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Michael Spindelegger
Refugees and Skilled Migration - How to Solve the Political Crisis?
Around 500 participants ranging from politicians and policy makers to opinion leaders and experts from governments, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society organizations gathered recently at the Aula of Sciences in Vienna. The third Vienna Migration Conference 2018 aimed at solving the political crisis related to refugee protection and addressing European needs for skilled migration.
December 19, 2018
Made in Vienna: Immigration to Europe - Safe, Orderly and Regular
Against the background of socio-economic developments and persisting economic imbalances the demand for migration will increase. Europe’s demand for skilled labour will grow and skills shortages will be felt more strongly in EU Member States. Non-European countries will need even greater support in creating economic opportunities for their young and growing populations. Both the EU and its partner countries have an interest in functioning policies that create regular channels for labour mobility, steer migration away from its irregular forms, and help put an end to the human tragedies that migration is currently associated with..
October 3, 2018
Meet the Minister in Charge for Austria's Presidency of the Council of the EU: Gernot Blümel
During Austria's EU Council Presidency, the name Gernot Blümel, the Federal Minister responsible not only for the EU but also for art, culture and media, will be mentioned time and again. Blümel is also chairmen of the Vienna ÖVP and a close confidant of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. His ministry is even physically integrated into the Federal Chancellery.
June 5, 2018
Migration Policy Agency Celebrates 25th Anniversary and Welcomes New Members Malta and Turkey
With Malta and Turkey both joining Vienna based ICMPD in May, the International Centre for Migration Policy Development welcomes two new Member States. ICMPD has now 17 Member States all across Europe. In 2018 ICMPD is also celebrating the 25th anniversary of its founding and is looking into the future to try to see what it may hold in terms of migration and mobility of people.
May 29, 2018
What does the Vienna-based ICMPD and its Director General Michael Spindelegger do?
The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) was founded in 1993 in Vienna on the initiative of Austria and Switzerland with the aim of making migration and mobility of people orderly, safe and regular, including through the implementation of planned and well managed migration policies. The aim is to counteract the often short-term thinking of governments so that sustainable solutions can be found and implemented in the medium and long term to combat and overcome the migration crisis. From this point of view, the tasks of the ICMPD have become extremely topical and important due to the refugee crisis.
April 26, 2018
Spindelegger Becomes Director General of Migration Organization ICMPD
Former Austrian Vice-Chancellor and Minister Michael Spindelegger has been elected Director Genera of the Vienna-based International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). 15 Member States of the Organization elected him for five years, ICMPD announced. Most recently, he was president of the Agency for the Modernization of Ukraine of the Ukrainian oligarchs Dimitri Firtash.
October 1, 2015
Mitterlehner Replaces Spindelegger as Party Head and Vice Chancellor
Yesterday evening Reinhold Mitterlehner has been elected by the ÖVP board as new party chairman and vice chancellor. Spindelegger himself had left the party headquarters shortly before. The decision in the ÖVP board was unanimous. He is supposed to lead the party out of the crisis. His first statement after the designation on Tuesday evening was: "We must close ranks." He now wants to discuss in which direction to proceed with the tax reform. A political decision will fall but only in the fall.
August 27, 2014
Austrian Finance Minister Michael Spindelegger Quits
Finance Minister Michael Spindelegger resigned today after eight months in office, the reason are differences within the People's Party (ÖVP) on debt reform and tax. He also stepped down as vice chancellor and head of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), the center-right junior partner of the grand coalition government.
August 26, 2014
Hypo Group: Shady Deals with Balkan Diplomats
The Austrian problem bank Hypo Group has troubles recovering debts.
May 3, 2014
Austria: Hypo Group Investigation Committee to be Established?
Will the Austrian government soon give in to establishing an investigation committee for problem bank Hypo Group?
May 2, 2014
Hypo Group Further Losses to Be Expected
Huge losses by the sale of the SEE banking network could be expected.
April 30, 2014
Spindelegger: “Arsonists Are to Blame Not Fire Brigade”
The downsizing of ailing bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria is a heavy burden for this year’s budget. According to Finance Minister Spindelegger, the deficit comes at 2.7 percent of GDP while public debts will soar.
April 29, 2014
Hypo Group: Huge Burden for Austrian Budget
The downsizing of problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria is a huge burden for this year’s budget.
April 29, 2014
Austria: Is Spindelegger Suitable as Finance Minister?
On Tuesday the Austrian Finance Minister will hold his first budget speech. Initial figures reveal record debt levels.
April 28, 2014
Budget Deficit: Austria Threatened with Penalty
Due to the capital injections into the distressed lender Hypo Group, Austria´s 2013 budget deficit will exceed the 3.0% threshold. According to Finance Minister Spindelegger, Austria might face an excessive deficit procedure.
April 25, 2014
Austrian Public Debt Almost at 80% of GDP
The Austrian public debt burden will reach a new all-time high at the end of the current year. The challenging fiscal situation is partly attributable to the capital injections into Hypo Group Alpe Adria.
April 24, 2014
Austria: Calls for Reduction of Bureaucracy Become Louder
Bureaucratic hurdles burden the Austrian enterprises the most apart from taxes and other levies.
April 23, 2014
Austria: RLB OÖ Still Threatening to Leave
According to managing director of Raiffeisenlandesbank Oberösterreich (RLB OÖ) Heinrich Schaller, the tax burden is too high in Austria. The bank is still threatening to leave for Germany if the bank levy will not be changed.
April 17, 2014
Hypo Group: Disastrous Losses Revealed
Huge write-offs and value adjustments have sent losses of nationalized problem Hypo Group Alpe Adria soaring. Losses running into the billions are expected.
April 10, 2014
Austria: Hypo Group’s Investigation Committee Ready for Action
The group of foreign experts at the investigation commission for Hypo Group Alpe Adria is supposed to guarantee the required objectivity. The first results are expected to be published at the end of the year.
April 10, 2014
Hypo Group: „We Are not the Only One Who Must Pay“
Austrian Minister of Finance Michael Spindelegger underlines that the Austrian taxpayers are not the only ones who must bear the losses of the nationalized lender Hypo Group Alpe Adria.
April 5, 2014
Austria: Carinthia Reluctant to Pay for Hypo Group
The Austrian province of Carinthia rejects contributing to the downsizing costs of nationalized Hypo Group. Finance Minister Spindelegger insists on € 500m and threatens with sanctions.
April 4, 2014
Bosnian Billionaire to Acquire Hypo Group?
The Finance Ministry confirmed the announcement and is now examining the offer.
April 4, 2014
Austria: Dispute about Bank Tax Culminates
The establishing of a new fund for the banking union will become a financial burden for banking institutes.
April 3, 2014
Austria: “Financial Crisis is Not Yet Over”
Deputy Chancellor and Finance Minister Michael Spindelegger considers the financial crisis not to be completely over.
April 2, 2014
Austria: Spindelegger Expects Significant Increase of Deficit
According to the Finance Minister, the consequences of the Hypo-disaster are “dramatic”. However, he does not see a danger of deflation.
April 1, 2014
Hypo Group: “The People are Really Pissed Off“
According to Werner Kogler, financial spokesman and deputy party leader of the Austrian Greens, the Hypo commission appointed by the government is an “intolerable escape attempt”.
March 28, 2014
Hypo Petition Puts Pressure on Austrian Government
The support of the online petition for the establishing of an investigation committee has gained more than 105,000 supporters which puts increasing pressure on the government.
March 28, 2014
Austria: S&P Confirms Rating
US rating agency Standard & Poor’s has confirmed the Austrian rating at “AA+” with a stable outlook.
March 28, 2014
Austria: High Support for Hypo Group’s Investigation Petition
According to a decision in the petition committee, the online petition for the investigation of the nationlization of ailing Hypo Group Alpe Adria will be open for signing until the next committee meeting in June.
March 26, 2014
Spindelegger: Investigation Committee “Counterproductive“
According to the Finance Minister, an investigation committee would only worsen the negotiation position with BayernLB.
March 25, 2014
Hypo Group: Spindelegger Still Rejects Investigation Committee
Today the opposition will call for a joint request for a parliamentary investigation committee with regard to ailing bank Hypo Group.
March 25, 2014
Austria: No Changes to Land Transfer Tax
There will be no tax hikes in the near future concerning the inheritance of property within families. The draft law of the Finance Ministry also includes the exemption of business successions.
March 24, 2014
Austria: Hypo Petition to be Continued
The online petition for the establishing of a parliamentary investigation committee will not be stopped by the Austrian government, consisting of SPÖ (Social Democrats) and ÖVP (Austrian People’s Party).
March 24, 2014
Hypo Group: New Supervisory Board President
Herbert Walter becomes head of the nationalized Austrian Balkan lender Hypo Group Alpe Adria. According to Austrian Finance Minister Michael Spindelegger, Hypo Group needs even more capital injections.
March 24, 2014
Hypo Group: “Acutely Gaping Capital Hole“
In a compulsory notification published on Friday morning, Hypo Group Alpe Adria has reported about an “acutely gaping capital hole” which has to be covered by the Austrian Federation.
March 21, 2014
Austria: Still No Disclosure about Hypo’s Capital Gap
Detailed figures about how much the Austrian state will have to inject for the balance sheet total of 2013 will be published on Friday at the earliest.
March 21, 2014
Hypo Group Expected to Publish Figures This Week
On Thursday the Austrian taxpayers are supposed to officially get to know the financial requirements for nationalized problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria.
March 19, 2014
BayernLB: “We Were Brazenly Betrayed by Austria"
CEO of BayernLB Gerd Häusler claims the German bank and former parent company of nationalized Hypo Group Alpe Adria accuses Austria of having taken the law into its own hands.
March 18, 2014
Hypo Group: Government Explains Downsizing Solution
On Tuesday the Austrian government will explain the decided downsizing solution for the ailing bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria. Carinthia only wants to pay € 300m in downsizing costs.
March 18, 2014
Austria: Carinthia Forced to Pay for Hypo Group
Finance Minister Michael Spindelegger announced wanting to include the federal province of Carinthia to participate in the downsizing costs for ailing bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria. Austerity measures are “inevitable”.
March 17, 2014
Austria: Spindelegger Puts Pressure on BayernLB
In the dispute with BayernLB, former parent company of problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria, Finance Minister Michael Spindelegger calls for a tougher approach.
March 17, 2014
Austria: Spindelegger Demands Valid Figures by Hypo Group
Finance Minister Michael Spindelegger demands valid figures from Hypo Group Alpe Adria before any further capital injections will be made by the Austrian state.
March 15, 2014
Austria: IV Welcomes Government‘s Decision on Hypo
According to Kapsch, president of IV, Hypo Group’s insolvency would have meant uncertainty and damages to the reputation of the business location Austria.
March 14, 2014
Hypo Group: Decision Has Finally Been Made
The government has finally made a decision. Ailing Hypo Group Alpe Adria will be downsized through a private bad bank.
March 14, 2014
Austria/SEE: Crucial Days for Hypo Group’s Future
Today the supervisory board of ailing Hypo Group is gathering to determine the financial gap of Hypo Group and the amount required to complete the balance sheets for 2013. Moreover, a decision about the SEE network will have to be made.
March 14, 2014
Austria: Who Will Pay for Hypo Group?
In the dispute around who is to pay for problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria Chancellor Werner Faymann intends to negotiate with the Austrian provinces about a contribution to the bank levy.
March 13, 2014
Hypo Group: Insolvency Still an Option?
The group of international advisors appointed by the Austrian government seems to have come to a different conclusion than the task force of Hypo Group Alpe Adria.
March 12, 2014
Hypo Group: Losses Expected to Run into Billions
Hypo Group Alpe Adria is expected to reveal losses of around € 2bn in the balance sheet for the business year 2013. Up to now, losses in the amount of € 1.3bn were expected.
March 12, 2014
Task Force: Time Is Running out for Hypo Group
The final report by the task force of problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria calls upon the Austrian government to make a decision about the downsizing until mid-March.
March 11, 2014
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