Croatia
Favorable Economic Outlook for Croatia
After a severe setback since 2009, the country is expected to register substantial growth rates again, Erste Group says. Above all, the EU accession is expected to boost the country´s economy.
December 28, 2012
Austrian Purchasing Power Abroad Shrinks
For Austrians, Hungary and Croatia still leading the list of top destinations. The Holiday euro is worth slightly more in many Eurozone countries than in Austria.
December 28, 2012
WIFO: „Shut Down Hypo Group“
The Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO) recommends closing the nationalized banking group. The number of banks is expected to shrink radically.
December 27, 2012
S&P Downgrades Croatia
Croatia´s Minister of Finance Slavko Linic does not exclude that Croatia needs support from the IMF next year.
December 17, 2012
Croatia Considers Leasing Out Highways
In order to reduce the budget deficit, Croatia plans to privatize its highway network.
December 8, 2012
Croatia: EU Scepticism Grows
After German officials considered postponing Croatia´s EU accession, Croats become more critical to the European Union.
December 8, 2012
Hypo Group: Deadline Expires
Today, the first deadline for the sale of Hypo Group´s subsidiaries in Southeast-Europe expires.
December 7, 2012
Hypo Group Sold AluFlexPack to MTC
After months of negotiations, the Austrian nationalized bank sold the Croatian aluminum company to the Switzerland-based Montana Tech Components.
November 30, 2012
Fitch Cuts Croatia´s Credit Rating Outlook
The U.S. rating agency argues that the economic development in Croatia is substantially behind the expectations.
November 30, 2012
"Croatia on the final stretch towards EU membership"
Austrian State Secretary encourages Zagreb to take final steps of reform.
November 30, 2012
CESEE: Russia Has Best Growth Prospects
Next year, Russia is expected to record a GDP growth rate of 3.8%, Vienna Institute of International Economic Studies (wiiw) says.
November 26, 2012
Croatia Plans to Introduce Property Taxes
Croatia´s Finance Minister Slavko Linic plans to introduce a property tax next year. The rate will come at 1.5%.
November 23, 2012
Hypo Group: Cash Contributions Come at € 500m
The Austrian state has to inject another € 500m in the financially stricken nationalized bank. Furthermore, guarantees will increase by € 1.0bn.
November 14, 2012
CESEE: Lending Shrinks
Foreign banks reduce lending in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. Hungary and Southeastern Europe are most affected.
November 12, 2012
Hypo Group Starts Selling Business in SEE
The nationalized Austrian banking group has to downsize drastically. Today, Hypo Group started to put the subsidiaries in Southeastern Europe for sale.
November 6, 2012
Croatia Does not Participate in South Stream Pipeline
The Russian gas pipeline South Stream will not run across Croatia. Initially, Croatia was viewed as transit country.
November 5, 2012
South Stream Pipeline: Gazprom Concludes Contract with Hungary
The Russian energy group Gazprom has negotiated the last conditions of the contract with Serbia and Hungary.
November 2, 2012
Purchasing Power: Austria Ranks 6
Regarding the purchasing power per head, Austria is significantly above the European average of € 12,802.
October 31, 2012
Telekom Austria´s Vipnet Invests in Croatia
Telekom Austria´s Croatian subsidiary Vipnet Acquires 10 MHz of 800 MHz Spectrum for approximately € 20m in Croatia.
October 30, 2012
Foreign Banks Withdraw Funds from Croatia
Due to the difficult economic situation in Croatia, foreign banks reduce their exposure in Croatia.
October 24, 2012
Albania to Become Official Candidate
The Western Balkan country was recommended by the EU Commission. Serbia and Kosovo must reach a “sustainable solution”.
October 10, 2012
CEE Countries Must Work Upon Economic Convergence
CEE countries are struggling with weaker external demand and uncertain consumers, whereas in most cases fiscal policy is under control. Labour productivity, costs and competitiveness of CEE region give reason for optimism.
October 5, 2012
Nine Prime Minister Discuss EU Budget in Bratislava
The Prime Ministers of nine countries of Central and Eastern Europe will meet in the Slovak capital on October 5.
October 3, 2012
RBI: Poland Shows Stability
In Poland, Raiffeisen Bank International´s NPL ratio comes at 8%. By contrast, Ukraine and Poland are much more problematic.
October 1, 2012
MOL Announces Massive Investments in Hungary
The Hungarian oil group plans to make investments of € 1.1bn in the next three years.
September 25, 2012
Croatian EU-Accession: Slovenia as Obstacle
Slovenia may put a veto on Croatia´s EU accession. Croatia should withdraw lawsuits against the biggest Slovenian bank NLB, Slovenia says.
September 22, 2012
Croatia: Recession Aggravates
According to the Croatian Statistical Office, GDP was down by 2.2% compared to last year.
September 20, 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
New Record in Croatian Tourism Sector
In the first eight months of 2012, about 10 million tourists came to Croatia. This is a new record level.
September 15, 2012
Croatia´s Fight Against the Recession: More Austerity and Increase in Exports
According to Paul Krugman, the development of Croatia´s economy depends on the performance of the export-oriented industry.
September 14, 2012
Kuwait Petroleum Interested in Croatian and Bosnian OMV Stations
OMV sells 91 petrol stations in Croatia and Bosnia. After the Croatian INA has announced to have submitted a binding offer, Kwait Petroleum shows interest.
September 14, 2012
INA Underlines Interest in OMV´s Petrol Stations
The Croatian oil group wants to take over the petrol station business of Austrian OMV in Croatia and Bosnia.
September 12, 2012
„I´m Concerned About the Atmosphere in Southeastern Europe“
In an interview with the Austrian newspaper “Presse”, the Croatian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vesna Pusic explains that Croatia still aims to become a member of the Eurozone. The Maastricht Criteria would not be fulfilled yet, she says.
September 11, 2012
Takeover of OMV´s Petrol Stations: INA Faces Legal Restrictions
The Austrian OMV Group plans to withdraw from Croatia and Bosnia. The Croatian subsidiary of MOL is interest in OMV´s petrol stations, but may face legal restrictions from a competition law point of view.
September 7, 2012
Hypo Group´s Capital Shortfall at € 2.2bn
Today, the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) announced its new estimation regarding the nationalized banking group. Insiders fear that Hypo Group needs even more money.
September 6, 2012
Croatian INA Submits Offer to OMV
Austrian OMV sells its petrol station business in Croatia and Bosnia. The Croatian subsidiary of Hungarian MOL has submitted a binding offer.
September 5, 2012
Hypo Group Reduced Capital at Croatian Subsidiary
The Austrian nationalized bank cut the stock capital of the Croatian subsidiary by € 100m.
September 3, 2012
Croatian Crisis Aggravates
For Croatia, the end of the severe recession is not foreseeable. Croatia´s real economy is hit hard, the financial sector suffers from bad loans.
August 31, 2012
Croatian Labor Market Crisis Deteriorates
Not only the unemployment rate is increasing. Croatia has the third-highest youth unemployment rate in Europe.
August 29, 2012
Croatia Said to Become Part of South Stream Pipeline
Good news for Croatia: Gazprom and Plinacro are said to have agreed on a natural gas pipeline across Croatia. The pipeline may enhance employment and reduce natural gas costs.
August 27, 2012
Economic Crisis: Croatians are Pessimistic
According to the Croatian website politika plus, 84% of the Croatians believe that the current economic crisis will sharpen further.
August 24, 2012
NKBM Suspected of Money Laudnering
The second-largest Slovenian bank does not only face financial problems. NKBM´s management is alleged to have practiced money laundering activities.
August 23, 2012
Croatian Unemployment Rate Reaches 17.5%
In July 2012, the Croatian unemployment rate was up by 0.2 percentage points to 17.5%.
August 23, 2012
Croatia: Non-Performing Loans on the Rise
Almost one out of seven loans is classified as “non-performing.” A further aggravation is rather likely.
August 22, 2012
New Property Tax in Croatia
Slavko Linic, Finance Minister of Croatia, confirmed that Croatia will introduce a property tax in 2013. There would be no need for an IMF loan, Linic argues.
August 21, 2012
South Stream Pipeline May Run Across Croatia
Instead of Hungary, the pipeline project South Stream may pass through Croatia. Gazprom currently negotiates with the Croatian operator Plinacro.
August 20, 2012
Dispute Over Hypo Group
Despite the relatively good results, the nationalized bank needs further capital injections. What is more, the capital shortfall at Hypo Group is highly controversial.
August 16, 2012
Croatian Banks Record Lower Profits
In the first six months of 2012, the net income generated by Croatian banks was down by 19%. The Croatian economy is expected to shrink this year.
August 16, 2012
Demerger at Hypo Group Resolved
In order to become re-sold, the Austrian subsidiary of Hypo Group shifts risky assets to the holding company.
August 14, 2012
Hypo Alpe-Adria-Bank in the Red Again
Today, the nationalized bank announced its half yearly result for 2012. Net Results reached € 10m.
August 13, 2012
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