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Newsletter: Vienna International News
Othmar Karas is the New President of the European Forum Alpbach



Othmar Karas, long-time ÖVP-EU politician and former Vice-President of the European Parliament, is the new President of the European Forum Alpbach (EFA). With the handover from Andreas Treichl, who successfully reoriented the Forum over the last four years, Karas takes over the leadership of one of the most important platforms for European dialogue on future issues. Othmar Karas has already announced his plans for an even more international and European forum.

New EU Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner Approved by EU Parliament
The European Parliament has officially confirmed Magnus Brunner, the Austrian Minister of Finance (ÖVP), as the new EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration. During the hearings, Brunner presented his vision for the migration portfolio and caused a stir with his support for the full inclusion of Bulgaria and Romania in the Schengen area. With this approach, Brunner departs from the previous ÖVP position and sends a clear signal for increased European cooperation in migration policy.

Focus on Environmental Disasters: Austria and Italy Intensify Cooperation in Environmental Monitoring
At the Italian Embassy in Vienna, international experts and representatives from politics, science, and civil protection discussed innovative methods for monitoring environmental disasters. The event emphasized the urgency of cross-sectoral cooperation and the exchange of scientific findings to overcome global environmental crises.

Official Commemoration of November Pogroms Overshadowed by Protests Against Walter Rosenkranz
Vienna remembers the November pogroms of 1938: a moving light installation and memorial events at the Shoah Wall of Names commemorate the more than 65,000 Jewish victims in Austria. However, the official commemoration was overshadowed by controversy when National Council President Walter Rosenkranz (FPÖ) met with resistance.


Austria's National Bank Chief: Budget Coffers are Filling Up Again

Robert Holzmann, Governor of the Oesterreichische Nationalbank, sees the high inflation of recent years as a major challenge for Austrian savers. Now that salaries have risen and household budgets are being replenished, he nevertheless urges caution. For a sustainable economic upturn, he says, consumer and investor confidence is essential.


62nd Round of Geneva Talks: Progress and Challenges in the Dialogue on the Conflicts in the South Caucasus

Delegations gathered at the Palais des Nations on November 5 and 6, 2024 for the 62nd round of the Geneva International Discussions (GID) on the unresolved conflicts in the South Caucasus. The Geneva talks, which have been convened since 2008 following the Georgian-Russian war, provide a platform for dialog and diplomatic exchange between Georgia, Russia, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and representatives of the EU, OSCE, and the United Nations.
