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Maria Fekter
Fekter Interested in Hungary´s Bank Taxation Plans
The Austrian Minister of Finance wants to analyse the taxation plans of the Hungarian government thoroughly. The bank taxes would be “highly interesting”, Fekter says.
October 19, 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
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
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
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
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
Flat Tax in Austria?
The Austrian opposition party presented a “fair tax” model. The other parties criticized the proposal fiercely.
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
Fekter Appeals on Banks to Prevent Credit Crunch
Banks should be more creative in financing the real economy instead of creating new financial products, she says.
October 5, 2012
Fekter Rejects Deposit Protection in EU
At the Alpbach Financial Symposium, Austria´s Minister of Finance Maria Fekter underlined to reject the European deposit protection.
October 4, 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
Fekter: “Greece Shows Progress”
Austria´s Finance Minister praises Greece's efforts to improve its situation.
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
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
Austrian Budget Targets Will Not Hold
In August, Finance Minister Maria Fekter underlined that the budget deficit will not exceed 2.9% of GDP. Due to the banking package, the budget deficit will be higher, though.
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
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
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 Federal States and Municipalities Record Massive Rise in Debt
Since 2007, the debt level of Austrian federal states rose by 87%. In the same period, the Austrian Federation´s debt was up by 27%.
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
Breuss: „We Must Feed Them All“
The Austrian economist expresses his concerns regarding the second package for Greece.
September 21, 2012
ÖIAG to be Enlarged?
Publicly held companies like Verbund or Austrian Railways should be integrated into the Austrian industrial holding group.
September 21, 2012
Fekter: “Spanish Banks Need € 60bn”
According to Austria´s Minister of Finance Maria Fekter, the European Union focuses on Spain. A Greek exit would be no issue anymore.
September 18, 2012
Fekter: “Relieved to have a clear Judgement”
Austrian Finance Minister Maria Fekter delighted at decision on ESM by German constitutional judges.
September 12, 2012
Soros: "Germany Must Lead or Leave"
In a talk on "The Future of the Euro" in Vienna, George Soros presented his vision of how the European financial crisis can be solved.
September 11, 2012
Merkel and Faymann Reaffirm their Commitment to the Euro
The German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel met her Austrian counterpart Werner Faymann and Vice Chancellor Michael Spindelegger in Vienna. It was Merkel´s first state visit in Austria since 2006.
September 8, 2012
Kemler New CEO of ÖIAG
The former CEO of Hewlett Packard Austria was elected as new Chief Executive Officer of the Austrian Industrial Holding.
September 7, 2012
ÖIAG: Three Potential Candidates
The Austrian Industrial Holding needs a new chairman. Tomorrow, the decision should be published.
September 6, 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
„Europe Is Stronger than Many Think”
Austria´s Federal President Heinz Fischer thinks that the exclusion of certain member states out of the Eurozone is “highly problematic”. In two or three years, the crisis in the Eurozone is managed, he believes.
September 3, 2012
Capital Shortfall at Hypo Group up to € 2.0bn
OeNB (Austrian Central Bank) will publish the capital shortfall at the end of September and emphasizes not to submit to the government´s pressure.
September 1, 2012
Fekter: „Spain is No Bail-Out Candidate“
Austria´s Finance Minister Fekter says that only Spain´s banks may need help from the EU.
August 31, 2012
Austrian Budget Targets “Will be Met”
According to Austria´s Finance Minister Maria Fekter, Austria´s budget deficit will be below 3.0% of GDP. “Our domestic fiscal position is very strong now”. she underlines.
August 30, 2012
Fekter in Favour of Mechanism for Excluding Countries from Eurozone
Austria´s Finance Minister Maria Fekter: “It will take time to implement”. Fekter wants to address countries which constantly create financial burdens for other member states.
August 30, 2012
Austrian Government to Reshuffle?
In the governing ÖVP, a power struggle is going on, insiders say. Rumours are not breaking up and are highly controversial. Finance Minister Maria Fekter may be replaced by Michael Spindelegger.
August 29, 2012
Fekter Wants Tax Reform
In an interview with the Austrian newspaper „Presse“, Finance Minister Maria Fekter said to plan a tax reform. The entry tax rate should be lowered.
August 29, 2012
No Leeway for Wage Tax Reduction
Austrian social democrats call for a relief of medium-income earners. Finance Minister Maria Fekter opposes to this idea.
August 27, 2012
Fekter Does Not Exclude Further Bank Aids Anymore
Austria´s Finance Minister Maria Fekter admits that the three nationalized banks Hypo Group and Kommunalkredit/KA Finanz may need further capital injections. In the past, Fekter denied the need of further bank aids.
August 23, 2012
Fekter: Enhanced “debt burden check” to Prevent Cost Explosion
Fekter in favour of a law against financially onerous “election-year pork”.
August 23, 2012
Rasinger Wants to Become ÖIAG´s Chairman
In July, the Austrian investor representative Wilhelm Rasinger confirmed his willingness to become ÖIAG´s new director.
August 18, 2012
FMA Pushes for Bank Insolvency Law
The Austrian Financial Market Authority increases pressure on the government. Director Helmut Ettl says the Austria needs an insolvency law for banks as soon as possible.
August 7, 2012
ÖIAG: New Potential Candidate
Rumors on the succession of Markus Beyrer do not break up. The manager Werner Lanthaler seems to have good prospects.
August 6, 2012
Dispute Over Bank Taxes
In Austria, only 82 of 787 banks have to pay bank taxes. Above all, the Raiffeisen sector and the Volksbanken sector are excluded.
August 2, 2012
ÖIAG: Search Goes On
The number of candidates for the succession of Markus Beyrer as CEO of the Austrian industrial holding keeps within limits.
August 2, 2012
Austria is Liable for Hypo Group´s Major Loan
At the sale of Hypo Group by BayernLB in late 2009, BayernLB granted a loan of € 2.64bn. The Austrian state has issued a guarantee for this loan.
July 27, 2012
ÖIAG: Malanik to Succeed Beyrer?
In June, Markus Beyrer decided to leave the Austrian Industrial Holding (ÖIAG). The former management board member Malanik could succeed.
July 27, 2012
Fekter: Greek Exit is „No Issue“
Austria´s Finance Minister Maria Fekter thinks that a Greek exit is no option for the time being. „We wait for the report of the Troika.“
July 24, 2012
Bank Insolvency Law: No Austrian Solo Run
Austria´s government changed its mind. There will be no national bank insolvency law. Austria will wait for a European solution instead.
July 23, 2012