Sponsored Content
Fiscal Policy
Poland Starts Privatization Program
The Polish government wants to sell state-owned assets worth € 5bn.
October 18, 2012
RBI: We Will Not Leave Hungary
Herbert Stepic, CEO of Austrian RBI (Raiffeisen Bank International) is highly dissatisfied with Hungary´s decision not to reduce bank taxes. However, RBI will stay, he says.
October 18, 2012 · Updated: October 18, 2012; 17:08
Hungary Doubles Financial Transaction Tax
The Hungarian Minister of Economics Gyorgy Matolcsy announced that the financial transaction tax will be increased to 0.2%. Moreover, the bank taxes will not be reduced.
October 17, 2012
Austrian Budget: Experts Call for Further Reforms (Part 3)
Economists think that the budget does not contain enough reform steps. The opposition does not see any signs of progress.
October 16, 2012
Austrian Budget: Experts Call for Further Reforms (Part 2)
Austrian economic research institutes criticize the state budget and want the government to show more ambition.
October 16, 2012
Austrian Budget: Experts Call for Further Reforms (Part 1)
Today, the Austrian Finance Minister Fekter presented the 2013 Budget to Austrian National Assembly. The reactions were highly controversial.
October 16, 2012
FPÖ Files Suit Against ESM
The biggest Austrian opposition party files a legal complaint against the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) at the Austrian Constitutional Court.
October 15, 2012
Austria to Violate Maastricht Criteria in 2012
This year, the Austria budget deficit will not be below the 3.0% threshold. This is mainly due to the banking package.
October 15, 2012
Austrian Industry Reaffirms: „We need structural reforms”
The President of IV (Federation of Austrian Industries) Georg Kapsch argues that more justice cannot be achieved with new taxes.
October 13, 2012
Slovak Deficit to Reach 2.9% of GDP in 2013
The Slovak government approved the 2013 state budget. The deficit will be reduced step by step in the next years.
October 12, 2012
Poland´s Budget Deficit “Will Not Be Bigger than Planned”
The Polish Minister of finance Jacek Rostowski stresses that the planned budget deficit will not be higher than PLN 35.6bn.
October 11, 2012
Orban Rejects Joining Eurozone
The Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban thinks that the introduction of the euro in Hungary would be “irresponsible”.
October 10, 2012
Fekter Welcomes Entry into Force of ESM
Austria´s Minister of Finance "No cause for celebration, however, as we are still in the middle of stabilising the Eurozone."
October 10, 2012
Austrian Presents Piorities for the “EU budget of the future”
State Secretary Lopatka in the EU Sub-Committee of the National Council.
October 10, 2012
Fekter Happy With Financial Transaction Tax
Austrian Finance Minister Maria Fekter: "We have only created the on-ramp to the highway – details and structure to follow by Christmas“
October 10, 2012
Slovenia Resolves Financial Transaction Tax
The Slovenian government wants to introduce a 6.5% tax on securities trading. The financial industry criticizes the government massively.
October 9, 2012
Serbia´s National Bank Fights Against Inflation
Today, the Serbian National Bank raised the base rate from 10.50% to 10.75%. IMF has lowered the economic outlook for Serbia.
October 9, 2012
Financial Transaction Tax to be Introduced
Now, the financial transaction tax has enough supporters. After months of negotiations, eleven EU member countries finally agreed on introducing a financial transaction tax.
October 9, 2012
Hungarian Economy Still Shows Weakness
The country´s economic growth remains low, public debt leaves no leeway for fiscal policies. A high level of foreign debt remains a significant weakness of the Hungarian economy.
October 6, 2012
Support for Financial Transaction Tax Keeps Within Limits
In order to introduce the tax, nine countries must agree thereon. The time pressure is growing.
October 6, 2012
New Austerity Package in Hungary
In order to cut the budget defict below 3.0% of GDP in 2013, the Hungarian government plans further cuts and tax increases.
October 5, 2012
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
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
ESM: Slovakia Pays € 264m
In October, the Slovak government will transfer € 264m to ESM. This will be the first two installments.
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
Austrian Socialists Call for New Taxes
The governing SPÖ wants to introduce new property and inheritance taxes.
October 4, 2012
Austria: Tax Fraud on the Rise
VAT evasion will come at € 2.3bn year, experts say. This is an increase by 5%.
October 3, 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
Slovakia Abolishes Flat Tax
Because of the austerity pressure, Slovakia gives up its flat tax. The corporation income tax rate increases to 23% from 19%.
October 3, 2012
IMF Puts Pressure on Slovenia
Slovenia is urged to implement quick reforms. Otherwise the country may have to be bailed out by the safety net.
October 3, 2012
Tax Deal with Switzerland: No Referendum
The opponents of the treaty between Austria and Switzerland could not collect enough votes. About 47,500 signatures could be collected.
October 2, 2012
Financial Transaction Tax: Austrian Government Under Pressure
In its last austerity package, the Austrian government has anticipated a financial transaction tax to be introduced in 2014. The time pressure is growing.
October 2, 2012
Serbia to Grow in 2013
The Serbian economist Jurij Bajec explained that the Serbian economy will recover next year. Real GDP growth will reach 2.0%, he says.
October 1, 2012
Fekter Promotes Financial Transaction Tax
The Austrian Minister of Finance wrote a letter to the EU Commission. She argues that a financial transaction tax would be economically reasonable.
October 1, 2012
Bank Secret: Semeta Criticizes Austria´s Position
According to the EU Commissioner Algirdas Semeta, Austria´s bank secret is “out-dated”. He criticizes that Austria and Luxembourg still reject to give up the bank secret.
October 1, 2012
Hungary Prohibits Slot Machines
According to Hungary´s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the national security would be endangered.
October 1, 2012
Fekter Against Property Taxes
The Austrian Minister of Finance Maria Fekter (ÖVP) would support an income tax reform. Property taxes would not be acceptable, she says.
September 29, 2012
Stronach Calls For 25% Flat Tax
The Austrian industrial and new party leader Frank Stronach wants a radical tax reform.
September 29, 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
Banking Package: Austrian Opposition Criticizes Government Sharply
Today, the Austrian Audit Court explained that costs may reach up to € 4.8bn.
September 26, 2012
Hungary „Still Obtains Funding from the Financial Market“
Vince Szalay-Bobrovniczky, the Hungarian ambassador in Vienna, emphasized that Hungary is not dependent on the IMF loan. The IMF urges Hungary to reduce its bureaucracy, he says.
September 26, 2012
Banking Package: Costs up to € 4.8bn
The Austrian Audit Court expects that the banking package will be much more expensive than it was said before. Moreover, the Audit Court criticizes the government massively. The control mechanism would be too weak.
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
Austrian Tax Deal with Switzerland Wobbles
The citizens´ movement in Switzerland has collected enough signatures in order to hold a popular vote on the tax deal with Austria.
September 25, 2012
Austrian Elections 2013: Stronach Confirms Candidacy
This week, the former CEO of Magna Frank Stronach will present the program of his party. The name of the party is not fixed yet.
September 25, 2012
“EU administration must be screened for savings potential”
Austrian State Secretary Lopatka repeats Austria’s central demands at the General Affairs Council in Brussels.
September 25, 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
Waiglein Becomes Director of ESM
Austria´s Minister of Finance Maria Fekter mandates Harald Waiglein as member of the board of directors.
September 22, 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
Fast News Search
