Archive & Review
Review “Visions for Europe: expectations and reality”
18th Salzburg Europe Summit, October 23rd to 25th, 2022
At the beginning of 2022, no one would have believed that peace in Europe would be deeply shaken by military aggression. Due to the war of aggression, the security order in Europe must be rethought and restructured.
Can the European Union overcome this security and economic policy crisis? How must Europe position itself in the future in order to be better prepared for crisis situations?
SPECIAL – European Year of Youth 2022
We are Europe – young people about their future
Sunday, October 23, 2022
1:15 p.m. to 3:00 p.m
Salzburg Congress, Europasaal
Auerspergstraße 6, 5020 Salzburg
The European Year of Youth is intended to place particular focus on the needs and wishes of young people in Europe. What motivates European youth? In principle, young people in Europe have more opportunities than almost any generation before: a wide range of educational opportunities or easier and cheaper travel seem to know almost no limits. Nevertheless, the young generation is also concerned about: climate change, precarious working conditions, pressure of expectations or a general lack of prospects in their home countries, but of course also the fundamental question of peace in Europe, which so far appears to be secure.
At the panel “We are Europe – young people discuss their future,” young people from European countries, especially those that are not yet members of the EU, will show what concerns them, what worries them, but also what motivates them.
What do you expect from the European Union and what from politics in your home country? Have their chances gotten worse or better over the years? What do they want for themselves and the future of their generation? What opportunities do they see to help shape politics?
We are discussing this with young people and young politicians in this dialogue.
GREETING
Franz Schausberger
Chairman of the Institute of the Regions of Europe (IRE)
PULSE
Lidia Pereira
Member of the European Parliament, Chair of YEPP (Portugal)
PODIUM
Anastasia Hatsenko
Student, political analyst, chairwoman of Paneuropa Kiev (Ukraine)
Nikolina Martinovic
Associate at the Prime Minister Office in Government of Montenegro
Dastid Morina
Student (Kosovo)
Klaudia Shullazi
Consultant at the Ministry of Education, Youth Advisory Group OSCE (Albania)
Nini Tsiklauri
Author, artist, EU activist, born in Georgia
MODERATION
Gundula Geiginger
Pulse 4
IRE-FORUM
New expansion: Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia
Sunday, October 23, 2022
3:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m
Salzburg Congress, Europasaal
Auerspergstraße 6, 5020 Salzburg
Russia's war against Ukraine has updated the discussion that began in 2014 about the possible accession of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia. The position of the EU member states on this issue varies. Especially in view of the accession processes of the six Western Balkan states, which have been dragging on for many years.
New opportunities beyond full membership for participation in joint programs such as in the common foreign, security and defense policy as well as in the areas of research, energy, transport and climate protection are also being discussed. In the spirit of a “new enlargement”, a model should be found that enables countries to have close ties to the European Union even before full membership.
In any case, there is agreement that the three applicant countries will continue to consistently pursue the fulfillment of the criteria for democracy, human rights and the rule of law as well as an increased fight against corruption.
In this IRE forum we can expect an exciting discussion between representatives of the European Commission, the European Parliament and high representatives from Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia about the current situation.
OPENING
Franz Schausberger
Chairman of the Institute of the Regions of Europe (IRE)
PODIUM
Maka Botchorishvili
Chairwoman of the EU Integration Committee of the Parliament of Georgia
Simona Cojocaru
State Secretary for Security Policy and International Relations, Ministry of National Defense, Romania
Franziska Davies
Historian, History of Eastern and Southeastern Europe, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Germany)
Vasyl Khymynets
Ambassador of Ukraine to Austria
Luke Mandl
Member of the European Parliament, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Security and Defense (Austria)
Katarina Mathernova
Deputy Director General for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy in the European Commission, Chairwoman of the Ukraine Support Group
Rudolf Striedinger
General, Chief of Staff of the Austrian Armed Forces
MODERATION
Raffaela Schaidreiter
EU correspondent, head of the ORF correspondent office in Brussels
Sunday, October 25, 2022
7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m
Salzburg Residence, Carabinieri Hall
Residenzplatz 1, 5020 Salzburg
Wilfried Haslauer, the governor of Salzburg, and Harald Preuner, the mayor of the city of Salzburg, invite you to a reception in the residence. For conference participants there is a bus transfer from Salzburg Congress at 6.45 p.m. and at 10 p.m. from the Salzburg Residenz to the conference hotels.
The Salzburg Residence is located in the heart of the old town and was the center of power at the time of the Salzburg prince-archbishops. Until the 19th century, those in power controlled the country's fortunes from here and used the state halls of the residence as a representation.
MUSICAL INTERMEZZO
Susanna Chakhoian
Soprano, soloist of the National Opera of Ukraine
Minka Popovic
piano
OPENING
Will the EU survive its crises?
Monday, October 24, 2022
9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m
Salzburg Congress, Europe Hall
Auerspergstraße 6, 5020 Salzburg
Will the EU survive its crises?
Peace within the community, easy travel, free movement of goods and prosperity - the EU has undoubtedly brought a lot of good to its citizens. However, for about a decade now, crises within the EU and its neighborhood have been increasing again. Euro-skepticism, Europe-bashing and a loss of European identity are on the rise.
The “Conference on the Future of Europe”, which started in May 2021 and is intended to develop new ideas and visions for a Europe of the future, has brought some interesting results, but the question is whether the current crises even allow implementation and whether the will this exists.
Debt crisis, discussion about migration, consequences of Brexit, increase in national populism, threat to the rule of law, Covid pandemic, climate change, paralyzed enlargement policy and finally the terrible war against Ukraine are just some of the key words on the current situation in the EU. In addition, the perceived “bureaucracy of the EU” makes it inaccessible, opaque, undemocratic, over-regulated and bureaucratic for many.
The ability to act within the EU due to dwindling solidarity and increasing vetoes also leaves a lot to be desired. The call for reform, for a new, different Europe is becoming louder. On the other hand, as in the Covid crisis, the EU was able to quickly adopt a joint “Next Generation EU” development program worth 750 billion euros.
With the outbreak of war in Ukraine, a turning point has dawned for all of Europe.
In this opening dialogue, high-ranking representatives of the EU, national governments of various European countries and scientific experts will address the question of whether the European Union in its current constitution is able to overcome all of these crises largely unscathed and find a solution to supply.
MUSICAL OPENING
European anthem
OPENING AND WELCOME
Franz Schausberger
Founder and Chairman of the Institute of the Regions of Europe
Wilfried Haslauer
Governor of Salzburg
INTERVIEW (video)
Karl Nehammer
Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria
KEYNOTE
John Hahn
EU Commissioner for Budget and Administration
INTERVIEW
Karoline Edtstadler
Federal Minister for the EU and Constitution, Republic of Austria
PODIUM
Nicola Beer
Vice-President of the European Parliament (Germany)
Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal
Secretary General for Foreign Affairs in the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, Austria
Bojan Marichikj
Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs, North Macedonia
Lilyana Pavlova - Live connection from Luxembourg
Vice President of the European Investment Bank EIB (Bulgaria)
Olga Stefanishyna - Live connection from Kyiv
Deputy Prime Minister for EU Integration, Ukraine
Marko Stucin
European State Secretary of the Republic of Slovenia
MODERATION
Richard Grasl
Deputy Editor-in-Chief KURIER
DIALOG I
Raw materials and energy – more autonomy for Europe
Monday, October 24, 2022
12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m
Salzburg Congress, Europe Hall
Auerspergstraße 6, 5020 Salzburg
The Corona pandemic has already shown how dependent, and sometimes even dependent, our societies and the economy are on stable and functioning supply chains. In times without conflict, this is often taken for granted, but in times of crisis, the vulnerability of the global system becomes apparent. While prices for logistics, raw materials and energy have risen in recent years for various reasons, such as natural or deliberate shortages in raw materials or restrictions in freight transport, the supply of energy and food to Europe and large parts of the world is now at risk.
Is Europe too dependent? Did diversification not work? What lessons do we need to learn from the current crisis? Would reducing dependence on non-European suppliers strengthen the autonomy of our continent and, given all the technical progress and the strong need for raw materials and energy, would that even be possible?
These and other questions will be discussed in this panel by high-ranking experts from business, science and politics.
GREETING WORDS
Leonore Gewessler - Video message
Federal Minister for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology of the Republic of Austria
PULSE
Martin Kocher
Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Labor of the Republic of Austria
PODIUM
Jovanka Atanackovic
State Secretary for Energy and Mining of the Republic of Serbia
Gerald Hesztera
General Directorate for Public Security, Federal Ministry of the Interior (Austria)
Dagmar Koch
Country Manager, Coface Austria
Michael Strugl
Chairman of the Board of VERBUND AG (Austria)
Harald Stindl
Managing Director Gas Connect Austria GmbH (Austria)
Kirsten Westphal
Energy expert, Executive Director Research & Analysis H2Global Foundation, member of the National Hydrogen Council (Germany)
MODERATION
Waltraud Langer
Regional Director ORF Salzburg
DIALOG II
Industry 4.0 for Europe
Monday, October 24, 2022
3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m
Salzburg Congress, Europe Hall
Auerspergstraße 6, 5020 Salzburg
The industrial world is currently facing major, new challenges. Our resources are fundamentally finite, war and pandemic are making the situation even worse and we have to do more with less.
“Industry 4.0” is intended to express the development of a fourth industrial revolution. This fourth industrial revolution essentially encompasses the age of digitalization by connecting the real and digital worlds. People, machines, systems, logistics and products communicate and cooperate directly with each other in Industry 4.0. Digitalization and automation are the game changers for mastering these challenges on the way to Industry 4.0.
Industry 4.0 does not just mean the partial digitalization of some processes or sectors in industry or the economy in general, but also refers to the digitalization of entire production. To achieve this, industry also needs new forms of organization and society needs new requirements in terms of competence and training.
Are Austria and Europe prepared for this? How has the industry prepared for this? In which areas are we leaders and in which can and do we still need to learn? Are we also prepared for negative impacts?
Representatives from practice and politics will discuss the new opportunities, risks, dangers and disadvantages of digitalization and Industry 4.0.
PULSE
Florian Tursky
State Secretary for Digitalization (Austria
PODIUM
Dietmar Böckmann
Managing Director ERSTE Digital, ERSTE Bank (Austria)
Klaus Garstenauer
Board of Directors of the Passenger Transport AG of the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB)
Andreas Klauser
Chairman of the Board of PALFINGER AG (Austria)
Isabella Meran-Waldstein
Head of Research, Technology and Innovation, Industrial Association (Austria)
Juhan Pukk
President Estonian Association of Information Technology and Telecommunication ITL (Estonia)
Michael Weber
Vice President Sales EMENA Kapsch TrafficCom AG (Austria)
MODERATION
Werner Sejka
Pulse 4
Monday, October 24, 2022
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.
MUSICAL FRAMEWORK
Music ensemble Danica
DIALOG III
Investing in the Western Balkan regions
Tuesday, October 25, 2022
9:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m
Salzburg Congress, Europe Hall
Auerspergstraße 6, 5020 Salzburg
The Western Balkans refer to the six states in southeastern Europe that are not yet members of the European Union. Around 17 million people live in this region, which impresses with its wonderful landscape and hospitality, among other things. Austria is one of the strongest and most important partners of the Western Balkan states. This region, which has been waiting to join the European Union for over 15 years, is of enormous importance not only politically but also economically.
The economic boom and the opportunities for European companies to invest and develop are also crucial for the positive development of the region.
What is the investment climate in the Western Balkans? What certificate does the EU give to the states in this area, what is the status of innovation, entrepreneurial freedom and legal certainty? What do the Western Balkan regions offer potential investors?
At this session, representatives from business and politics from the regions of the Western Balkans will provide interesting insights into the possibilities and opportunities that this European region offers for investors.
OPENING and WELCOME
Josef Schöchl
Chairman of the European Committee of the Salzburg State Parliament, member of the IRE Board (Austria)
PULSE
Helga Berger
Member of the European Court of Auditors, Chamber II “Investments for Cohesion, Growth and Integration” (Austria)
PODIUM
Mentor Arifaj
Deputy Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade (Kosovo)
Kenan Dedic
Technical Director, HEEZ Aluminum, Brćko District (Bosnia-Herzegovina)
Max Schausberger
Managing Director Elevator Ventures (Austria)
Aleksandar Simurdic
Director European Affairs Fund of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina (Serbia)
Markus Strasser-Stöckl
Owner and managing director of NetQM technology company in Austria and Bosnia-Herzegovina
Jelena Tadić
PPP Investment (Serbia)
MODERATION
Marijana Miljkovic
Economics editor, Wiener Zeitung
DIALOG IV
Is “Regional” the new “Organic”?
Tuesday, October 25, 2022
11 a.m. to 1 p.m
Salzburg Congress, Europe Hall
Auerspergstraße 6, 5020 Salzburg
Due to the Corona pandemic, the importance of the regional has increased considerably, whether it is regional tourism or the food that comes from the immediate region.
When it comes to food in particular, the question arises as to whether organic food is automatically a better choice over regional products. According to various criteria, the latter can even bring a whole range of advantages. Tomatoes with an organic seal from far abroad do not always have to be better for health and the environment than tomatoes from the surrounding region. Even smaller regional businesses often produce very close to nature and according to ecological principles without an organic seal. Anyone who buys directly from the producer can find out personally about the production conditions. The popularity of farm shops and farmers' markets has increased dramatically during the Corona period, and regional purchasing enables greater and direct transparency. Locally sourced food travels much shorter distances, which uses less energy and contributes to reduced CO2 emissions. Fresh products grown outdoors are much more climate-friendly than those produced in greenhouses. Ultimately, by buying regional food you strengthen the producers in the region and thus the entire region itself.
So can you say: regional equals organic? There are different answers to this. Some say: when it comes to animal products and grains, organic is better, while when it comes to fruit and vegetables, seasonal and regional foods are preferable.
The term “regional” is not clearly defined. There will be an exciting discussion about this and many other questions in this context in this panel.
PULSE
Norbert Totschnig
Federal Minister for Agriculture, Regions and Tourism (Austria)
PODIUM
Irene Neumann-Hartberger
Member of the National Council, chairman of the Austrian Farmers' Women Association
Stefan Richter
Master village baker, entrepreneur and lecturer in the food sector, brand ambassador for Upper Lusatia (Germany)
Oliver Sitar
Head of Governance of Agricultural and Food Markets, Directorate-General for Agriculture in the European Commission
Simone Schmiedtbauer - remotely
Farmer, Member of the European Parliament, Member of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (Austria)
Joseph Schwaiger
Agriculture, forestry and water management, spatial planning and human resources in Salzburg
Kurt Weinberger
Chairman of the Board of Hagelversicherung AG (Austria)
MODERATION
Michael Kretz
Managing Director of Regional Media Salzburg GmbH