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Economic Balance: EU Warns Austria
The Commission of the EU issues an early warning for Austria as the thresholds of three macro-economic indicators were exceeded.
May 31, 2012
The Euro - A Big Error (Part 4)
The common currency did not create convergence, but widened the gap between Northern and Southern Eurozone member states.
May 31, 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
The Euro - A Big Error (Part 3)
The common currency did not create convergence, but widened the gap between Northern and Southern Eurozone member states.
May 29, 2012
Vienna´s Indebtedness Grows
Austria´s capital ignored the warnings of the Audit court and lets the debt burden grow further.
May 26, 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
Austrian Chamber of Economics Claims Growth Package
Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce thinks that Austria and Europe would both need growth and austerity measures.
May 25, 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
Austrian Economy: OeNB Demonstrates Optimism
The Austrian Central Bank is satisfied with the performance of the domestic economy underlines the necessity of austerity measures.
May 24, 2012
Nowotny: „Austria is Safe“
The governor of Austria´s Central Bank (OeNB) Ewald Nowotny asserts that the economic stability in Austria is substantially better than in other regions of the Eurozone.
May 23, 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
The Euro – A Big Error (Part 2)
The system of the common currency has failed to work, but is still kept alive artificially. The euro brings enormous difficulties to stronger as well as weaker European economies.
May 23, 2012
Austrian Industrial Sector Pushes for Austerity
The Federation of Austrian Industries sees still a huge potential to reduce public expenses and underlines the importance of the industrial sector.
May 22, 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
“Three Problems of Europe: Divergence, Indebtedness and Weak Banks”
The new director of the Austrian IHS (Institute of Advanced Studies) Christian Keuschnigg thinks that a Greek exit would have to take place suddenly.
May 21, 2012
The Euro – A Big Error (Part 1)
The system of the common currency has failed to work, but is still kept alive artificially. The euro brings enormous difficulties to stronger as well as weaker European economies.
May 20, 2012
Austrian Health Insurance Funds Achieved Surplus
For the first time, all nine Austrian health insurance funds recorded positive result. In total, a surplus of € 291m was achieved.
May 19, 2012
Sorger Underlines Austrian Crisis Management
The President of the Federation of Austrian Industries Veit Sorger reaffirms the necessity of austerity and investments of the private sector.
May 19, 2012
Austrian Interest Rate Reaches a Record Low
The interest rates for German and Austrian sovereign bonds are as deep as never before. Thus, in Europe, the gap widens further.
May 18, 2012
Keuschnigg: „Austria Needs More Federalism“
The new director of IHS (Institute of Advanced Studies) considers that a decentralization of the fiscal policy would bring more competition between the provinces.
May 18, 2012
Keuschnigg Worries About Austria´s Competitiveness
The new director of IHS (Institute of Advanced Studies) Christian Keuschnigg suggests reforming the Austrian labor market. The welfare state would be too sophisticated.
May 15, 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
Austrian Demand for New Buildings Declines
Due to the weaker economic growth and the austerity policies, demand for new buildings is decreasing.
May 12, 2012
„Combining Austerity and Growth Measures“
The Austrian Minister of Economics and the President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce claim a European growth strategy without turning down austerity policies.
May 11, 2012
Austrian Stability Pact Signed
The Austrian Federation, the provinces and the municipalities agreed on the stability pact. Until 2016, a zero deficit should be reached.
May 10, 2012
Hungarian Bank Tax May be Abolished
The extraordinary bank tax in Hungary will be halved in 2013 and deleted in 2014, the government said. Austrian banks are relieved.
May 10, 2012
Stable Development of Austrian Economy
The Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO) forecasts a decent, but stable economic growth in 2012.
May 10, 2012
Greece: „The Markets were too Euphoric“
In an interview with the Austrian newspaper “Standard”, the Austrian analyst Friedrich Mostböck thinks that the European debt crisis will remain a major challenge.
May 7, 2012
ESM: The Final Ruin of Europe
Solidarity with financially stricken EU countries cannot justify the irrevocable loss of national sovereignty. The transfer union will only work until the financial collapse of Germany and Austria.
May 2, 2012
Maastricht Criteria: Austria in the Middle Field
In 2011, the government deficit of both the euro area (EA17) and the EU27 decreased in absolute terms compared with 2010, while the government debt rose in both zones.
April 23, 2012
Waldner: “Germany and Austria are Role Models in the Eurozone“
The Austrian State Secretary Wolfgang Waldner had a work meeting today with his colleague in the German Federal Foreign Office, Minister of State Michael Link.
April 23, 2012
Triple-A Will Not Return Soon
The U.S. rating agency S&P dashes hopes that Austria may get back its “AAA” soon. Austrian banks may still face risks as the crisis is over yet, S&P says.
April 20, 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
Felderer: „Women Must Have More Children”
The director of the Austrian Institute of Advanced Studies (IHS) sees a demographic problem in Austria as well as in Europe. Migration cannot solve the problem, Felderer says.
April 19, 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
Fitch Confirms “AAA” For Austria
The U.S. rating agency Fitch Ratings has affirmed Austria's Long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings at 'AAA'. The rating Outlooks on both Long-term ratings are Stable.
April 17, 2012
Health Insurances Reduce Debts
Over the last three years, Austrian health insurance institutes could cut debts by € 1.0bn, which is substantially more than expected.
April 12, 2012
Austria Pays Less Interest
Despite the lost „AAA“, Austria´s interest rate on recently issued bonds is on a record low.
April 10, 2012
Failed Austerity Package: „Austrian Rating Not Affected“
Bernhard Felderer, director of IHS (Institute of Advanced Studies) thinks that the incomplete austerity package has no effect on Austria´s prospects to return to the Triple-A status.
April 7, 2012
Competitiveness: Austria Among Top Five
Concerning its competitiveness, Austria ranks fifth among the 27 EU members.
April 6, 2012
Public Deficit in 2011 Below Maastricht Criteria
The Austrian state recorded a budget deficit of 2.6%. Public debt rose to 72.2% of GDP in 2011.
March 29, 2012
Austrian Exports to Japan Reach New Record
Last year, bilateral trade between Austria and Japan recorded a new high. Austrian exports to Japan amounted to € 1.3bn.
March 27, 2012
Budget: Wifo Misses Future Investments
The Austrian Institute of Economic Research (Wifo) commented the government´s draft of the budget. There is still a lack in active fiscal policy, Wifo states.
March 26, 2012
Keuschnigg: „Greece Must Leave Eurozone“
The Austrian Economist and designated director of HIS, Christian Keuschnigg advised Greece to leave the euro zone.
March 26, 2012
Municipalities: Indebtedness Per Capita on the Rise
According to the Austrian audit court, indebtedness of municipalities was up significantly over the last years.
March 24, 2012
2,000 New Jobs Created by Foreign Enterprises
The Austrian Chamber of Commerce stressed the importance of foreign direct investment in Vienna. Last year, 126 foreign enterprises came to Vienna.
March 22, 2012
Cernko Claims Bank Rescue Fund
Bank Austria´s CEO Willibald Cernko wants the bank tax to be solely used for a stability fund in order to support financially stricken banks.
March 20, 2012
Austria Wants More Leeway for Hungarian Budget
The Austrian Minister of Finance Maria Fekter criticizes the EU. Hungary is not treated equally, Fekter says.
March 13, 2012
Despite Loss of AAA: Austria Pays Less Interest
The Austrian Republic had to pay € 300m less than initially expected in 2011. In spite of the downgrade by S&P, the trend seems to continue.
March 10, 2012