Program 2020
Archive & Review

Review “Europe, solidarity and peace”
16th Salzburg Europe Summit, September 27th to 29th, 2020

The corona pandemic is affecting the world with full force. The countries of Europe reacted differently to the crisis.
Social, social, economic and cultural life has been shut down to an extent that has never been seen before.
Prominent representatives of domestic and European science, politics and business discussed in six content-related forums.
IRE-FORUM
Religions – guarantors of solidarity in times of crisis?

Sunday, September 27, 2020

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


Salzburg Congress, Europe Hall

Auerspergstraße 6, 5020 Salzburg


Religions are an important anchor for people in all societies on earth. They give support and strength to many people, but can also have political influence. During the Corona crisis there was also a lot of discussion about the restrictions on trade fairs, which led to political conflicts in many European countries.


On the one hand, the forum will address the role of religion and churches during the crisis and whether religion has helped maintain solidarity within society. But we also want to take a look at the actual potential for conflict, for example within Orthodoxy and the associated political and national components. Is the conversion of internationally important museums like the Hagia Sophia into a mosque in the spirit of solidarity, especially in times of the global Corona crisis, or is it further contributing significantly to the division within religions. The radical, violent clashes between Islamist, nationalist and right-wing extremist Muslims and Kurdish groups without taking measures to protect against the coronavirus into account lack any understanding of social solidarity in times of crisis. No wonder that people in Austria want to keep a close eye on ruthless political Islam with a new documentation center for religiously based political extremism.


The tensions surrounding the divisions in Orthodoxy between Ukraine and Russia as well as Montenegro and Serbia and their political instrumentalization also do not contribute to greater solidarity within and through the religious communities. The debate about the incomprehensible administration of Holy Communion with one and the same spoon to the faithful in the Greek Orthodox Church also expresses a negligent ignoring of the Corona risks.



OPENING AND WELCOME

Wilfried Haslauer

Salzburg Governor (Austria)

Franz Schausberger
Founder and chairman of the Institute of the Regions of Europe (IRE), representative of the state of Salzburg in the European Committee of the Regions, former Salzburg governor and special advisor to the EU Commission for the Western Balkans (Austria)


VIDEO STATEMENT

Jean Claude Juncker

former President of the European Commission (Luxembourg)


KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Markus Grübel

Member of the German Bundestag, Federal Government Commissioner for Global Religious Freedom (Germany)


PODIUM

Ednan Aslan

University Professor, Institute for Islamic Theological Studies at the University of Vienna (Austria)

Slaviša Božić

Archpriest of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Austria, Vienna

Gudrun Kugler

Member of the National Council, lawyer and theologian, spokesperson for human rights and displaced persons (Austria)

Luke Mandl

Member of the European Parliament (Austria)

Michael Max

President of the European Council of Priests, Director of the Pontifical Institute of Santa Maria dell'Anima in Rome (Austria)

Martin Pammer

Ambassador, Head of Department for Multilateral Foreign Cultural Affairs in the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (Austria)


MODERATION

Dietmar Winkler

University Professor of Patristics and Church History, University of Salzburg (Austria)


DISCUSSION (in cooperation with the Sochi Dialogue)
In times of crisis: EU-Russia, quo vadis?
Sunday, September 27, 2020
4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m

Salzburg Congress, Europe Hall
Auerspergstraße 6, 5020 Salzburg

Especially in times of crisis, such as the current corona pandemic, the call for stronger cooperation between states inside and outside the EU becomes louder. Does this cooperation currently exist between the European Union and Russia? What historical development did the relationship between the two neighbors take, and is the relationship currently being tested again by the new tensions that have arisen during the pandemic?
Despite all existing and new tensions - including during the coronavirus crisis - there is also the prevailing opinion in the European Union that dialogue must continue at both governmental and civil society levels. Many relationships in the areas of business, science and culture are intact and can contribute significantly to relaxation. To what extent can European criticism of democratic deficits in Russia and cooperation in the economic, scientific and cultural areas be reconciled? Even if recent events make clear signs and words of disapproval from the EU absolutely necessary: cooperation and dialogue with Russia will continue to be needed in the future - in climate policy, in the fight against organized crime and terrorism, but also for progress in the Crisis areas and conflict hotspots.

In what direction can and should the relationship between the EU and Russia go in the future? The aim of this discussion should be to discuss this soberly and objectively, away from the current political excitement.

PODIUM
Michael Geistlinger
Professor of International Law, University of Salzburg (Austria)
Stefan Karner
Historian, university professor at the University of Graz, member of the Steering Committee of the Sochi Dialogue (Austria)
Gerhard Mangott
Professor of International Relations, University of Innsbruck (Austria)
George Stawa
Judicial attaché for Southeastern Europe, guest lecturer at the Plekhanov University of Economics in Moscow (Austria)
Irina Scherbakova - Live connection from Moscow
Cultural scientist in Moscow (Russia)
Pierre Vimont - Live connection from Paris
Ambassador, Special Representative of the French President for the Strategic Dialogue with Russia (France)

MODERATION
Franz Schausberger
Historian, member of the Steering Committee of the Sochi Dialogue (Austria)

OPENING AND DIALOGUE I
Europe, Corona and democracy: dangers and opportunities
Monday, September 28, 2020
9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m

Salzburg Congress, Europe Hall
Auerspergstraße 6, 5020 Salzburg

The forum will focus on the question of how Europe's political and social landscape will be shaped after this crisis is overcome. Was Europe not prepared for a major crisis? Is there enough solidarity between states? Will the rule of law and democracy in Europe be weakened or strengthened? Will more centralism or more subsidiarity lead the way as a key principle of the European Union?

High-ranking representatives from European politics will discuss this.

LIVE BROADCAST ON ORF III

OPENING AND WELCOME
Franz Schausberger
Founder and Chairman of the Institute of European Regions (Austria)

VIDEO STATEMENTS
Sebastian Short
Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria
Hans Dahlgren
Minister for EU (Sweden)

KEYNOTE SPEAKER - Video
Dubravka Suica
Vice-President of the European Commission, Commissioner for Democracy (Croatia)

PODIUM
Majlinda Bregu - Live connection
Secretary General Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Western Balkans (Albania/Bosnia-Herzegovina)
Željka Cvijanović
President of the Republic of Srpska (Bosnia-Herzegovina)
Karoline Edtstadler
Federal Minister for EU and Constitution (Austria)
Judith Varga- Live connection
Minister of Justice of Hungary

MODERATION
Christoph Takacs
Country Director of ORF Salzburg (Austria)

DIALOG II
The virus is turning finances and markets upside down
Monday, September 28, 2020
12.15 p.m. to 2 p.m

Salzburg Congress, Europe Hall
Auerspergstraße 6, 5020 Salzburg

The corona pandemic is having a massive impact on the global economy and the budgets of states and regions. Aid packages from states and international institutions such as the IMF amounting to billions, even trillions, have been announced. Are these sufficient? What measures are needed to save economies from collapse? Do we need more government – or more private sector?

LIVE BROADCAST ON ORF III

KEYNOTE SPEAKER
John Hahn
Member of the European Commission responsible for the EU budget (Austria)

PODIUM
Gabriel Felbermayr
Economist, President Kiel Institute for the World Economy (Austria)
Andreas Klauser
Chairman of the Board of PALFINGER AG (Austria)
Monika Köppl-Turyna
Economist, Agenda Austria (Austria)
Wilhelm Molterer
Director of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (Austria)
Paul Rübig
Former Member of the European Parliament, Member of the European Economic and Social Committee, Entrepreneur (Austria)

MODERATION
Monika Graf
Journalist, Salzburger Nachrichten

DIALOG III
Is Corona killing the Green Deal?
Monday, September 28, 2020
3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m

Salzburg Congress, Europe Hall
Auerspergstraße 6, 5020 Salzburg

The current Corona crisis is having an enormous impact on the global economy. From one day to the next, the global economy was reduced to a minimum. The consequences of this cannot yet be estimated in their entirety. While it is not possible to conclusively assess the health developments of this crisis, the debate is now focusing more on the economic and climate policy components. The European Green Deal, which was supposed to become the flagship of European politics before the crisis, is now coming back into focus. Should it be used to drive the transformation of the European economy? Or would it be a massive weakening of the location?

The Green Deal and start-up aid for the economy should not be seen as opposites, but must be discussed together. If it is not possible to stimulate the economy through suitable economic stimulus programs, climate protection will not be financed. On the other hand, the Green Deal must not be pushed aside; the chance for a green change is intact. After all, the Green Deal was created before the Corona pandemic as a European response to a global crisis. In order to achieve the goal of reducing CO2 emissions towards zero, it will be necessary, on the one hand, to promote renewable energy from wind, water, sun and biomass. On the other hand, it will be necessary to invest in green hydrogen technology and develop plastic strategies. But climate protection also means making sustainable investments in local jobs and regional economic cycles.

Political representatives from the areas of climate and environmental protection as well as agriculture, the energy industry and science discuss all of these topics.

OPENING STATEMENT - Live connection
Kadri Simson
Member of the European Commission, EU Commissioner for Energy (Estonia)

KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Magnus Brunner
State Secretary in the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (Austria)

PODIUM
Peter Giffinger
CEO Austria Saint-Gobain, President respACT (Austria)
Michaela Kaniber
Bavarian State Minister for Food and Agriculture (Germany)
Helga Kromp-Kolb
Climate researcher, Center for Global Change and Sustainability at BOKU Vienna (Austria)
Michael Staudinger
Director ZAMG - Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics (Austria)
Harald Stindl
President Gas Transmission Europe (GTE), Managing Director Gas Connect Austria (Austria)
Michael Strugl
Deputy Chairman of the Board VERBUND AG (Austria)

MODERATION
Rainer Nowak
Editor-in-Chief “Die Presse”

DIALOG IV
Medical research and pandemic
Tuesday, September 29, 2020
9:15 a.m. to 11:00 a.m

Salzburg Congress, Europe Hall
Auerspergstraße 6, 5020 Salzburg

Science and research have always fought for their deserved place in the political debate. The corona pandemic and the initial fear of a lack of protective equipment and masks have shown that the entire topic of medicine, research and related precautionary measures may not have had the importance that it now has in times of a pandemic. Will this now change and the entire area of research will receive greater political, financial and media space?

The question is particularly important in order to be prepared for future pandemics.

OPENING AND WELCOME
Josef Schöchl
Member of the Salzburg State Parliament, Chairman of the EU Integration Committee (Austria)

KEYNOTE SPEAKER - Live connection
Oxana Domenti
WHO Representative to the European Union (Moldova)

PODIUM
Astrid Müller
Managing Director Biogen Austria, Vice President Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry (Austria)
Maria Theresa Niss
Member of the Austrian National Council, Committee for Research, Innovation and Digitalization (Austria)
Norbert Nowotny
Virologist, Institute of Virology at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna (Austria)
Barbara Prainsack
Professor for comparative policy analysis at the University of Vienna, member of the Bioethics Commission (Austria)
Eva Schernhammer
Specialist and professor at the Medical University of Vienna, President of the Society for Epidemiology (Austria)
Alen Seranić
Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Government of the Republic of Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Barbara Weitgruber
Head of the “Scientific Research and International Affairs” section in the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (Austria)

MODERATION
Claus Reitan
journalist

DIALOG V
Renaissance of the regions due to Corona?
Tuesday, September 29, 2020
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m

Salzburg Congress, Europe Hall
Auerspergstraße 6, 5020 Salzburg

Regions, especially rural regions, are the heart of a united Europe. They give many people identity and home.
But they also actually play a crucial role within the framework of the important principle of subsidiarity. Unfortunately, calls for more centralism are heard, especially during a crisis, often accompanied by a rise in nationalism. At the same time, there is also a turn towards regional things again, when you think about regional tourism or regional, local products.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Apostolos Tzitzikostas
President of the European Committee of the Regions, CoR (Greece)

PODIUM
Gaetano Armao
Vice President and Regional Minister of Sicily (Italy) - live broadcast
Christoph Drexler
Provincial Council for Culture, Europe, Sport and Human Resources, Provincial Government of Styria (Austria)
Sebastian Elbe
SPRINT political consultancy, expert for cooperation regions in rural areas (Germany)
Michael Frehse
Ministerial Director, Head of the Homeland Department in the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community (Germany)
Hannes Royer
Farmer, founder of the “Land creates life” initiative (Austria)
George Schadt
Head of the Regional Policy and Spatial Planning Coordination Department in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism (Austria)
Gerlind Weber
University professor for spatial planning, former head of the Institute for Spatial Planning at BOKU Vienna (Austria)

MODERATION
Claus Reitan
journalist

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