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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