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Reforms
Serbia Facing Testing Year
The Serbian government is currently working on a plan to improve the competitiveness of domestic enterprises.
January 13, 2014
Austria: Wifo Expert Calls for Structural Tax Reform
According to Wifo-expert Schratzenstaller, the planned tax burdens on tobacco and automobiles are “largely useful”.
January 10, 2014
Slovenia: Calls for Reforms Become Louder
The Slovenian Chamber of Commerce (GZS) calls upon the government to accelerate the realization of reforms to boost economic growth.
January 8, 2014
Leitl: No Alternative to Budget Consolidation
Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO), regards the coalition agreement between the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the People’s Party (ÖVP) acceptable.
December 13, 2013
Faymann: “No Outstanding Issues That Cannot Be Solved“
In an interview with Austrian daily “Kurier“ Chancellor Werner Faymann rejects the idea of early elections and underlines that there were no unsolvable issues.
December 4, 2013
Bank of Albania Presses for Agreement with IMF
The Albanian economy from short-term adjustment toward long-term sustainable growth. Why Albania needs an agreement with the IMF.
December 4, 2013
Austria: “Budget on Target“
State Secretary for Finance Andreas Schieder points out that “the figures from the Finance Ministry for the budget performance until October show that the budget 2013 is on target.” Social Minister Hundstorfer calls for reforms.
November 25, 2013
EBRD: Eastern Europe “Stuck in Transition“
The European Bank for Restructuring and Development (EBRD) warned that Eastern Europe and the countries of the former Sovjet Union could remain “stuck in transition”, which is the titel of the current report.
November 21, 2013
Slovenia Issues New Eurobonds
The issuance of a new bond in the amount of € 1.5bn on Friday came as surprise as Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek has annouced earlier no such measures will be made until the beginning of the new year.
November 18, 2013
Slovenian Government Wins Vote of Confidence
As expected, on Friday the Slovenian center-left government of Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek has won a vote of confidence.
November 15, 2013
EU Commission: Slovenia Makes “Key Progress”
Slovenia is among 16 EU member states that require comprehensive assessment of macroeconomic imbalances. According to a report published by the EU Commission, the small country shows significant improvement.
November 14, 2013
Austria: Budget Gap Smaller than Expected
The budget gap will, according to the latest reports, comes at an amount between € 21bn and 25bn until the year 2018. Earlier there had been talk of a shortfall amounting up to € 30bn to € 40bn.
November 13, 2013
VIG: Expansion Plans in Baltic States
According to a report by “Wirtschaftsblatt”, the Vienna Insurance Group (VIG) plans to expand business activity in the Baltic States. From 2014 on, the Austrian insurance company will start conquering the Estonian insurance market.
November 8, 2013
Serbia: FDI as Driver for Economy
Further decline in FDI could affect economic growth in the Western Balkan state. The Serbian government announced to push forward with amendmends to improve business environment and boost economic growth.
November 4, 2013
Industrial Sector: Growth Painfully Slow
According to a survey by research institute Markit, industrial production in the Eurozone increased in October for the fourth time in a row. However, the rate of growth is still low.
November 4, 2013
WEF: Russian Economy Needs Change in Domestic Institutional Environment
The Russian Federation is poised for transformation.
November 1, 2013
World Bank: Croatia Showing Progress
Despite notable progress the country slipped back to beigt 89th out of 185 countries in the ranking “Doing Business” by the World Bank.
October 31, 2013
Slovenia: Parliament Approves Amendmends to Banking Act
Measures were taken to reduce costs for winding up of two small Slovenian banks.
October 30, 2013
Albania: World Bank Satisfied with Progress
Piero Cipollone, Executive Director of the World Bank Group visited Albania from October 21-22, 2013. In his role as Executive Director, he represents Albania’s interests as a shareholder on the World Bank’s Board.
October 25, 2013
Ukraine’s EU Accession: Commission Still Positive
Stefan Füle, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy underlined once more Ukraine’s significant progress leading the country close to the European Union.
October 14, 2013
IMF: Serbia´s Reforms are Not Sufficient
On the occasion of a visit in Serbia, the IMF commented the efforts of the Serbian government to cut the budget gap. The austerity cuts are right, but the country needs further reforms, IMF´s team said.
October 10, 2013
Bulgaria: Shrinking Workforce Leading to Lower Growth
Bulgaria is facing a number of challenges resulting from shifting demographics.
October 4, 2013
Keuschnigg Advises Austria to be Patient
According to Keuschnigg it was not possible to increase the core capital quota of the banks to the level necessary or to reduce public debts by 120 percent in two years only.
October 4, 2013
Austria: Struggling to Keep up with Economic Growth and Competitiveness
IV demands overhaul of funding policy by the government so that Austria will improve in international competitiveness.
October 1, 2013
Croatia Plans on Increasing VAT by Three Percent
Croatia eyes increased intermediate VAT from 10 to 13%.
September 27, 2013
Austria: Kapsch Demands Reform Agenda From New Government
Georg Kapsch, President of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) demands the next federal government to introduce a comprehensive reform agenda.
September 27, 2013
Slovenia: PM Takes International Bailout into Consideration
For the first time the crisis-struck Eurozone member country has admitted to consider international bailout as an option for its ailing banks.
September 26, 2013
Romania Is Recovering According to PM
Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta presented the key issues on the new agreement with the EU Commission, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank to the parliament on Tuesday.
September 19, 2013
Barroso: “Albania’s Future Is in The European Union”
President of the EU Commission Barroso is confident about Albania’s commitment.
September 17, 2013
Faymann: New Government Will Be Smaller
In an interview with Austrian daily “Österreich“ (Sunday issue) Chancellor Faymann announced that the new government will be reduced by two members of parliament.
September 16, 2013
Romania: West Region to Catch Up Economically
Romania's West Region aims to catch up with its more developed peers in the European Union.
September 9, 2013
Serbia: Plans to Reform Pension System
Serbia plans reform of pension system by year end.
September 9, 2013
President of Ukraine Presses for Faster Progess
President Yanukovych urges the parliament to adopt laws for a faster progress to the country’s European integration
September 5, 2013
Lopatka Demands Reform for Austrian Railways
State Secretary Lopatka demands Minister of Infrastructure Bures to tackle the expensive pension system at the Austrian Railways by doing away with privliges for emplyoees in order to unburden tax payers.
September 4, 2013
Serbian Parliament Approves Cabinet Reshuffle
The Serbian parliament has approved a profound reshuffle of Prime Minister Ivica Dacic’s cabinet.
September 3, 2013
Austrian Economy Minister: “No Time for Idle Complacency”
Austrian Minister of Economics and former general secretary of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO), Reinhold Mitterlehner avoids any dispute with Christoph Leitl, President of WKO but signals a different opinion.
August 27, 2013
Austria: Leitl Reiterates Criticizm
State Secretary Schieder considers Leitl’s statements “totally out of place”.
August 23, 2013
Leitl: “Austria Screwed Up”
If the US, as the perpetrator of the financial and economic crisis, shows two percent in economic growth, while Austria only 0.2 percent, then this was a “disgrace”, Leitl announced during the economic forum in Alpbach.
August 21, 2013
Slovenia: Business Organizations Post Wishlist to Government
Slovenian business organizations have forewarded a wishlist to the government in which they request more "breathing room" by the lowering of taxes and measures to enhance development and competitiveness.
August 20, 2013
Slovenia: Stakes of at Least 80 Enterprises
The Slovenian state owns shares in at least 80 companies directly or indirectly.
August 8, 2013
Austria: Leitl Demands Impulses for Growth and Employment
Enterprises need to be motivated instead of being burded by further taxes, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) Christoph Leitl argues.
August 1, 2013
Romania’s Economic Recovery Expected to Strengthen.
Staff teams from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the European Commission (EC), and the World Bank visited Bucharest Romania during July 17–31.
August 1, 2013
Serbia: No Early Elections Despite of Break of Coalition
Dismissal of Finance Minister Mladjan Dinkic. URS is leaving the governmental alliance. Despite of a break of the coalition, there will be no early elections in Serbia.
July 31, 2013
Slovenia Likely to Overcome Problems in Banking Sector
Slovenia’s problems in banking sector are controllable, according to experts.
July 31, 2013
Slovenia: Economy to Shrink Despite of Austerity Measures
Slovenian economy expected to contract 2.2 percent in 2013. Prior forecast: -1.9 percent.
July 26, 2013
Fekter: Debt reduction and tax reform are our absolute priorities
"We are on the right track"
July 25, 2013
Lopatka: "EU Enlargement is a Driver for Reforms and Rule Of Law"
State Secretary Lopatka on DARUM EUROPA information tour.
June 18, 2013
Fekter: The North Feeds The South
Finance Minister Fekter compares the situation in Europe with the economic circumstances in Italy.
June 11, 2013
Austria: Leitl Welcomes Latvia to Join Eurozone
Head of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce Leitl considers the Euro adoption as an important political signal for the cooperation and the strengthening of the European currency union.
June 5, 2013
Croatia to Expect Disciplinary Procedure by EU
The Ex-Yugoslavian country has to face harder scrutinizing than its CESEE peers which joined the EU in the last decade.
June 5, 2013