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Austerity
Euro-Crisis: Austrian Managers are Optimistic
In spite of the current euro-crisis, most Austrian managers believe that the currency will remain. Moreover, a deepening of the cooperation between EU-member states is expected.
February 6, 2012
Government: Dispute Over Pensions
The Austrian government parties SPÖ and ÖVP disagree over contributions by retirees. The austerity package is far from being resolved.
February 6, 2012
Sorger „Focusing on Business Location“
The President of the Federation of Austrian Industries, Veit Sorger, reaffirmed the strengthen Austria´s economic competitiveness.
February 4, 2012
Austerity: ÖVP Becomes Impatient
Negotiations between the coalition partners SPÖ and ÖVP are going on. ÖVP´s chairman Spindelegger locates an “incredibly big need of consolidation”.
January 31, 2012
Felderer Attacks Austrian Government
The head of the Austrian Institute of Advanced Studies fiercely criticizes Austrian politicians. Felderer claims to put effort in the restructuring of public finance.
January 30, 2012
Austrian Railways: Resistance Against Management Arising
The works council as Austrian Railways (ÖBB) wants to prevent the planned reduction in staff. Before that, outsourced service must be reduced, the council states.
January 28, 2012
Austerity: Leitl and Sorger Call for More Effort
The Presidents of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) and the Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ) aim for re-gaining the “AAA” for Austria. The government should cut expenses instead of rising taxes.
January 27, 2012
AUA: Resistance Forms Up
Austerity plans by Austrian Airline´s new management faces massive resistance. The dispute with employees threatens to escalate.
January 27, 2012
Scharinger: „Rating Agencies Are Instruments of Torture“
The leaving CEO of RLB Upper Austria, Ludwig Scharinger, is convinced that Europe needs must make itself more competitive against the U.S. financial industry.
January 24, 2012
AUA: Staff Threatens With Strike
The German Lufhansa Group plans radical cuts in existing collective agreements. The atmosphere among the workforce is aggressive.
January 21, 2012
Austerity: Unions Versus Industrialists
The Austrian trade unions want to impose property taxes, the Federation of Austrian Industries seeks cuts in spending.
January 21, 2012
Austrian Railways Reduced Losses
The Austrian Railways (ÖBB) is still in the red. Nevertheless, losses were lower than initially expected.
January 19, 2012
Government to Sharpen Austerity Measures
After the downgrade of Austrian sovereign bonds from „AAA“ to „AA+“ by S&P, the Austrian government aims to reach its austerity targets earlier.
January 17, 2012
Downgrade: „It´s Time to Take Action“
The downgrade of Austria´s rating from “AAA” to “AA+” caused mixed reactions. The Austrian economy urges for structural actions.
January 15, 2012
Downgrade: Government Surprised and Criticized
For the Austrian government, the downgrade by the U.S. rating agency is „not comprehensible”. The domestic industry urgently claims structural reforms.
January 14, 2012
Austria to Lose its AAA
According to partially confirmed market rumors, S&P will downgrade France and Austria.
January 13, 2012
Unions Protest Against AUA´s Plans
Austrian trade unions are strictly against new austerity measures at Austrian Airlines. Management wants to negotiate over new collective agreements.
January 12, 2012
Pressure on Hungary Increases
The chairman of the Austrian Central Bank, Ewald Nowotny, sees no danger for Austrian banks from Hungary. EU and IMF criticize the Hungarian government.
January 11, 2012
Austrian Airlines Records High Losses
Against previous expectations, the Austrian subsidiary of Lufthansa could not improve its results in 2011 compared to 2010.
January 10, 2012
Dismal Prospects for Construction Industry
According to WIFO (Austrian Institute of Economic Research), the Austrian construction industry will face stagnation in 2012.
January 9, 2012
ÖVP Does Not Exclude New Taxes Anymore
Against previous statements, the head of the Austrian conservatives, Michael Spindelegger, considers to introduce new taxes.
January 9, 2012
Austerity Package: AUA in Difficulties
The implementation of further austerity measures faces resistance. Moreover, competition for Austrian Airlines becomes even stronger.
January 7, 2012
AUA to Implement Drastic Cost Cuts
Austrian Airlines, a subsidiary of German Lufthansa, is said to cut costs drastically. Old planes will not be replaced anymore.
January 5, 2012
„We Are at the Tipping Point“
2012 will be a crucial year for Europe and Austria, says the director of the Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO). The coming decade will be coined by debt reduction.
January 5, 2012
Austrian Economy Pushes for Austerity
In order to prevent new taxes, the Austrian Chamber of Commmerce and the Federation of Industries call for austerity measures.
January 5, 2012
Worsening Economic Outlook for 2012
Economists and analysts expect a massive fall in Austrian economic growth for 2012.
January 4, 2012
Sorger Asks For Investments in Education and R&D
The President of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV), Veit Sorger, calls for future investments.
January 3, 2012
Austrian Government Wants to Save € 10bn
The coalition partners agreed to cut expenses by € 2.0bn per year until 2016. Details were not published.
December 27, 2011
Felderer Expects Structural Changes
The head of the public debt committee, Bernhard Felderer says that new taxes are inevitable.
December 20, 2011
Fekter Pushes for Further Austerity Measures
The Austrian Minister of Finance, Maria Fekter (ÖVP), announced that the planned austerity measures will not be sufficient. The coalition partner SPÖ is upset.
December 19, 2011
Austerity Package for Austrian Railways?
According to media reports, the Austrian Railways (ÖBB) faces drastic steps. Among others, a hiring freeze is discussed.
December 19, 2011
Styria: "The crisis is over"
The Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO) considers that the federal province hit extremely hard by the economic crisis has resumed the upward trend.
April 9, 2011
Significant Savings Potential by the Administration
Efficiency potential in public expenditure of over € 500 million. Felderer: "Significant savings potential”.
March 11, 2011
Leitl Urges to Invest in the Future
Despite consolidation needs, the government has to invest more in education, research and innovation, says the President of the WKÖ.
February 4, 2011
Budget-saving Measures in Austria are Insufficient
According to the WIFO, budget deficit and public debt are lower than the EU average; central potential savings have been neglected however.
January 26, 2011
Reorganization at Austrian Post
Simplification of internal processes should strengthen competitiveness and customer proximity.
January 21, 2011
WKÖ endorses policy of the European Commission
The Austrian Economic Chamber welcomes the focus of the EU Commission on structural reforms, consolidation of public finances and competitiveness.
January 13, 2011
Drastic Job Cut at ÖBB
The Austrian Federal Railways cuts 650 posts at its freight division Rail Cargo Austria (RCA).
January 1, 2011
Nowotny Calls for Consistent Budget Consolidation
The Governor of the OeNB draws balance at the end of the year and gives his outlook on the challenges for 2011
December 30, 2010
AAA Rating Confirmed for Austria
The rating agency Standard & Poor’s; leaves Austria’s credit status unchanged.
December 22, 2010
Allianz: Austria's Economic Production has Reached Pre-crisis Level in 2011
Strong exports and government stimulus programs enabled growth. Despite public savings constraint, Allianz expects further upward trends.
December 15, 2010
Triple-A Rating: Treichl vs. Nowotny
The Chairman of the Erste Group is not convinced anymore by Austria's financial policy; the Governor of the National Bank however, still stands on "AAA".
December 3, 2010
Stable Recovery of Austrian Economy
The Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB, Austrial National Bank) is assuming a growth of the economy of 1.9% for 2010. Further acceleration is possible for subsequent years.
December 3, 2010
The Budget is Finally Set
After weeks of discussions about the 2011Austrian Federal Budget, the final details were announced today. There are very few amendments to the original project.
November 30, 2010
UniCredit CEO Ghizzoni: Counting on eastern growth
The eastern business should be expanded, says Ghizzoni, CEO of the parent company of Bank Austria.
November 10, 2010
Austerity Package: Resistance from the Federal Provinces
While cries for savings are getting louder in the provinces, declarations of both consensus and objections come from the provincial capital cities
November 8, 2010
Volksbank: Greater Efficiency by Downsizing
The Austrian Volksbank AG (ÖVAG) has not been able to reach a cooperation with other domestic banks. The deal with the BAWAG failed. Now, the Volksbank is looking for alternatives.
October 30, 2010
AUA: Still Losses, But There Is an Upward Trend
Losses and costs fall, passenger numbers rise. Restructuring measures show results, but the target has not been reached yet, according to the board.
October 28, 2010
New Budget: Details and Reactions
The entire tax package will bring additional revenues for around 1.2 billion euro. There are further saving measures for 1.6 billion euro. Reactions from the economic actors are ambivalent.
October 25, 2010
Bank Austria CEO Cernko: No More Bank Tax Soon
Due to Basel III, location reasons and to safeguard jobs, the bank tax will only be effective temporarily, according to Cernko
October 22, 2010