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Maria Fekter
Austrian Bank Aids: Losses Total € 3.4bn
The nationalized banks are a substantial risk factor for Austria´s budget. Losses may increase further.
July 23, 2012
Hypo Group: „As Little Bank Aids as Possible“
Hypo Group Alpe Adria´s CEO Gottwald is unhappy with reports that the state-owned bank may need further bank aids.
July 20, 2012
Resistance Against Enlargement of ÖIAG
The chairman of ÖBB´s (Austrian Railways) supervisory board Horst Pöchhacker rejects the idea of integrating ÖBB, Verbund or Asfinag into the publicly held Austrian industrial holding ÖIAG.
July 19, 2012
Fekter Does not Want to Bundle Austrian Problem Banks
As the public debt level would rise dramatically, Austria´s Finance Minister Maria Fekter rejects the idea of a common bad bank.
July 19, 2012
Vienna Stock Exchange Claims to Abolish Security Gains Tax
In April, transactions were down by 25%, CEO Michael Buhl says. Since December turnover fell dramatically at Vienna Stock Exchange.
July 18, 2012
Koren will be new CEO of VBAG
Starting from 1 september 2012, Koren becomes the new head of VBAG´s management board. New member of the board Rainer Borns should represent a „strong connecting link to regional Volksbanks“.
July 17, 2012
Switzerland: Popular Vote on Tax Treaty with Austria?
The bilateral tax treaty should bring Austria up to € 1.0bn After the treaty is signed and ratified, a popular vote may prevent the deal now.
July 17, 2012
Fekter Against Forced Loans
Austria´s Finance Minister Maria Fekter opposes to DIW´s suggestion to impose forced loans on wealthy persons.
July 16, 2012
Austrian Industry Urges Government to Continue Austerity Policies
The Austrian government has to perform its job in order to retain competitiveness and economic growth in future. Finance Minister Fekter is highly satisfied with the government´s economic report.
July 10, 2012
ESM Approved by Austrian Parliament
The controversial European Stability Mechanism was ratified by the Austrian National Council. The right opposition parties criticized the approval massively.
July 6, 2012
IMF: Austria Has Favorable Economic Fundamentals
IMF in Washington DC analyzes Austrian macroeconomic outlook and is satisfied with the consolidation path.
July 4, 2012
Austria Ratifies ESM
The government parties SPÖ and ÖVP got support by the oppositional Green Party. The remaining opposition parties criticized the „loss of sovereignty“ massively.
July 2, 2012
Support for Export-Oriented SMEs
The Austrian Ministry of Finance increased the bill guarantee facility for small and medium-sized enterprises to € 1.2bn.
June 29, 2012
ÖIAG: No Solution in Sight
Today, the supervisory board of the Austrian Industrial Holding (ÖIAG) had a meeting. A clear strategy will not be found anyway.
June 28, 2012
Austria Still Blocks Agreement on Taxation of Interest Income
The Commission of the European Union wishes Austria to give up its blockade against a reform of the direction on the taxation of interest income. Austria stands by its oppositional attitude.
June 27, 2012
„ÖIAG Should Manage Banking Interests“
Austria´s Finance Minister Maria Fekter wants to upgrade the Austrian state holding ÖIAG.
June 23, 2012
Fekter Promotes Financial Transaction Tax
There was no agreement on a common financial transaction tax in all EU member states. Austria´s Finance Minister Fekter wants to introduce the tax in a group of countries instead.
June 23, 2012
Government´s Plans on Bank Insolvency Law Failed
The Austrian government initially planned to initiate a bank insolvency law in order to liquidate financially stricken banks without major difficulties. Now, the plan has failed.
June 22, 2012
Fekter Declines Mercy for Greece
Austria´s Finance Minister Maria Fekter is poised for amending several points oft he Greek austerity program. This is no accomodation, Fekter emphasizes. In the future, the EU should be completely centralized, Fekter says.
June 21, 2012
Heavy Dispute Over ÖIAG
The Austrian Minister of Finance plans to incorporate the publicly held stakes in ÖBB, Asfinag and Verbund into ÖIAG. The coalition partner SPÖ and Reinhold Mitterlehner oppose to this attempt.
June 21, 2012
Uncertain Future for ÖIAG
After CEO Markus Beyrer announced to resign, a new debate about the future of the publicly held Austrian industrial holding emerged.
June 19, 2012
Fekter Approves Greek Election Results
The Austrian Minister of Finance Maria Fekter is happy with the „Pro-European „ statement oft he Greeks. Minor adjustments to aid packages would be possible.
June 18, 2012
Fekter Defends Euro Aids
Austria´s Finance Minister Maria Fekter underlines the „necessity of solidarity“ and stressed ist commitment to the common currency. The Austria opposition party FPÖ made a serious protest.
June 16, 2012
Tax Treaty with Switzerland Finally Confirmed
The second chamber oft he Swiss Parliament approved the tax deal with Austria, Germany and the U.K.
June 16, 2012
Markus Beyrer New Director General of Businesseurope
The Council of Presidents (COPRES) of the leading European business organization unanimously appoints 46 year old Austrian.
June 15, 2012
Monti Angry at Fekter
Italy´s Prime Minister Mario Monti is unhappy with the statement of Austria´s Finance Minister Maria Fekter on Italy. Fekter considered that Italy may need help by the EU.
June 12, 2012
Spain: „ESM would be a Better Safeguard“
Austria´s Minister of Finance Maria Fekter wants Spain to call for aid via the ESM.
June 11, 2012
Hypo Group: The Time is Pressing
Until the end of this year, the Austrian nationalized banks needs an equity quota of 12.0%. This will not be achieved without special measures.
June 11, 2012
Government Battles for OeNB´s Reorder
The reorder of the supervisory board and the management board at the Austrian Central Bank( OeNB) was brought forward. Now, a dispute between the coalition parties arose.
June 2, 2012
Androsch Criticizes Hypo Group Purchase
In 2009, the Austrian state nationalized the financially stricken Hypo Group. Much time was wasted, the industrialist and Fimbag board member Hannes Androsch thinks.
May 30, 2012
Switzerland Ratifies Tax Treaty with Austria
The Swiss National Council approved the tax deal with Austria. Illegal funds of Austrian nationals in Switzerland will be taxed.
May 30, 2012
Austrian Budget Target Endangered
In spite of decreasing revenues and rising expenses, Austria´s Minister of Finance Maria Fekter expects to reach the budget target.
May 30, 2012
Switzerland: Resistance Against Tax Deal with Austria
Swiss parties are against the tax agreement with Austria. The social democrats and the Swiss People´s Party oppose the plan.
May 29, 2012
Fekter Emphasizes: „Eurobonds Do Not Solve Debt Problem“
Maria Fekter, Austria´s Minister of Finance, thinks that the idea of common bonds is no real solution, but only symptom fighting.
May 26, 2012
Fekter: “Strengthen Partnership with Eastern Neighbours”
Austria´s Finance Minister Maria Fekter emphasizes the necessity of a closer political and economic integration needed with partners in the East.
May 26, 2012
Greece and Eurobonds Divide Austria
The Greek exit and the introduction of Eurobonds are discussed heatedly. In Austria, there is no clear tendency.
May 25, 2012
Fekter Warns of Greek Exit
Austrias Finance Minister Maria Fekter sees enormous difficulties in the case of an exit out of the Eurozone. The Financial Market Authority (FMA) supports Fekter.
May 23, 2012
Fekter: Hollande´s Suggestions are “Nonsense”
Vice-Chancellor Spindelegger and Finance Minister Fekter are strictly against the introduction of Eurobonds and any amendments of the Fiscal Treaty.
May 22, 2012
Bank Secret: EU Commission is Frustrated
The European Commission is dissatisfied with Austria´s and Luxembourg´s blockage of the interest taxation directive.
May 16, 2012
Austria´s Bank Secret Endangered
„I will withstand.“ Maria Fekter, Austria´s Minister of Finance said. The resistance against the EU directive on the taxation of interest will not be given up, Fekter reaffirmed.
May 15, 2012
Austrian Ministry of Finance Presents Public Expense Statistic
Finance Minister Maria Fekter initiated an information campaign. 22.6% of the public expenses are allocated to provinces and municipalities.
May 12, 2012
IMF: Austria´s Contribution to Reach € 6.0bn
The capital increase at the International Monetary Fund costs Austria € 6.0bn. Austria may receive an executive director. Schieder considers introducing Eurobonds.
April 23, 2012
Fekter meets British Chancellor of the Exchequer Osborne
The Austrian Minister of Finance Maria Fekter and George Osborne talked about Basel III, the EU budget and taxation.
April 23, 2012
Austrian Railways: € 33bn Investment Package Resolved
The Austrian National Council decided the infrastructure package for ÖBB (Austrian Railways). Until 2017, investments of € 33bn will be made.
April 19, 2012
Austrian Opposition Increase Criticism on Swiss Tax Deal
For FPÖ, the tax deal with Switzerland is a “gift for tax evaders”. The Green Party sees support for tax fraud.
April 18, 2012
Felderer: „Another Downgrade Less Probable“
The Austrian economist Bernhard Felderer thinks that the risk of another downgrade of Austrian sovereign bonds has decreased.
April 18, 2012
Austrian Industry Underlines Austerity Policy
After the rating agency Fitch retained Austria´s triple A, the Austrian industry sees a confirmation of the need for austerity. Finance Minister Fekter emphasized to push for further reforms.
April 17, 2012
Tax Deal Fiercely Criticized
Last week, Austria concluded a tax treaty with Switzerland. For experts, the deal does not solve the main problems.
April 16, 2012
Austria and Switzerland Signed Tax Treaty
Austria´s Finance Minister Fekter signed the tax treaty with her Swiss colleague Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf. In 2013, additional tax intake of € 1.0bn is expected.
April 14, 2012
Fekter Nominates Koren as VBAG´s Chief Executive
Maria Fekter, the Austrian Minister of Finance said that Stephan Koren already agreed to become CEO of the partly nationalized bank VBAG.
April 14, 2012