Brussels

Romania/Bulgaria: Germany Plans Veto against Schengen Entry

According to the journal “Spiegel”, the German government does not regard the two countries as Schengen-worthy.

March 4, 2013

Slovakia: Economy Stagnating

On February 22, the European Commission anounced its modifications concerning the annual prognosis of the eurozone’s economic outlook for 2013. While the majority of the countries are in recession, Slovakia’s economy is forecast to grow by 1.1 %

March 4, 2013

Romania: Corlatean Questions Admittance to Schengen-Agreement

Exterior minister Corlatean shows no more interest in Romania’s joining the Schengen-zone. Several member states disapprove of this idea.

March 2, 2013

Poland: Fiscal Treaty Ratified

Poland´s President Bronislaw Komorowski has signed the EU Fiscal Pact this week.

March 1, 2013

Hungary: Matolcsy Becomes New Central Bank Governor

Prime Minister Orbán nominated the former National Economy Minister as the new governor of the MNB (National Bank of Hungary). Experts are concerned about the stability of the Forinth.

March 1, 2013

Serbia: Prime Minister Dacic Demands Separation of Kosovo

European Union and USA reject any change of boundery on the Balkan.

March 1, 2013

Austria: Record High in People Unemployed

At the end of February, 404,006 persons were seeking for a job. Compared to January this means an increase of 5.3 % or further 16,337 people jobless.

March 1, 2013

Bulgaria: Economy to Stabilize

Despite the enormous political instability, Bulgaria is expected to record positive growth rates this year.

February 28, 2013

Bulgaria: Protestors Want Radical Reforms

The atmosphere in the poorest EU country remains tense. The citizens want a new constitution.

February 28, 2013

Euro Adoption: Poland Has No Fixed Date Yet

For the time being, Poland wants to meet the Maastricht Criteria. The date for entering the Eurozone will be fixed in 2015.

February 27, 2013

Ukraine and EU Signed Memorandum of Understanding and Loan Agreement

Memorandum for the stability of Ukraine’s finance and economy was signed on the EU-Ukraine Summit.

February 27, 2013

Hungary: Further Decline in Volume of Sales in Retail Trade

The volume of retail sales decreased by 2.1% in December and by 1.9% in the whole year compared with the previous period.

February 25, 2013

Poland: Rostowki’s Fight for the Euro

Even though Poland’s rating outlook has been revised from “A-“ to “A” by Fitch it still has to face political reforms in order to improve its economic competitiveness.

February 24, 2013

EU Financial Framework: Romania Is a Clear Winner

In the financial period from 2014 to 2020, Romania would be able to receive EUR 39.2bn from the European Union.

February 23, 2013

EU Commission: Austrian Growth Above EU Average

Unlike the Eurozone, Austria will record a positive growth rate this year. Within the EU, the situation is highly different.

February 22, 2013

Situation in Bulgaria Remains Tense

After the resignation of the Bulgarian government, the political atmosphere is at a tipping point. The protests continue and are broadening.

February 21, 2013

Romania: Disappointing Economic Growth

“According with the flash estimate, GDP increased marginally in Q4 2012 (+0.2% qoq), which was a touch above our expectations and market consensus”, Raiffeisen Research reports.

February 21, 2013

„Selling Hypo Group Needs up to Five Years“

Hannes Androsch, supervisory board president of the Austrian bank holding Fimbag, thinks that a sale will either be expensive or take some time.

February 15, 2013

EU Foreign Trade with Russia and Turkey Growing Strongly

Last year, the EU has achieved a trade surplus of € 105bn. The trade surplus with Turkey was up by € 25bn. Exports to Russia were up by 15%.

February 15, 2013

“Mali to receive support from EU and Austria”

Development Ministers consult on new European development framework in Dublin.

February 13, 2013

Spindelegger: “Acceptable Result for Austria”

“For Austria, this result is not exactly a reason to be euphoric, but it is important both for Europe and for us that we have managed to reach an agreement.” Austria´s Minister of Foreign Affairs said.

February 12, 2013

Austrian Governing Parties Disagree on EU Budget

The Austrian people´s party (ÖVP) has criticized Federal Chancellor Werner Faymann (SPÖ). The social democrats argue that the coalition partner ÖVP has “no team sprit”.

February 11, 2013

Despite Budget Cut: Poland Receives More Money

“This is one of the happiest days of my life.” Poland´s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.

February 11, 2013

Erdogan Praises Slovakia´s Support for Turkey

Turkey´s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed his gratitude to his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico for Slovekia´s support for Turkey´s EU membership.

February 9, 2013

“Not Enough Support for Growth and Competitiveness“

Georg Kapsch, President of the Federation of Austrian Industries criticizes that the EU budget does not contain enough future investments.

February 9, 2013

EU Budget: Poland Among Main Beneficiaries

Although the EU budget was cut, Poland will receive more EU-funds than in the current period.

February 8, 2013

2014 - 2020: Austrian Net Contributions Rise Substantially

In the financial period from 2014 to 2020, Austria loses almost the half of its discount. The net contributions total € 1.15bn per year.

February 8, 2013

Poland Underlines Necessity of Cohesion Funds

At the EU summit, Poland wants to secure as much cohesion payments in the next multiannual financial framework from 2014 to 2020.

February 7, 2013

Dispute Between Croatia and Slovenia Solved

Regarding the Slovenian banking group NLB, the Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and his Croatian counterpart have found a compromise.

February 7, 2013

Erdogan Met Orban in Budapest

Turkey´s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has met his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban in Budapest. Orban praised the success of Turkey´s government.

February 6, 2013

Necas Supports Turkish EU Membership

On the occasion of Prime Minister Erdogan´s visit in Prague, his Czech counterpart Necas assured to support Turkey´s candidacy.

February 6, 2013

Austrian Government May Put Veto Against EU Budget

Members of the Austrian government fear that Austria may lose its discount. The annual loss would come at more than € 180m.

February 5, 2013

„Croatia Has No Answer to the Crisis“

Economists fear that the economic crisis in Croatia will continue this year. The government does not implement enough reforms, observers say.

February 4, 2013

Tusk: “Poland Becomes a Full Member of the EU”

Poland´s Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Poland will join the Fiscal Pact. The conservative opposition rejects this step.

February 2, 2013

Austria´s Net Contributions to Brussels to Increase Significantly

At the moment, Austria´s net contributions come at 0.2% of GDP. From 2014 to 2020, the figure may increase to 0.36% of GDP.

February 2, 2013

Hungarian Unemployment High, But Slight Downward Trend

Hungarian Ministry of Economics: “Unemployment up in the EU but trend continues down in Hungary.”

February 2, 2013

Hungary: “EU funds to be spent on economic development”

In the 2014-2020 fiscal period of the European Union, Hungary will allocate the 60 percent of EU resources to stimulating growth and the development of the economy,

February 2, 2013

Moody´s Downgrades Croatia

The U.S. rating agency justifies the downgrade with the “bad economic outlook” and the “inflexible fiscal policy”.

February 2, 2013

Erdogan Considers Joining „Shanghai Five“

Turkey´s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan increases the pressure on the EU. He considers a political re-orientation towards the east.

February 1, 2013

IMF Criticizes Hungarian Government

According to IMF, the economic outlook for Hungary is rather gloomy.

January 28, 2013

“Using the location Vienna as a bridge between the EU and Latin America”

Austrian State Secretary calls for cooperation in security issues and sustainable energy at the international organisations headquarters in Vienna.

January 28, 2013

EU Wants Austria to Give Up Bank Secret

Commissioner Algirdas Semeta threatens with a complaint against Austria. According tom him, Austria and Luxembourg are blocking the automatic information exchange.

January 25, 2013

Romania Needs More Time for IMF-Requirements

The financially stricken country did not implement the planned privatizations. EBRD criticized Romania´s slow progress.

January 23, 2013

Spindelegger Criticizes Cameron

Austria´s Foreign Minister: "Not cherry picking but more Europe is the key".

January 23, 2013

Estonia and Bulgaria Record Lowest Public Debt in EU

Third quarter of 2012 compared with second quarter of 2012: Euro area and EU27 government debt nearly stable at 90.0% and 85.1% of GDP respectively.

January 23, 2013

Austria´s Minister of Finance Pleased With Approval for Financial Transaction Tax

Participating States to present specific model soon, Maria Fekter says.

January 22, 2013

“Costs of non-enlargement of the EU would be high”

Austrian Foreign Ministry wants discussion about more involvement of EU citizens in EU policy.

January 22, 2013

Fico: „Privatizations Were Our Biggest Mistake“

Slovakia´s Prime Minister Robert Fico thinks that the austerity policy in Europe is the wrong way.

January 21, 2013

Croatia: Dispute with Slovenia May Postpone EU Accession

In July, Croatia should become a member country of the EU. However, the legal dispute with Slovenia is still an obstacle. The neighbor country may cause a delay of Croatia´s accession.

January 17, 2013

Croatia: One Step Closer to the EU

According to their own statements, the Croatian government has fulfilled eight out of ten tasks, which must be finalized until July 2013. However, Croatia´s economic problems are far from being solved.

January 15, 2013
Fast News Search