SOCIETY 368 / 2015

WIRTSCHAFT
NETWORKING
LORD ALAN WATSON
OF RICHMOND
CURRICULUM
VITAE
Lord Watson was an awardwinning
BBC broadcaster
for over 20 years and is
currently the Chairman of
CTN Communications. He
advises many major UK
and internationally-based
companies on their communications
strategies. He
held the position of Head
of Media at the European
Commission (1976-80). He
is a former President of the
Liberal Party. In 1985, he was
appointed CBE and raised
to the Peerage in 1999. He
serves as President of the
British-German Association
and Chairman of the
Franco-British Society. A
committed internationalist,
he is the author of several
books on Europe, the British
monarchy, the global role
of English and is currently
completing a study of Winston
Churchill in 1946 to be
published by Bloomsbury
next year.
INFO
PLATFORM FOR THE
ECONOMIC AND
CULTURAL EXCHANGE
VIENNA · LONDON
Chairman London: Lord
Alan Watson of Richmond
Chairman Vienna: Vinzenz
Stimpfl-Abele
The Platform Vienna –
London is an initiative with
the aim at utilizing possible
synergies and potentials
between the two metropolises
in the realms of
economy and culture.
www.vienna-london.com
Treffpunkt:
Vienna-London.
Lord Alan Watson of Richmond talks with SOCIETY
about the launch of the new Platform Vienna – London.
INTERVIEW: SOCIETY
What is the idea behind the
Platform Vienna – London?
Our aim is to intensify the
economic and cultural exchange
between the two cities.
The platform should be a show box for enterprises
and organisations wanting to get in touch
with possible counterparts in the twin city. We
are helping companies and organisations to access
the market through our network and contacts.
The backbone of our initiative is an interactive
website – a forum – that will help people and organisations
communicate individually with each
other and with wider audiences.
How have you been involved?
I have always been an internationalist and pro
the European venture. I believe that an important
part of Europe is its variety. In the future, what is
going to matter is that Europe focuses on where
people’s interests are really engaged. The period in
Europe where you simply had grand oratory and
the monumental achievements of Schengen etc.
is basically over. I also believe that the idea that
Europe turns completely on agreement between
Berlin and Paris is profoundly wrong. We see our
platform as helping to counter that situation.
How would you compare London and Vienna?
Are there any similarities?
There are certain similarities between London
and Vienna. Both cities are full of imperial
architecture, and in both cases, the empires have
gone. However, the imperial dimension has, in
both cases, left behind a series of networks and
interconnections – for London a special relation
with the United States and the Commonwealth
countries; for Vienna with Central and Southern
Europe.
Although the two cities differ fairly in population
and size, the key issues are the same: economic
growth, increase in population, urban
development, funding of universities, medical
science, culture and the arts.
What is your approach towards the development
of the platform?
There will be a steering group in London and
a steering group in Vienna. However, we are not
going to build a big organisation. We will have
a modern and minimalist approach – lean and
efficient. We will not depend on donations and
subventions but we are trying to gain support
through precise and measureable achievements
and benefits for our partners.
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FOTOS: PIXELIO/KARL-HEINZ LAUBE, PIXELIO/LARA&ANDREAS DENGS
102 | SOCIETY 2_2015