• austriantimes.at
• croatiantimes.com
• romaniantimes.at
• salzburgtimes.at

Today

• Vienna - Johnny\'s Pub Quiz
• Vienna - Unknown Underground
• Vienna - Childrens Fun

© BMI / Alexander Tuma

22. 05. 12. - 19:00

• more General News news
• RSS Feed General News

22. 05. 12. - 19:00

Hollande's growth appeal 'nonsense', says Fekter

Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) Finance Minister Maria Fekter has launched an attack on the new French president.

The former interior minister branded Francois Hollande’s targets as "nonsense". Speaking to the Oberösterreichische Nachrichten newspaper, Fekter said ambitions to add aspects guaranteeing economic growth in struggling countries to the planned European Union (EU) fiscal pact were outdated.

This statement follows a rift with Jean-Claude Juncker, the prime minister of Luxembourg. Fekter claimed in an interview that the head of the EU’s group of Eurozone countries cancelled a press conference because he had kidney stones. Fekter denied that Juncker was angered with her for revealing details about what the Eurozone finance ministers had agreed on before he had the chance to address the media. The Austrian finance minister later apologised to Juncker.

Fekter was seen as a potential threat for ÖVP Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger’s leadership of the party for some time before she caused controversy on European level. Public opinion researchers explained that many Austrians appreciated Fekter’s blunt language and down to earth approach to explaining complex issues before a significant switch took place. Now polls identify her as one of the least popular members of the government.

Spindelegger promised last week that the EU would not let debt-ridden Greece down under any circumstances. The foreign minister claimed that there was no other option but helping Greece to get through the crisis. The ÖVP chief said Europe’s political leaders were not debating a departure of Greece from the Eurozone or the EU. "The European Union has no revolving door," he said.

Austria’s leading tourism agency, the Verkehrsbüro Group, said the number of Austrians planning to travel to Greece this summer was 21.6 per cent lower at the moment than at the same time in 2011. Nevertheless, the southern country remains the third-most popular summer holiday destination among Austrians opting for a trip abroad. Turkey is ahead, with Spain in second, a Verkehrsbüro Group spokesman explained.

Greece – where public servants, ferry staff and bus drivers held several strikes in the past months – is challenged by a high public debt rate and soaring unemployment figures. At the same time, the Austrian economy is doing comparably well.

The Vienna-based Institute for Economic Research (WIFO) said the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 0.2 per cent from the final quarter of 2011 to the first quarter of 2012. WIFO analysts explained that this meant an increase of 1.9 per cent from the first quarter of 2011 to the same period in the current year.

The European Commission (EC) said in its latest economic forecast that the economy in the 17 Eurozone states would decline by 0.3 per cent on average in 2012 compared to 2011. Experts of the political institution, which is headed by Jose Manuel Barroso, said Austria’s GDP could achieve an annual growth rate of 0.8 per cent this year.

Vienna Times

Related articles: political scandals

1. EC warns debt-ridden Austria

   » General News 2012-05-31

   Austria has been criticised for its high public debts.

2. Graz coalition collapses

   » General News 2012-05-31

   People’s Party (ÖVP) Graz Mayor Siegfried Nagl has ended his faction’s partnership with the Greens.

3. FPÖ attacks Wrabetz

   » General News 2012-05-30

   ORF boss Alexander Wrabetz is under fire over his latest relocation calculations.

4. Government's subsidisation reform suffers setback

   » General News 2012-05-29

   The government has failed to reach an agreement with the coalition concerning a reform of Austria’s party subsidisation system.

5. Vienna road toll on the agenda again

   » General News 2012-05-22

   The Vienna Greens are risking a coalition-internal conflict by calling for a city toll.

6. Hollande's growth appeal 'nonsense', says Fekter

   » General News 2012-05-22

   Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) Finance Minister Maria Fekter has launched an attack on the new French president.

7. Petrol traders plan legal action

   » Business 2012-05-17

   The domestic mineral oil industry plans to sue the government about plans to set up a tool regulating fuel prices.

8. Turmöl sales soar

   » Business 2012-05-11

   Austria’s main discount petrol station network earned more in the first three months of this year thanks to the current developments on the energy products sector.

9. SPÖ's big guns trained on Strache

   » General News 2012-05-02

   Vienna Mayor Michael Häupl has warned from a coalition between the People’s Party (ÖVP) and the Freedom Party (FPÖ).

10. Bonuses must mean tax cuts, says ÖVP boss

    » General News 2012-05-02

    The People’s Party (ÖVP) has suggested to lower the tax pressure on companies which share their profits with employees.

Related articles: EU

1. EC warns debt-ridden Austria

   » General News 2012-05-31

   Austria has been criticised for its high public debts.

2. AUA under pressure as pilots quit

   » Business 2012-05-30

   The number of pilots and stewardesses leaving Austrian Airlines (AUA) because of the upcoming pay cuts is on the rise.

3. Austrian skiers create overnight stay record

   » Business 2012-05-29

   The number of winter season overnight stays by Austrians has reached a new record.

4. Pecik defends TA engagement

   » Business 2012-05-24

   Telekom Austria (TA) investor Ronny Pecik has declared himself a team player.

5. FW turnover takes off

   » Business 2012-05-24

   Austria’s biggest airport has managed to increase its profit.

6. Küng tackles Schüller group

   » General News 2012-05-24

   Another top-tier representative of the Austrian Church has warned the Preachers’ Initiative from consequences.

7. AUA rules out Whitsun travel chaos

   » Business 2012-05-23

   The current conflict with the works committee does not negatively affect Austrian Airlines’ (AUA) booking figures, according to a spokesman.

8. Hollande's growth appeal 'nonsense', says Fekter

   » General News 2012-05-22

   Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) Finance Minister Maria Fekter has launched an attack on the new French president.

9. Schönborn warns disobedient priests

   » General News 2012-05-18

   Viennese Archbishop Christoph Cardinal Schönborn is upping the pressure on Helmut Schüller’s Preachers’ Initiative.

10. Austrians concerned about EU unemployment

    » Business 2012-05-18

    Joblessness is what worries Austrians the most, a poll regarding European issues shows.

Related articles: crisis

1. EC warns debt-ridden Austria

   » General News 2012-05-31

   Austria has been criticised for its high public debts.

2. Property prices keep climbing

   » Business 2012-05-31

   A real estate expert has expressed concerns about property prices in Austria.

3. Graz coalition collapses

   » General News 2012-05-31

   People’s Party (ÖVP) Graz Mayor Siegfried Nagl has ended his faction’s partnership with the Greens.

4. FPÖ attacks Wrabetz

   » General News 2012-05-30

   ORF boss Alexander Wrabetz is under fire over his latest relocation calculations.

5. AUA under pressure as pilots quit

   » Business 2012-05-30

   The number of pilots and stewardesses leaving Austrian Airlines (AUA) because of the upcoming pay cuts is on the rise.

6. TV tax increase ahead

   » Business 2012-05-30

   TV consumers in Austria must pay higher taxes from Friday.

7. Pay cuts scare off AUA pilots

   » Business 2012-05-29

   Dozens of pilots have left Austrian Airlines (AUA) in the past weeks, according to the loss-making carrier’s works committee.

8. Brauner discloses austerity course details

   » General News 2012-05-29

   Viennese Social Democratic (SPÖ) Finance Councillor Renate Brauner has revealed how the city government plans to save one billion Euros within the next five years.

9. Austrian skiers create overnight stay record

   » Business 2012-05-29

   The number of winter season overnight stays by Austrians has reached a new record.

10. Government's subsidisation reform suffers setback

    » General News 2012-05-29

    The government has failed to reach an agreement with the coalition concerning a reform of Austria’s party subsidisation system.

Admont – where culture and nature meet
The region of Admont, in Styria, once a popular holiday destination for walkers and lovers of the great outdoors, is undergoing something of a revival.

Huge counterfeit money gang nicked
A money printing gang was busted after police carried out a series of raids on illegal printing factories.

Viennese museum displays bits of the moon
Three tests samples of moonstone are now on permanent display from NASA at the Natural History Museum in Vienna.

Elton John - Vienna concert tonight
Elton John is performing at the Stadthalle this evening.

Bathing ban remains on Donauinsel
Swimmers looking to escape the heat wave have been warned to avoid the Donauinsel because of possible infection.

Emergency doctors and security at the Donauinselfest
Security and emergency services will be working around the clock at the 30th Donauinselfest in Vienna this weekend as 200 acts take to the stage.

Better road security for the elderly
A two-day conference on "mobility and road safety in an ageing society" which kicks off tomorrow at the Palais Ferstel (Vienna) will look for measures to improve the security of road users over 60 years of age.

Better road security for the elderly
A two-day conference on "mobility and road safety in an ageing society" which kicks off tomorrow at the Palais Ferstel (Vienna) will look for measures to improve the security of road users over 60 years of age.

Heat causes damage to the West motorway
High temperatures have caused damage to the A1 "Westautobahn" motorway from Lower-Austria to Vienna.

Red Light Process starts again in Vienna
The so-called "Red Light Process" is being continued in the regional court in Vienna today.