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Herbert Kickl and the FPÖ: Propagating "Fortress Austria"
Herbert Kickl, the chairman of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), is already in an election campaign mood and reiterated his critical stance on migration and asylum policy in Austria and Europe at a press conference. In clear terms, he called for an "asylum stop" and the implementation of a "Fortress Austria". His rhetoric was aimed at a strict demarcation policy and an election victory.
November 15, 2023
Othmar Karas' Reckoning with the ÖVP
For about 25 years, Othmar Karas, the first vice president of the EU Parliament, was a weighty member of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) in the European context. His withdrawal from the EU election and the associated clear criticism of his party caused a political stir in Austria.
October 12, 2023
President of Georgia, Salomé Zourabichvili, in Austria
The President of Georgia, Salomé Zourabichvili, recently visited Austria and was hosted by President Van der Bellen at the Vienna Hofburg. The two heads of state discussed various issues, including the current political crises in Georgia and Austria. Read about the visit and what the presidents said at their joint press conference.
October 13, 2021
Schallenberg and Linhart Inaugurated, Schallenberg to "Work Very Closely With Kurz"
The new Chancellor of Austria Alexander Schallenberg and new Foreign Minister Michael Linhart were sworn in by President Van der Bellen. In his first statement as Chancellor, Schallenberg said that he believes the allegations against his predecessor are false and that he would continue working closely with him. Read about the inauguration, what former Chancellor Kurz and Vice-Chancellor Kogler said about Schallenberg's appointment, and the entirety of Schallenberg's first statement as chancellor.
October 11, 2021
Presidential Poll Result Overturned by Austrian Constitutional Court
Austria's highest court has annulled the result of the presidential election narrowly lost by the candidate of the far-right Freedom Party Norbert Hofer.
July 1, 2016
Austria’s Business Community Welcomes Van der Bellen
Austria’s economic chamber head Christoph Leitl congratulated Alexander van der Bellen on the latter’s election victory. Leitl stressed Austria’s business sector was ready to cooperate. Also Industrialists Association (Industriellenvereinigung) head Georg Kapsch cheered on the new President, adding that the industrial sector wished the new President good luck.
May 24, 2016
Austrian Presidential Candidate Hofer Admits Defeat
Austria's presidential candidate Norbert Hofer admitted his defeat in the election via his Facebook site.
May 23, 2016
Final Results of Austria Presidential Election - Alexander van der Bellen Becomes New President
700,000 votes from polling stations have now been counted. Alexander Van der Bellen has won ahead of his rival Norbert Hofer by 50.3 to 49.7 percent. Thus Alexander van der Bellen, who has the support of the Greens, will become the first Green President of the Republic of Austria.
May 23, 2016 · Updated: May 23, 2016; 16:55
Chancellor Faymann Resigns
Werner Faymann has been Chancellor of Austria and chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) since 2008. Today he announced that he will retire from all of his posts in the coming days. He resigned arguing that the reason is the loss of the support of his own party in the wake of last month's presidential elections.
May 9, 2016
OSCE: Peace and Stability in Europe Impossible without Protecting Human Rights
Protecting and promoting human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to national minorities, is inextricably linked to the preservation of peace and stability within and between States, participants said today at the opening of a two-day OSCE meeting in Vienna.
October 29, 2015
Austria will Remain an Asylum Country with Tradition
Since 1945 more than two million refugees have come to Austria, whereby almost 700,000 have remained here - that is about 9 per cent of the total population of Austria. Every second refugee had a different mother tongue than German. The refugee crises occurred in a mysterious sequence, as every twelve years, large waves of refugees arrived in Austria: 1956, 1968, 1980 and 1992.
October 28, 2015
Joint Russia-US Fight against ISIS: Kerry and Lavrov to Hold Syria Talks in Vienna
US Secretary of State John Kerry will meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday in Vienna to discuss the Syrian conflict together with their counterparts from Saudi Arabia and Turkey. The meeting was made possible following the involvement of Vladimir Putin in serious diplomacy and the surprise visit by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to Moscow on Tuesday.
October 23, 2015
Austrian President Fischer is First European Head of State to Visit Iran
Austrian President Heinz Fischer is the first European head of state to visit Iran following the successful conclusion of nuclear talks between the Islamic Republic and the P5+1.
September 7, 2015
Update: Enquiry into TTIP and CETA Agreements
Details about the negotiation progress at Austria’s National Assembly have meanwhile been released. The Transatlantic Agreement CETA with Canada and the TTIP agreement with the USA have been cause for disagreements. The assembly has adopted a motion for resolution of the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) and Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) concerning the transatlantic economic agreements with Canada (CETA) and the USA (TTIP). The motion calls for transparency of negotiations and ratification of the agreements by national parliaments.
September 25, 2014
Exporters to Russia Facing Increasing Payment Risk
Russia is currently experiencing a slowdown in economic growth, and the situation is most likely to deteriorate further as a result of the newly imposed sanctions. Atradius is observing an impact across all sectors in the form of decreasing domestic demand, a weaker rouble exchange rate, a rise in inflation, limited access to external financing and international capital outflow.
September 18, 2014
Analysis: The Brenner Base Tunnel
The Brenner Base Tunnel is a planned 55-kilometre long railway tunnel through the base of the Brenner massif. It will run from Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof in Austria to Franzensfeste (Fortezza) in Italy, replacing part of the current Brenner railway. The line is part of Line 1, the Berlin to Palermo route, of Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T).
August 11, 2014
Austrian Federal President Heinz Fischer Signs Hypo Special Act into Law
After intensive testing, together with the former President of the Constitutional Court and current adviser to the President, Prof. Dr. Ludwig Adamovich, Federal President Heinz Fischer has decided to carry out the notarization of the adopted bill and thus clear the way for review by the Constitutional Court.
July 31, 2014
Austria: IV Warns Policy-Makers
The Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) considers the low voter’s turnout as an alarming sign.
September 30, 2013
Austrian Elections 2013: Government Punished by the Voters
The two governing parties SPÖ and ÖVP have reached their worst results ever. Nevertheless, nothing will change in Austria.
September 29, 2013
Austrian Elections 2013: Governing Parties Lose Moderately
The Austrian political landscape has changed. New parties will enter the Austrian Parliament. Nevertheless, there is no realistic alternative to the “grand coalition” between SPÖ and ÖVP.
September 29, 2013 · Updated: September 29, 2013; 17:59
Austrian Elections 2013: Majority of Government Wobbles
Tomorrow, Austria will hold elections. The coalition between the social democrats (SPÖ) and the conservatives (ÖVP) has to fear that the majority may be lost.
September 28, 2013
Polish Government Wobbles
The majority of Poland´s governing parties is at risk. New elections would be rather unfavorable for Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
September 14, 2013
Hungary: Former President Urges Successor to Veto
Former President Lazlo Solyom warns his follower, President Janos Ader,in a dramatic speech of the end of checks and balances in Hungary’s political system.
March 11, 2013
Slovenia/Croatia: Paving the Way for Brussels
Today, both heads of government, Janez Jansa and Zoran Milanovic, signed the “Memorandum of Understanding” in Mokrice which will permit Croatia to become a full EU member.
March 11, 2013
Hungary: Demonstrations in Budapest
Protests against the planned constitutional amendmends took place on Saturday, March 9. US and EU express their concern about the political developments.
March 9, 2013
CZ: President Klaus Leaving Presidential Office
After having been in office for ten years, Czech President Vaclav Klaus left Prague Castle. Today, Friday March 8, his sucessor Milos Zeman is going to be sworn in.
March 8, 2013
Slovenia/Croatia: Agreement over Bank Dispute
After years of debate, there seem to be a final agreement in the fight for the insolvent Ljubljanska Banka. The settlement should pave the way for Croatia’s becoming an EU member state.
March 7, 2013
Hungary: Incoming National Economy Minister Summarizes Targets
Succeeding Minister of National Economy Mihály Varga outlined economic policy cornerstones
March 7, 2013
Austrian Development Funds: Programme Approved
“ADA has over 110 million euros funding for operative development cooperation work in 2013” the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs says.
March 6, 2013
Last Meeting between Klaus and Gasparovic
The Presidents of the Czech Republic and of Slovakia will have a last meeting tomorrow.
March 5, 2013
Poland: Government Retains Economic Forecast
Despite the economic slowdown, Poland´s Minister of Finance Jacek Rostowski demonstrates optimism.
March 5, 2013
Slovenia: New Government to be Built
Until March 14, the new administration should be nominated. However, 32 % think that the new head of government will not be able to form a government.
March 5, 2013
Serbia: No Solution to Kosovo Issue Yet
At today’s trilateral meetings in Brussels for the sequel talks about the association Serb municipalities in Kosovo a gloomy atmosphere between the parties is predominant. Neither Serbia nor Kosovo want to step down from their claims.
March 4, 2013
Serbia: Prime Minister Dacic Demands Separation of Kosovo
European Union and USA reject any change of boundery on the Balkan.
March 1, 2013
Stronach Enters Political Stage
The Austro-Canadian industrialist Frank Stronach founds his own party and intends to run for the next election in 2013. Stronach wants Austria to leave the Eurozone.
August 13, 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
Banking Supervision: Nowotny Warns of Botch
The governor of the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB) thinks that the timeline fort he planned unified banking supervision authority is „very short“.
July 10, 2012
Alpbach Political Symposium 2012 “Providing for Future Generations”
From Sunday, August 26, 3:00 pm to Tuesday, August 28, 12:30 pm, the Alpbach Political Forum will be held in the Congress Centrum Alpbach.
July 6, 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
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
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
FPÖ Claims Popular Vote on ESM
The biggest Austrian opposition party warns of giving up the sovereignty. Together with the smallest opposition party BZÖ, FPÖ will vote against ESM.
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
Nabucco: EU Commission is in Doubt
The Commission of the European Union emphasizes that Nabucco is still an option. Nevertheless, there would be cheaper options.
June 18, 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
Austria Stresses Balance Between Growth and Austerity
At the negotiations on the EU financial plan 2014 – 2020 in Denmark, Austria proposes to establish a growth fund accessible to SMEs.
June 13, 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
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