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Budget Deficit
Hungary: Budget Deficit Higher Than Planned
In the first half of 2013, Hungary´s preliminary deficit came at 2.6% of GDP. The government anticipates that the deficit will not exceed 3.0% of GDP this year.
October 1, 2013
Poland´s Budget Gap Narrows
The Polish government has approved the final budget draft for 2014.
October 1, 2013
Slovenian Government to Approve Adjusted Budget
The Slovenian government today plans on implementing the revised budget for next year and the draft for the 2015 budget.
September 30, 2013
Hypo Group: Sale of Assets in SEE to Take Forms
The nationalized Austrian bank Hypo Group sells its assets in Southeastern Europe. The SEE-holding company will be established until the beginning of October.
September 29, 2013
Poland: Pension Scheme Reform to be Eased
At the beginning of September, Poland´s government decided to re-nationalize the pension system. Now, the government considers relativizing the reform.
September 28, 2013
Hungary is Seeking New Creditors
The Hungarian public debt agency AKK intends to sell more sovereign bonds in Asia. Compared to other European countries, Hungary´s debt burden causes severe difficulties.
September 27, 2013
Croatia Plans on Increasing VAT by Three Percent
Croatia eyes increased intermediate VAT from 10 to 13%.
September 27, 2013
Slovakia: Economic Upward Trend Supports Fiscal Targets
After six consecutive quarters of economic deceleration, Slovakia faces better economic data. The positive trend helps Slovakia´s government.
September 26, 2013
Slovenia: PM Takes International Bailout into Consideration
For the first time the crisis-struck Eurozone member country has admitted to consider international bailout as an option for its ailing banks.
September 26, 2013
Croatia: Fiscal Situation Deteriorates Further
Due to the weak economy, the budget gap will increase. The end of the recession is still uncertain.
September 26, 2013
Slovenia: Controversies Over New Budget
Slovenia´s Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek links the approval to the austerity budget to a vote of confidence.
September 25, 2013
Croatia to Issue Dollar Bonds
In order to cover its foreign exchange needs, Croatia will issue a dollar bond with a size of $ 2.7bn.
September 24, 2013
Poland: Budget for 2014 Realistic
According to Witold Kozinski, Deputy Govenor of the National Bank of Poland (NBP), the budget plan for 2014 is “realistic” and the risk of amendmends to the budget minimal.
September 23, 2013
Slovenia in a Decisive Phase
According to Bostjan Jazbec, Govenor of the Bank of Slovenia, the coming weeks will be critical for the small Eurozone member country.
September 23, 2013
Fitch: Croatia Cut to Junk Status
Due to the fiscal situation, Fitch cuts the credit rating of the newest EU member country. The economic frame conditions do not leave enough room for reducing the public debt level, Fitch argues.
September 21, 2013
Slovenia: First Budget Surplus in 2013
For the first time this year, Slovenia shows a budget surplus of € 15m. However, the deficit of the first eight months is as high as € 1.3bn, according to data by the Finance Ministry.
September 20, 2013
Slovenia: Privatization Program to Boost FDI?
The government of the financially ailing country is forced to privatize a substantial part of the publicly held companies. Prime Minister Bratusek hopes foreign direct investments to increase.
September 20, 2013
Wifo: Economy Remains Competitive Despite High Wages
Head of Wifo (Austrian Institute for Economic Research), Karl Aiginger, calls for a change of views in economic policy as competitiveness is more than just low costs.
September 18, 2013
Austria: ÖVP Rejects Tax Reforms by Social Democrats
Chancellor and Leader of the Social Democrats Werner Faymann is in favor of lower taxes on wages. His model includes reliefs of up to € 1,011 annually. However, coalition partner, the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) rejects the plans.
September 18, 2013
IHS/WIFO: Austrian Hypo Group Needs Bad Bank
Christian Keuschnigg and Karl Aiginger claim that the nationalized Austrian bank should be split into a “good” and a “bad” part. Austria´s public debt would increase substantially.
September 16, 2013
Slovenia: Bankruptcy Without ECB/ESM?
Without external aid, Slovenia will not manage its severe financial crisis, experts say. A bail-out becomes more likely.
September 15, 2013
Austria Must Implement Liquidation Mechanism for Banks
In order to minimize fiscal losses, Austrian problem banks should be liquidates soon, IMF claims. In this case, Austria would not reach its fiscal targets in the next years.
September 13, 2013
Austria: IMF Pushes for Tax Reform
The International Monetary Fund recommends re-considering the tax system. The Austrian wage taxes are too high, IMF criticizes.
September 13, 2013
Poland: Government Gives Green Light to Budget Draft
The Polish Government has approved the budget plan for 2014 with the deficit gap closing further after a refurbishment of the private pension system.
September 9, 2013
Poland: Re-Nationalization of Pension Scheme
Poland takes back the partial privatization of pension system. The re-nationalization does not affect Poland´s sovereign debt rating.
September 7, 2013
Faymann: “Banks Should Pay for Hypo”
Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann does not consider a new austerity package necessary despite of the threatening billions of Euros for the selling and winding-up of the ailing bank.
September 5, 2013
Slovenia: Recession Goes On
In the second quarter, Slovenia´s GDP was down by 1.7% year on year. This year, Slovenia´s GDP will fall by 3.0%, economists say.
September 2, 2013
Poland: Economy Begins to Accelerate
In the third quarter of 2013, Poland´s economy will grow by 1.0% year on year.
August 31, 2013
Czech Republic: Early Vote No Danger for Sovereign Debt Rating
The current instable political situation is no significant risk factor for the Czech rating yet, the U.S. rating agency Fitch says.
August 25, 2013
Fitch Cuts Outlook for Poland
Due to the change in Poland´s fiscal policy, the U.S. rating agency lowers the rating outlook for Poland from „positive“ to „stable“.
August 25, 2013
Turkey: Capital Outflow Endangers Economic Stability
The monetary and economic stability is under enormous pressure. Turkey´s National Bank does not have sufficient reserve to support the Turkish lira.
August 24, 2013
Poland: Budget Amendment Passed in Parliament
In order to adapt to the slow economic growth the government has amended the budet by permitting this year’s budget deficit to increase to PLN 16bn as well as approving PLN in spending cut, as announced at a press conferenced on Tuesday.
August 21, 2013
Turkey Wants to Stop Capital Outflow
The Turkish government plans to attract more investors. By lower taxes, foreign capital of Turkish nationals should come back to Turkey.
August 17, 2013
Slovenian PM Convinced Agreement on 2014 Budget Will Be Reached
Slovenian Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek is convinced an agreement will be reached regarding changes to the 2014 budget
August 13, 2013
Romania: Significant Drop in Purchase Power
General consumption climate is unfavorable in Europe at the moment.
August 12, 2013
Poland: Amendmends in 2013 Budget
Upper house approves law suspending fiscal restraints at 50 percent debt threshold
August 12, 2013
Commerzbank: Austria to Miss Budget Goals
Without a new austerity package, Austria will run up more debts than calculated in the bugdet plan, German Commerzbank says. The country’s AAA ratings are likely to decrease.
August 12, 2013
Slovenia: Stakes of at Least 80 Enterprises
The Slovenian state owns shares in at least 80 companies directly or indirectly.
August 8, 2013
Serbia: Public Debt Grows Unstopped
At end-March 2013, public debt of the Republic of Serbia4 amounted to EUR 19.4 bln, up by EUR 1.7 bln on end-2012.
August 7, 2013
Serbia: Moderate Upward Trend
In the first three months, Serbia´s GDP was up by 0.5%. However, domestic demand is still declining.
August 6, 2013
Slovenia: Economic Sentiment Stabilizes
This year, Slovenia will not be able to leave the recession behind. However, the economic sentiment begins to improve in some sectors.
August 5, 2013
Romania Initiates Structural Reforms
In order to receive a precautionary loan from the IMF, Romania´s government will implement a series of reform steps. Above all, Romania starts privatizations again. Romania´s economic outlook continues to brighten.
August 3, 2013
S&P: Croatia Downgraded Again
The rating agency puts the outlook on Croatia from „stable“ to „negative“. The rating remains unchanged.
August 2, 2013
Russia: Consumer Debt Grows Persistently
Russia´s Central Bank wants to stop the increasing debt servicing costs for Russian households.
August 2, 2013
Romania’s Economic Recovery Expected to Strengthen.
Staff teams from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the European Commission (EC), and the World Bank visited Bucharest Romania during July 17–31.
August 1, 2013
Serbia: No Early Elections Despite of Break of Coalition
Dismissal of Finance Minister Mladjan Dinkic. URS is leaving the governmental alliance. Despite of a break of the coalition, there will be no early elections in Serbia.
July 31, 2013
Czech Republic: Unwilling to Join Eurozone?
In 2012, the country missed two out of four criteria for the introduction of the single currency. According to the statistical office it was the worst result in five years. It is not yet clear when the Czech Republic is ready to join the Eurozone.
July 31, 2013
Bulgaria: Danger of Policy Drifting
Bulgaria's fundamentals are strong but politics suggest policy drift.
July 31, 2013
Czech Republic to Remain in Recession
The Czech economy will, according to the Finance Ministry in Prague, shrink by 1.5 percent and only start growing again in 2014 by 0.8 percent.
July 26, 2013
Fekter: Debt reduction and tax reform are our absolute priorities
"We are on the right track"
July 25, 2013
