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Latest update from around the globe
PHOTO: CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS
Bloomberg Innovationsranking
South Korea is in
the lead
Austria ranked 17th out of 50
in the global innovation
ranking by Bloomberg, the
financial news service. The
most innovative countries are
South Korea, Japan and
Germany followed by Finland,
Israel and the USA. Austria
came 5th in the subcategory
of manufacturing processes.
Bloomberg ranked the
countries based on six
categories, which determine
their ability to innovate.
www.bloomberg.com
European Union
Economic forecast 2015
For the first time since 2007, the economies of all European Union Member States are
expected to grow again this year, according to the European Commission‘s winter
forecast. Over the course of this year, economic activity is expected to pick up moderately
in the EU and in the euro area, before accelerating further in 2016. Growth this year is
forecast to rise to 1,7 percent for the EU as a whole and to 1,3 percent for the euro area. In
2016, annual growth should reach 2,1 percent and 1,9 percent respectively, on the back of
strengthened domestic and foreign demand, very accommodative monetary policy and a
broadly neutral fiscal stance. Growth prospects across Europe are still limited by a weak
investment environment and high unemployment. However, since the autumn, a number
of key developments have brightened the near-term outlook. Oil prices have declined
faster than before, the euro has depreciated noticeably, the ECB has announced
quantitative easing, and the European Commission has presented its Investment Plan for
Europe. All these factors are set to have a positive impact on growth. The trend towards
low inflation has continued. In most Member States, inflation temporarily turned negative
in December, on the back of the steep fall in energy prices. Inflation is set to remain
subdued in 2015 as low commodity prices dampen the headline figure. Inflation should
increase as of mid-2015 and in the course of 2016, as economic activity gradually
strengthens, wages rise and the economic slack is reduced. In the EU, inflation is projected
at 0,2 percent in 2015 and 1,4 percent in 2016. Inflation in the euro area is forecast to be
-0,1 percent this year before rising to 1,3 percent in 2016.
ec.europa.eu
International Soil Sciences
Office established
in Vienna
The IUSS (International Union
of Soil Sciences) has set up an
office in Vienna. IUSS is the
global umbrella organisation
of national soil associations
and has more than 20,000
members – scientists from 70
countries around the world.
www.iuss.org
Airline Ranking
The safest airlines
in the world
This year‘s safety ranking by JACDEC (Jet
Airliner Crash Data Evaluation Centre)
gave the top spot to Cathay Pacific Airways
from Hong Kong, closely followed by
Emirates from the United Arab Emirates
and Eva Air, a private Taiwanese airline.
The JACDEC ranking analyses the
relationship between transport
performance and incidents of the 60
largest airlines in the world. To compile
the list, all aircraft write-offs and fatalities
in the last 30 years are recorded as well as
serious incidents such as near-misses or
risky situations.
www.jacdec.de
Spain
Booming Automotive
industry
Spanish car manufacturers
were able to increase their
production in 2014 by eleven
percent to a total of 2,4
million vehicles. This has
made Spain the second
largest European car
manufacturer and go up to
ninth place in the worldwide
top ten.
www.wko.at
VEF 2015
Vienna
Energy Forum
The Vienna Energy Forum
2015 will take place only a
few months before the
Sustainable Development
Goals Summit in New York
and the UNFCCC Conference
of the Parties in Paris. By
emphasizing the multiple
benefits of the Post-2015
Development and the Climate
Agenda and by showcasing
best practices and actions on
the ground, the VEF 2015
aims at contributing to both.
Date: 18th to 20th June 2015
Venue: Hofburg Imperial
Palace in Vienna.
www.unido.org
Austria-Bulgaria
Cultural agreement
signed
Austria and Bulgaria have
signed a new agreement
regarding cooperation in the
fields of culture, education,
science and youth. The
agreement replaces an
outdated agreement from
1976. It has established a new
basis for cooperation in the
promotion of language
teaching, literature, history
and regional studies.
www.bmeia.gv.at
LEBEN IM NEUEN WIEN
300 EXKLUSIVE EIGENTUMSWOHNUNGEN MIT TERRASSE UND AUSBLICK.
CONCIERGE-SERVICE, SPA UND FITNESS. NUR ACHT U-BAHN-MINUTEN IN DIE CITY.
AB SOMMER 2015. WWW.DC-LIVING.AT
FOTO: MICHAEL NAGL
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Cercle Diplomatique 1/2015
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