Press release World Policy Conference – 4th edition Vienna, December 9-11, 2011 Paris, October 18, 2011: After Evian and Marrakech, the 2011 edition of the World Policy Conference (WPC) will be held in Vienna, at the Hofburg Palace (Conference Center), from December 9 -11, 2011, in the presence of the President of Austria Mr. Heinz Fischer. For its 4th edition, the WPC will be welcoming more than 150 participants and 300 guests of the highest level to address both fundamental and topical governance-related subjects, among which: o The governance challenges relating to the Arab Spring o The governance of major catastrophes o The role of Europe as a laboratory of global governance o The future of the G8 and G20 as governance institutions o The governance of African transitions Confirmed participants at this year’s edition already include: Mario Draghi, new President of the European Central Bank, Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, Heinz Fischer, President of the Republic of Austria, Abdullah Gül, President of the Republic of Turkey, Danilo Türk, President of the Republic of Slovenia, Boris Tadic, President of the Republic of Serbia, Amr Moussa, former Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, and candidate in the Egyptian presidential election and Raila Amolo Odinga, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya. Leading corporate figures such as Christophe de Margerie, President of Total, Bruno Lafont, President of Lafarge and Scott Charney, Corporate Vice President, Trustworthy Computing of Microsoft, will also be attending. Thierry de Montbrial, President of Ifri and Founder of the WPC, declares: “From the Arab Spring to the European debt crisis, to the international market turmoil or the Fukushima nuclear disaster, the past year has once again emphasized the growing interdependence of states and the need for increased solidarity and cooperation in a more than-ever globalized world. In most fields, the mechanisms for this cooperation are still in their infancy, and I am happy that, this year again, some of the world’s best thinkers in international life have agreed to gather at the World Policy Conference with the aim of fostering a collective response to the challenges of our time”. The WPC was launched in 2008 by Thierry de Montbrial, President of the Ifri (French Institute of International Relations). The WPC is the only international conference entirely dedicated to fostering global governance at all levels. www.worldpolicyconference.com For more detailed information on the conference program, please contact: Press Contacts: FTI Consulting/ ex FD (Financial Dynamics) Claire Michel / Charlotte Richard / Caroline Guilhaume Email: [email protected] Tel: 00 33 (0) 1 47 03 68 58 About the World Policy Conference The World Policy Conference is an independent international conference devised as a link of reflection and exchange between leaders with a view to improving worldwide governance and uniting the efforts of all with the aim of serving general interest. Launched in 2008 by the French Institute of International Relations (Ifri) on the initiative of its founder, Thierry de Montbrial, each year the World Policy Conference brings together a select group of participants (political figures, heads of international organizations, presidents of large companies, distinguished experts and journalists), together with Heads of state and government with the aim of developing a collective response to the challenges of our time. The World Policy Conference is not aligned with any political, economic or national interests. About the French Institute of International Relations (Ifri) Created in 1979 and directed by Thierry de Montbrial, the French Institute of International Relations (Ifri) is the leading French, independent think-tank dedicated to analyzing international issues. At the heart of a network of the biggest international think-tanks, Ifri’s aim is to bring together leading protagonists and analysts of international life and encourage independent reflection on contemporary problems. With its Brussels office opened in 2005, Ifri stands out as one of the few French think-tanks positioned at the heart of European debate. Today, Ifri is made up of almost 70 staff, about half of which are researchers. www.worldpoli cyconference.com www.worldpoli cyconference.com www.worldpolicyconference.com .