Panel discussion on the future of Europe in the context of the current Bulgarian and subsequent Austrian EU Presidencies

On 26 March 2018, the Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum, Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva; Honorary President of Vienna Economic Forum, Chair of the Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM) and former Vice-Chancellor of Austria Dr. Erhard Busek as well as the Head of the Task Force for the Austrian EU-Presidency, Mag. Regina Kothmayr, discussed the question: “Which Europe do we want?”

The panel discussion on “Austria’s EU Presidency and the Challenges for the Future of a United Europe” was moderated by Mag. Sebastian Schäffer (IDM) and organized by IDM in cooperation with the European Commission – Representation in Austria and the Information Office of the European Parliament Austria and took place in the House of the European Union in Vienna.

Following Bulgaria’s first EU-Presidency, Austria will take over the six month Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the third time on 1 July 2018, after 1998 and 2006. The panel discussion on 26 March 2018, was the first ever to address the third Austrian EU-Presidency. The Secretary General and former Bulgarian Ambassador to Austria (Vienna), Dr. Elena Kirtcheva, informed the audience about the activities of the Bulgarian EU-Presidency and the importance of building bridges between the Bulgarian and Austrian Presidencies, which will be supported by Vienna Economic Forum through the organisation of various conferences.

Under the auspices of the Bulgarian EU-Presidency Vienna Economic Forum – Sofia Talks 2018 will take place under the motto “Politics meets Economy” on 18 May 2018, in which all six Prime Ministers of the Western Balkans have announced their participation; and, under the same motto “Politics meets Economy”, the 15th Jubilee Vienna Economic Forum – Vienna Future Dialogue 2018 will take place on 19 November 2018 at Novomatic Forum in Vienna.

The discussion highlighted the active and important role of the Bulgarian government during the Bulgarian EU-Presidency. The audience was very interested in the discussion and participated with many relevant questions.