EVENING EVENT

Festive Reception

Sunday 20th October 2024
07.30 p.m

Salzburg Residence, Carabinieri Hall

Residenzplatz 1, 5020 Salzburg

For registered guests of the 20th Salzburg Europe Summit.

DIALOGUE I

EU: No future without reforms

Monday 21st October 2024
09.00 a.m

Salzburg Congress, Europasaal

Auerspergstrasse 6, 5020 Salzburg

LIVESTREAM

The European Parliament elections have strengthened the political center, but also the extreme fringes, especially the far right. A new EU Commission has been put together according to the previous rules and requirements. Due to the major peace policy challenges and the economic competitive situation compared to other continents, the need for reform in the EU is enormous. Even if some things were implemented and action was taken quickly and unanimously in crisis situations (such as the pandemic), major reform discussions, such as the conference on the future of Europe, have silently disappeared again and the backlog of reforms has increased in many areas. 

An important topic for the coming period is the accession process of the six Western Balkan states, which has been dragging on for many years and has now been joined by three more candidates: Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. Not only are the candidate countries still a long way from joining, but the EU itself is by no means prepared for so many new members. The question of the unanimity principle, the future number of commissioners and members of the European Parliament, and how to deal with wayward member states are still up for debate. In addition, constructive cooperation with Turkey without full membership, a possible changed future role of the USA towards Europe and possible readjustments in the relationship between Great Britain and the EU must be clarified. 

These are all urgent questions that need to be answered, and are also overshadowed by the military attacks on Ukraine and the ever-flaming conflicts in the Middle East. 

For the economy, especially for SMEs, but also in agriculture, the increasing bureaucratization and excessive reporting requirements are perceived as a threat to the existence of the economy. De-bureaucratization is urgently needed. 

The principle of subsidiarity - in itself a mainstay of the EU - has completely disappeared from political reality, and the importance of regions and municipalities is increasingly dwindling under growing national and European centralism. 

As many of these questions as possible should be discussed in the introductory panel “EU: No future without reforms” by high-ranking experts and active politicians and possible realistic solutions should be developed.

MODERATION

Christian Ultsch

dep. Editor-in-Chief, Head of Foreign Policy, Die Presse

WELCOME AND OPENING

Bernhard Auinger

Mayor of Salzburg

Franz Schausberger

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

THE FUTURE OF EUROPE

KEYNOTE

Hristijan Mickoski 

Prime Minister of North Macedonia

EUROPE TALK

Borut Pahor   

frm. State President of Slovenia (2012 - 2022)

SPEECH

Péter Szijjártó

Minister ffor Foreign Affairs and Trade, Hungary

Representative of the EU Council Presidency Hungary 2024

PANEL

EU: NO FUTURE WITHOUT REFORMS

IMPULS

Johannes Hahn

EU Commissioner for the Budget

PANEL

Gabriele Abels 

Professor for EU, Federalism and Subsidiarity, University of Tübingen

Ingrīda Levrence

Dep. State Secretary for European Affairs, Foreign Ministry of Latvia

Mark Speich

State Secretary for European Affairs and Internationa, State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Pavlína Žáková

Deputy Minister for European Union Affairs, Czech Republic

DIALOGUE II

EU-Enlargement: A geopolitical necessity

Monday 21st October 2024
11.45 a.m

Salzburg Congress, Europasaal

Auerspergstrasse 6, 5020 Salzburg

LIVE STREAM

The EU describes enlargement as a “geopolitical investment” for peace, prosperity and security in Europe. Twenty years ago, in 2004, ten new member states were admitted to the European Union: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Hungary and Cyprus. Bulgaria and Romania followed in 2007, and Croatia in 2013.

For around 20 years, the six Western Balkan countries have been waiting for entry, despite many promises and announcements in the EU's forecourt. As a result, the EU has lost credibility, while necessary reforms in the areas of the rule of law and democracy remain a long time coming. The long-stagnating policy area of ​​EU enlargement has gained political momentum at the latest with the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and the resulting creation of accession prospects for Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia. The expansion talks with Turkey are still completely open.

Enlargement policy has also become part of the EU's geostrategic competition with Russia and China.

There is widespread agreement that the accession process of the Western Balkan countries must be pushed forward and accelerated in order not to leave these countries to other actors. The only question is the “how” of the accelerated enlargement process. A “gradual integration process” is being discussed in which the states of the Western Balkans take part in the Erasmus+ program or in informal meetings or in the meetings of foreign ministers (without voting rights). This may depend not on the start of accession negotiations, but on when a candidate meets the criteria for accession. In any case, there cannot be two classes of enlargement candidates.

This panel is about a summary of the EU's enlargement policy to date, an outlook on future enlargement and the necessary reforms of the EU itself in order to be able to expand successfully.

MODERATION

Ivo Mijnssen

Neue Zürcher Zeitung NZZ

KEYNOTE

Karoline Edtstadler

Minister for Constitution and EU, Austria

LIVE Connection to Kyiv

Olha Stefanishyna

Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Minister of Justice, Ukraine.

PANEL

Josip Brkić 

Deputy Foreign Minister, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Marie-Janine Calic 

Professorin für Ost- und Südosteuropäische Geschichte, LMU München, Deutschland

Šime Erlić   

Minister for Regional Development and EU-Funds, Croatia

Maida Gorčević 

Minister for EU Affairs, Montenegro

Hannes Mösenbacher

Chief Risk Officer and Member of the Board, Raiffeisen International Bank

Christian Schmidt

High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina

DIALOGUE III

How does the EU remain competitive?

Monday 21st October 2024
03.00 p.m

Salzburg Congress, Europasaal

Auerspergstrasse 6, 5020 Salzburg

LIVE on ORF III

LIVESTREAM

Competitiveness, long-term, sustainable growth potential and the deeper European internal market are the backbone of prosperity in Europe. The last few years have been marked by a wide variety of previously little-known, serious crises that have destroyed a lot of trust in society, caused a decline in investments and made investments that promote competition more difficult. If the EU economy wants to remain strong, it must do everything it can to be at the forefront of innovation worldwide.

In the competition for economic supremacy in the world between the USA and China, Europe as a business location is coming under increasing pressure. For example, heavily subsidized Chinese exports systematically intensify the competitive situation for European industrial companies, which are already at a price competitive disadvantage due to high wage and energy costs.

Studies show that Europe has lost much of its innovative strength, meaning that established key European industries such as automobiles, pharmaceuticals and aerospace could lose their position on global markets. At the same time, the EU is making slower progress than others when it comes to future technologies such as artificial intelligence and digitalization.

It is undisputed that the European internal market must be further deepened and cohesion and convergence promoted in order to strengthen European companies and markets and make them more competitive. Administrative burdens and excessive bureaucratic processes must be reduced; to achieve this, the development and resilience plan must be consistently implemented, especially to promote innovative projects. The regional and local dimensions are particularly crucial for the EU's competitiveness in all measures.

MODERATION

Waltraud Langer

Director of ORF Salzburg

PANEL

Heinz Freunschlag

Executive Board Member of ÖBB-Personenverkehr AG 

Tim Joris Kaiser

Economy Policy Officer, European Commission

Andreas Klauser

Chairman of the Board of PALFINGER AG

Robert Olma 

Vice President Regulatory Affairs & Global Governmental Relations STIHL AG

Michael Strugl

Chairman of the Board of VERBUND AG

WORKSHOP

Workshop Slovenia AED - IRE

within the EU funded TSI-Project 2023/2024/2025

“Improve Efficiency of the ESI Funds Absorption Processes in Slovenia”

Best Practices from Urban Municipalities to ensure efficient EU-Co-financing for infrastructure reform projects 

Monday 21st October 2024
04.30 p.m

Salzburg Congress

Auerspergstrasse 6, 5020 Salzburg

MODERATION

Gerhard Walcher

Member of the Board of Trustees of IRE

OPENING

Franz Schausberger

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

Dietmar Hampel

Managing Director of aed

Saša Heath-Drugovič

Dep. Director for EU Affairs, City of Celje, Slovenia

SPEECHES

Aleksander Jevšek

Minister for Cohesion and Regional Development, Slovenia

Report on 18 months EU project

Anton Schabl

aed

Joachim Fritz

Institute of the Regions of Europe (IRE)

Internal workshop.

WORKSHOP

Workshop

Investment in the Western Balkans

”Chances for Nearshoring"

Monday 21st October 2024
5 p.m

Salzburg Congress

Auerspergstrasse 6, 5020 Salzburg

Given the current upheavals and reorientations in global supply chains, the Western Balkans are becoming increasingly important. The region not only offers geographical proximity that enables short delivery times and reduced transport costs, but also key advantages in the form of competitive energy prices and sufficient energy resources, which is particularly valuable in times of increasing global energy uncertainty. In addition, the alignment with the EU legal system has already made significant progress, which further increases legal certainty and the attractiveness of the region for investors. Political uncertainty remains an issue, but is being reduced by the ever-increasing EU presence with the aim of EU membership.

IMPULS

Mujo Hadžić

Entrepreneur in Germany and Southeast-Europe

Gerd Bommer

Regionalmanager Southeastern and Eastern Europe, Austrian Chamber of Commerce

EVENING EVENT

Salzburg Evening

Monday 21st October 2024

07:00 p.m

Augustiner Bräu Kloster Mülln

Lindhofstrasse 7, 5020 Salzburg

The “Bräustübl”, the largest beer restaurant in Austria, has been around since 1621 – more than 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.

WELCOME

Helmut Falschlehner

Member of the Board of IRE

MUSIC

Ensemble DANICA

Head: Zoran Šijaković

DIALOGUE IV

EU on the way into the Energy-Union?

Tuesday, 22nd October 2024
09.00 a.m

Salzburg Congress, Europasaal

Auerspergstrasse 6, 5020 Salzburg

LIVESTREAM

The vision of the EU as an energy union is a common electricity and gas market that stretches from Portugal to Finland and supplies the people of the European Union with affordable and clean energy. In addition, the common climate targets must be achieved and Europe must switch to renewable and low-emission energies. To achieve this, the energy transition must be jointly supported by all member states and national policies in this area must be better coordinated.

Within the energy union, the EU member states should cooperate closely in the energy sector and subsequently continue to drive forward the integrated internal market for electricity and gas. Energy must flow freely in the EU - through appropriate infrastructure and without regulatory obstacles. If the energy union works and energy flows unhindered from one country to another, consumers will benefit from lower energy costs. The aim is for energy to be safe and affordable for all Europeans in the future.

The energy union must reduce the EU's dependence on energy imports as the world's largest energy importer. The European Union consumes a fifth of the energy produced worldwide, 53 percent of our energy is imported annually for a total of around EUR 400 billion. By promoting research and innovation, the energy needs in industry, transport and all other sectors are to be increasingly met by renewable rather than fossil fuels.

Where does the Energy Union stand, where has good progress already been made, where is there room for improvement, are the goals set realistic? All of these questions will be discussed by high-ranking experts from politics, business and science in this panel.

MODERATION

Gundula Geiginger

Puls 4

KEYNOTE

Dubravka Đedović Handanović   - live connection to Belgrade

Minister for Energy and Mining, Serbia

PANEL

Michael Baminger

CEO of Salzburg AG

Edit Herczog

Chairwoman of the Administrative Board of ACER, EU Agency for Cooperation of European Energy Regulators

Christoph Maurer 

Energy expert, Managing Director Consentec, Germany

H.E. Rovshan Sadigbayli

Ambassador of Azerbajan in Austria

DIALOGUE V

Illegal migration to EU: An unsolvable issue?

Tuesday 22nd October 2024
11.15 a.m

Salzburg Congress, Europasaal

Auerspergstrasse 6, 5020 Salzburg

LIVESTREAM

One of the dominant topics across Europe is migration, especially illegal migration to Europe. How can this problem be solved or can it be solved at all after it was largely ignored for political and ideological reasons for many years. Some believe that it is already too late for an effective solution, but in any case time is running out. Those politically responsible at EU level and in the member states must finally be prepared to adopt an effective, pragmatic common approach.

Countries, regions and municipalities are increasingly warning about the consequences of increasing migration, not only because the costs of caring for migrants have exploded, but above all because the willingness of the population to accept more migrants is rapidly decreasing and integration is becoming increasingly difficult. Added to this is the perceived increase in crime among migrants and increasing terrorist activities. Studies show that more and more people are adopting xenophobic and racist positions and that the failure of migration policy is leading to the strengthening of right-wing or left-wing extremist groups and that mistrust of democracy is growing. Reception facilities, social systems and educational institutions have often reached their limits.

Since European and international agreements prevent national solo efforts, it is necessary that possible national measures allow asylum applications to be processed more quickly and that deportation occurs more quickly and consistently after a rejection. Migration agreements with other countries are necessary.

All of these topics and many others will be discussed in this panel in an objective, pragmatic and results-oriented manner.

MODERATION

Werner Sejka

Puls 4

KEYNOTE Video

Gerhard Karner 

Minister of the Interior, Austria

VIDEOMESSAGE

Michael Spindelegger

Director General ICMPD International Centre for Migration Policy Development

PANEL

Arnoldas Abramavičius

Deputy Minister for the Interior, Lithuania

Liv von Boetticher 

Journalist, author, researcher on Afghanistan, Germany

Aija Kalnaja 

Deputy Executive Director FRONTEX

Johannes Luchner

Deputy Director General, DG Home Affairs & Migration, Europäische Kommission

Ulf Laessing

Head of Sahel-program, Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation in Mali

Gianluca Rocco

Direktor Brüssel Büro - IOM - Internationale Organisation für Migration

DIALOGUE VI

How can we revive the empty city centres?

Tuesday 22nd October 2024

01.00 p.m

Salzburg Congress, Europasaal

Auerspergstrasse 6, 5020 Salzburg

LIVESTREAM

For centuries, all the prerequisites for daily life were present in a small space in the middle of the village or city: the traditional houses near the church, the inns, shops and craft workshops, the school, the doctor, the pharmacy, the post office and the municipal office. Markets were held in the village or town square. 

Today, town and city centers are often affected by loss of function. Customers are migrating to the Internet or to shopping centers on the outskirts of the community, shops are closing, and there is a yawning emptiness in the town centers. A dying town center is not only a sad sight to the eye, the consequences are disastrous for the entire region. Strengthening the town and city centers is therefore an urgent task so that the communities can remain livable, is important for sustainable spatial development, for public services, social cohesion and local economic prosperity. What is needed is the interconnection of housing, local supplies, business, social facilities and public open spaces.

Concerted actions by the federal government, states, regions and municipalities are necessary. Municipalities that “still” have a lively city center are well advised to do everything they can to keep it that way. For all those who are already having problems, there are now proven best practice examples. It is also important that citizens, all actors and all generations are included. Inter-municipal cooperation with neighboring communities is also important, as the entire region is to be strengthened.

This panel will also present examples of successful revitalizations of town and city centers.

MODERATION

Heidi Huber

Salzburger Nachrichten

KEYNOTE

Johannes Pressl

President of the Association of Municipalities

PANEL

Monika Hohenecker

Senior Expert Cities & Municipalities, RegioPlan, Vienna

Petra Kramer 

State Ministry for Living, Construction and Traffic, Bavaria, Germany

Kathrin Kühtreiber-Leitner 

Member of the Board, Oberösterreichische Versicherungs AG

Martin Oberndorfer

City Councillor for Economy, City of Wels

Gerlind Weber

Professor for Spatial and Environmental Planning, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna