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OEVP Austrian Peoples Party
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
Does the Euro Collapse Now? (Part 1)
The nervousness among Europe´s leaders is growing. Not only Finland warns of a breakdown.
August 17, 2012
Paierl Said to Become Next Chairman at ÖIAG
After months of discrete discussions, the new chairman of the Austrian Industrial Holding (ÖIAG) seems to be certain.
August 16, 2012
Property Taxes: Controversy Between Austrian Government Parties
The Austrian social democrats still push for introducing property taxes. The coalition partner ÖVP rejects the idea.
August 14, 2012
Constitutional Court: ESM Examination Takes up to 6 Months
According to the biggest Austrian opposition party FPÖ, the European Stability Mechanism violates the Austrian constitution.
July 25, 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
Austrian Opposition Parties Fight Against Fiscal Pact
The three Austrian opposition parties FPÖ, The Greens and BZÖ announced to bring a complaint of unconstitutionality against the Fiscal Pact.
July 13, 2012
Fischer Wants to Check ESM
Austria´s Federal President Heinz Fischer does not sign the ESM approval by the Austrian Parliament yet. „I am not under time pressure.“ he says.
July 11, 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
ÖIAG Looking for New Leader
After the resignation of Markus Beyrer, the Austrian publicly held ÖIAG (Austrian Industrial Holding) seeks for a new CEO.
July 5, 2012
Banking Supervision: Satisfaction and Criticism
Austrian Members of the European Parliament welcomed the decisions taken by the euro summit. By contrast, the opposition party FPÖ criticizes the result as „final step towards a debt union“.
July 3, 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
Spindelegger: „Austria Must Delegate Competencies“
The Austrian Vice Chancellor and chairman of ÖVP Michael Spindelegger wants the centralize the European Union.
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
Green Party: ESM Approval Depends on Financial Transaction Tax
The Austrian Green party will only vote for the ESM if there is a basic consent for the financial transaction tax.
June 22, 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
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
A “Speech to Austria”? No.
The disenchantment with politics in Austria is as big as never before. An ambitious, but meaningless speech of Vice-Chancellor Spindelegger will not change the misery.
May 15, 2012
Labor Time: Resistance Against SPÖ´s Plans
The governing Social-Democrats want to reduce labor time. Industrialists, the Chamber of Commerce and FPÖ decline that idea.
April 17, 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 to Remain as Finance Minister
This week, rumors on the replacement of the Austrian Finance Minister Maria Fekter occurred. Claus Raidl, who was said to replace Fekter, denies this.
April 13, 2012
Telekom Austria: Pecik Denies Sales Talks
The Austrian investor Ronny Pecik is said to have had sales talks with China Mobile. Pecik reaffirms to remain at Telekom Austria as “long-term investor”.
March 19, 2012
Wirtschaftsbund: Leitl Re-Elected
Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, has been re-elected as chairman of Wirtschaftsbund. 92.7% of the delegates voted for Leitl.
March 10, 2012
Public Dispute Over Privatizations
The two government parties disagree to the sale of further publicly held companies. ÖVP pushes for privatizations, for SPÖ the idea is inacceptable.
February 29, 2012
Austrian Government Presents € 27bn Austerity Package
The largest austerity package in Austria´s history mainly consists of cuts in expenditures. The government emphasized the socially balanced measures and the necessity due to reasons of competitiveness.
February 11, 2012
Austrian Government Resolves Austerity Package
Speculation terms on real estate will be abolished, the tax privilege on 13th and 14th salary too. Inheritance taxes or enrollment fees will not be re-introduced.
February 9, 2012
Austerity Package Takes Form
Although negotiations over the austerity package are not finished, first details are already known.
February 7, 2012
Government: Dispute Over Pensions
The Austrian government parties SPÖ and ÖVP disagree over contributions by retirees. The austerity package is far from being resolved.
February 6, 2012
Austerity: ÖVP Becomes Impatient
Negotiations between the coalition partners SPÖ and ÖVP are going on. ÖVP´s chairman Spindelegger locates an “incredibly big need of consolidation”.
January 31, 2012
ÖVP Does Not Exclude New Taxes Anymore
Against previous statements, the head of the Austrian conservatives, Michael Spindelegger, considers to introduce new taxes.
January 9, 2012
Austria Grants Highest Subsidies in Europe
In 2010, subsidies amounting to 6.5% of the Austrian GDP were distributed. The EU-average is only the half.
January 7, 2012
Austerity Package: Business Association Warns of New Taxes
New taxes would be an “attack against the economy”, general secretary Peter Haubner says.
January 4, 2012
Government: Different Opinions on Taxation
The social democrats want to re-introduce the inheritance tax. The people´s party plans to raise tax quotas for the 13th and 14th salary.
January 3, 2012
Austrian Enterprises Fear Nationalization in Hungary
Nationalization plans induce fierce criticism against the Hungarian Government. The Austrian waste management industry would be hit hard.
January 2, 2012
Austrian Government Wants to Save € 10bn
The coalition partners agreed to cut expenses by € 2.0bn per year until 2016. Details were not published.
December 27, 2011
Austrian Post: Privatization Is Not Planned
The trade union of post employees wants to lower the dividends. Privatization plans have not been discussed yet.
December 8, 2011
Austrian „Debt Brake“ Resolved
Due to the lack in approval by the opposition parties, the „debt brake“ will only be resolved as a simple act.
December 8, 2011
Opposition Not Convinced: „Debt Brake“ Fails
The Austrian government´s plans to introduce a “debt brake” in the constitution has failed. The three opposition parties are against the idea.
December 5, 2011
Austrian Government Pushes for Further Austerity Measures
The Minister of Finance, Maria Fekter, did not exclude an austerity package. First effects should be seen already in 2012. However, it is not clear yet if economic forecasts for the next year will hold.
November 26, 2011
Austerity Measures or New Taxes?
The Austrian government has to reduce its deficits, after having announced the “debt break”. The social democrats call for property taxes.
November 19, 2011
Spindelegger: Cost Cuts and Privatizations to Save Triple-A
Annual interest payments would grow by € 3bn if Austria was downgraded by one notch.
November 11, 2011
ÖVP: Privatization of ÖBB “Unrealistic”
A privatization of the Austrian Federal Railways as suggested by Finance Minister Fekter is not an option at the moment.
October 7, 2011
Dispute Over A-Tec´s Liquidation
After the Sale of the insolvent Austrian A-Tec has failed, the subsidiaries will be sold separately. Austrian politicians warn of the loss of jobs, technology and tax revenue.
October 3, 2011
Austrian Minister of Science: € 1.00bn for Universities
Karlheinz Töchterle (ÖVP), announced that Austrian universities may receive € 1.00bn from 2013 to 2015 separately. However, critics already commented the plan.
September 12, 2011
Ex-Chancellor Schüssel Resigns from Parliament
Wolfgang Schüssel retires from the political stage as a consequence of the market manipulation and corruption affair at Telekom Austria.
September 5, 2011
“Telekom, Post and OMV Could Be Privatized Immediately”
Karlheinz Kopf calls for privatizations in the infrastructure sector. Last year, the Austrian state earned € 244m from its shareholdings.
September 5, 2011
Mitterlehner with Plans for Reform of ÖIAG
The Minister of Economics intends to reposition the Austrian state holding company. Markus Beyrer, the new CEO, is currently evaluating new concepts.
July 25, 2011
Resistance to Privatization Plans
The SPÖ criticized the plans of its coalition partner ÖVP to reduce public participation in order to abate debt.
May 10, 2011
Vienna International Airport: Kirschner is the New Chairman of the Supervisory Board
Ewald Kirschner will temporarily lead the Supervisory Board until CEO Christoph Herbst takes over the chair again. Opinions are divided concerning the privatization of the company.
April 27, 2011
Lower Austria Seeks Airport Privatization
Lower Austrian Governor Erwin Pröll (ÖVP) intends to sell the 20% share of Vienna International Airport. The city of Vienna is not pleased at all.
April 23, 2011
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