27. 07. 09. - 15:00

• more General News news
• RSS Feed General News

27. 07. 09. - 15:00

Plassnik in running for EU High Representative post

By David Rogers

People’s Party (ÖVP) Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger today (Mon) backed his predecessor Ursula Plassnik to take over from Javier Solana as the EU’s High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy and Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union.

Solana has said he will step down in October this year and when asked about a replacement Spindelegger said: "Naturally, we have great interest in that post. Plassnik would make a very-good candidate on the basis of her experience."

Speaking during an EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels, he warned though that the naming of Solana’s replacement would have wait until after ratification of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty which will decide a number of personnel and structural issues.

The other candidates reportedly include Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bild, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, Finnish EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn and Dutch former NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.

Plassnik stepped down as foreign minister late last year after disagreements with her party’s leadership. She remains an MP in the Austrian parliament.

Austrian Times

Related articles: EU

1. BAWAG puts on brave face over 2009 losses

   » Business 2010-03-19

   Bank bosses at BAWAG PSK said it had losses of 22.2 million Euros in 2009 but added this was better than the previous year which saw losses of 547.5 million Euros.

2. EC threatens Austria with court over sexual equality

   » General News 2010-03-19

   Austria’s gender equality laws have been blasted by the European Commission (EC) and could land the country in court if it doesn’t introduce guidelines on equal treatment for men and women.

3. Austrian firms line up for Bulgarian assignments

   » Business 2010-03-19

   More than 20 Austrian companies have expressed interest in participating in the construction of the Bulgarian road and railroad infrastructure, according to reports by local media from today (Fri).

4. Austrian Ambassador on South Africa's chances and challenges

   » Panorama 2010-03-19

   The Austrian Times spoke to Otto Ditz about what he learnt from the African mentality – and why he sometimes feels "second class".

5. Austrian Catholics turn on church

   » General News 2010-03-19

   Austrian Roman Catholics are up in arms over sex scandals involving local priests and children with increasing numbers threatening to quit the church.

6. More foreign holidays planned this year

   » Business 2010-03-19

   More Austrians are planning on holidays abroad this year after 2009 saw a drop in numbers, according to a study by public opinion research agency Karmasin.

7. Siemens Austria to lay off 500 to 600

   » Business 2010-03-19

   Siemens Austria said today (Fri) it would lay off 500 to 600 of 2,000 workers in software division SIS (IT solutions and services) in the near future.

8. Verbund could lose interest in French Poweo

   » Business 2010-03-19

   Austrian energy provider Verbund’s 46 per cent interest in French electricity provider Poweo may become less valuable if the firm makes good on its threat to stop providing service to end customers.

9. RI's Croat subsidiary gets €30mn credit

   » Business 2010-03-19

   Raiffeisen International’s (RI) Croatian subsidiary Raiffeisenbank Austria d.d. received a 30-million-Euro credit by the German Investment and Development Society (DEG), it was announced.

10. Higher cigarette prices on tap

    » General News 2010-03-19

    Austria Tabak reported today (Fri) that the price of its 35 brands of cigarettes would increase by 10 to 20 cents a pack at the end of March.

Higher cigarette prices on tap
Austria Tabak reported today (Fri) that the price of its 35 brands of cigarettes would increase by 10 to 20 cents a pack at the end of March.

RI's Croat subsidiary gets €30mn credit
Raiffeisen International’s (RI) Croatian subsidiary Raiffeisenbank Austria d.d. received a 30-million-Euro credit by the German Investment and Development Society (DEG), it was announced.

Austrian Catholics turn on church
Austrian Roman Catholics are up in arms over sex scandals involving local priests and children with increasing numbers threatening to quit the church.

Wolford's earnings up in first three quarters
Vorarlberg textile firm Wolford reported today (Fri) that its earnings before interest and taxes (Ebit) had increased in the first three quarters of its 2009/2010 business year.

More foreign holidays planned this year
More Austrians are planning on holidays abroad this year after 2009 saw a drop in numbers, according to a study by public opinion research agency Karmasin.

Siemens Austria to lay off 500 to 600
Siemens Austria said today (Fri) it would lay off 500 to 600 of 2,000 workers in software division SIS (IT solutions and services) in the near future.

Graz police smash drug ring
An Iranian asylum seeker thought to be the boss of a drug-dealing gang has been arrested along with 11 cohorts, police said today (Fri).

Verbund could lose interest in French Poweo
Austrian energy provider Verbund’s 46 per cent interest in French electricity provider Poweo may become less valuable if the firm makes good on its threat to stop providing service to end customers.

Kasabian roll into Vienna
British indie rock giants Kasabian will return to Austria this summer, it has been revealed.

Paraglider crashes against bus
A 34-year-old paraglider escaped with bruises after smashing into a moving bus in Eben, Tyrol, yesterday (Thurs).