Austria

Albanian prime minister visits Belgrade

BELGRADE -- On Monday Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama is visiting Belgrade, which is a historic event in the diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The last visit by a head of the Albanian state to Belgrade was recorded in 1946 when Enver Hoxha met with Josip Broz Tito.

New legislation allowing taxpayers up to 100 monthly installments to pay off their debts to the state will not be withdrawn, the Finance Ministry said on Saturday after reports that the troika has objected to the law, estimating that it will add 1 billion euros to Greece’s fiscal gap.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Titus Corlatean on Friday stated that the law doesn't allow the setting up of new polling stations abroad or extending the voting hours, yet he specified that the number of voting booths and the number of voting stamps can and they will be increased.

BELGRADE - Representatives of the multinational company Thales International talked with the Serbian Railways management about the prospects for the company's engagement in the Serbian railway projects.

This company, based in France, supplies transport management systems, while the Thales branch in Austria offers rail signaling solutions, Serbian Railways said in a statement.

Ivaylo Kalfin was born in Sofia in 1964.

Kalfin has studied International Economic Relations in the University of National and World Economy in Sofia and International Banking in the Loughborough University.

He has specialized in Austria and the US. 

Hungary passes law to allow building of S. Stream

BRUSSELS -- The European Commission has asked Hungary to explain a new law passed in order to speed up construction of pipelines "such as South Stream."

In the first operation, 11 persons who "were involved for long period of time in the trafficking of migrants to the European Union countries" were arrested, the police said.

Austrian companies biggest investors since 2000

BELGRADE -- Total investments of Austrian companies in Serbia are at around USD 3 billion, making Austria the biggest investor in Serbia since 2000.

BELGRADE - Serbia ranks 77th according to the Legatum Prosperity Index, while Norway claimed the first place on the list of 142 countries.

The Prosperity Index released by Legatum Group on Tuesday evaluates countries according to a number of parameters in sectors of economy, entrepreneurship, administration, education, healthcare, security, individual freedoms and social capital.

Serbia ranks 77th on Legatum Prosperity Index

BELGRADE -- Serbia ranks 77th according to the Legatum Prosperity Index, while Norway claimed the first place on the list of 142 countries.