Competitiveness

Slovenia: Banka Sparkasse Provided with Loan by EIB

EIB continues to support SME and mid-cap projects in Slovenia.

October 22, 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

Albania: Economic Growth below Potential

Structural reforms are needed to boost productivity and competitiveness and avoid weaknesses, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

October 15, 2013

Austrian Industrial Sector Well Positioned in International Competition

In 2012, the Austrian industrial sector was well positioned in the international competition, according to a study by the Austrian Institute for Economic Research (Wifo).

October 14, 2013

Slovenia Does Not Fully Draw EU Funds

As the Slovenian projects will not be finished in time, the financially stricken country will fail drawing all funds.

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

Gazprom May Face Proceedings by Austrian OMV

OMV considers arbitral proceedings against Russian Gazprom in case no joint solution will be found.

October 9, 2013

Austria: Struggling to Keep up with Economic Growth and Competitiveness

IV demands overhaul of funding policy by the government so that Austria will improve in international competitiveness.

October 1, 2013

Austrian Competitiveness Under Pressure

Last year, Austrian labor costs grew stronger than productivity.

October 1, 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

Austria: Kapsch Demands Reform Agenda From New Government

Georg Kapsch, President of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) demands the next federal government to introduce a comprehensive reform agenda.

September 27, 2013

EU Commission: Poland Lacks in Innovation and Work Efficiency

According to the EU Commission’s annual report on the competitiveness among the EU member countries, which was released on Wednesday, Poland has been improving its competitiveness.

September 26, 2013

Austria Placed 9th in Competition Ranking

According to the latest EU Competition report 2013, Austria ranks ninth among 28 member states. The leaders in the ranking are Sweden, followed by Germany and Denmark while Bulgaria, Latvia and Romania are at the lowest positions.

September 25, 2013

Hungary: Competitiveness of Industrial Sector Shrinks

Regarding Hungary´s competitiveness, there is a clear downward trend. This year, Hungary is expected to achieve an economic turnaround.

September 24, 2013

Leitl: “Grand Coalition Did Not Fulfill Expectations“

Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO), favors a change in the governing parties as the grand coalition has not realized the necessary reforms.

September 24, 2013

Romania: High Dependence from FDI

Without the inflow of foreign direct investments, Romania´s economy would shrink. The industrial sector is highly controlled by foreign investors.

September 21, 2013

World Economic Forum: Competitiveness of Western Balkans

Former Yugoslav countries and their competitiveness according to the World Economic Forum annual report.

September 6, 2013

Austria: Leitl Reiterates Criticizm

State Secretary Schieder considers Leitl’s statements “totally out of place”.

August 23, 2013

Leitl: “Austria Screwed Up”

If the US, as the perpetrator of the financial and economic crisis, shows two percent in economic growth, while Austria only 0.2 percent, then this was a “disgrace”, Leitl announced during the economic forum in Alpbach.

August 21, 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

Austria Suffers from Company Exodus

Due to the relocation of businesses, the Austrian state has lost tax intake of € 1.3bn since 2008. The Austrian group taxation model must not be abolished experts of the Austrian Ministry of Finance say.

July 22, 2013

Russia: Recession Not Excluded Anymore

Above all, Russia suffers from a shrinking industrial sector and a decline in foreign direct investments.

July 22, 2013

Federation of Austrian Industry Defends Group Taxation

The Federation of Austrian Industry (IV) argues that the Austrian business location would be endangered without the group taxation.

July 20, 2013

Russia Only Posts Moderate Growth Rates

Russian economists forecast that the Russian GDP will grow by 1.6% this year. This is substantially below the growth rate of 2012.

July 16, 2013

Spanish and Polish Prime Minister Support EU-US Free Trade Agreement

On the occasion of a state visit in Madrid, Poland´s Prime Minister Donald Tusk declared that the free trade agreement between the U.S. and the EU would be a driver for economic growth. The EU must strengthen its energy strategy, Tusk said.

July 16, 2013

Austrian Coalition to Take Stock of Legislative Period

In a joint interview with several leading Austrian newspapers, Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann and Deputy Chancellor and Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger take stock of the legislative period so far.

June 28, 2013

Leitl: „Austrian Enterprises Need Further Growth Impulses“

The Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) commits to budget consolidation but growth is the basis for a balanced state budget.

June 27, 2013

Moody's: Overall Fiscal Situation In CEE Is Improving

Because of austerity measures in most of the countries, the economic situation is slowly but steadily improving.However, the latest competitiveness report pains a bleak picture of the future.

June 7, 2013

Leitl: „There Is No More Time To Waste“

Switzerland and Sweden pull away from the rest of the European countries in regard to international competitiveness, according to the latest IMD report, while Austria has been falling behind.

May 31, 2013

World Competitive Ranking: Austria Loses 7 Ranks

The World Competitive Ranking of Lausanne IMD Private School of Economics has become one of the most significant location comparisons on an international basis in the last 25 years.

May 29, 2013

Czech Republic to Improve EU Relations?

Visits from high EU officials should herald the start of a new era in the relation between the Czech Republic and the EU.

May 3, 2013

Asmussen: “New Eurozone Members Will Reap Benefits of Initial Phase”

CEEs and The Crisis: Current Challenges and Benefits

April 30, 2013

Romania: Criticism from EU for Budget Projection

The EU Commission criticizes Romania’s budget projections for the use of EU funds in the time frame between 2014 and 2020.

April 24, 2013

Slovakia: R&D Spendings Low But Increasing

Compared with other countries, Slovakia’s R&D spendings are little but slowly and steadily they are increasing. Among the countries with the highest growth rates of R&D spendings, Slovakia ranks 5th.

April 22, 2013

Moody’s Confirms Bad Outlook for Slovakia

Ongoing difficulties and slow economic growth in Eurozone are the main factors.

April 17, 2013

Convergence Programme in Hungary: Faster Growth, Lower Deficit

The updated Convergence Programme covering the period 2013-2016 projects faster growth and a lower deficit for the upcoming years.

April 16, 2013

Austria: Number of Small-Business Owners Increased Marginally

In 2012, there were around 251,000 one-person-businesses in Austria which is 11,000 more than in 2011.

April 16, 2013

Bad Outlook for Slovenia’s Economy

Slovenia receives bad marks in a report by the EU Commission. Together with Spain, Slovenia’s economy is endagered to collapse in case measures will not be made in the next few weeks.

April 11, 2013

Bulgaria: Economy to Stabilize

Despite the enormous political instability, Bulgaria is expected to record positive growth rates this year.

February 28, 2013

Hungary Enlarges Railway Network

State Secretary on Foreign Relations Peter Szijjarto announced that MAV (Hungarian Railways) starts its biggest investment program since WWII.

February 28, 2013

Euro Adoption: Poland Has No Fixed Date Yet

For the time being, Poland wants to meet the Maastricht Criteria. The date for entering the Eurozone will be fixed in 2015.

February 27, 2013

Austria: Productivity Grows Moderately

Since 2005, the labor productivity per hour was up by 16%, the Austrian advisory firm Czipin says.

February 27, 2013

Austria: Economic Outlook Remains Cautious

Although Austria´s economy suffers from a number of major defects, the performance is still better than in the Eurozone.

February 25, 2013

Vienna´s Position as CEE-Hub Is Endangered

The number of multinational companies which withdraw their sub-headquarters from Vienna is growing, experts say.

February 20, 2013

CESEE Region Still Has Enormous Growth Potential

“CEE growth drivers intact but innovation is needed to start convergence 2.0” Erste Group says.

February 20, 2013

CESEE: Stress of Competition is Growing

CEE significantly more industrialized than euro area (30% vs. 19%) but still needs to catch up in terms of competitiveness.

February 20, 2013

Austrian Business Location Still Popular

According to a survey carried out by ABA Invest Austria, Austria ranks third in Europe.

February 19, 2013

Romania Almost Stagnates

Last year, Romania´s economy could prevent a recession. The GDP growth came at 0.2%.

February 18, 2013

“Austria’s interests are best represented in a competitive EU”

State Secretary Lopatka underlines the necessity of maintaining competitiveness in the EU.

February 14, 2013
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