Review “Europe and Peace: Europe’s Comeback”
17th Salzburg Europe Summit, September 26th to 29th, 2021

IRE-FORUM

Western Balkan expansion: dead end or free ride?

Sunday, September 26, 2021

1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m

Salzburg Congress, Europasaal

Auerspergstraße 6, 5020 Salzburg

Combating the coronavirus pandemic as well as dealing with the social and economic consequences of this crisis, economic reconstruction and the problems related to increasing illegal migration are the current challenges facing the countries of the Western Balkans.

The dynamics of EU expansion also suffered from the corona pandemic. The EU has tried - albeit with considerable delays - to support the countries in the Western Balkans, especially with vaccine procurement. However, some non-European countries were faster in some areas.

The issue of energy security is likely to continue to play a crucial role in the economy. If the EU accession process for the Western Balkan countries does not move forward more quickly, the six countries in the region will soon look for alternatives.

North Macedonia and Albania are painfully affected by the Bulgarian veto on their path to EU accession. In some western EU countries there is still significant skepticism towards EU enlargement. More than ever, the Western Balkan states' EU accession process will lie in their own hands. If there is no progress in this regard, the already troubled enlargement process will probably become even more distant.

Representatives of the EU, several foreign and European ministers as well as prominent representatives of the Western Balkan states are devoting themselves to the question of whether the enlargement process will reach a dead end after the Corona crisis subsides or whether there will be a freer path towards enlargement again.

OPENING AND WELCOME

Franz Schausberger

Chairman of the Institute of the Regions of Europe (IRE)

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Karoline Edtstadler

Federal Minister for EU and Constitution (Austria)

PODIUM

Tanja Miščević - Live connection

Deputy Secretary General Region Cooperation Council (RCC), Western Balkans

Josip Brkic

Deputy Foreign Minister (Bosnia-Herzegovina)

Donika Gervalla

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister (Kosovo)

Jadranka Joksimovic

Minister for EU Integration (Serbia)

Zoran Popov

State Secretary for Foreign Affairs (North Macedonia)

Đorđe Radulović

Foreign Minister (Montenegro)

Megi Fino

Deputy Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs (Albania)

MODERATION

Christian Wehrschütz

ORF

DISCUSSION (in cooperation with the Sochi Dialogue)

Austria – Russia: Dialogue at the regional level

Sunday, September 26, 2021

5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m

The Sochi Dialogue is an Austrian-Russian civil society forum that aims to strengthen bilateral relations and civil society exchange between Austria and Russia. The Institute of European Regions (IRE) is conducting a dialogue among representatives of Austrian federal states and Russian regions and republics as part of the Salzburg Europe Summit.

FOR INVITED GUESTS ONLY

OPENING

Democracy and freedom in Europe after Corona

Monday, September 27, 2021

9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m

Salzburg Congress, Europe Hall

Auerspergstraße 6, 5020 Salzburg

The corona pandemic, which has had the world firmly in its grip since the beginning of 2020, meant that governments around the world often had to take drastic measures to protect the health and lives of the population as best as possible. These measures were often a strong encroachment on civil liberties that were previously customary or even taken for granted. This includes entrepreneurial freedoms or, at the European level, freedom of movement and travel.

It was clear that all of these measures were largely necessary, but also had to be temporary. Society in Europe was put to the test of solidarity and politicians had to make tough, sometimes unpopular decisions.

Was Europe prepared for a crisis of this magnitude? Was democracy in danger? How far can the balance between freedom and life go? Have society and politics passed the test and balanced the balancing of interests? Is there a divide between rich and poorer regions in Europe? And what does the “new normal” that some are warning about look like in Europe?

In this opening dialogue, high-ranking politicians and experts will discuss these and other questions about democracy and freedom in Europe after Corona.

MUSICAL OPENING

Salzburg student choir

OPENING AND WELCOME

Franz Schausberger

Founder and Chairman of the Institute of the Regions of Europe

Karoline Edtstadler

Federal Minister for EU and Constitution (Austria)

Christoph Takacs

Country Director of ORF Salzburg (Austria)

DIALOG I

Economy, work and finance: Can Europe make a new start?

Monday, September 27, 2021

12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m

Salzburg Congress, Europe Hall

Auerspergstraße 6, 5020 Salzburg

For Europe in particular, the corona pandemic was a heavy burden on both the economy and public budgets. The EU put together a 750 billion euro package, the Republic of Austria is also supporting the labor market and domestic companies with strong programs such as short-time work and investment bonuses.

The global economy is now picking up again, and many regions of the world, such as China, are achieving strong growth rates. Was the turnaround successful? The voices following the gradual withdrawal of some measures are becoming louder. Unemployment is also falling pleasingly in Austria. On the other hand, for many industries it is almost impossible to find suitable staff.

But the pandemic also exposed many weak points: many companies were not prepared for digitalization and new forms such as home office and remote work presented many companies with major challenges. Many people in Austria have not been in an office for over a year. Of course, this also changes work processes, communication and ultimately also social behavior in society.

In addition, the measures against the pandemic have shown that states that have their budgets in order have greater financial leeway in dealing with crises and can also show solidarity with other countries. The question for all countries is how best to get out of debt?

In the wake of the Corona crisis, globalized society has also reverted economically to local and regional structures. There is more emphasis than ever on regional products. For the economic restart, the recovery of the regional and local economy and increased investments by the municipalities and regions that have also been hit hard by Corona are absolutely necessary.

High-profile experts and responsible politicians who are intensively involved in the topics will comment on this in this discussion and present their idea of a “restart of the European economy”.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Martin Kocher

Federal Minister of Labor of the Republic of Austria

PODIUM

Monika Bütler

Economist, board member, former vice president of the Science Task Force Covid-19 (Switzerland)

Willibald Cernko

Member of the Board of ERSTE Bank (Austria)

Beata Javorcik

Chief Economist EBRD (Poland)

John head

Director of the Labor Market Service (Austria)

Christoph Neumayer

Secretary General of the Federation of Industrialists (Austria)

Ina Schlie

Economist, supervisory board member, business angel (Germany)

Christina Wilfinger

Managing Director SAP Austria (Austria)

MODERATION

Rainer Nowak

Editor-in-Chief “Die Presse” (Austria)

DIALOG II

Green Deal: Peace with nature?

Monday, September 27, 2021

3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m

Salzburg Congress, Europe Hall

Auerspergstraße 6, 5020 Salzburg

The Green Deal, one of the European Union's most comprehensive initiatives in recent years, is intended to make Europe's states and economies fit to fight climate change. The EU is committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050. The recent severe weather disasters and their terrible effects have once again demonstrated the urgency of effective, sustainable, cost-efficient, fair and socially balanced measures.

New forms of mobility and corresponding infrastructure or the expansion of renewable forms of energy are, among other things, the goal of the European Green Deal, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent. But will these measures be enough to combat climate change? Or is more adaptation needed to the consequences of climate change? Will this weaken European industry, or can it become a pioneer of the global “green economy”? What role do the areas of transport, mobility and energy supply play in achieving the goals of the Green Deal? Will the stricter requirements be able to be absorbed by the industry and economy hit by the corona pandemic, what impact will this have on jobs and will there be serious price increases, for example in the energy sector.

Ultimately, the Green Deal will not be successful if local authorities and regions are not fully involved and do not adopt it and identify with this ambitious goal.

On this panel with experts from the fields of environment, politics and economics, these and other questions surrounding the Green Deal, climate-friendly economy and social acceptance will be intensively discussed.

VIDEO STATEMENT

Amina Mohammed

Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations (UNO)

Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Group

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Magnus Brunner

State Secretary for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (Austria)

PODIUM

Juliana Cantaragiu - Live connection

Minister of the Environment of the Republic of Moldova

Michaela Huber

Board member of ÖBB-Personenverkehr AG (Austria)

Ana Maria Sanchez Infante

Directorate-General for Energy in the European Commission, Brussels

Erik Kroiher

International Relations Kapsch TrafficCom (Austria)

Stefan Schnöll

State Council for Transport and Infrastructure Salzburg (Austria)

Harald Stindl

Managing Director of GAS CONNECT Austria GmbH (Austria)

Michael Strugl

Chairman of the Board of VERBUND AG (Austria)

MODERATION

Richard Grasl

Deputy editor-in-chief “KURIER” (Austria)

Monday, September 27, 2021

7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m

Augustiner Bräu Kloster Mülln

Lindhofstraße 7, 5020 Salzburg

The “Bräustübl”, the largest beer restaurant in Austria, has been around since 1621 – 400 years ago. The beer comes from wooden barrels and is served in stone mugs, accompanied by traditional dishes. Participants of the Salzburg Europe Summit have the opportunity to have interesting, informal conversations and network in a friendly atmosphere. The Bräustübl is a place of encounter, of tradition - a piece of living history in the center of Salzburg's world cultural heritage.

DIALOG III

Corona: From rural exodus to urban exodus?

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

9:15 a.m. to 11:00 a.m

Salzburg Congress, Europe Hall

Auerspergstraße 6, 5020 Salzburg

For many years, rural exodus and the associated problems in metropolises and cities dominated public discussion. Since the Corona crisis, there has been a trend reversal that was already noticeable before the pandemic. More and more people want to move out of the city and into rural areas. Escape from cities is becoming the new trend.

For a long time, the big city was considered a place of longing with good education, professional opportunities, care facilities, cultural offerings and a wide range of entertainment options. With the pandemic came lockdowns and restrictions and the benefits of city life suddenly disappeared. Closed restaurants, no theater, no work in the office. In the cities there was nothing going on outside and inside, in the expensive apartments, it was getting crowded. The cramped living together suddenly seemed threatening. Many employees had to or were able to work from home and therefore basically from anywhere.

The property search has changed massively. Interest in apartments, houses and land outside the cities skyrocketed. But the trend also showed the urgent need to catch up in rural regions: fast internet, good digital infrastructure, fast public transport connections, sufficient child care, cultural offerings, medical care, spatial planning measures to get rampant land consumption under control.

It is questionable whether this trend out of the city will continue or whether it will subside again post-Covid. Is the new “landlust” one that encompasses all rural regions or is it primarily a trend towards suburbanization, the escape to the suburbs of the metropolises? Do people want to move to the countryside, but at the same time don't want to miss out on the advantages of urban life? Despite everything, does rural exodus remain a threatening scenario for certain regions?

OPENING AND WELCOME

Josef Schöchl

Chairman of the Europe Committee of the Salzburg State Parliament, member of the IRE Board (Austria)

PODIUM

Alexander Biach

Deputy Director of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce, location attorney for the City of Vienna (Austria)

Matthias Günther

Graduate economist, head of the Eduard Pestel Institute in Hanover (Germany)

Doris Kleinein

Architect, author “The City after Corona” (Germany)

Małgorzata Maria Mańka-Szulik

Mayor of the city of Zabrze (Poland)

Dragana Tomić Pilipović

Founder of the Rural Hub in Vrmdža (Serbia)

Mario Winkler

Head of Communications, Hail Insurance (Austria)

MODERATION

Claus Reitan

Journalist (Austria)

DIALOG IV

Mobility and tourism without open borders?

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m

Salzburg Congress, Europe Hall

Auerspergstraße 6, 5020 Salzburg

Tourism was already under discussion before the start of the corona pandemic, both in terms of holiday and business trips. Overtourism, traffic chaos, short-haul and cheap flights, party tourism, the cruise industry, in short mass tourism were just some of the developments that were intensively discussed in connection with the climate crisis even before Corona.

Corona hit the tourism industry like hardly any other industry. Lockdown, closed airports, strict protective measures for traveling on public transport, and border closures brought tourism to a virtual standstill. Certain relaxations only allowed regional tourism in one's own country with short distances and local recreation in familiar cultural circles, which conveyed a feeling of security. Which in turn brought new problems. Nature and the environment were exposed to new pressures due to the sudden onslaught of urban populations.

As painful as Corona was and is economically for the industry, the restart must be the basis for more sustainable tourism, globally, regionally and locally. Will mass tourism be replaced by more sustainable tourism, how can trust between all those involved be restored and what impact will video conferences, which have now become standard, have on business tourism? How can the labor shortage in the tourism industry be remedied, as many employees have migrated to other professional sectors during the pandemic?

Corona will accompany our lives and therefore also tourism for a longer period of time. Will a realignment be possible if the willingness to vaccinate is decreasing and at the same time the threat from new virus mutations is increasing?

PODIUM

Andreas Bardeau

Chairman and initiator of “Schlösserstraße” (Austria)

Tonči Glavina

State Secretary for Tourism (Croatia)

Serena Ceccarelli

Student of European Studies in Rome and Salzburg (Italy)

Faruk Kaymaci

Deputy Foreign Minister of Türkiye

Cristian Macedonschi

Chairman Smart City Brasov eV (Romania)

Yvette Polasek

Head of Czech Tourism in Austria (Czech Republic)

Nicole von Stockert

Press spokesperson for the Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry (Germany)

Lisa Weddig

Managing Director “Austria Advertising” (Austria)

MODERATION

Monika Graf

Journalist “Salzburger Nachrichten” (Austria)