polska Hopes for Higher Profits
Because of the merger with BGZ Bank BNP Paribas Bank Polska, the Polish branch of the French financial giant, expects a growth of return on equity (ROE) in the double-digit figures.
April 24, 2014
Austrians Cautiously Observant
Despite economic recovery the Austrian citizens are still cautiously observant.
April 22, 2014
Polish Insurer PZU Gains More Power in Baltic States
As announced by the Polish insurance company, PZU took over three Baltic competitors.
April 17, 2014
Austria: Hypo Group’s Investigation Committee Ready for Action
The group of foreign experts at the investigation commission for Hypo Group Alpe Adria is supposed to guarantee the required objectivity. The first results are expected to be published at the end of the year.
April 10, 2014
Austria: Fitch Warns Banks of Risk with Business in Russia
The menacing sanctions against Russia with regard to the political crisis in Crimea could become a severe danger for Austrian banks.
April 1, 2014
Final Time-Out for Austrian Bank Secret
During the EU Summit the final time-out for the Austrian bank secret for foreigners was decided. Both Austria and Luxembourg agreed to give up their banking secrets.
March 21, 2014
Austria: Reform Steps Very Modest
Austria, along with Germany and Switzerland, hardly put any economic reforms into realization. This is the conclusion of the annual “reform barometer” for the three countries.
March 20, 2014
Poland: Rabobank Polska Gives up BGZ
Dutch financial institute Rabobank wants to get rid of BGZ.
March 6, 2014
S&P: European Banking Sector Faces Worse Ratings
According to the rating agency, the public support for the European banking sector is essential in many cases. Without financial support, banks might be downgraded.
March 5, 2014
Poland: Takeover of Nordea Bank Polska Granted
PKO BP, leading bank in Poland, was given green light by the financial market regulator KNF to take over Nordea Bank Polska, as announced in a statement by KNF.
March 4, 2014
Polish PKO BP Tapping into Swedish Leasing Market
Major Polish lender PKO BP has opened a branch of its leasing unit in Sweden.
February 20, 2014
Vienna: City with Highest Quality in Life
Just like last year Vienna is on top of the list of the major cities with the highest life quality. Baghdad ranks last in the survey carried out by Mercer.
February 19, 2014
Hypo Disaster: Who Are the Beneficiaries?
International investment companies, funds and domestic banks are the major recipients of the billions of Euros in the Hypo Group disaster.
February 19, 2014
Austria Most Popular Country among Hungarians
93 percent of Hungarians feel compassion towards Austria.
February 19, 2014
Bulgaria: FDI Keeps Increasing
FDI (foreign direct investments) increased by € 1,229.4m in Bulgaria in 2013 while equity capital came at € 953.4m last year.
February 18, 2014
Spindelegger Positive about Creation of Financial Transaction Tax
In the run-up to the beginning of the ECOFIN Council in Brussels, negotiations about the further proceeding of the financial transaction tax were held among eleven EU finance ministers.
February 18, 2014
Spindelegger Insists on Austrian Bank Secret
On Friday the Finance Ministry confirmed to the Austrian Press Agency (APA) that there is “momentum in the field” in regard to disclosure of information about bank accounts of foreigners.
February 10, 2014
ECB Wants to Supervise All Banks
For the European Central Bank, the current authority does not go far enough. The ECB wants to control all 6,600 banks in the Eurozone.
February 8, 2014
Hypo Group Alpe Adria: Bankruptcy Would Affect Foreign Investors
In case of an unorderly insolvency of the Austrian nationalized lender, not only Austrian creditors would have to absorb losses. The majority of the bondholders are German and Swiss investors.
February 6, 2014
Prices for Houses in EU Dropped Slightly
1.5 percent decrease of house prices in European Union.
January 22, 2014
Bank Austria Generates Fresh Capital
On Monday, January 13, UniCredit Bank Austria issued its first mortgage bond for 2014 to strengthen its capital base.
January 14, 2014
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
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