The Austrian government coalition has decided to inject more than 30 billion Euros into Federal Railways (ÖBB). Werner Faymann’s Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the team of People’s Party (ÖVP) ministers agreed yesterday (Weds) to support the railway company with 33 billion Euros. The money will be invested in the coming years. The subsidisation is supposed […]
The Social Democrats (SPÖ) plan an initiative for shorter working weeks. SPÖ Labour Minister Rudolf Hundstorfer said yesterday (Tues) he would appreciate a reduction of the general working volume from 40 to 38.5 hours. Hundstorfer claimed such a reform could help keeping elderly labourers and employees in work longer. He argued that lowering people’s average […]
Former Freedom Party (FPÖ) Finance Minister Karl-Heinz Grasser has denied any wrongdoing regarding the sale of real estate management company BUWOG. The enterprise – which manages more than 60,000 apartments – was privatised in 2004 when Grasser headed the finance ministry. Ex-FPÖ General Secretary Walter Meischberger and marketing expert Peter Hochegger, who used to be […]
The Austrian government is cracking down on another alleged safe haven for private equity. Only last week, Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) Finance Minister Maria Fekter met with Swiss Finance Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf to finalise a tax treaty between the neighbouring countries. The agreement means that Austrians’ money in Switzerland would be charged with tax rates […]
One of the world’s leading credit rating agencies has confirmed the Austrian AAA. US American agency Fitch announced yesterday (Tues) it decided to reaffirm the alpine country’s top credit rating. Fitch also gave a stable outlook on Austria’s economic development. The Austrian economy strongly depends on tourism, its retail trade – which employs more than […]
The Styrian spring has arrived – of all places in the Vienna Rathausplatz. From today 12 April until 16 April everything in the town hall square will be decidedly Styrian. Alongside traditional Styrian music the bands will also be accompanied by a violinist and there is also a tap dancing group from Krieglach/Alpl. The whole […]
Rumours that People’s Party (ÖVP) Finance Minister Maria Fekter will soon have to go are increasing following the most recent budget dispute. The finance minister was seen as a contender for ÖVP leadership following the resignation of Josef Pröll as chairman, vice chancellor, and finance minister last year. Economy Minister Reinhold Mitterlehner was given good […]
The money the state poured into nationalised banks is lost, according to an economic expert. Franz Hahn of the Institute for Economic Research (WIFO) said today (Weds) that the Republic of Austria might not see the billions of Euros it had poured into Hypo Group Alpe Adria (HGAA), Kommunalkredit and Volksbank AG (ÖVAG) ever again. […]
The Social Democrats (SPÖ) and regional power brokers have attacked Maria Fekter. The People’s Party (ÖVP) finance minister announced yesterday (Mon) she wanted to sanction provincial governments which breached the harsh new budget rules. Fekter said the agreement between the federal government and the provinces should not expire in 2017. The SPÖ-ÖVP coalition wants to […]
Volksbank AG (ÖVAG) suffered losses of more than 1.3 billion Euros last year. Bank officials announced yesterday (Thurs) that the Viennese finance institute sustained a loss of 1.34 billion Euros in 2011. The news means that the Republic of Austria is robbed of its chances to demand the one billion Euros of participation capital back […]