Reforms

Waiting Time for Appointments for Citizenship in Vienna Reduced by 50%

Despite the challenges in the area of citizenship, such as the restrictive legal situation and the enormous increase in demand for Austrian citizenship in Vienna, the city has taken various measures to facilitate improvements and faster procedures.

May 23, 2023

President Van der Bellen Visited his Albanian Counterpart in Tirana

Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen started his official Western Balkans visits on Sunday. The first country he visited was Albania, where he met with his counterpart Bajram Begaj. They discussed the ongoing reforms in Albania and Austria supporting those reforms.

March 27, 2023

Foreign Minister Schallenberg and His Italian Counterpart Traveled to Bosnia and Herzegovina

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg and his Italian counterpart Antonio Tajani traveled to Bosnia and Herzegovina where they talked to several representatives of the country about the EU support for the country's reform and its general path towards the EU.

March 13, 2023

Aging Population Might Cause Debt Problems in the Future for Austria

The Austrian Ministry of Finance published a budget prognosis for the upcoming 30 to 40 years. The financial future looks bleak in Austria. More specifically, the level of debt will be rising in the next years due to an aging population.

January 5, 2023

Tax Reform Will Be Valid from September 1 on

According to Finance Minister Blümel, the tax reform will be valid on from September 1 and there will be a corresponding refund for salaries already taxed with retroactive effect from 1 January 2020.

August 31, 2020

Kazakhstan and Austria Reinforce Reciprocal Extradition and Legal Assistance

During a visit to Vienna, Kazakh Attorney General Kairat Kozhamzharov was received by Josef Moser, Federal Minister for Reforms and Justice. A joint declaration was signed. The talks focused on Kazakhstan's multilateral efforts, current affairs, mutual extradition and mutual legal assistance with Kazakhstan.

October 19, 2018

Wesner: “Failing in Business Does Not Mean Personal Failure”

The start-up culture in Austria is clearly different than the one in the US. On the occation of the May Day, experts, including US ambassador to Austria Alexa Wesner, talked about the differences in the start-up scenes.

May 8, 2014

Federation of Industries: “Industrial Compact“ for European Competitiveness

The Austrian Federation of Industries (IV) considers the EU entry of Austria as the basis of prosperty and economic growth in the past years. However, now reforms are required to catch up to a global level.

May 5, 2014

New Serbian Government Wants Speedy EU Accession

The new Serbian government is determined to accelerate the EU accession progress.

May 2, 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

Serbia: New Government Taking Drastic Measures

New head of the Serbian government Aleksandar Vucic has ambitious plans to reform the state and restructure state finances.

April 28, 2014

Serbia: “Huge Challenges Ahead”

President Tomislav Nikolic appointed Aleksandar Vucic to form a new Serbian government.

April 23, 2014

Serbia: Key Rate Kept Unchanged.

The NBS (National Bank of Serbia) decided to keep the policy rate unchanged as there is no threat of inflation.

April 22, 2014

Serbia: EU Negotiations Important for Reforms

According to Tanja Miscevic, chief negotiator in Serbia’s EU accession talks, the opening of the Chapters 23 and 24 are crucial for the reform process in the Western Balkan country.

April 22, 2014

Slovakia as a Role Model?

In an interview with Austrian daily “Wirtschaftsblatt”, Tomas Malatinsky, Economy Minister of Slovakia, talked about budget discipline, investments and tax policy.

April 16, 2014

Serbian New Government More Efficient and Modern

The presidency of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), which gained a landslide victory in the recent parliamentary elections, has decided to create a coalition with the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (SVM).

April 15, 2014

Vucic: “Not Afraid of Social Riots”

The future Prime Minister of Serbia underlined the necessity of reforms.

April 10, 2014

Serbia: Vucic Rejects Single-Party Government

Aleksandar Vucic, leader of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and future Prime Minister, said on Tuesday that his party does not intend to govern on its own.

April 9, 2014

Hungarian Electorial Law Supports Major Parties

Orban is the clear winner of the parliamentary elections in Hungary. He stressed that there are no more conflicts with the EU than any other member state had.

April 7, 2014

Serbia: Effective Measures for Economy

The Serbian Chamber of Commerce considers the measures for economic growth “a very big thing”.

April 7, 2014

Serbia: Vucic New Prime Minister

The chief of the Serbian Progressiv Party (SNS) Aleksandar Vucic will be nominated by the Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic as the new Prime Minister.

April 4, 2014

Serbian Future Government Needs to Be “Compact”

According to the deputy leader of SNS, Aleksandar Vucic “shall introduce iron discipline in the Government.”

April 3, 2014

Poland to Fulfill EU Commission’s Regulations

According to Polish Finance Minister Mateusz Szczurek, Poland will have no difficulties fullfilling the standards set by the European Commission with regard to the budget deficit.

March 27, 2014

Serbia: Program for New Government in Progress

The future government will have to implement extensive reforms. Vucic, whose party saw a landslide victory in the parliamentary elections, is working on the government’s program.

March 26, 2014

World Bank: Serbia Has Nine Month to Implement Reforms

According to Tony Verheijen, the World Bank’s Country Manager of Serbia, Serbia has nine month to implement the reforms necessary.

March 25, 2014

Serbia: Talks about Forming Government to Start Soon

Discussions about forming a new government in Serbia will start at the end of this week or the beginning of next week, according to Zorana Mihajlovic, deputy leader of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).

March 21, 2014

Slovenia: Exuberant Public Spendings

Public finances in Slovenia have gone wild as only after two months almost half of the total deficit planned for 2014 was spent.

March 20, 2014

Fitch: Elections Command Fiscal Consolidation and Reforms

Vucic appears to acknowledge the need for reforms in Serbia.

March 20, 2014

Austria: Reform Steps Very Modest

Austria, along with Germany and Switzerland, hardly put any economic reforms into realization. This is the conclusion of the annual “reform barometer” for the three countries.

March 20, 2014

Serbia: Economic Activity Increases Speed

Since the beginning of 2014 economic activity has started to accelerate.

March 19, 2014

Serbian President: Vucic is New PM

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic named Aleksandar Vucic as new Prime Minister.

March 17, 2014

Belka: Poland Should Not Haste into Eurozone

Marek Belka, Governor of the National Bank of Poland (NBP), said that the country did not have to haste to become a member of the European single currency union.

March 17, 2014

Serbia: Vucic Stands Good Chances of Becoming PM

Vucic is regarded new Serbian Prime Minister in the parliamentary elections.

March 15, 2014

Serbia to Continue Path towards EU

Even after the elections the new government intends to continue the path towards an EU membership.

March 13, 2014

Serbia: “Reforms Are Social Responsibility”

According to economic advisor and former director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Serbia’s efforts to improve state finances and push through with reforms, was visible.

March 12, 2014

Slovenia: Government Envisages Reform Measures

After the EU Commission delivered a warning to Slovenia over the macroeconomic imbalances Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek announced yesterday she had expected such a report.

March 7, 2014

Slovenia: Commissioner Calls for Reforms and Further Privatizations

EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Olli Rehn said that Slovenia had to continue to push forward with further privatizations and economic reforms.

March 6, 2014

“Serbia Has to Become Economically and Politically Stable”

Prime Minister Dacic promised to continue to follow the path to an EU membership. Former Austrian Chancellor Gusenbauer underlines Serbia’s importance among Western Balkan states.

March 3, 2014

Romania: Ponta Clinging to Leadership

Reforms in Romania will be carried out even if Ponta’s new government’s majority will be reduced in parliament.

February 27, 2014

Serbia to Start Talks with IMF

Officials of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have started negotiations with Serbia on Wednesday.

February 26, 2014

Serbia: Full EU Member by 2020?

Aleksandar Vucic, Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia, said on Thursday evening that the country had full political stability and announced that the country’s aim is to become an EU member in 2020.

February 22, 2014

“Polish Economy at Crossroads“

In an interview with Austrian daily “WirtschaftsBlatt“, Ryszard Petru, chairman of the Society of Policy Economists, sees high chances for the Polish economy; however, only if the country knows how to support innovation.

February 21, 2014

Czech Republic: New Government Passed Vote of Confidence

The new Czech government under Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka has passed the vote of confidence in parliament yesterday.

February 19, 2014

Serbia: Fast Implementations of Reforms Crucial

Tanja Miscevic, chief negotiator in the EU accession talks, announced on Sunday that elections in Serbia are not slowing down the process in European integration.

February 17, 2014

Kurz: “We Want Serbia to Join EU ASAP”

According to the Austrian Foreign Minister, the prospect of an EU membership could help accelerate the implementation of reforms.

February 14, 2014

Serbia: Inflation Requires New IMF Agreement

In the light of a devaluation of the Dinar Serbia needs a new agreement with the IMF to improve funding and accelerate the realization of reforms.

February 10, 2014

OECD Shows Great Concern over Hungarian Economy

According to the OECD, the country’s recovery from recession will be weak in 2014 and 2015

January 27, 2014

“Croatia Going through Very Difficult Period“

The World Bank calls for structural reforms in the Western Balkan state.

January 27, 2014

Croatia Supports Albania in EU Accession Course

Albania hopes that EU Accession Negotiations will take place in June 2014.

January 22, 2014

Audit Court Criticizes Austrian Government Sharply

Josef Moser, president of the Austrian Audit Court, has sharply criticized the government’s resolution.

January 17, 2014