FROM THE FALL OF THE IRON CURTAIN 1989 TO THE COMMON EUROPEAN ELECTIONS

On 25 April the Centre for European Studies (CES) and the Political Academy organised a joint event, ‘From the Fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989 to the Common European Elections’, which included a panel discussion on the political, social and economic developments in Central and Eastern Europe. The event, with more than 200 participants, was opened by Fritz Kaltenegger, Secretary General of the Austrian People’s Party and Ernst Strasser, the Austrian People’s Party front-runner in the elections to the European Parliament on 7 June 2009. In his lecture Strasser pointed out that 7 June was a day, not for destructive interests, but for expressing confidence in Europe, as the people of Central and Eastern Europe had done on that day 20 years ago, in 1989.

A panel discussion followed, which was moderated by the former journalist and political analyst Helmut Brandstaetter. Sophie Karmasin, a well-known Austrian pollster, presented the latest facts on citizens’ acceptance of the EU. She stated that because of the economic troubles all over the world, people now think more positively about Europe than they did one or two years ago. Hans Georg Heinke, who has a journalistic background and has been an expert on the European Union for many years, explained how the process of European unification has been portrayed in the media over the last two decades and how it is seen by the public. Paula Aschauer, a student, described the advantages for young people of a common Europe. The event was concluded by Werner Fasslabend, President of Political Academy and Chairman of the Academic Council of CES.

THE EU AS A MOTOR OF EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY

From 26 to 27 May the Centre for European Studies, the Political Academy, the European Senior Citizens Union and the European People’s Party organised a two-day regional conference on the topic ‘The EU as a Motor of European Solidarity’. The event took place at the headquarters of the Political Academy in Vienna. Representatives of senior citizens organisations from all over Europe, as well as scientists and political and economic experts, participated in the discussions. The Centre for European Studies was represented by the Head of Research, Roland Freudenstein, who gave his lecture on the second day.

Attended by around 70 participants, the conference opened with speeches by Andreas Khol, Chairman of the Austrian Senior Citizens Union, Bernhard Worms, Head of the European Senior Citizens Union, and Fritz Kaltenegger, Secretary General of the Austrian People’s Party. Afterwards Marilies Flemming, former Austrian Minister, Wolfgang Schüssel, former Austrian Federal Chancellor, Walter Ender, Head of Senior Citizens Union Vorarlberg, and Heinz Becker, Secretary General of the Austrian Senior Citizens Union, gave their lectures. Each of these was followed by extended and fruitful discussion, and statements from regional and national representatives.