Calendar of Economic Events. Second Quarter 2017

The European Council defined the guidelines for the "Brexit" negotiations. Following some disagreement between bodies in charge of debt relief for Greece, a loan tranche of 8.5 billion € was released from the third aid package. The USA withdrew from the agreements of the Paris climate accord. President Trump decided to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico. With its "New Silk Road" project China intends to develop a new infrastructure for trading between Asia, Africa and Europe. – Shortly before the early termination of its legislative period, the Austrian National Council adopted laws to promote research facilities and in-house research and innovation by way of further direct funding and tax incentive, an employment bonus to give a boost to the labour market, easing off some restrictions in the Industrial Code and the abolition of the "long-term care recourse" (paying back social assistance benefits from own assets). The minimum wage of 1,500 € a month before tax will be implemented in the collective bargaining agreements by 2020. Elections for the next parliament will be advanced to take place on 15 October 2017.