Alpbach Forum looks at Europe’s ‘crossroads’

Politicians, academics, students, and decision makers from across the world will come together to discuss and brainstorm new ideas and solutions to European and global problems.

This year EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, former head of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Pascal Lamy, and Secretary General of the OSCE Lamberto Zannier will be among those joining the forum.

The forum was founded in 1945 by Otto Molden, who was active in the Austrian resistance movement. About 4,500 people from over 50 countries accept the invitation to participate in the European Forum Alpbach each year.

Participation is open to all interested parties, and the events are held in German and in English.

Since March 2012 Franz Fischler (ÖVP), former EU Commissioner of Agriculture and former Austrian Minister of Agriculture, has been leading the forum.

This year participants will discuss the future of Europe under the general theme At the Crossroads – looking at the course Europe has to set itself in order to be prepared for the future.