The Austrian economy will grow less strongly than initially expected, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). OECD research shows that Austria’s gross domestic product (GDP) will rise by 0.6 per cent from 2011 to 2012. Only in May, the organisation announced it expected the GDP to climb by 2.1 per cent. […]
Tag: country
Teachers ‘should work more’
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People’s Party (ÖVP) Finance Minister Maria Fekter has intensified the increasing public budget path arguments by suggesting that young teachers should work more for less. The ÖVP vice leader said yesterday (Thurs) young people starting in the profession could do 27 instead of 21 hours a week. She told Die Presse that her plan was […]
New austerity threatens rail investments
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Social Democratic (SPÖ) Traffic Minister Doris Bures may be forced to pull the plug on an extensive railway infrastructure project. Bures said in September that 100 train stations all over Austria would be renovated by 2014. The infrastructure minister also presented plans to improve the country’s railroad network in the coming years. The People’s Party […]
Debt brake meets mounting mistrust
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The political leaders of Austria’s provinces are at odds about the government’s debt limit decision. Social Democratic (SPÖ) Chancellor Werner Faymann and People’s Party (ÖVP) Vice Chancellor Michael Spindelegger announced on Tuesday that the coalition decided to implement a so-called debt brake. The government is dependent on the support of at least one of the […]
Pensioners to get more in 2012
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The government and pensioners’ union officials agreed to increase pensions next year. Karl Blecha, who represents the Social Democratic pensioners, and his conservative association partner Andreas Khol met Social Democratic (SPÖ) Chancellor Werner Faymann and People’s Party (ÖVP) Vice Chancellor Michael Spindelegger for talks in Vienna yesterday evening (Mon). ÖVP Finance Minister Maria Fekter and […]
Kubilius backs EU’s disputed duo
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Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius has claimed the leadership position of Germany and France “is not a bad development.” Kubilius told Austrian daily Die Presse today (Mon): “I don’t think it is a bad development that France and Germany take leading roles trying to solve this crisis. Solving crises needs new ideas and leadership. (…) […]
Austrian AAA ‘at risk’
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A leading economist has warned Austria may lose its top credit rating. Bernhard Felderer said yesterday (Weds) the alpine country’s outlook may be downgraded by the world’s leading rating agencies due to the economic turmoil in Italy. Austria has close business ties with the country which borders it in the south. Italy has been one […]
Protests follow Hu to Salzburg
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Several street protests overshadowed the final day of Hu Jintao’s visit to Austria. Hundreds of people gathered along the roads of the province of Salzburg as the convoy of the Chinese leader and his 150-member delegation passed yesterday morning (Tues) to visit a farm. Hu and the other political and business officials also went on […]
An expert on population developments has dismissed fears that there is too little food for everyone as the number of people living on this planet is soaring. The United Nations (UN) said that the seventh million human was born last Monday. The head of the organisation’s population division, Gerhard Heilig, said his department expected the […]
Demonstrations have reached Salzburg as the Chinese president continued his visit to Austria yesterday (Mon). Hu Jintao – who arrived in Vienna on Sunday – was shielded from the street marches and silent vigils attended by hundreds of Austrians and foreigners at various locations in the centre of the Austrian capital yesterday. A woman joining […]