Turkey

Lasting Rivals - Byzantium & the West

Schallaburg Castle in Lower Austria is recalling a fascinating story from the past that was long forgotten but still shapes Europe today. It is the story of Byzantium and the West.

June 4, 2018

Migration Policy Agency Celebrates 25th Anniversary and Welcomes New Members Malta and Turkey

With Malta and Turkey both joining Vienna based ICMPD in May, the International Centre for Migration Policy Development welcomes two new Member States. ICMPD has now 17 Member States all across Europe. In 2018 ICMPD is also celebrating the 25th anniversary of its founding and is looking into the future to try to see what it may hold in terms of migration and mobility of people.

May 29, 2018

Austria's Vice-Chancellor Also Wants Headscarf Ban for Students

An extension is now under discussion since yesterday. Heinz-Christian Strache requested a comprehensive ban on headscarves in a TV appearance analogous to Turkey, as it had applied there until before the AKP. Until now it was decided that children under the age of ten should not wear headscarves. The government wanted to propose a law by summer for which it needs the votes of the opposition. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who made the appearance together with Strache, agreed with Strache that he is completely on the same line.

April 6, 2018

OMV Aktiengesellschaft / OMV has reached an agreement for the sale of OMV Petrol Ofisi to Vitol Group

OMV has reached an agreement for the sale of its Turkish fuel supply and distribution company OMV Petrol Ofisi A.S. to VIP Turkey Enerji A.S., a subsidiary of Vitol Investment Partnership Ltd. The transaction is effected via a sale of 100% of the shares of OMV's Turkish holding company OMV Petrol Ofisi Holding A.S. The total purchase price of the transaction amounts to EUR 1,368 mn. Thereof EUR 81 mn relate to net cash proceeds from a prior carve-out of OMV's Turkish gas entities. The execution and implementation of the transaction has already been approved by the Supervisory Board of OMV.

March 3, 2017

Austrian Post's Turkish Subsidiary in Conflict with Majority Owner

Post AG is involved in a buyback conflict regarding the Turkish subsidiary. Post took over a 25-percent stake in Turkish parcel delivery service Aras Kargo in 2013; it had been granted an option to buy another 50 percent of the shares. The company has been negotiating to use the option for a year now, but has been unable to reach a compromise.

July 5, 2016

OMV Aktiengesellschaft / OMV initiates process to sell OMV PetrolOfisi

OMV announces to initiate a process to sell up to 100% of its wholly owned subsidiary OMV Petrol Ofisi A. S., a leading company in the Turkish oil products retail and wholesale market. OMV is currently selecting its advisors to support the potential transaction and the structuring of the envisaged process. A potential transaction is aimed at optimizing OMV's integrated portfolio in a challenging market environment.

February 12, 2016

Report: Drug Money and Opiate Trafficking on the Balkan Route

A report recently launched by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) shows that the total value of illicit heroin and opium trafficked from Afghanistan to Western Europe through the Balkans amounts to some $28 billion every year. Sixty-five per cent of this total ($18 billion) is generated in Western and Central Europe.

December 14, 2015

Only Full EU-Integration Can Stabilise the Western Balkans for a Lasting Time

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sebastian Kurz commented on the European Commission’s progress reports, which were presented earlier this month: “Most of the Western Balkans countries’ progress on their way in direction of EU-membership is noticeable and positive. The Commission’s new methodology renders possible an improved analysis on the progress made in the respective countries in the last year. This creates a positive competition. The new progress reports also underscore that all candidate countries still have a lot of hard work before them and EU support towards this is essential. The current refugee crisis is no exception in this respect as it shows, how important the Western Balkans countries and Turkey are to Europe in tackling this particular challenge.”

November 18, 2015

Iranian Foreign Minister to Participate in Syria Conference in Vienna

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will attend the conference on Syria in Vienna on Friday. This has been confirmed today by the Foreign Ministry in Tehran, according to the official news agency ISNA. Iran will meet in Vienna not only to Russia and the USA, but also to its nemesis Saudi Arabia.

October 28, 2015

CEE in the Autumn of 2015 is the New Safe Haven

The key conclusion of UniCredit’s CEE Quarterly 4Q 2015 is that the CEE region, despite its heterogeneity, looks better positioned than most other large emerging markets to cope with potential challenges. In particular they found that market volatility spiked in 3Q15, with the uncertainty surrounding the anticipated Fed rate hike augmented by growing worries about a “hard landing” in China.

September 25, 2015

Euromoney Names UniCredit-Bank Best Bank in CEE

Euromoney has presented UniCredit with nine awards for excellence, including Best Bank in Central Eastern Europe, Best Debt House in Central Eastern Europe and Best Transaction Services House in Central Eastern Europe.

July 14, 2015

FDI: Western Europe Overtakes China and North America, Austria Improved Its Position

Ernst and Young's latest European attractiveness survey has been published. FDI into Europe hits a new record with US$305b attracted into the region in 2014, translating to a 36% year-on-year growth, despite global growth slowdown. UK, Germany and France remain the preferred destinations for foreign direct investment (FDI) within Europe, while Turkey enters the Top 10. Austria improved its position in the ranking by two notches, rising to position 22 of all 44 countries analyzed.

May 29, 2015

EBRD Sees Mixed Outlook for CESEE Countries in 2015-16

The outlook for economies in central and south eastern Europe is improving on the back of eurozone monetary easing but prospects further to the east of the transition region have worsened, as the impact of Russia’s recession intensifies.

May 14, 2015

UNODC: Opening of Refugee Exhibition in Vienna Reinforces Need to Support Vulnerable Smuggled Migrants

An exhibition at the Vienna International Centre on the suffering of conflict refugees fleeing to Turkey offered an opportunity for UNODC to showcase its own ongoing activities against migrant smuggling as well as tackling other forms of organized crime, including money laundering.

April 17, 2015

AUA Sweeps Istanbul from Winter Timetable

AUA could no longer defy Turkish Airlines, because the Turkish airline puts on quality, but has much lower costs. During the winter schedule AUA therefore sweeps flights to Istanbul from its program.

September 16, 2014

Mid Europa Partners' New Fund to Invest EUR 800 Mln in CEE

Mid Europa Partners, the British private equity firm focused on buyouts in Central & Eastern Europe, announced the final closing of Mid Europa Fund IV at €800 million, complemented by an additional pre-allocated co-investment program of €650 million. Fund IV represents the largest dedicated fund to the CEE Region raised in the last 5 years.

September 5, 2014

Cost of Living Rankings: CEE Capitals Cheaper, Vienna is 32nd Most Expensive City

The Mercer's 2014 Cost of Living Rankings have been published and cover 211 cities across five continents. While Western European cities have all risen in the rankings mainly due to the strengthening of the Euro against the US dollar, most cities in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), however have fallen in the ranking as a result of local currencies depreciating against the US dollar. Bratislava (#84), Prague (#92), Kiev (#98), Ljubljana (#116), Zagreb (#120), Budapest (#135), Warsaw (#142), Belgrade (#184).

July 25, 2014

Analysis: Bilateral Trade and Investments Between Turkey and Austria Decreased Slightly

According to the office of the Commercial Counsellor of the Turkish Embassy in Vienna, Austria is Turkey’s 34th largest goods export market with exports worth US$ 1 billion.

June 9, 2014

The Challenge of Turkish Migration to Austria

Two events highlight and discuss the problems and challenges of Turkish migration to Austria.

June 4, 2014

German Retailer Metro Faces Massive Losses in CEE

Sales in CEE declined 14.8 percent last year for German retail and wholesale enterprise Metro Group.

May 9, 2014

Austria DIY Chain BauMax Avoided Insolvency

Austrian leading DIY chain bauMax announced cost saving programs as part of its restructuring measures in Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia. BauMax intends to focus on profitable business locations only.

May 9, 2014

„Brussels Must Reconsider Enlargement Policy“

Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sebastian Kurz criticized the EU´s approach towards Ukraine. However, the EU has to develop further.

April 25, 2014

Moldova: Urgent Call for EU-Membership

Getting out of the zone of uncertainty and instability, this is the aim of the Moldovan Prime Minister Iurie Leanca.

April 10, 2014

Low Inflation Still No Threat to CEE

Currencies in CEE should not be affected by low inflation, according to Erste Group.

March 19, 2014

Erste: CEE Financial Market Not Concerned by Low Inflation

Low inflation will not change CEE market forecasts, according to Erste Group.

February 18, 2014

Roubini: Hungary in Difficulties

A number of emerging countries are facing enormous problems, according to economist Nouriel Roubini. Also countries in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe are affected.

February 5, 2014

CEE: Economic Sentiment at Lowest Level

ZEW-Erste Group Bank Economic Sentiment Indicator for the CEE at lowest level.

January 24, 2014

Serbia: "Kosovo Part of Whole Package"

Serbia hopes to join the union until the year 2020. The solving of the issue with Kosovo remains a key condition. Austrian Foreign Minister Kurz stresses the importance of the region becoming a part of the European Union.

January 21, 2014

Expansion Course of Austrian Banks Slowed Down

After the financial crisis cooled down the expansion course of Austrian banks in CESEE countries was dampened down.

January 16, 2014

CESEE: Number of NPL Declining

According to a study by Bank Austria, the number of bad loans is declining in Central and Eastern Europe.

January 14, 2014

Austerity Cuts at Sberbank

Russian Sberbank aims to become more efficient. The management cuts about a tenth of the jobs.

November 13, 2013

Lopatka: EU Enlargement Process of Western Balkans Decisive for Austria

“Non-Enlargement” of Western Balkan states would be fatal for Austrian businesses operating in the region and the national economy.

October 31, 2013

Slovenia on Top of Prosperous Countries in Emerging Europe

Slovenia is leading the list of prosperous countries in Emerging Europe. Bulgaria is on the last position.

October 30, 2013

Turkey: Green Light for EU Accession Talks

On Tuesday, the EU Commission intends to give green light to accession negotiations with Turkey starting at the beginning of November.

October 18, 2013

Bulgaria Supports Trans Adriatic Pipeline

During yesterday’s world media meeting, on behalf of his country Bulgarian President Rosen Plevniev expressed his support of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline project (TAP).

October 16, 2013

Austrians Opposed to EU Enlargement

According to a survey, the majority of Austrians are opposed to an EU Accession of Turkey and Western Balkan States.

October 16, 2013

Austrian Post: Enormous Growth Potential in Turkey

With a local partnership, the Vienna-listed Austrian Post wants to participate in the booming Turkish post market.

October 9, 2013

Economic Upturn in Austria, Eurozone and CEE

Turbulent Emerging Market conditions have little impact on CEE.

October 2, 2013

Turkey: „Perhaps We Will Never Join the EU“

Turkey´s Minister of European Afffairs Egemen Bagis stated that Turkey feels insulted.

September 23, 2013

Turkey: Enthusiasm about EU Membership Shrinks

Fewer and fewer Turkish citizens are keen on an EU membership of their country.

September 20, 2013

WKO: Austrian Enterprises Miss out on Potential in Turkey

According to a commercial councelor at the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) in Istanbul, Austria is focused too much on Eastern Europe. Switzerland exports triple the amount to Turkey.

September 19, 2013

Turkey: Industrial Turnover Index Grew 14.8 Percent

The statistical office of Turkey announced that the Industrial Turnover Index in July increased by 14.8 percent compared to the same month in 2012.

September 13, 2013

Turkey: Economic Growth Exceeds Forecasts

Turkey’s economy continues on its growth track for the 15th consecutive quarter.

September 12, 2013

Turkey: Clashes During Protests

In several Turkish cities, the police violently dispersed protest movements and used tear gas and water cannons. The latest wave of protests was triggered by the death of a 22-year-old young man.

September 12, 2013

Turkish Airlines Not Interested in Croatia Airlines

The Turkish airline carrier has denied rumors of acquiring states at Croatia Airlines.

September 11, 2013

Turkish Dogus Group Not Interested in Hypo Alpe Adria

A high-ranking representative of Turkish Dogus Group denied that the corporation was interested in taking over Austrian bank Hypo Alpe Adria. In an interview with “Wall Street Journal” he claimed there had been no negotiations with Hypo.

September 10, 2013

Turkey: Strong Industrial Production at Start of Q3

Turkey saw a strong industrial production at the start of the third quarter, according to official data, which gives hope for an improved economic growth as the country is facing more and more economic difficulties.