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Budget Deficit
Serbia to Continue Talks with IMF
Serbia's Minister of Finance Lazar Krstic announced that an International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission will visit Serbia for talks on a new three-year arrangement shortly after a new government is formed.
March 21, 2014
Poland: Budget Deficit 2013 Below Target
The Polish budget deficit for 2013 has reached almost 82 percent after it was amended in August.
March 20, 2014
Serbia: Economic Activity Increases Speed
Since the beginning of 2014 economic activity has started to accelerate.
March 19, 2014
Austria: Carinthia Forced to Pay for Hypo Group
Finance Minister Michael Spindelegger announced wanting to include the federal province of Carinthia to participate in the downsizing costs for ailing bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria. Austerity measures are “inevitable”.
March 17, 2014
Poland: Lowest Budget Deficit Since 2008
The budget deficit as per the end of February, was the lowest since 2008.
March 14, 2014
Poland: “Time for Belt-Tightening”
Poland is required to cut the deficit in the public finance sector.
March 13, 2014
Hypo Group: Losses Expected to Run into Billions
Hypo Group Alpe Adria is expected to reveal losses of around € 2bn in the balance sheet for the business year 2013. Up to now, losses in the amount of € 1.3bn were expected.
March 12, 2014
Faymann: Provinces to Participate in Hypo’s Downsizing Costs
Chancellor Werner Faymann announced that the provinces will have to make a financial contribution to the downsizing costs of Hypo Group. He is in favor of using the provincial share of the bank levy.
March 11, 2014
Austria: Hypo Group Disaster with Exorbitant Costs
The extent of the disaster of Austrian problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria only starts to unfold bit by bit. A further capital injection of € 750m is needed only for the ailing bank to complete its balance sheets.
March 11, 2014
Hypo Group: Further State Aid Necessary This Year
Finance Minister Spindelegger fears that nationalized problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria will require further state aids for its downsizing still within this year.
March 10, 2014
Austria: Painful Austerity Measures Ahead
The Austrian public debt level grows massively. The disaster of the nationalized Balkan lender Hypo Group Alpe Adria is not the only reason for the unfavorable situation.
March 10, 2014
Czech Republic: Government Refrains from Fiscal Discipline
In 2013, the budget deficit was down to 2.7% of GDP from 4.4% of GDP. In the next few years, the European Commission expects a trend reversal.
March 8, 2014
Fitch Keeps Slovak Rating Unchanged
Slovakia´s issuer default rating was kept unchanged at “A+”. The outlooks remain stable.
March 1, 2014
Hypo Group: Decision about Future Delayed
The decision about the future of Austrian problem bank Hypo will be delayed.
February 28, 2014
Serbia to Start Talks with IMF
Officials of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have started negotiations with Serbia on Wednesday.
February 26, 2014
Austria: Hypo Group Council to Strain Budget Even More
The Finance Ministry will appoint an international consulting team for the downsizing of nationalized problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria. However, costs are increasing dramatically by this step.
February 25, 2014
Austria: Tax Increases to be Resolved
The Austrian National Assembley will resolve tax increases.
February 24, 2014
Austria: Wifo Projects Gloomy Economic Outlook
A restrained economic growth, high unemployment rate and measures for the consolidation of the state budget are the factors which affect the economic development on a medium-term.
February 21, 2014
Romania: Fit for Eurozone?
According to estimates by the Romanian government, the country is fit for joining the single currency union.
February 17, 2014
Austria: Still No Clarity in Hypo Group Disaster
The Austrian parliamentary parties continue to shift the blame onto each other. Details still have not been presented yet.
February 17, 2014
Government Downplaying Effects of Hypo Group Desaster
Today, both Chancellor Werner Faymann and Finance Minister Michael Spindelegger had to explain their actions in regard to Hypo Group Alpe Adria in parliament.
February 17, 2014
EU Puts Limit to State Aids for Hypo Group
So far, € 4.8bn in capital aids had to be injected into ailing bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria. According to an EU statement, the Austrian state is only permitted to spend € 3.65bn on Hypo Group.
February 14, 2014
Serbia: FDI of Great Importance for Economy
According to Deputy Prime Minister Vucic, the country’s biggest problem was the rate debt rate and fiscal deficit.
February 14, 2014
Spindelegger: “Hypo Already Burdened Budget in Past”
The government has still not yet published figures in regard to the current fiscal burden emerging from the winding-up of problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria.
February 13, 2014
Slovenia Under Pressure Again
The International Monetary Fund calls Slovenia to cut public spending radically. The Slovenian government still refrains from unpopular decisions.
February 7, 2014
Romania Reaches Agreement With IMF
Romania has met the criteria to receive a stand-by agreement by the International Monetary Fund.
February 5, 2014
Criticism of Croatia´s Fiscal Policy
Next year, Croatia´s government wants to comply with the EU fiscal rules. According to economists, this aim is not realistic.
February 4, 2014
Bulgaria: IMF Puts Pressure on Government
The International Monetary Fund demands Bulgaria´s government to accelerate economic reforms.
February 3, 2014
Czech Republic: Euro Not Before 2020
Czech new Minister of Finance Andrej Babis thinks that the euro will not be introduced in the next few years.
February 3, 2014
Euro-Introduction: Cutting Debts Precondition for Poland
Finance Minister Mateusz Szczurek stressed that cutting debts was a key condition for Poland before it could be admitted to the single currency union.
January 29, 2014
“Croatia Going through Very Difficult Period“
The World Bank calls for structural reforms in the Western Balkan state.
January 27, 2014
S&P Keeps an Eye on Slovenian Banking Sector
The rating agency highlights the critical conditions of the Slovenian banking industry.
January 25, 2014
Romania´s President Opposes the IMF
Traian Basescu is strictly against imposing an additional tax on fuel. Whether Romania will achieve the budget target is highly uncertain.
January 24, 2014
Serbia: World Bank Delays Loan
The World Bank has delayed a loan in the amount of US-$ 250m for Serbia.
January 24, 2014
Austria: Debt Rate Rises Unstoppably
In the third quarter last year the Austrian public debt rate increased significantly compared to the previous quarter.
January 22, 2014
Austria Far from Reaching Fiscal Targets
Josef Moser, President of the Austrian Audit Court fears that the zero deficit cannot be achieved until 2016.
January 18, 2014
S&P Optimistic About Slovenia
The U.S. rating agency reiterated the Slovenian sovereign debt rating at A-. The outlook remains “stable”. S&P´s analysts consider Slovenia´s crisis management as adequate.
January 17, 2014
Audit Court Criticizes Austrian Government Sharply
Josef Moser, president of the Austrian Audit Court, has sharply criticized the government’s resolution.
January 17, 2014
Austria: What Happened to the Budget Gap?
The question remains even after the government was confirmed and the first tax package presented.
January 16, 2014
Czech Republic: Economic Growth Expected to Expand
The Czech Banking Association (CBA) has adjusted its economic forecast and expects a growth rate of 1.9 percent for the Czech economy this year.
January 14, 2014
Czech Fiscal Policy: Major Difficulties Ahead
Despite austerity measures, the Czech debt spiral was up considerably in the past years.
January 11, 2014
Czech Economy: Good Prospects for Sustainable Recovery
The Czech economy is expected to return to growth already in the first half of 2014. Growth will not be only based on exports.
January 10, 2014
Slovenia: 2014 Credit Line of € 7.7bn
On Thursday the Slovenian government adopted a budget financing plan which includes this year’s credit line of up to € 7.7bn.
January 10, 2014
Poland: Key Interest Rate to Remain Unchanged
As expected, the key interest rate will not be changed. According to Marek Belka, governor of the Polish National Bank (NBP), there was no need in monetary interventions.
January 9, 2014
Austria: First Tax Package to Be Presented
The Austrian government intends to present the first tax package tomorrow.
January 8, 2014
Hungary Amending Figures of Budget Deficit
Hungarian Finance and Economy Minister Mihaly Varga announced that the budget deficit of 2013 will be below the target after it was lowered dramatically.
January 8, 2014
Poland: On Path of Recovery and Growth
The Polish economy has been growing steadily since the beginning of 2013. However, budget deficit slightly exceeded forecasts.
January 7, 2014
Hypo Group Alpe Adria: „Bad Bank Will Come“
Klaus Liebscher, chairman of Hypo Group´s supervisory board, underlines that a bad bank will be established for the nationalized lender. Nevertheless, the bank remains the biggest financial disaster in Austria´s history.
January 4, 2014
Czech Budget Deficit Lower than Expected
In total, the Czech budget deficit will come at 2.0% of GDP. Before, the budget deficit was estimated to come at 3.4% of GDP.
January 4, 2014
Czech Economy to Return to Growth
After two years of GDP contraction, the Czech Republic will reach moderate economic growth rates in 2014.
January 2, 2014
