Fewer forged Euro notes spotted in 2010

Categories
General News

Fewer than 9,000 fake Euro banknotes were confiscated in Austria last year, helping the country to remain among the Eurozone members with the lowest forgery rate.The Austrian National Bank (OeNB) announced yesterday (Mon) that 8,812 forged Euro notes were discovered and banned last year, down from 9,780 in the previous year. It added that the […]

Crime-solving rate remains low

Categories
General News

Austrian police failed to significantly improve their success rate last year, new figures show.Federal Crime Office (BK) director Franz Lang announced today (Tues) the number of reported crimes declined by 9.4 per cent year on year in 2010 to 535,745 cases. Lang also said police in Austria’s nine provinces managed to solve 41.4 per cent […]

Linz AG slashes prices as average household must fork out more

Categories
Business

An Upper Austrian electricity provider has lowered its rates while the average Austrian household energy costs have jumped.Linz AG announced today (Mon) it lowered its consumer prices by 1.4 per cent as of 1 January. The company said this decision means its customers will save an overall one million Euros this year.The firm, which claims […]

High car fuel tax rate exposed by study

Categories
Business

A leading motorists’ association has criticised the high car fuel taxation rate in Austria.Arbö announced today (Mon) that 57 per cent of the price for one litre of normal car fuel and 52 per cent of what drivers have to spend on a litre of diesel are pocketed by the finance ministry.The car club stressed […]

Debt-ridden Portugal on track, claims prime minister

Categories
Politics

Portuguese Socialist Party head and Prime Minister Jose Socrates has claimed his country is a model pupil in restoring its finances.Many analysts and economists have warned that Portugal may be the next European Union (EU) member to tap the recently established European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF). Greece and Ireland have already received billions in credits […]

Makeover for Vienna airport train

Categories
Business

A train service connecting Vienna International Airport (VIA) and the capital’s city centre in less than 20 minutes has received an extensive makeover eight years on.City Airport Train (CAT) bosses Doris Pulker-Rohrhofer and Elisabeth Landrichter announced today (Tues) the interior trains operating on the route has been improved.”Customers expect first class service. That’s why we […]

Energie Steiermark bags major Beogas share

Categories
Business

Energie Steiermark has acquired a major stake in a leading Serbian energy provider.The Styrian company announced today (Tues) it had paid 7.4 million Euros for the 67 per cent interest in Belgrade-based gas supplier Beogas. The Serbian company has a market share of 60 per cent and around 410,000 customers.Energie Steiermark is one of the […]

Air Berlin defies ash cloud and snow chaos

Categories
Business

Air Berlin managed to raise its passenger figures despite the ash cloud and chaotic weather conditions last year.The company, which cooperates with Austrian FlyNiki, said today (Tues) it had 33.6 million customers in 2010, 3.8 per cent more than in the previous year. Air Berlin explained FlyNiki’s passenger numbers were considered in its annual business […]

Fewer bankruptcies in 2010 as A-Tec talks continue

Categories
Business

The number of bankruptcies declined by nearly six per cent year on year in 2010, it has been announced.Creditreform, an Austrian association for the protection of creditors, said today (Mon) that officials handled 6,657 cases of broke companies last year. It said this was a 5.9 per cent decrease compared to 2009 figures. Creditreform added […]

Miners trapped as EVN cuts off energy

Categories
Business

Dozens of Bulgarian miners were trapped below ground after an Austrian energy provider turned of the mine’s electricity supply over unpaid bills, it has emerged.Bulgarian newspapers revealed yesterday (Weds) 80 workers were caught in shafts in the Balkan 2000 mine near the town Tvardiza for more than four hours on 28 December after Maria Enzersdorf-based […]