Brussels

Bulgarians Pessimistic about Own Future

More than 90 percent of Bulgarian citizens deem the country to be in an economically bad situation.

February 20, 2014

EU Commission to Examine Slovenian Bank Restructuring Plan

Slovenia has sent the restructuring plan for its third largest bank, Abanka Vipa, to the EU Commission.

February 20, 2014

Zeman: Entry in Eurozone Delayed

In a speech to the Lower House ahead of the vote in confidence for the new government Czech President Milos Zeman expressed his dissatisfaction over the latest monetary intervention by the Czech National Bank (CNB).

February 19, 2014

Czech Republic: New Government Passed Vote of Confidence

The new Czech government under Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka has passed the vote of confidence in parliament yesterday.

February 19, 2014

Hypo Bankruptcy Could Severly Harm BayernLB

Rating agency Moody’s sees German BayernLB impacted by the critical capital situation in the coming years.

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

Nowotny: Negative Interest Rate Conveys Feeling of Crisis

Ewald Nowotny, member of the Council of the ECB (European Central Bank) and governor of the Austrian National Bank (OeNB), expressed his rejection regarding a possible negative interest rate for banks.

February 18, 2014

Czech Republic: Government Asks for Vote of Confidence

The new Czech government was appointed at the End of January. On Tuesday Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and his cabinet will ask for a vote of confidence in parliament.

February 18, 2014

Romania: Fit for Eurozone?

According to estimates by the Romanian government, the country is fit for joining the single currency union.

February 17, 2014

Austria: Economic Upturn Still in Standby-Mode

According to the analysis of the economic indicator of Bank Austria, there is moderate growth and hope for the first quarter in 2014.

February 17, 2014

Slovenia: Heading for Recovery

Slovenia seems to have circumnavigated the crisis as the small country is not a Eurozone bail-out candidate anymore, according to Prime Minister Bratusek.

February 17, 2014

Serbia: Fast Implementations of Reforms Crucial

Tanja Miscevic, chief negotiator in the EU accession talks, announced on Sunday that elections in Serbia are not slowing down the process in European integration.

February 17, 2014

Government Downplaying Effects of Hypo Group Desaster

Today, both Chancellor Werner Faymann and Finance Minister Michael Spindelegger had to explain their actions in regard to Hypo Group Alpe Adria in parliament.

February 17, 2014

EU Puts Limit to State Aids for Hypo Group

So far, € 4.8bn in capital aids had to be injected into ailing bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria. According to an EU statement, the Austrian state is only permitted to spend € 3.65bn on Hypo Group.

February 14, 2014

Serbia: FDI of Great Importance for Economy

According to Deputy Prime Minister Vucic, the country’s biggest problem was the rate debt rate and fiscal deficit.

February 14, 2014

Serbia: FDI for Sustainable Growth

Serbia needs FDI in the amount of € 2bn at least to stimulate sustainable growth, according to experts.

February 12, 2014

Cernko: Wealthy to Support R&D in Austria

The CEO of Bank Austria calls upon the Austrian government to take into consideration the funding of research and development by wealthy individuals and regard this as part of their “tax duty”.

February 12, 2014

Hypo Group: Bad Bank Active at Least 10 Years

Austria’s rating by Standard & Poor’s (“AA+”, stable outlook) is currently not compromised. Because of the establishing of the bad bank the debt rate will rise four to six percent.

February 12, 2014

Austria: Hypo Group Becomes Fiasco for Taxpayers

The most expensive solution for the winding up of troubled Hypo Group becomes imminent.

February 11, 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

“We Want to Return to the Mainstream”

The new Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka announced that the country will become a member of the EU Fiscal Pact.

February 7, 2014

Romania Reaches Agreement With IMF

Romania has met the criteria to receive a stand-by agreement by the International Monetary Fund.

February 5, 2014

Criticism of Croatia´s Fiscal Policy

Next year, Croatia´s government wants to comply with the EU fiscal rules. According to economists, this aim is not realistic.

February 4, 2014

Croatia: Monetary Interventions to Stabilize Kuna

On Friday the Croatian national bank sold € 240.2m to commercial banks.

January 31, 2014

Hungary: Stable Economy, Weak Currency

According to Prime Minister Orban the volatility of the Hungarian Forint is based on global factors.

January 31, 2014

Austrian Industrial Sector only Sees Weak Recovery

The Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) warns about a fragile economic recovery.

January 30, 2014

Serbia: EU Enthousiasm Kept in Limits

A survey among Serbian citizens about an EU membership reveals weak support.

January 30, 2014

WKO Rejects Further Financial Burdens for Banks

According to the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO), the financial burdens of banking institutes in Austria are significantly higher than those of their competitors in other EU member states.

January 29, 2014

Euro-Introduction: Cutting Debts Precondition for Poland

Finance Minister Mateusz Szczurek stressed that cutting debts was a key condition for Poland before it could be admitted to the single currency union.

January 29, 2014

Austria: Opposition Presses for Information

The Austrian Greens demand information in regard to problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria.

January 28, 2014

“Croatia Going through Very Difficult Period“

The World Bank calls for structural reforms in the Western Balkan state.

January 27, 2014

Restrained Optimism in Polish Financial Market

According to Finance Minister Szczurek, the Polish Financial Market will have to face another challenging year.

January 27, 2014

Croatia: S&P Downgrades Rating

Standard&Poors; has downgraded Croatia’s rating to “BB”. The outloock on the long-term rating for the country is at least “stable”.

January 24, 2014

CEE: Economic Sentiment at Lowest Level

ZEW-Erste Group Bank Economic Sentiment Indicator for the CEE at lowest level.

January 24, 2014

Austria: Debt Rate Rises Unstoppably

In the third quarter last year the Austrian public debt rate increased significantly compared to the previous quarter.

January 22, 2014

Croatia Supports Albania in EU Accession Course

Albania hopes that EU Accession Negotiations will take place in June 2014.

January 22, 2014

Prices for Houses in EU Dropped Slightly

1.5 percent decrease of house prices in European Union.

January 22, 2014

Serbia: "Kosovo Part of Whole Package"

Serbia hopes to join the union until the year 2020. The solving of the issue with Kosovo remains a key condition. Austrian Foreign Minister Kurz stresses the importance of the region becoming a part of the European Union.

January 21, 2014

Spindelegger Met Almunia: „Bank Aids Were No Issue“

Today, Austrian Minister of Finance Michael Spindelegger has met Commissioner for competition Joaquin Almunia.

January 20, 2014

Austria: Fischer Calls Upon Respect of Human Rights

At the New Year Reception for the diplomatic corps in Austria, President Heinz Fischer called upon the strict compliance to human rights.

January 20, 2014

Kotian: “Growth in CEE is Accelerating“

In an interview with Austrian daily “Wirtschafts-Blatt”, CEE expert at Erste Group, Juraj Kotian, points out that the bond market is expected to see growth supported by the successful reduction of debts and high economic growth.

January 20, 2014

Audit Court Criticizes Austrian Government Sharply

Josef Moser, president of the Austrian Audit Court, has sharply criticized the government’s resolution.

January 17, 2014

Expansion Course of Austrian Banks Slowed Down

After the financial crisis cooled down the expansion course of Austrian banks in CESEE countries was dampened down.

January 16, 2014

Citizens from CEE Major Benefit for EU

A current paper published by the OECD shows that the European Union benefits from migration of Eastern European citizens as they compensate imbalances in the labor markets.

January 15, 2014

CESEE: Number of NPL Declining

According to a study by Bank Austria, the number of bad loans is declining in Central and Eastern Europe.

January 14, 2014

Eurozone: Further Capital Injections at Banks Expected

The Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) is holding a summit today. The low inflation rate in the Eurozone is still a dilemma for the monetary authorities.

January 9, 2014

RBI Expects Growth to Accelerate in 2014

2014 marked by growth recovery, according to RBI Research.

January 9, 2014

Slovenia: Growth through Diplomatic Network

Slovenian Finance Minister Karl Erjavec assured that throught diplomatic network the country’s economy will still be supported.

January 9, 2014

Slovenia: Calls for Reforms Become Louder

The Slovenian Chamber of Commerce (GZS) calls upon the government to accelerate the realization of reforms to boost economic growth.

January 8, 2014

Hungary Amending Figures of Budget Deficit

Hungarian Finance and Economy Minister Mihaly Varga announced that the budget deficit of 2013 will be below the target after it was lowered dramatically.

January 8, 2014
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