Austria 2018 Centenary Symposium

Austria’s place in the Europe of tomorrow

In 2018, Austria commemorates the 1918 proclamation of the Austrian Republic. We will mark this occasion by reflecting on the legacy of the past 100 years and by looking ahead into the future.

This legacy includes times of warfare, a remarkable catching-up process and successful integration into the European Union, as well as achievements such as the Austrian welfare state, which has helped de-escalate numerous tensions and notably also weather the global financial crisis through compromise solutions. At the same time, Austria is now faced with the challenges of an increasingly complex external and geopolitical environment. While today’s challenges are, indeed, a test for social cohesion, they may also serve as a catalyst impelling us to envision Austria’s position in a Europe that emerges from the crisis much stronger.

Experts from academia and politics will reassess the economic and social achievements against the backdrop of upcoming challenges, such as climate and technological change, globalization and demographics as well as strategies to embrace these challenges and the opportunities that come with them. The conference language is English.

The event is hosted together with Austria’s Advisory Council for the Commemorative Year 2018. Among the confirmed speakers are Mario Monti (Former Prime Minister of Italy), Peter Hall (Professor, Harvard University), Sonja Puntscher-Riekmann (Professor and Director Salzburg Centre of European Union Studies), Dalia Marin (Professor, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich), Wolfgang Petritsch (Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation), etc.

Please note that the OeNB takes pictures of participants during the conference and may use them in OeNB online or print publications.