The Regular Board Meeting, followed by the Annual General Assembly of Vienna Economic Forum (VEF) took place on 23 March 2026, at the Premises of Canon CEE in Vienna.

The host, Mag. Nikolaus-Conrad Lorenz, strategy Director, Canon CEE GmbH, and Member of the Board of Vienna Economic Forum, welcomed the attendees.

VEF President Ambassador Dr. Emil Brix, President, Austrian Research Association, expressed his special thanks to Mag. Nikolaus-Conrad Lorenz for his generous hospitality.

Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva, Secretary General of VEF, reported on the VEF activities in 2025 and in the current year 2026— reflecting on the rapidly changing geopolitical circumstances, both internal and external, and the resulting framework conditions which have required actors in many economic sectors to adapt. This also applies to Vienna Economic Forum.

The proposed expansion of the scope of activities defined in the VEF Statutes, “From the Adriatic to the Black Sea and beyond,” was welcomed by all members, and the corresponding amendments to the Statutes were unanimously adopted by the General Assembly accordingly. In this context, the 2026 planning was also approved and adopted.

Furthermore, the Secretary General emphasized the key results of 2025, which included:

Within the framework of the Assembly, the VEF President, Ambassador Dr. Emil Brix, highlighted the intensification of VEF activities in connection with his engagement in Erasmus+ projects.

This development is taking place in close cooperation with universities, members of the Vienna Economic Forum League of Universities from the VEF Region – From the Adriatic to the Black Sea and beyond, with initial projects already presented.

In accordance with the Statutes, the VEF President guided the agenda. The following new members were proposed by the Board and confirmed by the General Assembly:

Board Members:

Strategic partners:

  • Regional Council of Gjirokastër
  • Eqrem Çabej University of Gjirokastër, Republic of Albania
  • REALD University College, Republic of Albania

Member – Natural Persons:

  • Nikolay Tsenkov, Manager of the Sofia Municipal Guarantee Fund
  • Hermann Anderl, former Managing Director, Canon CEE GmbH, a long-standing and active supporter of VEF’s international activities

Member of the Patrons Committee:

  • E. Dr. Christian Stocker, Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria

Members of the Ambassador Committee:

  • E. Dr. Gürsel Dönmez, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to the Republic of Austria
  • H.E. Ms. Stanica Anđić, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Montenegro to the Republic of Austria

Members of the Honorary Committee

As new auditor

  • Mag. Nikolaus-Conrad Lorenz, Strategy Director, Canon CEE

Following her election to the VEF Board, Vice President of Kopaonik Business Forum (KBF), Dragijana Radonjić Petrović, emphasized the central role of VEF for the economic development of the VEF Region, as well as its function as a platform for dialogue and concrete cooperation.

H.E. Stanica Anđić referred to the upcoming event “Vienna Economic Forum – Meet Montenegro in Vienna 2026,” to be held on 14 September 2026 in Vienna under the patronage of H.E. Milojko Spajić, Prime Minister of Montenegro and Patron of VEF, as an important platform for promoting investment opportunities and strengthening cooperation between Montenegro and the entire VEF Region.

Within the framework of the meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between VEF and REALD University was signed by Associate Professor Dr. Myzafer Elezi, Vice Rector of REALD University, marking an important step for future cooperation.

Following the official conclusion of the General Assembly 2026, the host, Mag. Nikolaus-Conrad Lorenz, invited the participants to the Canon TV Studio for a special presentation, during which Canon was introduced and its contribution to innovation and development in the VEF Region was highlighted. The presentation provided insights into technological developments as well as the role of Canon in supporting companies and institutions through modern imaging and digital solutions.

Following the Board Meeting and General Assembly, Mag. Nikolaus-Conrad Lorenz invited to a small Coctail, offering members the opportunity to exchange views and discuss various perspectives for further active cooperation in the expanded Vienna Economic Forum Region.

Special Thanks to Canon CEE

Media Coverage:

VEF Main Media Partner Diplomatic Society Magazine @Richard Pobaschnig

sanusetsalvus.com @Dessislaw Pajakoff