Budget Deficit
Austria: Fekter Indicates Resignation
Even before the general elections in September rumors were circling around about Finance Minister Maria Fekter’s withdawal from her position.
November 14, 2013
EU Commission: Slovenia Makes “Key Progress”
Slovenia is among 16 EU member states that require comprehensive assessment of macroeconomic imbalances. According to a report published by the EU Commission, the small country shows significant improvement.
November 14, 2013
Austrian Budget Gap „Only € 18.4bn“
The Austrian government has re-calculated the fiscal shortfall. Scheduled Bank aids come at € 5.8bn. There will be no austerity package, the government claims.
November 14, 2013
Austria: Budget Gap Smaller than Expected
The budget gap will, according to the latest reports, comes at an amount between € 21bn and 25bn until the year 2018. Earlier there had been talk of a shortfall amounting up to € 30bn to € 40bn.
November 13, 2013
BayernLB: “Hypo Not Willing to Pay“
Because of the legal dispute with Austrian problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria, former German parent company BayernLB announced not to increase its risk provision.
November 13, 2013
Crucial Days for Slovenia´s Government
Slovenia´s government has presented the 2014 budget to the Parliament. Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek has linked the approval to a vote of confidence. However, the budget approval is not the biggest risk factor for the ailing country.
November 13, 2013
Croatia: IMF as Last Exit
It is likely that the ailing country is seeking assistance from the IMF. Borrowing in 2014 is risky, Finance Minister Slavko Linic said.
November 11, 2013
Austria: Hypo Group Reason for Major Budget Gap
The ailing bank is a major cause for the massive Austrian budget deficit increase. According to reports, up to € 1.3bn will be required even this year.
November 11, 2013
Austrian Government Hid Enormous Fiscal Shortfall
In the next five years, Austria´s fiscal shortfall may total up to € 40bn. The Austrian government did not disclose details yet.
November 8, 2013
Croatia Under Brussel´s Observation
The new EU member country fights against a number of economic problems. Now, the EU-Commission considers starting an excessive deficit procedure.
November 7, 2013
Romania: Growth Rates to Exceed Forecasts
According to the autumn forecast published by the EU Commission on Tuesday, Romania will exceed the previous estimates.
November 6, 2013
Austria: New Austerity Package to Come?
Austrian economists expect that the new government will draft another austerity package. Otherwise the fiscal objectives will not be achieved.
November 6, 2013
Hypo Group: Restraining Effect on Budget Consolidation
According to the EU’s autumn prognosis, nationalized Hypo Group and its liabilities running in the billions still have a restraining effect on the Austrian budget consolidation.
November 5, 2013
Slovakia Imposes Tax on Tax Evasion
In order to reduce the capital outflow, Slovakia imposes a 35% tax rate on transactions to tax havens.
November 4, 2013
Croatia: Excessive Deficit Procedure Ahead
Neither in 2013 nor in 2014, Croatia will achieve a budget deficit below 3.0% of GDP.
November 4, 2013
Czech Budget Deficit to Remain Below Approved Mark
The budget deficit in the Czech Republic increased to CZK 47.7bn in October from CZK 38.2bn in September.
November 4, 2013
Slovenia´s Government Hopes for More FDI
In order to promote more foreign direct investments, Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek plans to hold investment conferences across Europe.
November 1, 2013
“Property Tax Cannot Finance Wage Tax Cut”
Bernhard Felderer, head of the Austrian public debt committee, stresses that the Austrian government must reduce the public debt level as soon as possible.
October 31, 2013
Romania: Budget Gap Revised
In 2013, Romania´s fiscal shortfall is projected to reach 2.5% of GDP.
October 31, 2013
IMF on Slovenia: “Cleaning Up Banks is the Priority”
The IMF urges Slovenia to restructure its ailing banking sector. Slovenia faces expensive bank aid-programs.
October 29, 2013
Banking Sector: Pressure on Slovenia Grows
The IMF calls Slovenia to re-capitalize the banking sector immediately. However, Slovenia´s financial situation is already more than tense.
October 29, 2013
Hungary: Junk Rating Remains
S&P has reiterated Hungary´s sovereign debt rating. Further cuts are not unlikely.
October 28, 2013
Poland: T-Bonds not to Affect Budget Deficit
According to GUS, next year’s budget deficit will not be impaired by the transfer of treasury bonds and other assets.
October 28, 2013
S&P Warns of Further Downgrade
The rating agency has kept the “AA+” rating. However, Austria has to put more effort into austerity measures, the rating agency stresses.
October 26, 2013
Hypo Group: Worst Expectations May be Exceeded
For the Austrian state, the ailing nationalized banking group may become a financial GSA. The legal dispute with the former owner BayernLB bears enormous dangers for Austria´s public finance.
October 25, 2013
Hungary: Orban Underlines National Sovereignty
On the occasion of Hungary´s national holiday, Prime Minister Viktor Orban stressed the importance of values. The high public debt limits Hungary´s effective sovereignty, however.
October 24, 2013
Croatia: 2012 Budget Deficit Revised
Because of the different EU methodology, Croatia had to revise its budget gap. The fiscal situation remains critical.
October 23, 2013
Austria: Bank Aids Burden State Budget
Since the beginning of the financial crisis, Austria has lost billions of Euros.
October 22, 2013
EBRD Analyzes Slovenia´s Difficulties
From October 21 to 25, a delegation from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will visit the ailing country.
October 21, 2013
Romania and Bulgaria Have Lowest Debt Ratios
With a public debt to GDP ratio of 18.5%, Bulgaria has the second lowest public debt quota in the EU.
October 21, 2013
Austria: State Debts Could Amount to 74.5 Percent of GDP
The statistical office of the European Union, Eurostat, raised doubts about the Austrian budget deficit and public debts because of the financial scandal of the government of the province of Salzburg.
October 21, 2013
Slovakia: New Burden for Insurance Industry
The Slovak government extends special taxes for companies operating regulated sectors. The bank tax will be abolished in the course of the next years.
October 21, 2013
Croatia: EU-Membership Did Not Help Yet
In the first months of its EU membership, the situation in Croatia´s industrial sector deteriorated further.
October 19, 2013
Slovenia Introduces Property Tax
In order to reduce the massive fiscal shortfall, Slovenia is looking for new revenues. The property tax may bring more than € 400m.
October 17, 2013
IMF: Hungary´s Fiscal Situation Deteriorates
According to the IMF, Hungary´s public debt quota will increase. This stands in opposition to the optimistic forecasts of the government.
October 15, 2013
Hungary: Borrowing Costs Decline
Yields on Hungarian sovereign bonds reached an all-time low. However, a rebound in 2014 is rather probable.
October 12, 2013
Federation of Austrian Industries Urges for Reforms
IV (Federation of Austrian Industries) has high hopes. The next Austrian government has to implement a number of reforms, IV´s President Georg Kapsch says.
October 12, 2013
IMF: Serbia´s Reforms are Not Sufficient
On the occasion of a visit in Serbia, the IMF commented the efforts of the Serbian government to cut the budget gap. The austerity cuts are right, but the country needs further reforms, IMF´s team said.
October 10, 2013
Slovenia Cannot Escape the Vicious Circle
Slovenia still aims to manage its banking crisis on its own. After the new economic forecast issued by Slovenia´s National Bank, this aim suffers another setback.
October 10, 2013
Romania Under Observation
The IMF wants Romania´s government to put more effort in austerity measures, market liberalization and privatization of state-owned assets.
October 9, 2013
Bratusek: “We Are Paying for Your Debts”
On Tuesday Slovenian Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek presented the budget draft for 2014 and 2015 to the members of parliament.
October 9, 2013
Serbia Fights Against National Bankruptcy
The Serbian government has decided to implement a new austerity package. Above all, civil servants face substantial salary cuts.
October 9, 2013
Fekter Presses for Provisional Budget Financing
Finance Minister Maria Fekter (ÖVP) does not count on the government to present a budget draft in time, which was scheduled October 22 and involves the Finance Act until the end of the year.
October 8, 2013
Bulgaria Takes out Schuldschein Note Loan via German Banks
The Bulgarian government has decided to take out a Schuldschein note loan in the amount of € 360m through German banks, media reports claim.
October 7, 2013
Hungary´s Government: Budget Draft “Risky”
This week, Hungary´s government has submitted the budget draft to the Hungarian Parliament. The basic assumptions are rather optimistic.
October 5, 2013
Keuschnigg Advises Austria to be Patient
According to Keuschnigg it was not possible to increase the core capital quota of the banks to the level necessary or to reduce public debts by 120 percent in two years only.
October 4, 2013
Moody’s Honors Austrian Banks in CESEE
Only a year ago, the rating agency downgraded Austria because of its banks’ engagement in Eastern Europe. However, the situation has changed to the better.
October 3, 2013
Austria: Better off within Eurozone
Economic experts claim that since the beginning of the single currency union, Austria has seen an additional economic growth of 0.4 percent. According to them, a collapse of the Eurozone would lead to a massive decline in exports.
October 2, 2013
Croatia Tries to Avoid Bail-Out by IMF
The 28th EU member country has severe fiscal problems. In order to avoid the IMF, Croatia borrows about $ 1.5bn on the U.S. market.
October 2, 2013
Slovenia: Asset Quality Deteriorates Rapidly
The government of the financially stricken country comes more and more under pressure. In meantime, about 17% of the Slovenian loans are classified as “risky”.
October 1, 2013
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