Budget Deficit

Slovenia to Sharpen Austerity Measures

The Slovenian centre-right government announces new austerity cuts. The budget deficit should be lowered to 3.0% of GDP.

October 5, 2012

Mitterlehner: „No Economic Stimulus Package“

Austria´s Minister of Economics rejects another stimulus package for the Austrian industrial sector. The budgetary situation would not allow that, he says.

October 4, 2012

ESM: Slovakia Pays € 264m

In October, the Slovak government will transfer € 264m to ESM. This will be the first two installments.

October 4, 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

Hungary Must Lower Budget Deficit

The Hungarian National Bank puts pressure on the government to lower the budget deficit. By contrast, the government has widened the budget target to 2.8% instead.

October 4, 2012

Slovenian Parliament Approves Creation of Bad Bank

The Slovenian state creates a bad bank in order to restructure the financially stricken banking sector.

October 4, 2012

Poland: Interest Cut Expected

The Polish National Bank NBP is anticipated to announce a cut in the base rate. At the moment, the base rate stands at 4.75%.

October 2, 2012

Slovakia: Budget Deficit Decreased Slightly

Last month, the Slovak state deficit was down to € 2.59bn. In August, the deficit stood at € 2.68bn.

October 2, 2012

Hungarian Budget Deficit Growing Quickly

According to preliminary data the deficit of the general government sector in the first half of 2012 was HUF 393 billion, 2.8% of GDP. Although the deficit is smaller than last year, the 2012 target will not be met.

October 2, 2012

Austrian Budget Targets Will Not Hold

In August, Finance Minister Maria Fekter underlined that the budget deficit will not exceed 2.9% of GDP. Due to the banking package, the budget deficit will be higher, though.

October 1, 2012

Hungary: Budget Targets Endangered to Fail

In August, Hungary´s budget deficit has almost reached the full year´s level. Analysts doubt whether Hungary may achieve a 2.5% budget deficit this year.

October 1, 2012

Serbia Expects Rising Tax Intake

In order to meet demands of IMF, the Serbian Parliament approved the revised 2012 budget. The tax intake will not solve the country´s problems, economists consider.

September 29, 2012

Czech Deficit in 2013 at 2.9% of GDP

The Czech Government presented the budget bill for 2013. The Maastricht Criteria should be fulfilled.

September 29, 2012

Austrian Public Debt at 75% of GDP

Public Finances 2011: Public deficit at 2.5%, Public debt at 72.4% of GDP. In the first half of 2012, Austria´s public debt level grew by € 6bn.

September 28, 2012

“No Recession in Poland”

The Polish economist Jan Krzysztof Bielecki is optimistic regarding the development of Poland´s economy.

September 27, 2012

Czech National Bank Expects More Interest Rate Cuts

The governor of the Czech National Bank Miroslav Singer explained that the monetary easing program will continue.

September 27, 2012

Poland Continues Austerity Program

Today, the Polish Ministry of Finance has issued the government´s final budget bill for next year. The budget deficit is estimated to shrink slightly. Poland´s GDP Expected to Grow by 2.2% in 2013.

September 27, 2012

Slovenia “No Bail-Out Candidate”

Slovenia ´s former Prime Minister Anton Rop is optimistic that the country will manage the crisis.

September 27, 2012

Serbia Asks China for Loan

The Serbian Minister of Finance Mladjan Dinkic asked the Chinese Exim Bank for a € 850m loan in order to realize construction projects. IMF is not satisfied with Serbia´s austerity policies yet.

September 26, 2012

Dacic: „Reforms, Attracting Investments and Starting EU Integration“

The Serbia Prime Minister Ivica Dacic underlined that the government will implement reforms in order to stop the economic crisis.

September 26, 2012

Austria´s Finance Minister Delighted at Positive Moody's Rating

Maria Fekter: “Our Triple A confirms the reform path we have embarked upon.”

September 26, 2012

Public Debt: New EU Members Are More Flexible

Compared to old EU member states, the new member states have more fiscal leeway to overcome the crisis.

September 24, 2012

Serbia Attempts to Stop Rise in Public Debt

The Serbian government aims to achieve a balanced buget in 2014. Austerity measures should be sharpened.

September 22, 2012

Serbia to Privatize Publicly Held Companies

In order to reduce the budget deficit, the Serbian Minister of Finance Mladjan Dinkic plans to sell a part of the state-owned companies.

September 22, 2012

Slovenia Creates Bad Bank

The Slovenian government aims to lower risky assets of the financially stricken banking sector. A major capital increase may be necessary.

September 21, 2012

Croatia Wants to Join the Eurozone

In July 2013, Croatia becomes the 28th member of the EU. After the accession, the Croatia should join the Eurozone too, the government says.

September 19, 2012

Austrian Budget: One Third for Pensions and Interest Spending

The Austrian Audit Court published a report on the budgetary situation today. Last year, expenses “for the past” already came at € 24bn.

September 19, 2012

Czech Public Debt Growing Rapidly

Until the end of the year, public debt is expected to increase to € 63.77bn. At the end of 2011, the public debt level came at € 58.5bn.

September 14, 2012

Czech Republic Threatened of Downgrade

Because of its instable political situation, the Czech Republic may be downgraded. Debt service costs may increase substantially.

September 14, 2012

Hungary: Difficult Negotiations with IMF

The relation between Hungary´s Prime Minister and IMF is chronically tensioned. Another delay of the conclusions of the negotiations is likely.

September 12, 2012

Polish Public Debt Quota to Decrease

Although the planned budget deficit will not be met this year, Poland´s Finance Minister Jacek Rostowski expects a declining public debt quota.

September 12, 2012

Serbia Lifts VAT Rate

In order to prevent the national bankruptcy, the Serbian government raises the VAT by two percentage points.

September 11, 2012

Moody´s: Poland Still Has Strong Credit Profile

Despite the economic slowdown, Poland´s credit profile remains robust, Moody´s Assistant Vice President Jaime Reusche told PAP.

September 11, 2012

Kapsch Against Excluding Greece

The President of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) thinks that the Austrian pension system shows a substantial savings potential.

September 10, 2012

Austerity Package: Czech Government Asks for Vote of Confidence

After the austerity package was disapproved by the Czech Parliament, the government resubmits the bill to the Chamber of Deputies.

September 10, 2012

Temporary Surplus in Serbia´s Budget

Due to the VAT intake, Serbia faced a budget surplus in July. In June, Serbia recorded a massive deficit.

September 8, 2012

Czech Republic: No VAT Increase

The governing coalition failed in seeking approval by the parliament. In order to lower the budget deficit, the government intended to lift the VAT rates.

September 7, 2012

Lithuania´s Rating Confirmed

The rating agency Standard & Poor´s (S&P) kept Lithuania´s sovereign debt rating at BBB.

September 7, 2012

Slovakia Records Growing Current Account Surplus

In the first five months of 2012, Slovakia´s current account surplus reached € 1.24bn. Against the reference period of 2011, this is an increase by € 350m.

September 4, 2012

Czech VAT Increase to be Resolved

The Czech government wants to increase the tax intake by € 1.0bn. Economists warn of a deepening of the recession.

September 4, 2012

Slovakia: Budget Deficit Reached € 2.67bn

In August, Slovakia´s budget shortfall increased to € 2.675bn from € 2.239bn in July.

September 4, 2012

Slovenia: “Danger for Austrian Banks is Limited”

Although Austria would be most affected by a Slovenian national bankruptcy, the likeliness of this scenario is rather low, analysts say.

September 3, 2012

Slovenian Bankruptcy Would Hit Austria Particularly Hard

Prime Minister Janez Jansa announced that Slovenia may have to declare its national bankruptcy in October. Austria´s share in foreign direct investment made in Slovenia reaches about 50%.

September 3, 2012

IMF: Austria Must Prevent Spillover Effects

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has concluded the Article IV consultation with Austria. The Austrian banking sector is “overly ambitious” in the CESEE region, IMF says.

September 3, 2012

Bank Union: Austrian Banking Industry Cautious

European Forum Alpbach: In mid-September, the EU Commission will present its plans regarding the bank union. The bank union should not be implemented too fast, the Austrian Financial Market Authority says.

September 1, 2012

Romania Still Shows Weak Growth Rates

“We expect economic recovery to remain sluggish. Weak external demand suggests exports and industry would not offer support to GDP growth. “ RCB (Raiffeisen Centrobank) says.

August 31, 2012

Slovenia in a Vicious Circle

Slovenia´s Prime Minister Janez Jansa warns that his country may has to announce its national bankruptcy in October.

August 31, 2012

Barroso: “We Must Complete Europe” (Part 2)

At the Alpbach Economic Symposium 2012, the President of the EU-Commission José Manuel Barroso explained the “logics of integration”. In order to meet new challenges, the EU has to promote integration, Barroso says.

August 30, 2012

Austrian Budget Targets “Will be Met”

According to Austria´s Finance Minister Maria Fekter, Austria´s budget deficit will be below 3.0% of GDP. “Our domestic fiscal position is very strong now”. she underlines.

August 30, 2012

Serbian Government Tries Act of Liberation

Serbia´s economy weakens, the outlook is negative. Even a bankruptcy is not excluded anymore.

August 29, 2012
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