Othmar Karas

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.

November 10, 2024

Austria's Finance Minister Magnus Brunner Nominated as EU Commissioner

In a decision that has now been announced, the Austrian government has nominated Finance Minister Magnus Brunner (ÖVP) as the new EU Commissioner. This announcement marks the end of a long and intensive negotiation phase within the turquoise-green coalition. Brunner is to succeed Johannes Hahn and strengthen Austria's voice in the EU Commission.

July 31, 2024

Shift to the Right in the EU and its Impact on Austria and Europe

The recent EU parliamentary elections have shown a clear shift to the right across Europe, particularly in Austria, where the FPÖ celebrated historic successes. These results put the political stability and future direction of the EU to the test.

June 10, 2024

Othmar Karas Warns Against Extremism and Emphasizes the Importance of the Political Center in Europe

Around two weeks before the EU elections, the outgoing first Vice-President of the European Parliament, Othmar Karas (nor ÖVP), issued an urgent warning about the dangers of "extremism and nationalism". At a press conference at the party headquarters of the South Tyrolean People's Party (SVP) in Bolzano, Karas emphasized the need for a strong "political center" characterized by cooperation and compromise.

May 27, 2024

EU House in Vienna Introduces New Environmental Standards

At a solemn ceremony, the First Vice-President of the European Parliament, Othmar Karas, and Wolfgang Bogensberger, Chief Executive Officer of the Commission's Representation in Austria, unveiled the EMAS environmental certification plaque for the European Union House at Vienna.

February 12, 2024

Discussion on European Elections 2024 with Prominent Guests

In Vienna, a significant event was held at the House of the European Union to kick off the 2024 European elections. Among the renowned speakers were Dr. Othmar Karas, First Vice President of the European Parliament, Dr. Thomas Zehetner from WWF, and Dr. Clemens Pig from the Austria Press Agency (APA). The discussion focused on four central topics: Democracy, Climate Protection, Digitalization, and Education. In parallel, the new initiative "gemeinsamfuer.eu" was presented.

October 30, 2023

Othmar Karas' Reckoning with the ÖVP

For about 25 years, Othmar Karas, the first vice president of the EU Parliament, was a weighty member of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) in the European context. His withdrawal from the EU election and the associated clear criticism of his party caused a political stir in Austria.

October 12, 2023

Festive Opening of the Interactive Exhibition "Experience Europe" in Vienna

In Vienna's Rotenturmstraße, the interactive permanent exhibition "Experience Europe" was opened with a great ceremony. Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola, together with high-ranking guests, cut the opening ribbon to this multimedia show.

May 29, 2023

New Chairpersons of the Austrian Citizens' Forum Europe

The ordinary general assembly of the Citizens Forum Europe (BGFE) in Vienna elected a new board. While Othmar Karas was reconfirmed as chairman, ex-Chancellor Christian Kern and ex-Vice President of the European Parliament Ulrike Lunacek will be his deputies in the future.

April 2, 2023

Annual Meeting for Intercultural and Religious Dialogue of the European People's Party in Vienna

The annual meeting of the Working Group on Intercultural and Religious Dialogue of the European People's Party (EPP) parliamentary group in the European Parliament took place this weekend in Vienna. Without religions and their contribution to the formation of values, a future for Europe is unimaginable, according to the EPP.

December 11, 2022

Austria's Blockade of the Libya Mission "Sophia"

The EU foreign ministers have reached a basic consensus for a military mission to monitor the UN arms embargo on Libya. The EU naval operation "Sophia" in the Mediterranean Sea off Libya, however, will be terminated, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said in a statement after the Foreign Affairs Council meeting.

February 18, 2020

European Parliament - Karas to Be Vice President Again

Othmar Karas, member of the EU and Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), has been re-elected as one of 14 vice-presidents of the European Parliament. Together with him further vice-presidents were confirmed.

July 3, 2019

Western Balkans: Austrians Demand EU Accession Negotiations Begin

After the EU Commission issued a recommendation for the opening of accession talks with the two Western Balkan states North Macedonia and Albania, the European parliamentarians of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) Karas and Mandl demand that the "promises" be kept. The decision to open accession talks will be taken by the Member States later in June.

June 5, 2019

Karas Remains Head of People's Party EU Delegation for One Year, then Follows Edtstadler

The Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) members of the European Parliament have elected Othmar Karas as their leader for only one year. From 2020, the second on the list, Karoline Edtstadler, will automatically take over. As reported by Vindobona.org, Edtstadler received more preferential votes in the EU election than Karas, the previous head of delegation.

June 4, 2019

EU Election Preferential Votes - Edtstadler ahead of Karas

Although Austrian People's Party top candidate Othmar Karas received more preferential votes than in the last EU election, after counting most of the preferential votes he is still behind the list second candidate Karoline Edtstadler (also Austrian People's Party).

May 28, 2019

European Elections 2019: Austrian Preliminary Final Results

The preliminary result of the 2019 European elections (without absentee ballot) has been announced. The Austrian People's Party won clearly ahead of the Austrian Socialist Party (SPÖ) and the Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ). The Greens and NEOS followed in places 4 to 5. Votes cast by absentee ballot are not yet included in this result. The turnout without postal votes was 50.6%. In Vienna, the turnout including postal votes was 58.71%.

May 27, 2019

Austrian Government Dismissed: National Council Denies Government Confidence

The parliamentary motion of no confidence of the Social Democrats (SPÖ) was supported by the right-wing populist Freedom Party (FPÖ) and the Liste Jetzt. The majority of the members of the National Council thus expressed their distrust of Chancellor Kurz's government and removed it from office.

May 27, 2019

Austria's Government Faces Expected Motion of No Confidence

After the victory in the election to the European Parliament, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and his government are threatened with an abrupt end. The Social Democrats (SPÖ) will table their own motion of censure against the entire Kurz cabinet. A clear decision by the Freedom Party (FPÖ) is still pending.

May 27, 2019

European Elections - Who Stands for Election and How Can a Non-Austrian EU Citizen Vote in Austria?

After the political earthquake in Austria and the end of the turquoise-blue government, the EU election on Sunday is eagerly awaited. A decision will be made on 18 EU mandates from Austria. In European elections, EU citizens are entitled to vote in Austria as long as they are registered in the European electoral register.

May 24, 2019

EU Citizens in Austria - Vote for Your Austrian MEP at the European Elections 2019

EU citizens who have their main residence in Austria can vote for Austrian members of the European Parliament. Here we show you how this works and who you can choose.

February 25, 2019

Agenda Austria 2020: Economy = State

The think tank Agenda Austria 2020 is currently tackling the question what the “economy expects from the state”.

May 5, 2014

Semeta Confident Austria and Luxembourg Stop Blocking

EU Tax Commissioner Algirdas Semeta does not expect any blocking by Austria for the loosening of the bank secret for foreigners and the transition to the automatic exchange of information.

May 6, 2013

Credit Costs to Rise in the Wake of Basel III

The new regulatory requirements are expected to increase the cost of credits and to reduce the Austrian banks’ profitability.

July 20, 2011
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