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Steel Industry: „Up to 100,000 Jobs Endangered“

Wolfgang Eder, CEO of the Austrian steel company voestalpine, warns of the persistently high oversupply in the European steel industry.
November 17, 2012


“Austria is a committed partner in the security field”

Austrian Foreign Ministry: New security threats and regional conflicts discussed with Russian National Security Advisor.
November 16, 2012


EU Budget: Austria Faces Massive Cuts

After the negotiations have failed, the Commission presented a new draft. Major cuts for Austria seem inevitable.
November 14, 2012


“Intensifying the dialogue between the EU and the Arab League"

Austria´s Vice-Chancellor Michael Spindelegger at the meeting of foreign ministers of the Arab League and the EU in Cairo
November 14, 2012


Romania Hopes for New IMF Loan

The economic situation remains gloomy. Foreign direct investments are weakening. The economic outlook is rather decent.
November 13, 2012


Slovenia Still Rules Out Calling for Rescue

The Slovenian government tries to prevent to be bailed out by the EU and IMF by all means. However, experts fear that Slovenia is the next candidate for the safety net.
November 10, 2012


EU Budget: Austria Threatens to Veto

Austria´s Vice Chancellor Michael Spindelegger explains that cuts in the agricultural sector will not be accepted.
November 10, 2012


Austria: Foreign Trade Grows Only Decently

January to August 2012: trade with third countries accounts for overall growth.
November 9, 2012


Hungary´s Budget Deficit Below 3.0%

The EU Commission estimates that Hungary´s budget deficit will comply with the Maastricht Criteria in 2012 and 2013. However, the deficit may exceed the 3.0% threshold in 2014.
November 8, 2012


Latvia Has Best Growth Prospects

Today, the EU Commission has announced its economic forecast for 2012. Austria is among the economically stable countries.
November 8, 2012


Romania: Joining Eurozone is „Not for Sure”

Romania´s Prime Minister Victor Ponta expressed his concerns about introducing the euro in Romania.
November 5, 2012


Erdogan Tries to Put Pressure on EU

The Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warns of postponing the EU accession of his country.
October 31, 2012


Unemployment: Austria Ranks First in EU

In September, the euro area unemployment rate came at 11.6%. The Baltic countries registered a substantial decrease in unemployment.
October 31, 2012


EU Budget Cuts would Affect Poland

In the last six years, Poland benefitted substantially from EU funds. A cut of € 23bn is being discussed.
October 30, 2012


Czech Republic and Slovakia: Nuclear Power Remains Main Energy Source

The Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas and his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico underline that nuclear energy will remain the future technology.
October 30, 2012


„Banking Union Weakens Central Banks“

The Czech President Vaclav Klaus criticizes that a common banking supervision limits the competencies of national central banks.
October 30, 2012


Austrian Managers Lose Confidence in EU

Only a third of the Austrian managers believes that the problem in the Eurozone can be solved.
October 29, 2012


„Strengthening Relation with Russia“

Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) argues that Europe must co-operate closer with Russia in order to manage the crisis.
October 25, 2012


Merger Hutchison „3“ and Orange: EU Commission Extends Examination Phase

The Commission announced that the deadline for the deal will be postponed by three weeks.
October 22, 2012


Tusk: Joining Banking Union Only if it Does not Weaken Poland

The Polish Prime Minister does not exclude to enter the banking union. However, this measure must not weaken Poland´s position.
October 22, 2012


Austrian Finance Minister and Foreign Minister Support Banking Union

Vice-Chancellor Michael Spindelegger and Finance Minister Maria Fekter meet with EU Commissioner Michel Barnier.
October 22, 2012


Poland Favors Banking Union, Czech Republic is Skeptical

The governor of the Polish National Bank Marek Belka calls for joining the banking union. The Czech Republic may use the right to give a veto.
October 20, 2012


Hungary Does not Exclude to Increase Bank Tax

Prime Minister Orban refers to the pressure coming from Brussels. Hungary must reduce the budget deficit below 3.0% of GDP.
October 20, 2012


Polish Government: Austerity in Order to Enter Eurozone

The Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Radoslaw Sikorski says that Poland will fulfill the Maastricht Criteria in 2015.
October 19, 2012


Austria Underlines Importance of Austerity Measures

“EU pact for growth and employment to fight high unemployment rates”: State Secretary Reinhold Lopatka at the General Affairs Council in Luxemburg.
October 17, 2012


Austrian Budget: Experts Call for Further Reforms (Part 3)

Economists think that the budget does not contain enough reform steps. The opposition does not see any signs of progress.
October 16, 2012


Hungary Wants Foreign Land Owners to Leave

The Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban wants to bring back “stolen land”.
October 15, 2012


Klaus: “Nobel Prize for EU is a Mistake”

The Czech President Vaclav Klaus criticizes the decision of the Nobel Prize Committee. For him, the decision is a “joke”.
October 13, 2012


Orban Blames EU for Austerity Cuts

The Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban explains that Hungary has no other choice but to deepen the austerity cuts.
October 13, 2012


EU Wants Austria to Reduce Bureaucracy

The Commission of the EU has presented its concept for the re-industrialization of Europe. Austria is well-positioned, but there is some potential for improvement.
October 13, 2012


Austrian Foreign Ministry Wants “Better coordination for development cooperation”

"No single country can solve all the major problems of our time alone", Austrian State Secretary Reinhold Lopatka said at the "Development Dialogue" event in Parliament today.
October 12, 2012


Albania to Become Official Candidate

The Western Balkan country was recommended by the EU Commission. Serbia and Kosovo must reach a “sustainable solution”.
October 10, 2012


Orban Rejects Joining Eurozone

The Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban thinks that the introduction of the euro in Hungary would be “irresponsible”.
October 10, 2012


Fekter Welcomes Entry into Force of ESM

Austria´s Minister of Finance "No cause for celebration, however, as we are still in the middle of stabilising the Eurozone."
October 10, 2012


Austrian Presents Piorities for the “EU budget of the future”

State Secretary Lopatka in the EU Sub-Committee of the National Council.
October 10, 2012


Financial Transaction Tax to be Introduced

Now, the financial transaction tax has enough supporters. After months of negotiations, eleven EU member countries finally agreed on introducing a financial transaction tax.
October 9, 2012


Hutchison Tries to Persuade EU Commission

The smallest Austrian telecommunication operator wants the EU Commission to approve the takeover of Orange.
October 8, 2012


Austria Appreciates Portugal’s Efforts of Budget Consolidation

State Secretary Lopatka meets with Portuguese State Secretary for EU Affairs, Luis Miguel Morais Leitão.
October 8, 2012


Support for Financial Transaction Tax Keeps Within Limits

In order to introduce the tax, nine countries must agree thereon. The time pressure is growing.
October 6, 2012


Bulgaria: Djankov Predicts Long-Term Stagnation

Bulgaria´s Minister of Finance Simeon Djankov expects low growth rates in the next ten years.
October 6, 2012


Czech Republic: Industrial Sector Most Important

Among the EU members, the Czech Republic shows the highest percentage of people working in the industrial sector.
October 6, 2012


Working Time: Brits and Austrians Work Most

Regarding the weekly working time, Austria ranks second. The share of employees working in the service industry is slightly below the EU average.
October 5, 2012


"Serbia can count on Austria to be its partner"

The Austrian State Secretary encourages Serbia to embark on pro-European course.
October 5, 2012


Romania: Lowest Importance of Service Sector in EU

Almost 70% of employed persons in the EU27 worked in the service sector in 2011. The scope ranges from 43% in Romania to 85% in Luxembourg.
October 5, 2012


Eastern Europe Remains Austria´s Future Region

The Austrian economist Christian Keuschnigg thinks that the opening of Austrian companies toward Eastern Europe was a “highly favourable event”.
October 4, 2012


Fekter Rejects Deposit Protection in EU

At the Alpbach Financial Symposium, Austria´s Minister of Finance Maria Fekter underlined to reject the European deposit protection.
October 4, 2012


EU as „Serbia´s Most Important Market“

The U.S. economist Paul Krugman thinks that Serbia´s future is the European Union. The EU is worried about the turn towards Russia.
October 4, 2012


Nine Prime Minister Discuss EU Budget in Bratislava

The Prime Ministers of nine countries of Central and Eastern Europe will meet in the Slovak capital on October 5.
October 3, 2012


Merger Hutchison 3G-Orange: EU Still Sceptical

EU Commissioner Joaqin Almunia expresses his concerns on the merger. “The number of operators would go down to three from four in Austria.” He says.
October 2, 2012


Financial Transaction Tax: Austrian Government Under Pressure

In its last austerity package, the Austrian government has anticipated a financial transaction tax to be introduced in 2014. The time pressure is growing.
October 2, 2012