EFA Associates’ Newsletter 23 DECEMBER 2008 NEWSLETTER 3/2008

Christmas Greetings Sebastian Mayrgündter, President of Club Alpbach South /Alto Adige (from the Christmas letter of IG Südtirol, translated by Gertrud Gilli, EFA Interpre- tor) "The true identity of Europe builds upon culture. Erhard Busek reminds us of this in his book A soul for Europe (“Eine Seele für Europa”, 2008, Verlag Kremayr & Scheriau KG, ), pointing to culture as the source of Europe’s vitality and cohesion. He states that culture and history are inextricably intertwined. Exploring the history of Tyrol allow us to understand who we are right now in order to find out what we want for the future. It allows us to perceive our own history as ‘Euro- pean culture’. For 65 years, the European Forum Alpbach has embraced the challenge of iden- tifying possible solutions to European problems and discussing the progress of European integration. Trust will be the overarching theme of the 2009 Forum which will take place from 20 August to 5 September. We, the Club Alpbach Sebastian Mayrgündter, Südtirol/Alto Adige, will be there to help shaping our share of Europe. Our contri- bution will be centred around our 2009 motto of Making South Tyrol, Thinking IG Alpbach Südti- Europe and of course the 1809 Tyrolean commemorative year. rol/Alto Adige 2008 was a successful year for both the European Forum Alpbach and the Club Alpbach Südtirol/Alto Adige. In our role as the Forum’s Standing Committee we were committed to enrich the Alpbach experience of 3,500 guests from more than 60 countries by a diverse social programme. The success of the South Tyro- In this volume lean Night and of our picnic, the Erste Alpbacher Wiesenpicknick, proves that we handled the challenge well. Back home we have also had an active year. What drives us to do this? Erhard Busek's book speaks, among others, about doubt and 1 Greetings faith. In our difficult times, marked by a global financial crisis, we Tyroleans of the IG Innsbruck and the Club Alpbach Südtirol/Alto Adige can inspire trust in con- 1 Editorial tinuance. I am pleased to see that a group of people has formed within and around the Club Alpbach who are committed to fostering a fruitful and lasting 2 News from the EFA Steering dialogue between South Tyrol and Europe. I would like to conclude by quoting Committee – Autumn 2008 Fritz Molden: “We must invest in the future, the country and the people.”

2 Austrian Honorary Medal Editorial Verena Ehold, EFA Steering Committee 3 Club Alpbach Turkey - story As 2008 sets and 2009 dawns I’d like to wish you, your family and friends the best of 3 IG /Team Europe: the season and a healthy and happy New Year. I would like to thank you for all the time and effort spent volunteering for the good cause of the European Forum in "Breakfast at Schrameks" the spirit Alpbach. Thanks for your cooperation, your support and trust in me and 4 "Relaunch: New Team lead- Jürgen in the past 4 years. ing IG Alpbach !! And I have confidence in what we have achieved so far! We have come a long way, travelled far (even to !) and met amazing people, learned new cul- 4 EFA Associates Conference tures and spread the pro-europe message. In our joint activities we fostered the idea of a common European future! From a loose group of motivated but isolated '09, presented by IG Vienna Initiativegroups and Clubs in 14 different countries we became a strong and (in- ter)active network, a Community of Young Europeans, just like Otto Molden's idea 5 Club Alpbach NÖ- EFA 2008 of what Alpbach should be. 5/6 Club Alpbach

6/7 Club Alpbach Medica Realizing the Vision of Otto Molden of "A Community of Young Europeans" 7 Agenda & Impressum PAGE 2 NEWSLETTER 2008/3

News from the EFA Steering Committee: Autumn 2008

A Summary on the recent developments regarding EFA Initiative Groups and Clubs provided by Verena M. Ehold and Jürgen Busch.

1 New Initiative Groups: Currently no new developments.

2. IG-Conference 2009: The Conference will take place from 9 to 11 January 2009 in Vienna and is organised by the IG Wien. In addition to several workshops, there will be a public event on the topic "Vienna – intercultural melting pot". On 11 January a meeting between the EFA Presidency and the representatives of the EFA Associates at 11.15 Uhr in the Café Griensteidl will take place.

3. Succession: The Steering Committee discussed the future succession of Verena Ehold and Jürgen Busch from Summer 2009. It was agreed that the Associate Members should agree upon a mode for the selection of their repre- sentatives, they are to nominate for a seat in the EFA Steering Committee. Busch and Ehold will agree the basic criteria with the EFA before submitting them for decision by the EFA Associate Members.

4. ASSEI: Busek reported on the extremely successful second edition of the Alpbach Summer School for European Integration in . The Steering Committee welcomed Busch to continue as a coordinator after his retirement from the Steering Committe.

5. EFA Composition The Steering Committee agreed to consider a production of a CD with "classical" Alpbach compositions (Krenek, von Einem).

6. Short Film on the history of the EFA Hannes Kar will take over the project of a 20-minutes short film on the History of the European Forum Alpbach focussing on the beginnings; an English audio track will be available.

Marckhgott, Ehold and Strolz receive the Decoration of the Republic of 2008 for honorary work in the year of In- tercultural Dialogue Three former representatives and coordinators of the EFA Associates Network have been honoured with the Austrian Decoration (Österreichisches Bundesehrenzeichen) 2008 for their honorary work in the European Forum Alpbach.

On Friday 7 November 2008 Dr. Matthias Strolz, Dr. Bernhard Marckhgott and Dr. Verena M Ehold received the Decoration of the Federal Republic of Austria (Österreiches Bundesehrenzeichen) 2008 for their honorary intercul- tural work in the context of the European Year of the Intercultural Dialogue. Along with Barbara Coudenhove- Kalergi, Ceija Stojka and many others, the three former representatives of the Clubs and Initiativegroups in the EFA Steering Committee, were honoured in the premises of the Austrian National Library in Vienna with the golden Symbol of a waterdrop that is touching the surface and in doing so creating many, many waves. Just like the work they and others are willingly doing every day. The prize winners hope that with this major step intercultural en- gagement gets a boost in the right direction.

NEWSLETTER 2008/3 PAGE 3

Club Alpbach Turkey – story It was 2005 when we first heard about the European Forum Alpbach through a newsletter of the European Commission Delegation to Turkey. Soon an invitation followed. My brother and me, first Turkish grant holders in 2006, were immediately fascinated by the stunning beauty of this mountain village and the Tyrol region, which inspired Gustav Mahler to compose wonderful symphonies. The massive scale of events was amazing, ranging from sympo- siums, seminars, Summer schools to informal gatherings like fire-side talks, Young grant holders from all-over Europe, including former Soviet countries, were very enthusiastic about all these events, willing to participate in discus- "As we all are committed to a sions and express their opinions. Being captured by this multi-national and common destiny, it is time to fight multi-cultural atmosphere created in a small village on the foot of Alpines, we against old conspiracy theories or had had a great time for almost three weeks. unfounded fears, broaden our hori- zons and get closer to achieve a Our experience was so inspirational that we wanted to spread this so-called brighter future in a more integrated Alpbach spirit back home in Turkey by motivating young people to join us. Europe." (Feyza Bazar, Chairperson Backed by the encouragement and assistance of Verena Knaus from the of the Club Alpbach Turkey) European Stability Initiative (ESI), we managed to establish Club Alpbach Tur- key in 2007. Ever since, we have been promoting Alpbach through our web-site and have received very promising reactions, especially from the university students in different parts of Turkey. For the last two years, we were able to represent our Club in some international organisations as well as EFA meetings convened during the Forum season in Alpbach and introduce ourselves to Turkish Grant holders.

As the founding members of the Turkish Club, we are aware of the fact that we have undertaken an important task to fulfil. We believe that representation of Turkish people in the Forum is crucial to overcome deeply-rooted prejudices between nations by means of enhancing better understanding and dialogue, emphasising shared values and establishing constant and stable relations with each other. In return, Turkey, with her huge population of highly qualified young people determined to reach beyond borders, offers great potential to cooper- Feyza and the Turkish Gran- ate in research and development, building up networks and civil society mod- tholders at Böglerhof! els. Let us make a pool of these opportunities and just benefit from them! (Feyza Bazar, Chairperson of Club Alpbach Turkey) IG Brussels/Team Europe: "Breakfast at Schrameks" – Austrian Ambassador to Belgium On 17 July 2008, IG Brussels/Alpbach Team Europe was received by the Austrian Ambassador to Belgium, Mr. Dr. Karl SCHRAMEK, for a breakfast at the Austrian Em- IG Brussels/Team Europe bassy to Belgium. The breakfast was the opportunity for the presentation of the award of a grant to participate at the European Forum Alpbach 2008. Despite the early hour all participants enjoyed the boiled egg, croissants, ham, cheese and the fairly informal atmosphere. It was also an opportunity for the Ambassador, following his recent arrival in Brussels to meet with the participants but also with the faithful sponsors of IG Brus- sels/Alpbach Team Europe (Österreichische Notariatskammer: Mag. Stefan Matyk und Frau Nora Fritzberger; Daimler: Herr Dr. Hanns Glatz, Leiter des EU-Büros; Öster- reichische Vereinigung in Belgien: Herr Dr. Volkmar Hierner, Präsident).

The Ambassador expressed welcomed the 'Alpbach spirit' in Brussesl and he will to continue what has become a «traditional» partnership between IG Brus- sels/Alpbach Team Europe and the Austrian Embassy. He took the opportunity to wish this year's grant holders a enjoyable and fruitful stay in Alpbach. In hindsight it would seem that his wish came true ... (Christian Macek) PAGE 4 NEWSLETTER 2008/3

Relaunch: New Team leading Initiative Group Alpbach Graz! This years autumn has also brought some change into the land of pumpkin seed oil, extinct volcanoes, whine and – by the way – homeland of one of the eldest Alpbach associates members, the Club Steiermark and in par- ticular its Initiative Group Graz. The former coordination team consisting of Manuel P. Neubauer, Nora Lackner and Martin Murer has quit its presi- dency after organizing a very memorable Standing Committee in 2007 and taking care of this year’s grant holders from . Assuming office is a devoted and motivated team: Eva Tscherner will suc- ceed as Coordinator and is responsible for representing the IG Graz within the IG Network. Working as a research assistant and PhD student at the Eva Tscherner faculty of law at the Karl-Franzens-University of Graz, she recently gradu- (new Coordinator) ated from law and political sciences and will bet the main contact person of the IG Graz.

The new Vice-Coordinator, Claudia Winkler, is just about to finish her mas- ter thesis in economics whilst also studying French and doing a master in Interdisciplinary Gender Studies. And last but not least, Verena Gangl com- pletes the terrific troika as PR-Coordinator. Apart from being responsible for internal and external communication in the IG, the Magistra in educational science works on the management board of the Lesezentrum Steiermark and works on her PhD thesis.

The new coordination team profits from their heterogeneous academic backgrounds and experiences and sees its main job in strengthening the overall democratic and participatory profile of the Initiative Group Graz. Apart from continuing the traditional tasks of an IG, the new team plans on Claudia Winkler organizing special activities in order to promote the elections to a new (new Vice-coordinator) European parliament coming up in 2009 and to launch a corporate iden- tity campaign among the former and future Styrian grant holders of the EFA.

Currently the IG Graz is up to preparing for its first shiny and sparkling X- mas-party: Glühwein, Kekse, Adventkranz and a party full of spirit and love – team building par excellence! (Anna Mostetschnig) Website: http://www.clubalpbachsteiermark.at/iggraz, E-Mail: [email protected]

EFA Associates Conference "Strong beyond Verena Gangl borders" Vienna, 9-11 January 2009 (new Coordinator PR) Strong Beyond Borders - the topic of the 2009 IG network conference does not only refer to borders between countries in the common sense, but also to borders between individual IGs in SEE/CEE and Western Europe. Contact: Lisa Fuchs, President IG Wien, [email protected], www.ig-wien.at Check it on http://www.ig- The conference tries to enhance and to emphasize the importance of cooperation among the IGs through offering the possibilty to work together on important issues wien.at/conference/start_files/IG related to the European Forum Alpbach. This year's conference takes place in Vi- C09-technical_details.pdf ! enna - you will be given a chance to learn about Austrian culture and heritage, as well as participate in various interactive and prolific workshops, panels and discus- sions. We are looking forward to meeting you in Vienna! (Lisa Fuchs, from www.ig- wien.at) NEWSLETTER 2008/3 PAGE 5

Club Alpbach Niederösterreich- European Forum Alpbach 2008

In the 7th year of Club Alpbach Niederösterreich 22 young scholarship holders from took part in the 64th European Forum Alpbach. Networking, discussions, exchanging ideas, but also sitting together just chatting, a lot of fireside talks and having lunch or breakfast with business people or politicians were part of the two week program. The scholarship holders of Lower Austria of this year’s Forum Alpbach already got to know each other at a „come together” in Vienna in the middle of July. At this meeting first connections were made, it was a good ice-breaker: already here decisions for sharing rooms and participating in the same seminars were made. At the Forum, almost all of us arrived one day before the official beginning to have a smooth start and get orientated. Also on the first day we experienced the ropes course (Hochseilgarten) near Alpbach, in Kramsach. This common experience we made was really a precious one for the whole group. We didn’t only have to help each other, but also to communicate across the ropes to motivate each other.

During the following two weeks, the IG of Club Alpbach Niederösterreich organized a lot of activities for the scholar- ship holders. Just to name a few: we could take part in fireside talks with politicians like Dr. Madeleine Petrovic (Die Grünen), DI Josef Pröll (ÖVP) and Mag. Andreas Schieder (SPÖ) as well as with representatives of an economic agency (Mag. Helmut Miernicki), the economic forum of executives (Mag. Christian Domany) and a scholar of European and international law (DDDr. Waldemar Hummer).

All those activities that were organized by the IG of Club Alpbach Niederösterreich were very well attended. Every- one saw them as regular meetings (apart from going out together at night), which was essential for the amazing group feeling. Although the Forum ended at the end of August, the scholarship holders of Lower Austria couldn’t stop seeing each other and took the “Spirit of Alpbach” home with them. The young people organized meetings to exchange pictures, cooked for each other and keep on going out together and meet at events the Club Alpbach Niederösterreich is organizing.

They do not only tell other people about their experience back in the mountains in Alpbach and try to explain the “Spirit of Alpbach”, they still keep on living it. (Marlies Haschke)

Club Alpbach Burgenland - Greetings from Alpbach! Hannah Berger, Grant holder of Club Alpbach Burgenland, shares with us her impressions and experiences participat- ing for the first time in the European Forum Alpbach in this excellent essay. When I arrived to Alpbach on August 14th of this year, I did not quite know what I was about to experience. I was a little afraid, of course, and when checking in at the Congress Centre they gave me a package of papers and an ID card, which I lost immediately, by the way. I noticed that everyone was as curious as I was and we were all about to start into something new, something that would last for two weeks and that would influence our lives, or at least it did influence mine.

Every day at Alpbach was a challenge. The days went by so quickly – it’s incredible! We got up, had a funny breakfast at our “super Austrian” house and went to the seminars or symposiums. There was so much to do; we sometimes felt our head would explode. We constantly had to choose between fireside talks, walks to the mountains, symposiums, semi- nars, film evenings or – for a change – going to bed (which was the last option always).

I was driven by this kind of feeling that I wanted to do everything, hear all the interesting information and see all those people who did so many interesting things in their lives or talk to those who are still about to and will certainly live ex- traordinary lives. We sat together and talked, went to see the sunrise from the Gratlspitz or danced in the breathtaking Clubbing at Alphof (mainly due to the lack of air conditioning, windows or anything like that). I lived so many different experiences in these two weeks in the mountains and what struck me most was that I learned so much – not only about different topics which we treated and discussed in the sessions but also about life as a whole and me in particu- lar. The heaps of information we received every day, either by attending seminars or symposiums or by talking to each other, gave me so much input to rethink everything. It gave me impulses for thinking about my future, for planning what still is to be done and enlightened recent issues.

The excess of information resulted in frustration. After about ten days of constant thinking (well, this sounds great, of course you know what I mean ha-ha), constantly trying to broaden my mind, widening my horizon I felt something like blankness. Or frustration. Or enough-ness. Or something. I just couldn’t bear any more information. It’s like travelling through a foreign country, trying to soak up all the new elements of life and after some time you find yourself shouting “enough!” because your head is so full with new impression, it cannot bear any more. PAGE 6 NEWSLETTER 2008/3

This was how I felt. And this was when I started taking it a little easier, not rushing from one event to the next, falling into bed after midnight and getting up early in the morning, eager not to miss anything. This is one thing Alpbach taught me: You cannot do everything (in the sense of “all the things”); even if you really want to.

After discussing my feelings about the Forum in detail I would like to focus on a few matters that impacted me most. Firstly: the people! I was so amazed by the people attending the Forum. No matter whether you talked to a politician, a scientist or a student – I always found myself in interesting discussions. Talking seems to be different up here in Alp- bach, it is far more tolerant and open, people talk about everything, people know so much, people listen to your opin- ion, even if it’s a strange one. Maybe this is what we were told to look for – the spirit of Alpbach. Sitting together with people and discussing recent issues. But it didn’t work as I had expected. I thought it would be more formal and strict. In fact we didn’t plan to discuss current politics and economic matters, we just happened to when having dinner, sitting in the grass or brushing our teeth (for giving an example).

Secondly: the hierarchy! I was really amazed by the not existing hierarchy in the communication with each other. I am used to presenting a kind of necessary respect to people who have a university degree or who “reached something”. In Alpbach I felt that all are equal, there was no need to build up this barrier between genders, ages or students and professors. This kind of respect, which I think is real respect, impressed me a lot!

Thirdly: the method. When attending the seminars I suddenly thought that this is what school should be like! I enjoyed it so much, discussing thrilling topics with enthusiastic people! The professors did not moan when having to answer an- other question, they seemed to like the reflection and the challenge of discussing their work with all the students. For me it was marvellous getting an insight in the work of people who deal with those topics they presented to us in their everyday lives.

I did notice a certain bias in the fields of study of the scholarship holders. It was better not to ask “What are you study- ing?” but: “Do you study law or economy?” When a student told you he studied some exotic thing like geology or literature people couldn’t help asking what s/he was doing here. I think there was a lack of students and professors of social and natural sciences!

To me Alpbach was a unique experience giving me the opportunity to encounter and get into an interdisciplinary and intercultural dialogue with very diverse people. I wouldn’t want to miss it and I am very glad I could attend and live those challenging days. When I wrote postcards to my family members I tried to summarize my stay and experience in Alpbach to a very short message. I wrote the following: “Greetings from Alpbach where we can discuss diverse ideas in a traditional mountain atmosphere with very interesting open minded people.” I think this is what it all comes down to. (Hannah Berger, Grant holder of Club Alpbach Burgenland)

The Club Alpbach Medica – together for a future Health Care and Social System in the Regions of Europe! For the first time Secretary General of the European Forum Alpbach, Dr. Kruspel, opened the Health-Events of the European Forum to the young generation and invited Club Alpbach Medica to contribute and cooperate at various occasions. From the bottom of our hearts Club Alpbach Medica thanks Dr. Kruspel for this dialog between genera- tions in the health care section oft he EFA. 2008 was a year full of events and cooperation's. Let’s share some of the results: 1. Summer School for Health Care and Social System: The Summer School‘s draft and concept was contributed by Club Alpbach Medica. The Summer School was organized and facilitated by the VSCR and London School of Economis and empowered by Erste Stiftung. As the 24 participants from all over Europe were fascinated by this course it will also be part of the EFA-Summer School Courses 2009.

2. Health Care Talks 2008: The Health Care Talks were opened and got more important. More than 500 participants confirmed this decision oft he EFA. Club Alpbach Medica was part of the advisory board oft he health care talks 2009.

3. Health Promoting Event „We do care about your heart – you too?“ In cooperation with the federal ministry of health, family and youth, the Centre for Public Health of the Vienna Medical University and the Austrian Federa- tion of Cardiology Club Alpbach Medica evaluated the cardiovascular risk factors of 300 participants during the Economic and Political Talks during the EFA. (to be continued next page) NEWSLETTER 2008/3 PAGE 7

In case each European took care of her or his cardiovascular risk factors 139 billion Euro could be saved in the European Health Care System (European Hearth Health Charta).

5. HIV/AIDS-Clubbing At the Charity-HIV/AIDS-Clubbing in Alpbach, August 2008, the grant holders of the European Form Alpbach donated 1.000,- EUR for Aidslife and AIDS-Projects all over the world. We are proud to tell you that on the 28th of October 2008 we finally donated the money to Aidslife and met the founder of Aidslife. He was very happy to hear that about 300 to 500 young people from all over Europe/ the world drew their attention to this major topic and rose awareness – especially as the rate of new HIV-infections is about 22.000 people in Western and Central-Europe more than 270.000 people in East-Europe and South- Asia. The awakening point is that half of them – 11.000 + 135.000 = 146.000 people are young, between the age of 15 and 24 and heterosexual. Money and funding projects is one thing – the most important topics concerning HIV/AIDS-prevention are raising awareness and information about the ways of transmission and how to prevent infection.

„Spots on“-Cooperation From now on Club Alpbach Medica, its members and mentees will put „spots on“ sev- eral interesting, important issues, persons, organisations, projects in/ concerning the European Health Care & Social Systems. So in case you are interested in this kind of cooperation and support and have you and your IG/Club’s attention drawn to Health Care & Social Topics, please, let us know and mail to Dialog@club-alpbach- medica.at . We will provide our „spots on“ in German and English. In case you do have interesting pieces of information in this field – you’re also warmly invited also to join us and also put your „spot on“ …

We would like to draw your attention to the re-launched Club-website. Watch out and be amazed: www.club- alpbach-medica.at. The English version will follow soon in February 2009.

The application-period for the one-year, inter-professional, supra-regional mentoring-program for talents of the health care and social system – no matter which profession of the health care and social system – will start on January 16 and will end on March 31st 2009. (Lucia Ucsnik, Club Alpbach Medica)

Agenda 9-11 January 2009, EFA Associates' Conference in Vienna, Austria, www.ig- wien.at/conference . 22/23 January 2009, Small states in Europe, Schloss Urstein, Puch/ 19/20 April 2009, EFA Event in cooperation with the Austrian Chamber of Com- merce "The Financial Crisis" 11/12 May 2009, EFA event in cooperation with FH Salzburg 20 Aug - 5 Sept 2009 Europäisches Forum Alpbach

Impressum: © 2008 Europäisches Forum Alpbach (für den Inhalt verantwortlich Dr. Verena M. Ehold und Mag. Jürgen Busch). The next issue will be released in January 2009, editorial deadline 15 january, external authors are referred to as at the end of each Article. Editor & layout: Verena M. Ehold, EFA Steering Committee, Euro- päisches Forum Alpbach, Invalidenstraße 5/7, A-1030 Wien, [email protected], Tel. +352 621 262813 or +43 680 21 54 902.