CERCLE DIPLOMATIQUE - issue 01/2024

Spring 2024 

Nr. 1 | March - May 

cercle-diplomatique.com 

THE LEADING AUSTRIAN MAGAZINE FOR 

DIPLOMACY INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS GLOBAL BUSINESS CULTURE AND LIFESTYLE 

VIETNAM 

STREBEN NACH GLEICHGEWICHT 

VIETNAM 

STRIVING FOR BALANCE

Denzel Wien Erdberg 

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Range Rover Sport: Kraftstoffverbrauch (kombiniert, gewichtet): 11,7–0,8 l/100 km, CO₂-Emissionen (kombiniert, gewichtet): 

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LE XYX XYXYXY 

EDITORIAL 

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PHOTO: GREGOR TURECEK, RENÉ BRUNHÖLZL 

Liebe Leserinnen, liebe Leser! | Dear Readers! 

Experten und Expertinnen sind Personen, die sich in 

einem bestimmten (Fach)-Gebiet gut auskennen 

und firm sind. Wir sind in der glücklichen Lage, 

mittlerweile 25 Fachmänner und Fachfrauen zu unserem 

erfahrenen und versierten Redaktions- und Verkaufsteam 

zählen zu dürfen. Einen Teil unseres großartigen Teams 

sehen Sie diesmal in dem Gruppenfoto auf dieser Seite – 

wenn Sie mehr über unsere Kollegen erfahren wollen, 

besuchen Sie doch die Team-Präsentation auf unserer 

Homepage. 

Unsere Coverstory ist diesmal Vietnam gewidmet, 

dem regionalen Wachstumsmotor und größten 

Handelspartner Österreichs unter den ASEAN-Staaten, 

ab Seite 22. Das zweite Länderportrait stellt Malta vor, 

welches zurzeit den OSZE-Vorsitz innehat, ab Seite 36. 

Klaudia Tanner, Bundesministerin für Landesverteidigung, 

hat uns bereits zum zweiten Mal die Ehre eines 

Interviews gegeben, zu lesen ab Seite 58. 

Die Herausforderungen der Geopolitik kommentieren 

auch diesmal wieder Walter Feichtinger, Burkhard 

Bischof, Otmar Lahodynsky und Stephanie Liechtenstein 

auf den Seiten 46-53. Dem Donauraum der EU ist weiters 

eine Geschichte gewidmet. Dessen Strategie soll die 

Länder und Regionen des Donauraums unter 

Gesichtspunkten der Nachhaltigkeit zusammenführen 

und gleichzeitig eine engere Verbindung der Donauregion 

mit der Europäischen Union bewirken, ab Seite 64. 

Eine Fülle spannender Veranstaltungen bieten Ihnen 

die Geschichten unserer Kultur-Profis Evelyn Rois und 

Bruno Stubenrauch auf den Seiten 82-103. Neben dem 

heuer zu feiernden Bruckner-Jahr gilt es auch die Oper 

Gars am Kamp, das Tangente Festival in St. Pölten sowie 

das Freud Museum zu entdecken. 

Eine besondere architektonische Stilikone ist das 

Hotel InterContinental Wien, das heuer 60 Jahre alt wird 

und mit einem geplanten Neubau der Zukunft 

entgegenblickt, Seite 110-111. 

Genießen Sie diese Ausgabe und den Frühling! 

Experts are those with a profound understanding and 

mastery in their particular field. We’re privileged to 

count 25 specialists among our seasoned and 

talented editorial and sales team. This edition features a 

group photograph of our brilliant team on this page. For 

those interested in learning more about our colleagues, we 

invite you to explore the team presentation on our website. 

In this issue, our cover story is devoted to Vietnam, a 

leading regional force and Austria’s principal trading 

partner among the ASEAN nations, commencing on page 

22. The second country profile features Malta, which is 

presently at the helm of the OSCE, beginning on page 36. 

We are honoured to have Austrian Minister of Defence 

Klaudia Tanner granting us an interview for the second 

time, accessible from page 58. Walter Feichtinger, 

Burkhard Bischof, Otmar Lahodynsky and Stephanie 

Liechtenstein return to share their expert opinions on the 

complexities of geopolitics across pages 46-53. 

Additionally, we dedicate a piece to the EU Strategy for the 

Danube Region, which seeks to unite the countries and 

regions along the Danube in a commitment to 

sustainability, whilst enhancing their connection with the 

European Union, starting on page 64. 

Our culture pros, Evelyn Rois and Bruno Stubenrauch, 

unveil an array of thrilling events covering pages 82-103. 

This year, in addition to commemorating the Bruckner 

Year, we also spotlight the Burg Gars Opera, the Tangente 

Festival in St. Pölten and the Sigmund Freud Museum. 

The InterContinental Vienna stands as an architectural 

landmark, celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. It 

looks forward to the future with plans for a new building, 

as detailed on pages 110-111. 

We hope you enjoy this issue and the coming spring! 

Herzlichst, | Sincerely, 

Andrea Fürnweger & Alexander Bursky 

Herausgeber | Publisher 

Andrea Fürnweger 

Herausgeberin | Publisher 

Hier links sehen Sie 15 

unserer insgesamt 25 

Team-Mitglieder bei 

unserer Weihnachtsfeier. 

On the left you can see 15 

of our 25 team members 

at our Christmas party. 

*Unternehmerkunden-Angebot im Restwertleasing der Porsche Bank inkl. USt., zzgl. gesetzl. Vertragsgebühr EUR 330,92, keine Bearbeitungskosten, Gesamtleasingbetrag EUR 59.390,10, 

Laufzeit 48 Monate, 10.000 km/Jahr, Eigenleistung (VZ-Depot) EUR 20.960,76, Restwert EUR 26.395,60, Sollzinssatz 5,23 % fix, Effektivzinssatz 6,44 % fix, Gesamtbetrag EUR 66.838,76. 

KASKO bonitätsabhängig. Bereits berücksichtigt: EUR 1 % Porsche Bank Bonus für Unternehmerkunden bei Finanzierung über die Porsche Bank. Für Porsche Bank Boni gilt: Mindestlaufzeit 36 

Monate. Ausgen. Sonderkalkulationen für Flottenkunden, Behörden, ARAC, Botschaften und Diplomaten. Die Boni sind unverbindl., nicht kart. Nachlässe inkl. USt. und NoVA und werden vom 

Listenpreis abgezogen. Aktion gültig bis 30.06.2024 (Antrags- und Kaufvertragsdatum). Stand 01/2024. 

Mag. Alexander Bursky 

Herausgeber | Publisher 

4 Cercle Diplomatique 1/2024

CERCLE DIPLOMATIQUE – 

ECONOMIQUE et TOURISTIQUE 

Nr. 338 

Ausgabe | Issue 01/2024 

March - May 

CONTENTS 

Cover story 

VIETNAM 

Seite | page 22 

The country is currently 

experiencing a renaissance 

in politics, economics and 

tourism. 

Das Land erlebt derzeit eine 

Renaissance in Politik, 

Wirtschaft und Tourismus. 

10 

12 

22 

36 

46 

48 

50 

52 

54 

58 

64 

70 

72 

78 

LE BULLETIN 

Die neuen Botschafter | The new Ambassadors 

Akkreditierung durch Bundespräsident Alexander Van der Bellen. 

Accredidation by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen. 

Offizielle Empfänge | Official Receptions 

Die großen Empfänge der vergangenen Wochen. The great receptions of the last few weeks. 

LE MONDE 

Coverstory Vietnam | Cover story Vietnam. 

Streben nach Gleichgewicht. Striving for balance. 

Malta 

Kleine Insel mit großer Herausforderung. Small island with a big challenge. 

Kommentar | Commentary 

Zwei Jahre Krieg in der Ukraine. Two years of war in the Ukraine. 


Wahljahr 2024 – geopolitischer Wendepunkt. Election year 2024 – geopolitical turning point. 


Entscheidende Europawahlen. Decisive European elections. 


Malta übernimmt den OSZE-Vorsitz. Malta assumes the OSCE chair. 

News 

Neuigkeiten aus aller Welt. Latest update from around the globe. 

L‘AUTRICHE 

Verteidigung | Defence 

Ministerin Klaudia Tanner im Interview. Interview with Minister Klaudia Tanner. 

EU-Strategie | EU strategy 

Die Donau als Fluss der europäischen Einigung. The Danube as a river of European unity. 

Botschafter der Wissenschaft | Ambassador of science 

Universität für Bodenkultur. University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences. 

Energie-Sicherheit | Energy security 

Gegenwind für die Energiewende. Challenges in the energy transition. 

Wirtschaftsnews | Business news 

Neues aus Österreich. News from Austria. 

104 

108 

110 

112 

116 

122 

124 

128 

130 

132 

136 

138 

140 

144 

160 

Kunst | Arts 

Kulturelle Highlights im Frühling. Cultural highlights in spring. 

Connaisseur | Connoisseur 

Essen und trinken mit Stil. Wine and dine in style. 

Rundes Jubiläum | Round anniversary 

Das Hotel InterContinental Wien wird 60. The Hotel InterContinental turns 60. 

Global Adviser 

Verreisen, verweilen und was es zu sehen gibt. Where to go, where to stay and what to see. 

Real Estate | Immobilien 

Begehrte Wasserlagen. Desirable waterfront living. 

Lifestyle 

Trends für die Frühlingssaison. Trends for the spring season. 

Ambassador‘s Drive 

Sloweniens Botschafter auf CD-Testfahrt. Slovenia‘s Ambassador on a test drive. 

Motor Talk 

Eine nachhaltige Benchmark. A sustainable benchmark. 

Motor 

Kluge Autos braucht das Land. Smart cars: driving the country forward. 

Weekender 

Doppelstadt Krems-Stein. Twin towns Krems-Stein. 

Upcoming 

Ideen für eine Auszeit. Ideas for a time-out. 

Buchtipps | Book tips 

Lesenswertes über Österreich. Books on Austria worth reading. 

Mein Österreich | My Austria 

Der Apostolische Nuntius, S.E. Erzbischof Pedro López Quintana. The Apostolic Nuncio, 

H.E. Archbishop Pedro López Quintana. 

LES RENDEZVOUS 

Veranstaltungen | Events 

Exklusive Veranstaltungen im Fokus. Exclusive events in focus. 

Etikette | Etiquette 

Thomas Schäfer-Elmayer über Ghosting. Thomas Schäfer-Elmayer on ghosting. 

Schöner, moderner und 

großer Park in Ho Chi 

Minh City. 

Very beautiful, modern 

and large park in Ho Chi 

Minh City. 

82 

90 

92 

94 

100 

102 

SAVOIR VIVRE 

200 Jahre Anton Brucker | 200 Years Anton Bruckner 

Der Neuerer der klassischen Musik. The innovator of classical music. 

Vision Dialogue 

Clemens Unterreiner, Intendant der Oper Burg Gars. Director of the Opera Burg Gars. 

Kulturelle Vorschau | Cultural Preview 

Cecilia (ba)rockt! Cecilia Bartoli: Baroque ‘n‘ roll! 

Kulturelle Erneuerung | Cultural boost 

St. Pölten wird zum nachhaltigen Kulturhotspot. St. Pölten tranforms into a lasting cultural hub. 

Museum Visit 

Sigmund Freud Museum. 

Botschafter der Musik | Ambassadors of music 

Dirigentin Marta Gardolińska. Conductor Marta Gardolińska. 

5 

6 

161 

Titelbild | Cover 

Im Freien trocknende Räucherstäbchen mit einer vietnamesischen Frau mit kegelförmigem Hut 

im Norden Vietnams. | Incense sticks drying outdoor with Vietnamese woman wearing conical 

hat in north of Vietnam. 

Editorial 

Inhalt | Contents 

Impressum | Imprint 

Aus Gründen der besseren Lesbarkeit wird im Deutschen auf die gleichzeitige Verwendung 

weiblicher und männlicher Sprachformen verzichtet und das generische Maskulinum verwendet. 

Sämtliche Personenbezeichnungen gelten gleichermaßen für alle Geschlechter. 

For reasons of better readability of the German texts, the simultaneous use of female and male 

language forms is avoided, the generic masculine is used and apply equally to all genders. 

COVERPHOTO: ADOBE STOCK PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK

Eat, drink and 

enjoy! 

LE 

BULLETIN 

IN LE BULLETIN ERFAHREN 

SIE, WER DIE NEU 

AKKREDITIERTEN 

BOTSCHAFTER IN 

ÖSTERREICH SIND UND 

WELCHE OFFIZIELLEN 

EMPFÄNGE UND EVENTS 

IN DEN VERGANGENEN 

DREI MONATEN 

STATTGEFUNDEN HABEN. 

LE BULLETIN TELLS YOU WHO 

THE NEWLY ACCREDITED 

AMBASSADORS TO AUSTRIA 

ARE AND WHICH OFFICIAL 

RECEPTIONS AND EVENTS 

TOOK PLACE IN THE PAST 

FEW MONTHS. 

Mo – Sa: 7.30 AM – 11 PM | dasmezzanin.at 1010 Wien, Schottengasse 6 – 8 

MEETS 

4-course menu 

with top chef Vitus Winkler 

Wed, 6.3. | 7 pm

LE BULLETIN CREDENTIALS 

Wir begrüßen die neuen Botschafter herzlich in Österreich: Willkommen! 

We cordially welcome the new Ambassadors to Austria! 

Matthew 

Wilson 

H.E. 

Ambassador of the Republic of 

Barbados (non resident) 

Credentials: January 2024 

H.E. 

Clara Manuela da 

Luz Delgado Jesus 


Cabo Verde (non resident) 


H.E. 

Alex Francisco 

Wetzig Abdale 


Chile 


H.E. 

Fatou Bom 

Bensouda 


Gambia (non resident) 


Georgios 

Iliopoulos 

H.E. 

Ambassador of the Hellenic 

Republic 


H.E. 

Edith Antoinette 

Itoua 


Congo (non resident) 


H.E. 

Caroline Sakina 

Bwanali-Mussa 

H.E. 

Jassim Yaaqob Y. A. 

Al-Hamadi 

Ambassador of the Republic of Ambassador of the State of 

Malawi (non resident) 

Qatar 

Credentials: January 2024 Credentials: January 2024 

Born on December 14, 1975 

Married 

Opts for privacy 

Married, two children 

Born on February 18, 1963 


Born on January 31, 1961 

Married with children 

Born in 1961 


Born on July 20, 1964 

Single, one child 

Born on September 30, 1969 

Married 

Born on August 26, 1982 

Married, five children 

Education 

1992-1994 A levels and Associate Degrees in 

Law, Economics and History, Barbados 

Community College, Barbados 

1994–1997 BSc. Sociology and Psychology, 

University of the West Indies, Trinidad and 

Tobago 

1997–1998 Post Graduate in International 

Relations, Institute of International Relations, 

University of the West Indies, Trinidad and 

Tobago 

2000–2001 Masters in International 

Development, University of Bath, UK 

2022 MBA Essentials, London School of 

Economics, UK 

Professional Career 

2022-present Ambassador and Permanent 

Representative of Barbados to the United 

Nations, World Trade Organization and other 

International Organizations in Geneva, Vienna 

and Rome 

2023– present Ambassador of Barbados to 

Switzerland 

2021–2022 Chief of Special Projects, 

Partnerships including on Diversity and 

Inclusion, International Trade Centre 

2013–2021 Chief of Staff, International Trade 

Centre 

2011–2013 Senior Adviser to Director 

General, World Trade Organization 

2010–2011 Deputy Aid for Trade Coordinator, 

World Trade Organization 

Education 

Master Degree in International Economic 

Relations, State University of Kiev, Ukraine 

Ukraine National Economic Relations, State 

University of Kiev, Ukraine 


2021 Ambassador, Permanent Representative 

of Cabo Verde to the UN (since January 

2021) and WTO (since February 2021) 

2016-2020 Ambassador, Diplomatic Adviser 

to H.E. The President of the Republic of Cabo 

Verde 

Current Co-chair at IWG on Trade and Gender 

- WTO 

2015-2016 Minister Plenipotentiary, 

Directorate General for Global Affairs 

2009-2015 Chargé d‘Affaires and Chief of 

Mission Luxembourg 

2006-2009 Counsellor, Directorate General 

for Foreign Policy 

2001-2005 Chargé d’Affaires a.i. in London 

1st Secretary at The Embassy and Permanent 

Mission of Cabo Verde to Brussels, 

EU and ACP 

1999-2001 Consul General in Rotterdam, The 

Netherlands 

1998-1999 Diplomatic Adviser to the 

Minister of Foreign Affairs 

1997-1998 Diplomatic Adviser to the 

Secretary of State 

Education 

1981–1985 Catholic University of Valparaiso, 

Institute of History, Degree in History and 

Lecturer in History and Geography 

1985–1986 Latin American Faculty of Social 

Sciences, Santiago de Chile Programme, 

Advanced Diploma in Social Sciences 

1992–1993 Diplomatic Academy of Chile, 

Foreign Service Regular Entry Course 

1994–1995 Diplomatic School of Spain, 

Degree in International Studies (in 

partnership with University Complutense of 

Madrid) 


2022-2023 Ambassador, Secretary General 

for Foreign Policy 

2021–2022 Minister Counsellor at the 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Head of Energy, 

Science and Technology and Innovation 

Division 

2016–2021 Counsellor and Minister 

Counsellor at the Chilean Mission to UNESCO. 

Deputy Permanent Representative of Chile to 

UNESCO 

2014–2016 Counsellor at the Ministry of 

Foreign Affairs of Chile, Chief of Cabinet of 

the Director General of International 

Economic Relations, Deputy Head of the 

Europe, Africa and Middle East Department 

of the Directorate of Bilateral Economic 

Affairs 

Education 

1983-1987 holds a law degree from the 

University of IFE in Nigeria and the Nigeria 

Law School, in Lagos 

1991 obtained her Master‘s degree from the 

UN/IMO International Maritime Law Institute 


2022-2023 High Commissioner of The 

Gambia in the United Kingdom 

2012–2021 Chief Prosecutor of the 

International Criminal Court (ICC) 

2004–2012 Deputy Prosecutor of the 

International Criminal Court (ICC) 

2002–2004 Legal Advisor and Lawyer at the 

International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda 

(ICTR) 

2002 General Manager at International 

Bankfor Commerce Ltd., Banjul 

2000–2002 Private legal practitioner at „Ya 

Sadi Chambers“, and „Amie Bensouda and 

Co.“, Banjul 

1998–2000 Attorney General and Secretary 

for Justice, The Gambia 

1982–1997 worked from/at: Clerk of Court, 

Public Prosecutor, State Counsel, Senior State 

Counsel, Principal State Counsel, Counsel to 

the Commission of lnquiry into the Financial 

Activities of Public 

1997–1998 Attorney General and Secretary 

General of the Republic of The Gambia 

1993–1997 Deputy Director of Public 

Prosecutions, The Gambia 

PHOTOS:RONJA KLIMA UND DANIEL TRIPPOLT/HBF 

PHOTOS: RONJA KLIMA UND DANIEL TRIPPOLT/HBF 

Education 

1979 Doukas School 

1980–1984 University of Athens, School of 

Philosophy (BA in Letters and Literature) 

1989–1991 National Administration School 

(Graduate) 


2023 Financial Director General, Ministry of 

Foreign Affairs, Athens, Greece 

2019–2022 Ambassador of Greece to the 

P.R. of China and Mongolia 

2016–2019 Ambassador of Greece to Bosnia 

& Herzegovina 

2012–2016 Consul General of Greece in New 

York, USA 

2008–2011 Director, IT and Communications 

Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 

Athens, Greece 

2004–2008 Deputy Head of Mission, First 

Counsellor, Embassy of Greece, Copenhagen, 

Denmark 

2002–2004 Office of the Director General 

for Political Affairs, Ministry of Foreign 

Affairs, Athens, Greece 

1998–2002 Consul of Greece in Cape Town, 

South Africa 

1998 Head of the Mission establishing the 

Consulate General of Greece in Korçe, Albania 

1994–997 Deputy Head of Mission, First 

Secretary, Embassy of Greece, Helsinki, 

Finland 

Education 

1985-1991 Diploma of Advanced Studies in 

philology- Russian language in St Petersburg, 

Russia 

Baccalaureate A Language English, Russian, 

in Brazzaville, in the Republic of Congo 

1995–1997 Double Degree 

Degree in Foreign languages and civilization, 

in English, (in Paris) 

DEA in Foreign language and civilization, in 

Russian, (in Paris) 

2006–2007 Master of Arts in Diplomacy 


Since 2016 Presidency of the Republic of 

Congo - High Administration Advisor to the 

President of the Republic of Congo 

Head of the Department of social protection, 

Professional Organisation and Social dialogue 

2013–2016 Presidency of the Republic of 

Congo. High Administration Advisor to the 

President of the Republic of Congo 

Head of the Department of Congolese abroad 

1998–2013 Personal Assistant of the 

Ambassador at the Embassy of the Republic 

of Congo in Paris 

1994–1996 Private English and Russian 

tutoring in France, Private Russian - French 

Translation 

Education 

1989 General Certificate of Education 

1991 Diploma - Arabic Language and Islamic 

Studies from African Islamic University in 

Sudan 

1994 Bachelor of Education (Honours) - 

English language from University of Gezira in 

Sudan 

2000 Master of Arts in English Language 

Teaching from Gazi University in Turkey 


December 2022 to date Ambassador of the 

Republic of Malawi to Switzerland and 

Permanent Representative of the Republic of 

Malawi to the United Nations and other 

international organisations 

From April 7, 2022 served as a lecturer at 

Malawi University of Business and Applied 

Sciences (MUBAS) 

August 27, 2015 – April 6, 2022 served as 

Malawi’s Ambassador, Extraordinary and 

Plenipotentiary, to Egypt and other accredited 

countries 

July 1st, 2011 – August 31st, 2013 worked 

as Dean of the Faculty of Education and 

Media Studies at The Malawi Polytechnic – 

University of Malawi 

2004–2008 worked as the Head of the 

Language & Communication Department 

From 2001 to March 13, 2015 served as a 

Lecturer in the department of Language & 

Communication 

Education 

2004 Bachelor’s degree in Law from 

Yarmouk University in 2004 


March 23, 2016 – November 30, 2023 

Minister Plenipotentiary and Ambassador 

Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary May 2023, 

Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs 

August 16, 2015 – March 22, 2016 Political 

Expert, Office of the Assistant of the Minister 

for International, Cooperation at the Ministry 

of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar 

June 22, 2010 – June 1st, 2015 First 

Secretary and Consul at the Embassy of the 

State of Qatar in Sarajevo 

November 1st, 2005 – June 21, 2010 Legal 

researcher at the Legal Affairs Department of 

the Ministry 

10 Cercle Diplomatique 1/2024 

Cercle Diplomatique 1/2024 

11

LE BULLETIN REVIEW 

Official receptions 

Find more 

photos online 


December 2023 

Presentation of the winter issue of “Cercle Diplomatique“ at the 

ROSEWOOD Vienna 

Left: In place of US Ambassador 

Victoria Reggie Kennedy, who 

had to cancel at short notice, the 

hosts, Andrea Fürnweger (2nd 

left) and Alexander Bursky (left), 

were able to welcome Elizabeth 

Martin-Shukrun, Acting Deputy 

Chief of Mission at the Embassy, 

as guest of honour, next to H.E. 

Maximilian Hennig (right). 

Right: Cheerleaders and 

footballers of the Danube 

Dragons. 

PHOTOS: KURT PATZAK 

Above: TheYoung Masters Saxophon 

Quartett of the mdw talent lab 

delighted the guests with music. 


Cercle Diplomatique 1/2024 13


November 2023 

Oman 

The 53rd National Day was celebrated with a reception at the Grand Hotel Wien. 

Left: H.E. Yousuf Ahmed 

Aljabri (very right) also 

celebrated the 50th 

anniversary of the 

establishment of diplomatic 

relations with Austria. 

DEFINING CLASS 

Since 1886. 

Konzertsaal. Wellnessbereich. Spielzimmer. Seit 138 Jahren treiben wir die Evolution 

des Automobils voran. Und während die meisten Fahrzeuge Sie von A nach B bringen, 

bringt Sie ein Mercedes-Benz von A nach Luxus. 

PHOTOS: RENÉ BRUNHÖLZL 

November 2023 

United Arab Emirates 

On the occasion of the 52nd National Day, a reception was given at the Kursalon Hübner. 

Right: H.E. Hamad Alkaabi. 

PHOTOS: PHILIPP HUTTER


November 2023 

Romania 

The National Day was celebrated with a reception at the Börsensäle Wien. 

December 2023 

Finland 

The Independence Day was celebrated at the residence. 

Left: H.E. Emil Hurezeanu. 

Left: H.E. Nina Vaskunlahti (middle) with 

H.E. Vesa Häkkinen (right) and Defence 

Attaché, Military Advisor Captain (Navy) 

Jaakko Jäntti. 

Above: H.E. Stelian Stoian 

(middle) 

December 2023 

Thailand 

On the occasion of National Day a reception was given at Oberes Belvedere. 


PHOTOS: PHILIPP HUTTER 

Right: 

H.E. Vilawan 

Mangklatanakul. 

PHOTOS: EMBASSY OF THAILAND 

PHOTOS: PETER LECHNER/HBF 

January 2024 

New Year‘s reception of the Diplomatic Corps 

Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen invited to the traditional get-together at the Hofburg. 

Below: Federal President 

Alexander Van der Bellen (2nd 

left) with his spouse Doris 

Schmidauer (left) and Minister 

Alexander Schallenberg (right) 

with the Apostolic Nuncio, 

H.E. Archbishop Pedro López 

Quintana, the Doyen of the 

Diplomatic Corps in Austria. 

16 



17



India 

National Day was celebrated with a reception at the Hotel InterContinental Wien. 

February 2024 

Iran 

National Day was celebrated with a reception at the residence. 

Left: H.E. Jaideep 

Mazumdar (right) with 

Parvati Mazumdar (middle) 

and Nikolaus Marschik, 

Secretary General at the 

Foreign Ministry. 

Left: H.E. Abbas Bagherpour 

Ardekani (right). 



Türkiye and Austria 

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the friendship treaty between Türkiye and Austria a reception was given at the Embassy. 

Left: H.E. Ozan Ceyhun. 



OPENING 

Q2 2024 

WHERE NOBLE GRANDEUR MEETS UNCONVENTIONAL CHARM 


The Imperial Riding School, an Autograph Collection Hotel, evolved from a 19th century military 

equestrian school that has always been a defining part of Vienna‘s cultural landscape. 

Now, as a grand 342-bedroom hotel, it embodies all the fascinating quirks and contradictions of 

Vienna where every detail has a story to tell. 

Ungargasse 60 

1030 Vienna 

Tel. +43 1-711750 

marriott.com/vieir 

sales@ImperialRidingSchool-Vienna.com 


IMMOBILIEN auf 

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LE 

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HERE YOU WILL FIND A 

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WOHNTRÄUME neu gedacht 

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www.aventa.at

LE MONDE VIETNAM 

VIETNAM 

STRIVING FOR 

BALANCE 

Vietnam is currently experiencing a renaissance in politics, economics and tourism. 

With a population of 100 million, the country has increasingly attracted the international 

spotlight, especially as the West adopts a more critical stance towards China. 

Text: Bernhard Ecker 

As many aspects of the country, 

Ninh binh is still a hidden gem 

of Vietnam. The city is only two 

hours away from Hanoi. 

PHOTO: UNSPLASH.COM / CONSTANT LOUBIER 



23


Ho Chi Minh City, formerly 

known as Saigon, by day. 

THE TASTE OF VIETNAM 

PHOTOS: ADOBE STOCK 

Adjacent to the Vietnamese embassy’s meeting 

room in Vienna, there lies a secret sanctuary. 

It is permeated with the scent of incense, and 

at its heart, on a hardwood altar, sits a gilded bust of 

the nation’s founder, Ho Chi Minh, surrounded by an 

array of metal goblets, plates and vases. This space serves 

as a sanctuary for meditation, explains Ambassador 

Nguyen Trung Kien, highlighting the essential 

role of balancing opposing forces, the principle of Yin 

and Yang, in his culture. 

Yin and Yang are not just everyday guiding principles 

but also pivotal in determining Vietnam’s role 

on the global stage. The current geopolitical climate, 

filled with both opportunities and challenges, is akin 

to a coin with two sides, observes the diplomat. The 

West’s shifting perspective on China — notably the 

concept of de-risking — has ushered Vietnam into a 

new era. As economic supply chains are re-established 

and political alliances formed, the country finds 

itself at a crossroads. 

In essence, the response is balance. The ambassador 

draws a parallel to Austria’s post-World War II 

establishment of neutrality as a cornerstone of its 

foreign policy, noting that Vietnam’s approach, 

though named differently, shares this ethos. Since 

the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989, “we have endeavoured 

to befriend all nations of the world.” 

In recent years, the easternmost country on the 

Southeast Asian mainland has significantly increased 

its visibility, including in Europe and Austria. 

2023 marked a year of high-frequency diplomacy. In 

April, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, accompanied 

by a business delegation, visited Vietnam, 

meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh 

Chinh and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son. Three 

months later, President Võ Văn Thưởng made a trip 

to Austria. 

Viennese restaurateur Martin Ho, of Vietnamese 

descent, however, recalls that this flurry of visits already 

began under Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who 

welcomed then Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc 

in Vienna in 2018. “Since then, we have been trying 

to position Austrian companies in Vietnam — and 

vice versa,” says Ho, who was contacted by CD during 

a business trip in Ho Chi Minh City. The economic 

ties intensified in 2022 when a Styrian delegation, 

led by Economic Minister Barbara 

Eibinger-Miedl, visited the country. 

Vietnam is not just a treasure trove of new discoveries 

for tourists, such as the world’s largest cave 

The terraced rice fields in Mu Cang Chai 

change their colour from green 

to golden. 

Available at spiritlovers.at and Meinl am Graben. 

24 



25


The Sunflower Building at 

Lam Vien Square, Da Lat. 

FACTS 

Floating fishing 

village and rock island 

in Lan Ha Bay in the 

Southeast. 

VIETNAM 

Official name: Socialist 

Republic of Vietnam 

Form of government: 

Socialist republic 

Population: 100 million. 

54 ethnic groups are 

recognised by the 

Vietnamese government, 

whereof 85% are Kinh 

(Viet) 

Capital: Hanoi 

Area: 331,210 km 2 

Official language: 

Vietnamese. English is 

increasingly favoured as a 

second language. 

Currency: Vietnamese 

đông ` 

GDP per capita: 

4,160.00 USD (2022) 

Fishing and 

agriculture is big in 

Vietnam. 

owned by foreign investors, including Deutsche 

Bank. 

Vietnam’s approach to global relations, not just in 

economics, is marked by openness and, indeed, liberalism. 

“The country is very Western-oriented, both 

politically and economically,” says entrepreneur Ho. 

The trade agreement between the European Union 

and Vietnam, which came into effect in 2020, is “one 

of the EU’s most ambitious with an emerging country,” 

observes Dietmar Schwank, the Austrian business 

delegate to Ho Chi Minh City. The Austrian 

Economic Chambers office opened just before the 

agreement was signed in 2019. There’s a significant 

demand for water treatment and energy solutions. 

The development of the infrastructure sector presents 

vast opportunities, with recent contracts for 

power plants being awarded to Styrian company Andritz 

Hydro and Raiffeisenbank International. “Vietnam 

represents an opportunity for companies seeking 

a new direction,” he points out, referencing 

growing scepticism over future developments in the 

People’s Republic of China. He highlights strong 

Austrian positions in the wood, food and plastics 

processing sectors within this dynamic country of 

100 million people. 

The agricultural sector flourishes, positioning Vietnam 

as the world’s leading exporter of cashew nuts 

and a front-runner in coffee, pepper and seafood. Its 

long-established role as a manufacturer of textiles 

and electronic products for the global market has solidified 

a strong foothold. This success contributes to 

a substantial trade surplus: with a trade volume of 

1.6 billion euro, exports to Austria are six times the 

imports from Austria. 

However, entering the market is “complex”, according 

to Schwank. Without a local partner, the barriers 

in this relationship-driven system are extremely 

high, especially in the public sector. Nonetheless, in 

major cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, there is 

a rapidly growing young population with a strong 

Western orientation, which sometimes makes business 

life easier for newcomers. The country boasts a 

“motivated, very young population” with a median 

age of just 32 years. 

Still a country of 2-wheelers 

(pictured above: Hanoi traffic) and 

traditional food, Vietnam is modernising 

rapidly. 

Hanoi, a city full of lakes 

and colonial-era French 

architecture. 

system in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, first 

explored only 15 years ago and located about 450 kilometres 

south of Hanoi. The country has also seen a 

surprising surge in economic dynamism. It has 

emerged as a regional standout performer in from a 

macroeconomic perspective. Remarkably, not even 

during the Covid years did it experience a recession, 

with growth rates of eight percent in 2022 and about 

five percent in 2023. 

The vitality of the private sector is evident. Vinfast, 

an automotive company belonging to the private 

Vingroup, with substantial support from Austrian 

suppliers like AVL and Magna, has ambitiously ventured 

into Western markets with its vehicles. 

Let’s have a close look at it. Vingroup is owned by 

Vietnam’s wealthiest individual, Phạm Nhật Vượng. 

Its portfolio is diverse, encompassing properties, retail, 

hospitals and agricultural ventures. Launching a 

car brand from scratch in a nation predominantly 

known for its two-wheelers, first captivating the local 

market before making a splash internationally, can 

rightly be termed as audacious. Founded in 2017, 

this Vietnamese automaker sought expertise right 

from the start. A factory was rapidly constructed 

near Hai Phong city — quite literally out of a swamp. 

Vinfast has since committed to an all-electric vehicle 

strategy. In the USA, where it went public on the tech 

stock exchange in 2022, plans are underway for a second 

manufacturing facility. Whether Vinfast models 

can carve out a niche amid the global expansion 

of Chinese electric vehicle giants like BYD remains 

to be seen. In the first nine months of 2023, the company 

reported a revenue of $754 million but a loss of 

$1.2 billion, having delivered just 20,000 vehicles. 

The founder taking over as CEO at the start of the 

year signals that the journey hasn’t been smooth. 

However, the newly launched mini-SUV VF3 might 

just turn the tide. 

While the tangible success of this particular expansion 

is pending, the vibrancy extends across 

Vietnam’s economy. Despite being governed by the 

Communist Party of Vietnam, which enforces fiveyear 

plans and a substantial state sector characterised 

by a hierarchical bureaucracy, private enterprises are 

not only unimpeded but often specifically encouraged 

to contribute their innovation and financial 

strength towards industrial policy objectives. Deregulation 

and partial privatisation have been the guiding 

principles of economic policy in recent years. 

For instance, Vinamilk, the leading dairy company 

founded in 1976 and initially under the purview of 

the Ministry of Agriculture, is now predominantly 

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The traditional 

Vietnam hat 

made by a 

craftswoman. 

Ha Long Bay has nearly 

2,000 islets. 

Beeindruckend. 

Ihre einzigartigen Fotomomente 

festgehalten in einem CEWE FOTOBUCH. 

The Golden Bridge in Ba Na Hills Mountain Resort (left) and a Vietnamese temple, both in Da Nang. 

But how does this align with communist ideology? 

A common adage heard is: “Communism in Vietnam 

isn’t even a hundred years old. The way business 

is conducted there has been around for over a 

thousand.” 

Especially in times of shifting geopolitical trends, 

leveraging age-old strengths to forge new alliances is 

a proven strategy. Vietnam has recognised its newfound 

advantages that the West craves: not just a 

market of 100 million people, but also a workforce 

that is motivated and willing to learn. One of the 

most spectacular recent investments is the one-billion-dollar 

investment by Danish conglomerate Lego, 

which now manufactures its famous bricks in Binh 

Duong province. 

The focus has shifted significantly from the quest 

for cheap labour that characterised China a quartercentury 

ago. Vietnam places great hopes on deepening 

cooperation in skilled professions. There’s a notable 

scarcity of excellent managers in Vietnam, a 

gap being addressed through innovative educational 

collaborations. For instance, the IMC University of 

Applied Sciences Krems, in partnership with Thuongmai 

University (TMU), offers a bachelor’s programme 

in business administration in Hanoi. Conversely, 

Europe and Austria are experiencing a severe 

shortage of nursing staff, as highlighted by the years 

following the Covid crisis. To address this, Lower 

Austria has initiated an “International Nursing Center” 

aimed at bringing 150 nursing staff to Austria 

during its initial phase, who will first spend three semesters 

learning German in Vietnam. 

While discussions about a comprehensive labour 

agreement at the national level have been ongoing, 

there has not yet been a concrete outcome. With initial 

signs of easing in the job markets, policy responses 

have been cautious. The ambassador emphasises 

the importance of not letting bureaucracy dominate, 

advocating instead for greater involvement of private 

actors: “We don’t need more paperwork, but companies 

that take action.” According to restaurateur Ho, 

one of the fundamental traits required to succeed in 

the country is “extreme patience.” 

Spanning 1,600 kilometres, Vietnam offers a subtropical 

climate in the north and a tropical one in the 

south, along with a rich ethnic diversity, making it a 

fascinating crossroads between China and Southeast 

Asia. However, “it is definitely not a country for beginners,” 

says commercial delegate Schwank. Understanding 

the nuances and intricacies of the local culture 

is essential. Personal networks and 

recommendations play “an even larger role” than in 

other Asian countries, according to the Austrian Economic 

Chambers official. It’s not uncommon to find, 

alongside the offices of governmental decision-makers, 

private spaces adorned with fishponds, small waterfalls 

and even ancestral shrines, reflecting the personal 

side of the actors involved, much like the secret 

sanctuary next to the embassy’s reception room in 

Vienna. After all, Yin cannot exist without Yang. 

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The Ban Gioc waterfalls near 

the Chinese border (above), 

Hoi An, the so-called “Venice 

of Vietnam” (below). 

cewe-fotoservice.at 

28 

Cercle Diplomatique 1/2024


Vietnam in numbers 

In 2023 the country has exported an unprecedented 

of cashew nuts, earning 

3.6 billion dollars and positioning it as the world’s leading 

exporter of this commodity. 

40% 

644,000 tonnes 

Encountering someone from Vietnam, there‘s a chance 

their surname will be 

Nguyen, 

reflecting the 40 million Vietnamese with ancestral 

ties to the Nguyen dynasty, which reigned from 1802 

to 1945. 

The world’s most voluminous cave passage, discovered merely 35 years 

ago and explored for the first time only 15 years ago, is situated in the 

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, boasting a volume of 

38.5 million cubic metres. 

With over 

50 million 

registered motorcycles, Vietnam sees nearly one in every 

two citizens riding a motorbike, highlighting the country’s 

reliance on two-wheeled transport. 

54 ethnic groups 

The Vietnamese government recognises 

within its borders, with the Kinh or Viet group accounting for 85% of the 

population, making it the largest. The smallest recognised group is 

the O Du, with a community of just over 400 members. 

PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK 

Since the year 2000, Vietnam has enjoyed the highest average GDP 

growth rate in Southeast Asia, at 

6.2%. 

Asian woman wearing 

Vietnam culture traditional 

in Hoi An. 

30 



31

LE MONDE XYX VIETNAM | INTERVIEW 

H.E.Trung Kien Nguyen 

“We are trying to make friends with all countries 

in the world.” 

Vietnam’s Ambassador Extraordinary on economic cooperation, 

the new role of his country in times of “decoupling China” – and 

the difference between Austria and Germany. 

Interview: Bernhard Ecker 

Photos: Philipp Hutter 

CD: 2023 has been a remarkable year in 

Austro-Vietnamese relations, from Austrian 

Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg visiting 

Vietnam to a visit of your State President Vo Van 

Thuong in Austria. What are the effects of this 

high frequency diplomacy so far? 

Trung Kien Nguyen: In 2023, we witnessed 

several milestones visits from both 

sides of our two countries. This reflects a 

trend. It started over 150 years ago, when the 

Austro-Hungarian Emperor sent the first 

Honorary Consul to Saigon. In 1972, even 

before the Paris Peace Accord, Austria recognised 

Vietnam. It was one of the first European 

countries to do so. To celebrate the 

50th anniversary of this occasion, our Foreign 

Minister came to Austria in 2022. And 

came again in 2023. It was our State 

President’s first visit to Europe. It is too early 

now to say if this particular visit had any impact 

on real life. 

In a fast changing world, also the view of the 

West on Asia, especially China, is changing. The 

USA and the EU speak about “decoupling” or 

“derisking” from China. Does this bring new 

opportunities for Vietnam? 

We live with the philosophy of Yin and 

Yang. A coin has two sides. Opportunities 

always go along with risks. We have always 

seen competition of superpowers, and we 

always have been in the middle. That is why 

we admire what Austria achieved after the 

Second World War: the stance of neutrality. 

We rephrase “neutrality” in our country as 

“balance”. We share the same inspiration. 

We try to live in peace with all the conflicting 

forces. In his recent reception, Austria’s 

Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen 

promoted the “sense of togetherness”. 

This is what countries like Austria and Vietnam 

need most – in dealing with climate 

change, energy crises and in shortage of 

many other things. 

H.E. TRUNG KIEN NGUYEN 

serves as Ambassador Extraordinary and 

Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam 

and is Resident Representative Designate to the 

International Atomic Energy Agency. Before having 

been assigned to Austria in 2021, he was Director 

General for the Department of the Middle East and 

Africa in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. One of the 

early stations of his career was the Ministry of 

Commerce, being reponsible for the oil and gas 

trading company Petec. 

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What does this mean for Vietnam’s role in Asia? 

We live in a region with lots of conflicts. 

We are always trying to find balance. We 

stick to international law, so that also the 

weakest can survive. In a major conflict it is 

natural that you hedge your economic relations. 

Vietnam is recognising the current 

situation as opportunity, but also as risk. 

Not all companies are going out of China 

because of politics. Some are going out because 

Chinese economy is developed to the 

extent. 

On the one hand we have Austria, a liberal 

democracy of the West, on the other hand 

Vietnam, a Socialist Republic led by the 

Communist Party. What brings the two countries 

together? 

After the collapse of the Iron Curtain in 

1989, Vietnam was forced to open up its 

economy. We tried to make friends with all 

countries in the world. Until today we have 

a friendly partnership with all the members 

of the UN Security Council. On the 

other hand, countries in Europe discovered 

that they need to orientate themselves 

more to the East. Among the ten South- 

East-Asian countries, Vietnam now has the 

strongest ties with Austria. Covid-19 and 

the Russia-Ukraine war speeded up this 

development. Austria has recognised that it 

needs to diversify its exports. In 2022, a regional 

minister of Styria visited Vietnam 

with a delegation. Since October of last 

year, we have a Honorary Consul in Graz, 

with the consular areas Styria and Carinthia. 

So, is the cooperation mainly on the field of 

automotive business, where Styria is particularly 

strong, and Vietnam has new entrants into the 

market like Vinfast? 

Automotive is just one example how we 

can supplement each other. The oldest ties 

to Austria are related to tourism, with the 

cable cars of Doppelmayr running in major 

touristic regions of Vietnam. Vietnam 

needs tourism – so this is a perfect fit. A 

second field of cooperation is medical 

equipment. A third one are the firefighting 

vehicles of Rosenbauer, whereof approximately 

over 200 units have been sold to Vietnam 

already. 

What about energy? 

Austria has brilliant companies in this 

sector, especially in hydropower. What we 

see in all Asian countries is that new power 

plants are built, but nobody cares for the 

surrounding region. The sacrifice is sometimes 

higher than what we earn. Austria is 

doing far better, we can do a lot of exchange 

in this area. 

What is the conclusion? 

Austria is very good in innovation, but 

even better in transforming innovation 

into production. This is what Vietnam 

needs most, because we have a lot of ideas, 

but we have difficulties to bridge the way 

from idea to production. But Austria also 

needs things that Vietnam has and Austria 

has not: We have a big market of 100 million 

people, and we have a big, young and 

dynamic labour force. 

Styrian-headquartered microelectronic company 

AT&S chose for its new, recently opened plant 

Malaysia and not Vietnam. Why? 

Because they need a strong R&D workforce. 

We cannot provide that yet. We recognise 

the role of science and technology. 

But the state alone cannot promote it sufficiently. 

We produce a lot of bureaucratic 

scientific structures. Therefore, we need 

public-private-partnerships. Private companies 

always care for the benefit and the 

money. They make it happen. 

Speaking of work force, there were political talks 

about bringing Vietnamese skilled workers, also 

nurses, to Austria, where there is a huge shortage 

in many sectors. When will this going to happen? 

The mechanism of cooperation is still 

discussed, there is not an agreement yet. In 

the nursing sector there are several obstacles, 

for example language and the harmonisation 

of vocational training. But as soon 

this is accomplished, this is a big chance for 

skilled workers to come not only to Austria, 

but also to other German speaking 

countries. Now it is a bit like the chickenegg-problem: 

Everybody is waiting who is 

going to take the next step. Again, this 

should be a matter of business: We do not 

need more paper, but companies who make 

it happen. I am in favour of pivotal projects 

assisted by the government. 

On a macroeconomic level, most of the Western 

countries see weak growth. Can they rely on the 

dynamics of Vietnam of the past years to be 

continued? 

We do not have official figures yet for 

2023. The government projected growth by 

5 to 6 percent. In the actual atmosphere 

this is still very high, but the quality of 

growth between you and us is completely 

different. We need more than that to cope 

with inflation and the growth of our population. 

We also have big problems when it 

comes to energy. Coal is phasing out, we 

are struggling with oil and gas. Solar and 

wind are developing fast, but the grid is not 

fast enough. The biggest shortage though is 

good management. We are a country that 

regularly has had tropical storms, tsunamis 

and wars. The long-term planning therefore 

is not good. You have a very good way of 

tradition, philosophy and thinking about 

doing things in the long run. These are the 

two sides of Yin and Yang where we could 

cooperate. 

Which Vietnamese products and services are we 

to expect in Europe – apart from Vinfast cars? 

A lot. The trade volumes between our 

two coutries are two to three billion Euros 

per year. This is huge. We have an export 

surplus, this is because a lot of our exports 

to Austria are re-exportated, for example 

smartphones. This is because Austria is a 

big trading nation. After electronics the second 

big part of exports is agro products. 

This is important for us, because if we manage 

to meet the Austrian consumers’ taste, 

we can export our products anywhere. So, 

Austria is a good test market for us. We 

learn a lot from you when it comes to 

Ambassador Trung Kien 

Nguyen (right) with 

CD‘s author Bernhard 

Ecker, outside in the 

garden. 



33

LE MONDE VIETNAM | INTERVIEW 

quality standards. Of course, there are no 

shrimps, crabs or fish industries in Austria, 

but we need technology to process it. 

But Austria as a market will be limited due to its 

size? 

We have very strong relations to Germany, 

where approximately 300,000 Vietnamese 

live. If Vietnam promotes relations 

to Europe in the next years strongly, it 

might also focus on the German speaking 

countries as a whole: Germany, Austria and 

Switzerland. The same language, similarities 

in the legal system – that makes it easier. 

The number of Vietnamese learning 

German as a second foreign language – 

English is on first position – is increasing. 

German has recently overtaken French and 

even Chinese. 

You came here in 2021. What is the most common 

misunderstanding between Austrian and 

Vietnamese people? 

Many people in Vietnam believe that 

Austria is like Germany. This is completely 

wrong and to some extent even insulting – 

as if you ask Vietnamese people if they 

were speaking Chinese. Second: Most Vietnamese 

think about Austria as a country of 

music. That is correct, but few people know 

there are so many other excellent things 

here. You can find world class technology 

in small Austrian villages. 

What makes Austrians different from the 

Germans? 

Just an educated guess: When a German 

friend believes he is right, he sticks to it. 

There is no room for discussion. With an 

Austrian friend I have differences, but there 

is more open reasoning about what is 

right or wrong. The wise man can change. 

Since you came here, what striked you most? 

I walked along the Danube river, I climbed 

up the Kahlenberg, I went to a Vienna 

Heurigen and a Vienna Kaffeehaus. I ate a 

Schnitzel – these things you can do elsewhere 

in a comparable way, too. But the 

difference is: You bring it all together in 

harmony of Austrian style. 

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34 

Cercle Diplomatique 1/2024

LE MONDE MALTA 

Small island state with a big challenge 

In 2024, the smallest state in the EU will not only chair the OSCE but will also be represented 

in the UN Security Council. Malta offers much more than history and tourism. 

Text: Otmar Lahodynsky 

Island Comino: Blue Lagoon with stand-up paddler. 

FACTS & 

FIGURES 

Malta 

Official name: 

Repubblika ta’ Malta, Republic of 

Malta 

Form of government: 

Parliamentary republic 

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With a population of around 540,000, Malta 

may be a small island state in the EU, but 

this year it gained international significance: 

Malta took over the chairmanship of the Vienna-based 

OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation 

in Europe) and is also represented in the 

UN Security Council. 

The role at the chair of the OSCE with its 57 

member states is a particularly sensitive one. It would 

actually have been Estonia’s turn, but Russia blocked 

the Baltic country. A blockade of the OSCE, which 

has not had a regular budget for two years and whose 

most important leadership positions are waiting for 

successors, was imminent. In this emergency situation, 

the neutral country of Malta stepped in at the 

request of the North Macedonian OSCE Chairmanship 

and took over the leadership of the OSCE on 

January 1st. 

During his inaugural visit to Vienna, Malta’s Foreign 

Minister Ian Borg assured that Russia’s war 

against Ukraine would remain one of the OSCE’s top 

priorities. Before Russia’s attack on 24 February 

2022, the organisation had played a leading role in 

dealing with the fighting in Eastern Ukraine, which 

had been ongoing since 2014, as part of the “Minsk 

Process”. It could now once again serve as a platform 

for peace talks, as the OSCE is the only important 

international organisation, other than the UN, to 

which both states at war with each other belong. 

Malta has experience in the reignited East-West 

conflict. In 1989, then US President George Bush senior, 

met with the Soviet head of state Mikhail Gorbachev 

on the island and ended the decades-long 

Cold War. 

Malta has a neutral military status and is the only 

country in the EU besides Ireland and Austria that is 

not a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 

(NATO). 

The archipelago is strategically important and is 

located around 90 kilometers south of Sicily and 290 

km north of the African coast. For this reason, it has 

Population: 542,000 

Capital: Valletta 

Area: 313 km 2 

Languages: Maltese, English 

Ethnic groups: 

Maltese 95.3%, British 1.6% 

Other: 3.1% 

Currency: Euro 

GDP per capita: 34,100 USD 

Aerial view of Saint Julien 

and Spinola Bay at dawn. 

Above: Valletta, Europe’s 

southernmost capital. 

Left: Fort St. Elmo, Valletta. 



37


Island Gozo with salt pans. 

Diving for historical site. 

Valletta: Piazza 

Regina is one of 

Malta‘s most 

attractive and vibrant 

squares. 

Gastronomic delights 

Malta attracts tourists all year round, and by no means 

only with more than 3,000 hours of sunshine per year. The 

archipelago offers a mix of beautiful landscapes, historical 

sites and beaches as attractions. The Maltese are proud of 

their diverse and booming gastronomic scene: “A sea 

brimming with delicious seafood, and recipes dating back 

centuries, food and drink are the very essence of Maltese 

Culture. Hence, it‘s hardly surprising that the Islands have 

some of the most spectacular cuisine in the world“ is the 

promising message in a tourist advertising. Mediterranean 

cuisine is mixed here with oriental and North African 

influences: “Maltese cuisine is heavily influenced by Italy, 

particularly Sicily, but with a dash of Arab/North Africa and 

a hefty pinch of Malta‘s own. Starters tend to be soups, 

pasta, risotto, antipasti or dips with bread or biscuits, while 

mains include pasta and potato baked at home, but eating 

out is generally meat or fish,“ says the official advert, 

whetting the appetite. 

Corinna Ziegler from the Malta Tourist Board in Vienna 

proudly points out the many award-winning restaurants on 

the islands with illustrious names such as “Caviar&Bull“, 

“Root81“, “The Harbour Club“ and “ION Harbour“. „The best 

thing about it is that you can dine relatively cheaply in these 

top restaurants. You spend less money there than in a better 

restaurant in Vienna“, she says. 

There are guided themed tours to local producers, 

winegrowers and trendy 

eateries. Workshops for 

local chocolate creations, 

cheese, honey, pastries and 

other sweets also invite 

visitors. 

Restaurant Medina (above). 

Plate at Restaurant ION 

Harbour. 

Valletta, ancient center. 

repeatedly come under changing rule. The distinctive 

Maltese cross emblazoned on the national flag, 

symbolizes the tradition of the Sovereign Knights’ 

order. The Arabic influence is also evident in the national 

language, Maltese, which is spoken alongside 

the second official language, English: It is the only 

Semitic official language of the EU that is written 

with Latin letters and contains many expressions 

from Arabic. 

The main island with its capital Valletta is home 

to a dense concentration of historical monuments: 

There are prehistoric remains older than Stonehenge, 

an underground cave complex and plenty of medieval 

fortresses. 

Time and again, invaders took turns: Carthaginians, 

Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans and Arabs. The 

Maltese cross with the eight white points on a red 

background is the symbol of the Order of St John, 

whose members were expelled from Rhodes in 1525 

and settled on Malta by Emperor Charles V. With the 

Pope’s permission, the knights moved into Malta in 

1530. The Order determined the history of the island 

for the following 268 years, until Napoleon Bonaparte 

took over rule of the island in 1798. 

However, following an uprising by the local population 

against the French occupiers, the British 

arrived and hoisted the Union Jack over Valletta for 

the first time in 1800. Malta became a British crown 

colony in 1814 and later a main base for the British 


Royal Navy. The administration in London proved 

more skillful in dealing with the islanders, who were 

given votes in the governing council and - more importantly 

- jobs in the shipyards. They also benefited 

from the economic upturn as a trading centre, which 

was to become even more important with the opening 

of the Suez Canal in 1869. 

Later, there were numerous conflicts between 

pro-British and pro-Italian political groups, with the 

Catholic Church intervening time and again. During 

the First and Second World Wars, the archipelago 

was a base for the British army and the target of German 

and Italian bombing raids. Winston Churchill 

called Malta an “unsinkable aircraft carrier”. In 1950, 

Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen of Great Britain, 

visited the island where her future husband, 

Prince Philip, was stationed as officer. She was to describe 

this time as “the happiest in my life”. Even her 

last visit abroad before her death in 2022 took her to 

Malta for a meeting of the heads of state of the British 

Commonwealth. 

The archipelago became independent in 1964 but 

Explore 

more history 

continued to receive financial aid from London for 

the naval base as part of the “Commonwealth of Nations”. 

Malta developed a system of two dominant 

parties, the social democratic Partit Laburista (PL) 

and the Christian-conservative Partit Nazzjonalista 

(PN), which alternated in government. In the 1970s, 

long-term Prime Minister Dom Mintoff turned away 

from NATO and opend the country towards the Soviet 

Union and China. He even allowed the Soviet 

navy to use Maltese harbours. After Mintoff ’s resignation 

in 1984, neutrality and non-alignment were 

enshrined in the constitution of Malta. 

At the second attempt, Malta applied for EU 

membership again in 1998 and in 2004 became the 

smallest state to be admitted to the EU. Maltese was 

introduced as a new official language for the bilingual 

island. Soon afterwards, Malta also fulfilled the 

criteria for participation in the single currency. In 

2008, Malta introduced its own euro coins, which are 

rarely found outside the archipelago due to their rarity 

as collector’s items. 

Unfortunately, the popular hunting of often rare 

Valletta 

>> 



Apartments · Houses · Villas 

Live 

Houses in Valletta, 

Triton-fountain (built 

1955-59). 

“Azure Window” on Gozo: The famous rock-arc (right) collapsed in March 2017- situation now (left). 

Mdina: museum in a cathedral. 

Traditional cannoli sweets at 

Marsaxxlok-market. 

bird species, including migratory birds that fly from 

Africa to Europe and use the island as a resting place, 

is a nuisance. An exemption requested by Malta was 

brusquely rejected by Günter Verheugen, then EU 

Commissioner responsible for enlargement, as “this 

would decimate our migratory bird species”. Despite 

all protests, the Maltese government continued to issue 

derogations for the shooting of thousands of 

endangered migratory birds after EU accession, 

which led to criminal proceedings. 

Investigations by a courageous investigative journalist, 

the Maltese Daphne Caruana Galicia, who 

uncovered cases of corruption in the political and 

economic arena on the basis of the “Panama Papers”, 

led to her murder by a car bomb in 2017. The trial 

against the alleged mastermind, businessman Yorgen 

Fenech, who is in jail, was repeatedly delayed and 

only resumed at the start of February 2024. In memory 

of the murdered journalist, the European Parliament 

has awarded since 2021 an annual journalism 

prize to promote fundamental European values. 

The scandal did not dampen Malta’s rise as a tourist 

destination: scenes shot here for well-known feature 

films such as “Gladiator”, “The Count of Monte 

Cristo”, “Troy” and also “Games of Thrones” and “Jurassic 

Park 4” contributed to this. 

The Maltese are proud of their cuisine, which is 

Mediterranean in flavour but has many oriental and 

North African influences. There are now six restaurants 

in Malta that have been awarded a Michelin 

star. But even the non-award-winning restaurants 

offer specialities from the kitchen and cellar at a high 

level and at reasonable prices. 

Language studying holidays and congresses attract 

visitors to the archipelago all year round. Tourism 

accounts for a quarter of Malta’s economic output. 

After the decline of the textile industry, the 

island’s economy shifted entirely to services. With 

one important exception: a German toy company 

continues to produce the popular “Playmobil” figures, 

from cowboys to construction workers, in a Maltese 

factory. The Hal Far site even has its own Playmobil 

FunPark. 

Many gaming and betting providers have set up 

shop here, particularly in the online sector, including 

companies from Austria. There are also numerous 

cultural contacts with Austria: in February 2024, for 

example, a commissioned composition - a children’s 

opera - by Maltese composer Ruben Zahra was presented 

for the European Capital of Culture Bad Ischl. 

From March to May, the new international cultural 

festival “Maltabiennale” will take place for the 

first time, in which artists from Austria will also participate. 

But the Maltese also left many traces in Austria: 

The “Sovereign Order of Knights and Hospitallers of 

St John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and Malta” - so its 

official name - looks back on a 900-years history. After 

withdrawing from the Holy Land and conquering 

the island of Rhodes in 1310, they called themselves 

Knights of Rhodes. In 1530, Emperor Charles V ceded 

the island of Malta to the order. From then on, 

the members of the order called themselves the 

Knights of Malta, which is still the common name 

for the religious order that is primarily concerned 

with caring for the poor and sick. 

In Vienna, the Maltese Church in Kärntnerstrasse 

has been the local spiritual base since the 15th century. 

The winery of the Order of Malta is located in the 

Weinviertel municipality of Mailberg. The parish 

priest of Vienna’s Votive Church is a Maltese citizen: 

Dr Joseph Farrugia. 

Only one popular dog breed, the small, white 

Maltese, does not originate from the archipelago. 

The word Maltese probably comes from the Semitic 

word “màlat”, which means “harbour” or “refuge”. 

The ancestors of the little dog were therefore at home 

in the harbours of the Mediterranean, especially in 

North Africa. And another legend: “The Maltese Falcon” 

is not a rare species of falcon, but the title of a 

crime novel by US author Dashiell Hammett from 

1930. 


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LE MONDE XYX MALTA | INTERVIEW 

H.E. Natasha Meli Daudey 

“The OSCE is not only still alive.” 

The Ambassador of Malta to Austria, the OSCE and UN in 

Vienna, on her priorities in the chair of OSCE this year, from 

the war in Ukraine till climate change and media freedom. 

Interview: Otmar Lahodynsky Photos: Wolfgang Wolak 

CD: Malta took over the presidency of OSCE as 

Russia opposed Estonia. Are you afraid Russia 

might try to manipulate your chairmanship? 

Natasha Meli Daudey: Malta supported 

Estonia in its bid for the OSCE Chair till the 

very end. But ultimately, we wanted to save 

the organisation and so we stepped in after 

we were formally asked by the North Macedonian 

Chair. I am not in a position to comment 

on the intent and objectives of other 

participating states. I can tell you however 

that Malta’s Chairpersonship of the OSCE is 

and will continue to be based on a strong 

commitment to dialogue, cooperation and 

mutually agreed principles. 

Maltese Foreign Minister Ian Borg stated in Vienna, 

that Malta will not let the OSCE die. But it 

resembles a patient in intensive care. How will you 

revive this organisation with a blocked budget and 

leading positions still waiting for successors? 

Our focus will center on sustaining a functional 

and effective organisation. The OSCE is 

not only still alive, but it also continues to do 

a lot of good work on the ground for the people 

across the region. The comprehensive approach 

to security of the OSCE ensures that 

security is not viewed solely through a military 

lens. This holistic approach consists of the 

political-military dimension, the economic 

and environmental dimension and the human 

dimension which also encapsulates democracy, 

freedom of expression and the media 

as well as human rights, to name a few. 

Suffice to note that there are 12 field operations 

across the OSCE region. As we navigate 

through a pivotal election year, we should 

also keep in view the valuable work carried 

out by ODIHR (Office for Democratic Institutions 

and Human Rights). Among other 

things, ODIHR monitors elections in all participating 

states. This is the bedrock of democracy 

– free and fair elections. 

In March there will be presidential elections in 

Russia - can they be called fair and free? 

Unfortunately, Russia has decided not 

to allow ODIHR to monitor its Presidential 

Election. Only independent monitors can 

identify if elections are free and fair. 

Malta’s FM, Ian Borg, said that Russia’s war against 

Ukraine remains a top priority of OSCE. Do you see 

any chance for negotiations or a truce? 

Our position is very clear: Russia must 

withdraw from the entire territory of Ukraine 

and must end this war. The Maltese 

chairpersonship is committed to keeping 

Russia’s illegal war of aggression against 

Ukraine at the top of the OSCE agenda. We 

will continue promoting dialogue and be 

ready to act if an opportunity arises. Malta 

has a long history of promoting dialogue 

and bringing parties together around the 

table. And there is hope: The Cold War famously 

ended in Malta when Bush and 

Gorbachev met there in 1989. Of course, 

this happened during a period of détente. 

OSCE also deals with climate change. 

Yes, this is a very important aspect of our 

priorities. Climate and security is a theme 

that we are also actively addressing as elected 

members of the UN Security Council. Beyond 

climate, our Chairpersonship of the 

OSCE will also focus on digitalisation, cyberthreats 

but also on sustainable economies. 

We also aim to work on media-literacy 

and the fight against disinformation. Our 

motto for our Chairpersonship is “Strengthening 

Resilience” of the organisation but also 

of our people who should get more tools to 

be secure and have a better future. 

What will you do for strengthening media freedom? 

Unfortunately, freedom of the media is 

now more than ever under threat everywhere. 

The Maltese Chairpersonship will 

deal especially with safety of female journalists 

online and offline. Malta experienced a 

very dark moment with the killing of a female 

journalist. Taking this into consideration, 

we saw it as an important opportunity 

to put safety of journalists, especially female 

journalists, as a priority during our 

Chairpersonship of the OSCE and make 

use of the unique experience and the expertise 

the OSCE has to offer on this issue. 

The Maltese investigative reporter Daphne 

Caruana Galicia was killed by a car bomb in 2017. 

Will the real culprit be sentenced? 

The three hitmen are already sentenced. 

The alleged mastermind, a businessman 

and the two individuals who allegedly fabricated 

the explosive device are all in prison 

in preventive custody and are expected 

to stand trial by jury in the coming months. 

This year, Malta is also a non-permanent member 

of the UN-Security-Council. Do you have plans to 

use synergy between both organisations? 

Yes, definitely. Our parallel OSCE and 

UNSC leadership provides us with a unique 

opportunity to identify synergies between 

these multilateral institutions dedicated to 

promoting peace and security. It is pertinent 

to note that it was following Malta’s 

initiative that the OSCE became a UN 

Chapter 8 Organisation. Furthermore, this 

year we celebrate 30 years of relations between 

the OSCE and the UN. Our Chairpersonship 

will build on the work that is 

being carried out at the Security Council, 

most notably on matters pertaining to climate, 

the women, peace and security agenda 

as well as media literacy. 

Malta is affected by the wave of migrants coming 

from Africa. Are you happy with the new 

H.E. Natasha Meli Daudey 

with Cercle Diplomatique‘s 

author Otmar Lahodynsky. 

EU-approach on asylum-policy which will 

introduce more legal procedures on the outer 

borders of the EU? 

At the EU, Malta argues in favour of 

striking the right balance between solidarity 

and fair sharing of responsibility. However, 

both of these elements are currently 

missing in the new Pact on Asylum and 

Migration of the EU. Malta remains in favour 

of mutually beneficial partnerships 

with third countries along the migration 

routes. Additionally, Malta also remains 

committed to addressing the root causes of 

migration with sustainable and long-term 

solutions while also supporting safe, orderly 

and regular migration. 

Malta is very famous as a tourist attraction. Are 

you afraid of “over-tourism”? 

Malta’s tourism-strategy places an emphasis 

on sustainable tourism development. 

One of Malta’s great charms is the all-yearround-tourism 

which really showcases the 

island’s enduring appeal, no matter the 

season. Our attractions extend beyond just 

sunshine and beaches, as we are also rich in 

culture and history. Additionally, a wide 

range of motivational interests implies that 

tourism numbers are not concentrated on 

single activities but take place in different 

localities and for different reasons. 

You have been Ambassador to Austria since 2018. 

Where do you see the main topics in cooperation? 

You also share a neutral status. 

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, 

the relationship between Malta and 

Austria has continued to grow and flourish. 

As two neutral countries, we have always 

forged a strong friendship. I augur that such 

positive relations are maintained and enhanced 

for the mutual benefit of our countries. 

H.E. NATASHA MELI DAUDEY 

serves as Ambassador of Malta to Austria, 

Permanent Representative to the OSCE and the UN 

in Vienna since 2018. Before, she was Ambassador 

to Poland, Deputy Permanent Representative to the 

UN in New York and Deputy Head of Mission of Malta 

to France. 

42 Cercle Diplomatique 1/2024 Cercle Diplomatique 1/2024 

43

About UNOPS Austria Multi-Country Office (AUMCO) 

ENTGELTLICHE EINSCHALTUNG 

A Call for Partnership in Achieving the 2030 Agenda 

by JORGE MOREIRA DA SILVA 

Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) 

At the halfway point of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable 

Development, the need for effective collective 

action is more urgent than ever. 

Progress against the Sustainable Development Goals 

(SDGs) has been slow, and spiraling crises - from climate 

change and conflicts, to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, 

are adding unprecedented urgency to needs. 

Our world needs a fundamental shift to rescue the 

SDGs, advance on climate action and deliver peace and 

security. To do these, we need steadfast dedication, robust 

financing, and collaborative action. 

There are clear policy and funding gaps that hamper 

progress towards the SDGs. But crucially too - there is a 

significant implementation gap. We need to work better 

together to bolster the ability to translate national and 

international development aspirations into meaningful 

actions on the ground that improve the lives of communities, 

while protecting our planet. 

UNOPS - the UN organization that I lead - has a focus 

on implementation capacity. We implement development, 

peace and security, and humanitarian projects on 

behalf of our partners, and we have particular expertise 

in infrastructure, procurement and project management 

services. For decades, we have worked hard with our 

partners to bridge the implementation gap, deliver sustainable 

development and respond to needs across varied 

contexts, from fragile and conflict-affected environments 

to middle-income countries. 

Everything we do, we do in partnerships. And we work 

with a variety of partners, from the UN family to governments, 

non-governmental organizations, academia and 

the private sector 

Infrastructure is the backbone of a functioning society. 

It is responsible for 79 per cent of all greenhouse gas 

emissions and 88 per cent of all adaptation costs. Infrastructure 

underpins the SDGs, influencing up to 92 per 

cent of targets across all 17 goals. In order to achieve 

the objectives of the Paris Agreement and Sustainable 

Development Goals, we need a profound change to how 

infrastructure is planned, delivered and managed. The 

infrastructure decisions of today heavily impact our common 

future, and UNOPS is dedicated to planning, designing, 

and constructing sustainable, inclusive, and resilient 

infrastructure. 

Procurment is simply a reality of nearly every sustainable 

development activity. Without the efficient and sustainable 

purchasing of goods and services, addressing the 

world’s problems would be impossible. Public procurement 

can also play a powerful role in the achievement of 

the SDGs. It has the potential to create jobs, drive equality 

and reduce carbon emissions. At UNOPS, we work with 

our partners to drive transparent, sustainable and resilient 

procurement practices that lay the foundations for a 

better future. 

In the face of growing needs and multiplying crises, we 

believe that how we deliver projects really matters. Better 

projects can improve the lives of people in need, and 

ensure a more efficient, strategic and sustainable use of 

resources. We manage projects, programmes and funds 

of every size, but we also work closely with developing 

countries to manage their own initiatives. We host highprofile 

initiatives and funds focusing on health, nutrition, 

water and sanitation, sustainable cities, environment and 

trade. And we offer tailored human resource solutions to 

support the work of our UN partners. 

Throughout all of this work - delivering on the SDGs remains 

our guiding star. The impact we create for communities 

around the world is possible because of our robust 

partnerships and the trust of our partners. And we are 

committed to doing more - together with our partners - 

to support national development agendas and accelerate 

progress towards the 2030 Agenda. 

In Austria, Central Asia, Western Balkans, South Caucasus, 

and Turkiye, UNOPS’ work together with our partners 

is rooted in our joint and deep commitment to the SDGs. 

Together, we have achieved concrete positive results. 

Moving ahead, the UNOPS Austria Multi-Country Office 

looks forward to establishing new partnerships in Vienna 

and beyond, recognizing the importance of collective action 

in addressing global challenges and supporting national 

priorities for a more sustainable and inclusive future. 

PHOTOS: UNOPS 

UNOPS Austria Multi-Country Office (AUMCO) managing 

operations in 12 countries 

Established in 2019, the UNOPS Austria Multi-Country 

Office (AUMCO) plays an important role in overseeing and 

supporting the effective delivery of UNOPS‘ mandate in 

12 countries across Austria, Central Asia, Western Balkans, 

South Caucasus, and Turkiye. 

AUMCO, with its Vienna-based team, acts as a management 

center to efficiently deliver the UNOPS mandate across 

the region. AUMCO supports the implementation of 

complex projects, providing tailored advisory services to 

enhance health-care infrastructure and services, preservation 

of cultural heritage, elevating education reform, 

assisting EU candidate member countries in national reform 

processes towards EU acquis alignment. The Austria 

Multi-Country Office also hosts the UNOPS Water, Environment 

and Climate portfolio, which supports partners 

around the globe. 

Healthcare partnership with the Government of 

Uzbekistan 

Teaming up with the Sanitary and Epidemiological 

Welfare and Public Health Service, UNOPS is upgrading 

more than 30 laboratory and treatment facilities across 

Uzbekistan, under a programme supported by the Asian 

Development Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment 

Bank. Additionally, UNOPS is collaborating with the Ministry 

of Public Health in Uzbekistan to enhance nationwide 

oncological healthcare services. The project, funded by 

the Ministry of Health through the Islamic Development 

Bank, focuses on acquiring essential medical, laboratory, 

radiological, and ICT systems to improve prevention, 

treatment, and management of oncological cases. 

COVID-19 Assistance Across Central Asia: Tajikistan, 

Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan 

During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, UNOPS joined 

forces with the Government to deliver emergency aid 

to Tajikistan through a World Bank-funded project. This assistance 

included delivering essential medical equipment 

and protective gear to 10 hospitals, aiming to improve the 

country‘s preparedness for managing COVID-19 cases. 

With the support of the Korean International Cooperation 

Agency, UNOPS procured and installed life-saving 

equipment and supplies in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. With 

financial support from the Government of Japan, UNOPS 

also partnered with Turkmenistan‘s Ministry of Health and 

Medical Industry in delivering and installing critical and 

complex medical equipment, along with training healthcare 

professionals. 

Regional Partnership for EU Integration: Strengthening 

Governance and Sustainable Development 

Implemented by UNOPS Austria Multi-Country Office, 

this joint Norway/UNOPS Programme supports government 

institutions in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 

Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. The 

project assists in EU integration and national reform processes 

towards EU acquis alignment by providing cutting 

edge expertise to partner institutions. The program focuses 

on strengthening institutional, administrative and 

legislative frameworks through tailored advisory services 

both at country and regional levels. Emphasizing Cluster 

4 (Green Agenda, Sustainable Connectivity) and Cluster 

5 (Agriculture, Regional and Cohesion Policy), the thematic 

focus aligns with the SDG framework and national 

development plans. Keep-up with the latest progress on: 

knowledge4reformaction.org 

Preserving Cultural Heritage in Albania 

In partnership with the Ministry of Economy, Culture, and 

support of the European Union, UNOPS is restoring earthquake-damaged 

cultural heritage sites across the country. 

The initiative also provides support to local communities 

through grants to boost socio-economic development, 

but also elevates Albania’s tourism potential. This holistic 

approach directly contributes to local and regional socioeconomic 

recovery, making a significant stride towards 

the revitalization of both cultural heritage and economic 

opportunities. Learn more here: eu4culture.al 

Strengthening Access to Education in Kosovo* 

UNOPS leads the construction of advanced facilities for 

the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMNS) 

in collaboration with the University of Pristina and the Ministry 

of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation. 

This European Union-funded project directly improves 

education quality, benefiting academic staff and approximately 

2,300 students at the University of Pristina. 

Advancing Education Reform Across the Eastern 

Partnership (EaP) Countries 

The „Eastern Partnership European School“ project, 

funded by the European Union and managed by UNOPS, 

is a vital initiative for the Government of Georgia and EU 

to bolster education reform in the region. The project 

supports cultural exchange among youth, and provides 

quality education to students from Armenia, Azerbaijan, 

Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. 

The scholarship programme and new school campus 

in Tbilisi will serve as a model for education reform in 

Georgia, with modern equipment and high-quality IB 

learning based on EU standards and values. 

Strengthening Georgia‘s Security Sector with High- 

Tech Solutions and Capacity Development 

Under the EU SAFE initiative, through the „Support to 

Advancing Technical Capacities for Ensuring Human Security“ 

project, UNOPS delivers high-tech software and 

hardware solutions, and emergency rescue equipment 

for the security sector, that enhances the efficiency and 

the public institutions in the Georgian security sector. The 

project also provides capacity development to strengthen 

the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Services 

of Georgia. This includes tailored training programs that 

improve the response to natural and man-made disasters, 

as well as to strengthen assistance for individuals with 

disabilities in life-saving rescue operations. 

*All references to Kosovo are made in the context of UNSCR 1244. 

Get in touch with UNOPS Austria Multi-Country Office 

Through our teams based in Central Asia, Western Balkans, South Caucasus, Turkiye, we work closely with 

governments, communities, and partners to deliver high-quality, sustainable infrastructure, procurement and 

project management services that create positive change and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable 

Development Goals. Our team in Vienna is well-equipped to provide you with the information and support you 

need to engage with our work and make a meaningful difference in your community and beyond. 

Ares Tower 

Donau-City-Straße 11, 17th floor, office 2.2 

1220 Vienna, Austria 

+43 1 934 62 85 

aumco@unops.org 

unops.org/austria

LE MONDE COMMENTARY 

Two years of war in Ukraine 

A war of one’s making — misjudgements and surprises as strategic elements 

Text: Walter Feichtinger 

You can watch Walter Feichtinger‘s videos on: 


Walter Feichtinger 

graduated from the 

Theresian Military Academy 

in 1979, was in command of 

Panzer Battalion 10 and 

received his doctorate in 

political science from the 

University of Vienna in 

2002. From 2001 on, he was 

security and defence policy 

advisor in the Federal 

Chancellery, Secretary 

General of the Austrian 

Officers Association and 

most recently head of the 

Institute for Peacekeeping 

and Conflict Management. 

The retired Brigadier now 

runs the Center for Strategic 

Analysis (CSA) in Vienna 

with a team, founded in 

2008 as an informal 

platform for topics of 

geopolitical and security 

policy relevance. 

csa-austria.eu 

2022 — a date now etched into 

memory. On this day, Russian President 

24February 

Vladimir Putin opted for war. A war that 

began with the fatal misconception that Ukraine 

would capitulate and Russian soldiers would be welcomed 

with flowers. The plan to decapitate the government 

failed and the defensive resolve and combat power 

of the Ukrainians surpassed all expectations. 

Russia’s calculations had clearly been based on entirely 

unrealistic assumptions. 

Caught off guard and shocked, the West initially 

responded in its helplessness with a non-violent form 

of combat through sanctions, but this was not enough 

to deter Putin. However, he likely did not anticipate 

the unity of the West and the internal cohesion of the 

EU. The willingness to support Ukraine remains 

steadfast. 

Predictions that Russia would run out of missiles 

and soldiers by the fall of 2023 have also proved to be 

premature and incorrect — in fact, the opposite has 

occurred. Likewise, the hope that a counteroffensive 

could push Russia into a defensive position proved to 

be deceptive. 

Thus, the old military adage that planning must 

start anew with the first shot fired has been reaffirmed 

once again. 

No global outcry against Russia — the geostrategic picture 

Despite Russia’s violation of international law and 

the Budapest Memorandum of 1994 by invading its 

neighbour, a “brother country”, there hasn’t been a 

wave of international outrage. The UN Security 

Council is paralysed due to Russia’s veto power, and 

condemnations by the General Assembly are largely 

symbolic and declaratory. Realpolitik prevails, demonstrating 

that although many governments denounce 

Russian aggression, they do not actively oppose 

it. A pragmatic approach, as some benefit from 

Western sanctions by, for example, purchasing Russian 

oil and gas at lower prices. 

Hopes that China would exert a moderating influence 

on its strategic partner Russia have not materialised. 

Western isolation has pushed Russia closer to 

Beijing, which officially maintains neutrality but, like 

Moscow, views NATO and the USA as warmongers. 

However, Beijing appears not to be supplying weapons 

and military goods to Moscow, unlike Iran and 

North Korea. 

Europe, however, faced a rude awakening, suddenly 

confronted with an aggressive Russia and the consequences 

of decades of peace dividends. The EU has 

not disintegrated but stands united behind Ukraine, 

increasingly taking on the role of a geopolitical actor. 

The war has pushed Sweden and Finland towards 

NATO, which is likely not in Russia’s strategic interest. 

In Europe, there is a growing realisation that war as a 

political tool is back on the table, and preparations 

must be made. This realisation is bitter and, above all, 

costly, as arsenals are depleted and many weapon systems 

are outdated. 

The fight for information and its interpretation — a war of 

narratives 

The conflict in Ukraine swiftly evolved into a battle 

for narrative supremacy. Moscow disguised the war as 

a “military special operation”, framing it as a pre-emptive 

action. The justification given was the need to 

pre-empt NATO and the USA’s advances, which purportedly 

aimed to destroy Russia. Ukraine was depicted 

as an “artificial entity” that rightfully belongs to 

Russia and thus lacks a legitimate claim to existence. 

In contrast, Ukraine highlights Russia’s violation of 

international law, insists on its sovereignty and territorial 

integrity and emphasises that it is also defending 

Europe. Upholding the UN Charter is presented as 

being in the vital interest of all states. 

It has become evident that Moscow’s narrative has 

found resonance in many places, particularly in the 

Global South, where countries, distant from the events 

and sometimes nostalgic for the Soviet era, harbour 

certain sympathies for the Russian stance. However, 

the course of the war necessitates a gradual adjustment 

of Putin’s explanation to his own population. 

Thus, the narrative of a “military special operation to 

expel the fascists” is increasingly shifting towards a 

story of the “Great Patriotic War 2.0”. 

Trench warfare and hypersonic missiles — the image of war 

The war in Ukraine has reached unparalleled levels 

of cruelty, brutality and cynicism, incorporating all 

elements of conventional warfare alongside Russian 

threats to potentially deploy nuclear weapons. The initial 

phase saw Russia advancing and Ukraine in dire 

straits. By mid-2022, the tide had turned, and the Ukrainian 

army managed to recapture large portions of 

the occupied territories. Around the transition from 

PHOTOS: BEIGESTELLT, WIKIMEDIA.COMMONS, KREMLIN.RU, WIKIPEDIA 

2022 to 2023, the frontlines froze, and anticipation 

grew for a major Ukrainian counteroffensive. 

To maintain pressure, Russia initiated a strategic 

campaign of destruction and attrition from the air. 

Military objectives, critical infrastructure and even residential 

buildings were systematically targeted with 

missiles, cruise missiles, artillery and even hypersonic 

missiles. On the frontlines, both sides increasingly relied 

on drones, quickly identifying any movement or 

significant troop concentrations, leading to swift 

counteractions. The tactic of “fire and manoeuvre” 

was reduced to merely “fire”, pushing the battle into 

the trenches. 

The Ukrainian counteroffensive, starting in June 

2023, did not achieve significant territorial gains. 

Western arms and ammunition supplies arrived late 

and in insufficient quantities, while the Russian side 

had made extensive defensive preparations and reinforced 

its personnel and materials. 

The war of attrition continues daily at the front and 

in the strategic depths of both sides. Russia increasingly 

subjects Ukraine to constant defensive stress, aiming 

to deprive Kyiv of any significant offensive capability 

and improve its own position for both offensive 

and defensive operations. 

The deciding factor will be whether Ukraine will 

continue to receive war materials from its supporters 

or even be able to produce them domestically. However, 

the most critical factor is personnel, with discussions 

of an additional mobilisation of 500,000 men. 

Russia appears to have fewer problems with replenishing 

its personnel. 

Europe must get stronger — a look ahead 

While the annexation of Crimea in 2014 did not 

serve as a wake-up call for Europe, the attack in 2022 

did, leading to far-reaching and painful changes, especially 

in the areas of energy and security. Putin’s pivot 

away from the West has caused significant unease, 

particularly in Eastern Europe. A new Iron Curtain is 

forming, with Russia shifting into a war footing. Approximately 

30% of its budget is allocated to its armed 

forces, with 6% of its GDP spent on defence and armaments. 

Europe, in response, is also increasing its military 

spending, with the NATO target of 2% of GDP for 

defence now seen as a minimum. 

It is high time for European countries to take their 

destiny into their own hands. The spectre of a second 

term for Donald Trump looms not just over Ukraine 

but also over Europe. Moreover, any hopes for an imminent 

peace in Ukraine are unfounded. 

Therefore, the focus must be on halting Putin’s advance 

and developing a deterrence capability. There 

may be only a small window of a few years to achieve 

this, and while it cannot be done without the USA, 

Europe’s contribution must increase significantly. 

Above all, it must be clearly signalled that support for 

Ukraine will not wane and that Russian aggression 

cannot succeed in the long run. 

The war of one’s making enters its third year. Yet, 

eventually, the war will end, and its conclusion will determine 

whether a campaign of conquest is still a worthwhile 

endeavour. The lesson will be of considerable 

significance given a world order that is in flux and is 

fuelling politics focused on national interest and ambitions 

for power. 

Russia‘s President 

Vladimir Putin. 

Ukraine‘s President 

Volodymyr 

Zelenskyy. 



47


Election year 2024 – a geopolitical 

turning point 

Text: Burkhard Bischof 

Global Elections 2024 

Elections are scheduled in 76 countries. 

Burkhard Bischof 

worked as deputy foreign 

editor and opinion page 

editor for “Die Presse”. 

Since his retirement, he 

writes a biweekly 

geopolitical column for this 

Viennese daily. He also 

writes the “International 

Report” for the bimonthly 

“Austrian Military Journal”. 

Status 15 February, 2024 

By the close of 2024, the global political landscape 

might look markedly different from how it 

appeared at the year’s outset, characterised by 

the strengthening fringes of the political spectrum, the 

emergence of both old and new unpredictable leaders, 

deepened divides between political camps and increasingly 

polarised societies. The year 2024 is poised to be 

a pivotal one, potentially marking a geopolitical turning 

point. 

Elections are scheduled in 76 countries, covering 

presidential or parliamentary contests at the national 

level. These nations are home to 4.2 billion people — 

over half of the global population, estimated at 8.1 billion, 

according to calculations by the Economist. 

However, the sheer number of eligible voters doesn’t 

necessarily herald a new dawn for democracy as a 

governance model. Elections will also be held in dictatorships 

and autocracies, where neither freedom nor 

fairness characterises the voting process, and the outcomes 

are often preordained by those in power. Of the 

76 countries heading to the polls this year, only 43 are 

expected to conduct elections that are both free and 

fair, The Economist reports. 

A right-wing populist surge on the horizon? 

Throughout history, ideological waves have periodically 

swept across the global political landscape, notably 

the rise of fascism and communism after World 

War I, posing a lethal challenge to liberal democracies. 

However, there have also been triumphant advances 

of democracy, such as after the Cold War, when various 

parts of the world saw communist single-party 

systems, military dictatorships or autocracies replaced 

by parliamentary democracies. Many political analysts 

now express concerns that 2024 could witness a 

surge in extreme nationalism and right-wing populism, 

potentially engulfing numerous countries. 

This year, elections are set to take place in some of 

the world’s most populous nations, which could significantly 

impact the global balance. India, the world’s 

most populous country with 1.4 billion residents and 

about a billion eligible voters, will hold its parliamentary 

elections over several weeks in April and May. Indonesia, 

home to the largest Muslim population, with 277 

million inhabitants and 204 million eligible voters, will 

conduct the first round of its presidential and parliamentary 

elections on 14 February, with a runoff for the 

presidency scheduled for 26 June. Additionally, Mexico, 

the most populous Spanish-speaking country, with 129 

million people and 97.6 million eligible voters, will hold 

its presidential and parliamentary elections on 2 June. 

Taiwan stands firm against election interference 

January already witnessed pivotal elections across 

the globe, including parliamentary elections in Bangladesh, 

as well as presidential and parliamentary elections 

in Taiwan, and presidential elections in Finland. 

The spotlight was on Taiwan’s elections on 13 January, 

marking a critical geopolitical event due to the People’s 

Republic of China’s declared ambition to annex the 

democratically governed island. Beijing’s attempts to 

sway the election outcome through overt and covert 

interventions aimed at supporting pro-China candidates 

were notable yet ultimately fruitless. The candidate 

from the Democratic Progressive Party, which 

has flirted with the idea of Taiwan’s independence, 

triumphed. This victory signifies the party’s third consecutive 

win of the presidency, with Lai Ching-te set to 

be inaugurated in May. In his victory speech, Lai expressed 

a desire to engage in dialogue with Beijing, 

aiming to avoid direct confrontation. 

The Finnish presidential election, pivotal for the 

country’s foreign and security policy, exemplified the 

principles of freedom and fairness. Meanwhile, in Bangladesh, 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina secured a fifth 

term by incarcerating key opposition figures, a tactic 

not uncommon in autocracies and dictatorships that 

call their people to vote under the guise of democracy. 

The autocrats’ playbook 

Autocrats employ various tactics to ensure electoral 

victory and project themselves as leaders legitimised 

by widespread popular support. These tactics 

range from restricting challengers’ access to media 

and public campaigning to incarcerating opponents 

like Alexei Navalny in Russia for decades. 

Autocrats partaking in democracy for appearances 

typically control security forces, bureaucratic apparatuses, 

electoral authorities and media to secure the desired 

electoral outcome. With electronic voting, there’s 

also the potential for digital manipulation of results. 

Such unscrupulous practices are anticipated in upcoming 

elections across several authoritarian regimes, 

including the presidential election in Azerbaijan (7 

February), parliamentary elections in Belarus (25 February), 

presidential elections in Russia (15-17 

PHOTOS: WAFA IN CONTRACT WITH A LOCAL COMPANY (APAIMAGES); ADOBE STOCK; BEIGESTELLT 

March), parliamentary elections in Iran (1 March), 

presidential elections in Rwanda (15 July) and the presidential 

election in Venezuela in the autumn, to ensure 

the “correct” results are achieved. 

Even in countries not wholly dominated by a single 

leader, not everything runs with democratic integrity. 

For instance, Pakistan’s parliamentary election (8 February) 

saw the powerful military ensuring only favourable 

candidates entered the race. The presidential 

election in El Salvador (4 February), parliamentary 

elections in Mauritania (22 June), in Mozambique (9 

October) and the presidential election in Algeria in 

late autumn also fall short of being free and fair. Moreover, 

even in established democracies like the USA 

or the UK, practices such as gerrymandering aim to 

secure favourable outcomes for the ruling party. 

A tale of two Americas 

The presidential and congressional elections in the 

United States on 5 November are seen as this year’s 

most geopolitically significant. Currently, it appears to 

be heading towards a rematch between Joe Biden and 

Donald Trump. In terms of foreign policy, this presents 

a choice between a globally engaged, democracy-supporting 

and international-law-abiding USA versus an 

isolationist, revanchist America with little regard for 

international norms. The preference of the American 

electorate remains to be seen, as does the future political 

composition of both houses of Congress. 

As for the European Parliament elections (6 to 9 

June), a shift towards populist right-wing parties is 

being anticipated. However, it is unlikely that these 

parties will become powerful enough to displace the 

political centre — consisting of conservatives, social 

democrats, liberals and greens — or to undermine the 

institutions of the EU. Yet, right-wing populists are expected 

to push hard on their favourite issues: stopping 

immigration, combating “woke” culture and rolling 

back what they consider to be excessive environmental 

protections. 

Presidential and parliamentary elections in Senegal, 

South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Palau, Mongolia, 

Peru, Panama, Uruguay, Portugal, Slovakia, 

Lithuania, Iceland, Belgium, Croatia, Austria, the United 

Kingdom, Georgia and Romania are expected to 

proceed within the usual democratic frameworks. Despite 

this, attempts to use the internet and artificial 

intelligence for disseminating disinformation and influencing 

the electorate are anticipated in these countries 

as well. 

1 | The biggest election. 

India is set to hold elections for the Lower 

House of its Parliament, with its 542 seats, 

over several weeks in April and May. Approximately 

one billion Indians are eligible to vote. 

Current forecasts suggest Narendra Modi 

and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) might 

secure a third consecutive victory, buoyed by 

a strong economic performance (with a recent 

annual GDP growth of seven percent) and 

the promotion of Hindutva, which resonates 

with the majority of voters. Meanwhile, the 

country’s 200 million Muslims increasingly 

feel marginalised. 

2 | The most crucial election. 

The presidential and congressional elections 

in the United States on 5 November are 

deemed the most critical of the year, with 

implications not just for the fate of American 

democracy but also for the future foreign 

policy and geopolitical ambitions of the US 

superpower. A victory for Donald Trump over 

Joe Biden, a contest that is currently shaping 

up, would signal a domestic vendetta and a 

retreat from global affairs under the banner of 

„America First“. Joe Biden, on the other hand, 

would continue to engage internationally, 

maintain alliances and promote democracy 

and the rule of law worldwide. 

2 

The presidential and congressional elections in the 

United States on 5 November 2024, are seen as 

this year‘s most geopolitically significant. 

3 | The most lavish election. 

The European Parliament elections from 6 

to 9 June will see 720 MEPs elected across 

27 countries. An informal grand coalition of 

the centre, comprising conservatives, social 

democrats, liberals and greens has historically 

facilitated the functioning of EU institutions 

through compromise. This grand coalition may 

face significant challenges from the expected 

rise of nationalist right-wing parties. 

4 | The most dubious election. 

In Russia’s presidential election from 15 to 17 

March, Vladimir Putin, who has steered the 

country as either president or with a four-year 

interruption as prime minister for nearly a 

quarter-century, will seek another six-year 

term. Efforts to ensure a favourable outcome 

for Putin have included imprisoning or disqualifying 

serious challengers and mobilising 

the entire state apparatus to encourage voter 

turnout. The ongoing war against Ukraine has 

been conspicuously ignored as an election 

issue, in an attempt to project a semblance of 

normalcy in political life. 

3 

1 

4 



49


Why European elections are 

decisive, this time 

Text: Otmar Lahodynsky 

In June, populist and anti-European parties could win enough seats in the European Parliament to turn 

the EU back into a mere association for free trade. 

Otmar Lahodynsky 

was European editor for the 

weekly magazine “profil”. 

He is Honorary President of 

the “Association of 

European Journalists” (AEJ) 

and was Brussels 

correspondent for the 

Austrian daily “Die Presse”. 

His latest book “Kroatiens 

Heimkehr nach Europa” 

(Croatia‘s homecoming to 

Europe - Verlag Der Apfel) 

describes the difficult path 

for Croatia from 

independence in 1991 till 

EU-membership. 

Even at the Opera Ball in Vienna, Federal President 

Alexander Van der Bellen reminded everyone 

of the importance of the European elections 

in June 2024, calling on everyone to take part in 

the important ballot: “Go and vote!”, he said in Austrian 

dialect in a live TV-interview in the presence of his 

guest Jakov Milatović, the President of Montenegro. 

In fact, this year’s elections of the European Parliament, 

which are being held for the 10th time in June, 

are more decisive for the future of the EU than ever 

before. The new composition of the political groups 

will determine the European Union’s ability to act on 

the most important issues: From the “Green Deal” for 

climate protection to aid for Ukraine and relations 

with Russia to the EU budget. 

According to current forecasts, right-wing populist 

and anti-European parties could even emerge victorious 

from the European elections in nine EU states: So 

in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Hungary, 

Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Slovakia. In a 

further nine EU states (Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Germany, 

Latvia, Portugal, Romania, Spain and Sweden), 

the right-wing populists could come second or third. 

If the right-wing, anti-European parties make significant 

gains, this will strengthen those forces that 

want to see the EU weakened. This is trivialised as “renationalisation”, 

but can even large member states deal 

with global challenges better on their own? From climate 

change and migration to Putin’s war against Ukraine 

or competition with China, only a strong European 

Union can help shape the future. The relationship 

with the USA would also have to be reorganised in 

November if Donald 

Trump wins the election. 

The latter has already announced 

that he will no 

longer contribute to 

Europe’s defence. And in 

early February, the Republicans 

in the US Congress 

voted against further 

financial and military 

support for Ukraine. 

If populist and anti- 

European parties make 

gains in June, the current 

distribution of 705 seats between the seven parliamentary 

groups (see graphic) and the 51 MEPs without 

a parliamentary group will create a new balance 

of power. Currently, the “informal” coalition of the 

“European People’s Party” (EPP), the Social Democrats 

(S&D) and the Liberals (Renew), which predominates 

in many votes, has around 60 per cent of the 

votes. This coalition could fall to around 54 percent 

due to the expected gains in seats by right-wing and 

national populist parties. At the same time, a new 

right-of-centre coalition could emerge. The two rightwing 

and anti-European coalitions “Identity and Democracy” 

(ID) and “European Conservatives and Reformers” 

(ECR) would together be stronger than the 

EPP group, which currently has the most votes. Together, 

however, these three groups would have just 

under half of all 720 seats. Together with non-attached 

MEPs and a few defectors, this right-wing coalition 

could prevent many new regulations – especially on 

climate protection. 

In view of global problems, the EU is already not 

making a good impression. The asylum problem is 

boosting right-wing parties, but the EU members 

have been unable to agree on effective countermeasures 

for years. It was not until December 2023 that EU 

member states, the European Parliament and the European 

Commission agreed on new rules for the European 

asylum system. The compromise provides for 

asylum regulations to be significantly tightened. 

Among other things, standardised procedures at the 

external borders and new rules for the distribution of 

refugees are planned. A final agreement is to be 

PHOTOS: BEIGESTELLT GRAPHIC: EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 

reached before the European elections. 

As many national governments put the brakes on 

unpopular EU-wide regulations before the European 

elections, there have been some embarrassing backpedalling. 

Even the German “traffic light” government, 

which had already vetoed the ban on combustion engines, 

suddenly wanted more of the new supply chain 

regulation. Companies would have had to present a 

climate-compliant business model. And when it comes 

to production, social regulations and a ban on 

child labour in third countries should also be proven. 

Berlin also suddenly preferred a national regulation 

for the “Convention against Violence against Women” 

that was stricter than the European one. Even 

Germany’s “Permanent Representative” (EU-ambassador) 

issued a warning to his government in Berlin in 

February that Germany was jeopardising its Europefriendly 

image with such backtracking. 

In general, the fact that the EU has recently been 

diligent mainly in matters of detail has been widely 

criticised. In January, a so-called “breakfast regulation” 

was passed: This stipulated the exact designation 

of origin of honey. The jam must consist of at least 45 

per cent fruit. 

The fact that hardly any progress has been made in 

the enlargement process has caused disappointment, 

especially in the Western Balkan states. Some states 

such as North Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro 

have been harassed for years with constantly new conditions. 

Conversely, interest in taking further steps 

towards reforming the rule of law and fighting corruption 

is waning. In Bosnia-Herzegovina, hardly any 

progress has been made in these areas for years. 

There, the signal that the EU Council agreed to the 

start of accession negotiations with Ukraine last December, 

did not act as a further incentive to increase 

reform efforts. At least the EU, unlike the USA, was 

prepared to provide further financial aid to Ukraine. 

The green light was given at a special EU summit in 

February, and Hungary this time also withdrew its 

veto threats because several EU governments threatened 

the autocratic Prime Minister Viktor Orbán with 

new penal proceedings. 

But one problem remains. On July 1st, Hungary 

will take over the rotating presidency of the EU Council 

from Belgium. A proven friend of Putin will then 

be at the helm of European politics. A number of campaigns 

are already underway in the EU to prevent this 

under the motto “Orbán is not my President”. 

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Distribution of seats by parliamentary group on 16 February 2023. It is 

possible that the total number may not be 705 due to changes of MPs. 


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Malta assumes the OSCE chair amid 

uncertainty over the organisation’s future 

Malta agreed to chair the OSCE in an eleventh-hour deal last year that prevented an unprecedented 

leadership vacuum and avoided a disintegration of the world’s largest regional security organisation. But 

will it be worth it? 

Text: Stephanie Liechtenstein 

An OSCE flag and a gavel at the start of a meeting at the 

Hofburg in Vienna in January 2008. 

Stephanie Liechtenstein 

studied History of 

International Relations at 

the London School of 

Economics and Political 

Science (LSE). She worked 

at the Organisation for 

Security and Co-operation 

in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna 

for several years in various 

positions. Has since worked 

as a freelance journalist 

focusing on multilateral 

diplomacy, international 

organisations, disarmament 

issues and foreign policy. 

Writes for various Austrian 

and international media, 

such as „Die Presse“, 

POLITICO, the Independent 

and PassBlue. 

Malta accepted to chair the Vienna-based Organization 

for Security and Cooperation 

Europe (OSCE) in 2024 on short notice last 

year after Russia blocked Estonia’s from assuming the 

task. 

Diplomats from the 57 OSCE participating states 

negotiated for almost three years in an attempt to 

break the deadlock and agree by consensus on a 2024 

OSCE chair – but Russia did not give up its veto and 

continued to bar Estonia from taking on the role. 

As time began to run out last year, diplomats started 

to look for alternative candidates to take on the 

annually rotating chair of the OSCE. Several states 

were floated as potential compromise solutions but 

none of them managed to garner the necessary consensus 

of all 57 OSCE participating states – until eventually 

Malta was considered in November last year. 

An eleventh-hour deal was reached at the OSCE 

Ministerial Council meeting in Skopje last December 

and neutral EU member state Malta was officially 

chosen to assume the political leadership of the OSCE 

during the year 2024. 

When Malta’s Foreign Minister Ian Borg officially 

inaugurated Malta’s OSCE chairpersonship with a 

speech to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on 

25 January, the overwhelming majority of OSCE participating 

states expressed appreciation for Malta’s willingness 

to shoulder the responsibility on such short 

notice. 

“Though you have assumed a tremendous responsibility, 

you also have a tremendous opportunity, and 

you have the full backing of the United States,” said 

U.S. Ambassador to the OSCE Michael Carpenter. 

But will shouldering this responsibility be worth it? 

Will it be worthwhile to invest countless hours and 

energy into diplomatic negotiations just to keep the 

OSCE “alive and functioning,” as Foreign Minister 

Borg said? 

Multiple challenges await Malta in the OSCE 

Indeed, the Maltese OSCE chair is faced with multiple 

challenges and potential pitfalls this year. 

First, Malta had very little time to prepare for this 

complicated task. Usually, the OSCE chair is chosen 

several years in advance which allows the respective 

country to prepare the political priorities and set aside 

human and financial resources. Such a preparation 

time is important, especially for smaller states which 

usually have smaller bureaucracies and often also limited 

financial resources. 

In Malta’s case, the country also has a seat on the 

UN Security Council during the 2023-24 term – a task 

that requires additional funds, time and resources. 

In addition, Malta will have to tackle several persistent 

institutional challenges in the OSCE that can only 

be managed and solved with strong commitment, efforts 

and mediation by the chair-in-office. 

First and foremost, there has not been a Unified 

Budget adopted by OSCE participating states since 

2021. Russia and a handful of other states have blocked 

its adoption despite the fact that the level of the 

annual budget of 138 million euros has remained 

practically unchanged for the past decade. 

Without an agreed budget, the OSCE can only 

function in a limited mode. It receives provisional 

monthly allotments based on the previously agreedupon 

budget of 2021. According to the OSCE’s financial 

regulations, the OSCE is not allowed to implement 

new projects or activities without an approved 

budget. 

In order to deal with this complicated situation, 

OSCE participating states have instead made increasing 

use of so-called extra-budgetary contributions. 

These are pledged by individual states to specific projects 

outside the OSCE’s core budget. 

In addition, the OSCE Secretariat in Vienna under 

its Secretary General Helga Schmid had to set up a 

special fund to supplement core operating costs and to 

compensate for inflation. “I am truly grateful to the 

participating States who have contributed to this fund 

– which is the only way we could avoid insolvency in 

2023. This is no way to run an organisation,” Helga 

Schmid warned in her statement to the OSCE Ministerial 

Council in Skopje last December. 

Furthermore, the mandates of the top four OSCE 

leadership posts will expire on 3 September 2024. 

They include OSCE Secretary General Helga Schmid, 

OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities 

Kairat Abdrakhmanov, OSCE Representative on Freedom 

of the Media (RFoM) Teresa Ribeiro and 

PHOTOS: OSCE; OSCE/MIKHAIL EVSTAFIEV 

Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions 

and Human Rights (ODIHR) Matteo Mecacci. 

Malta will have to invest significant time and energy 

into finding new candidates to fill the top posts and 

help forge consensus on the new package deal. Previous 

agreements have taken into account geographical, 

gender and political interests, which means it has always 

been a difficult matter. But how consensus on a 

new package deal can be found in the current geopolitical 

circumstances, given the enormous rift between 

Russia and the West, is even more doubtful. 

Furthermore, a chair has to be chosen for 2026. 

(Finland will chair the OSCE in 2025). In the OSCE, 

every year a different country is picked to take over 

the political leadership of the organization. Malta will 

have to steer this consultation process and help bring 

about consensus on a candidate – again a task that 

seems tricky from today’s perspective. 

An unthankful task 

Malta will have to act as an honest broker to help 

overcome these problems by consulting with all other 

56 OSCE participating states – including with Russia. 

These negotiations are often painstaking and lengthy 

with no guaranteed positive outcome and very little, if 

any, reward for the chair. To put it in a nutshell: it is an 

unthankful task. 

Finally, the overarching question still looms large. 

Is it actually worthwhile continuing a dialogue with 

Russia within the context of the OSCE, at a time when 

Russia blocks crucial decisions and has violated all 

main principles contained in the 1975 Helsinki Final 

Act? Does the OSCE still have a role when violence, 

conflict and war have replaced cooperative security? 

As I outlined in my commentary for Cercle Diplomatique 

entitled “A bleak future for the OSCE?” one 

year ago, a number of states believe that a meaningful 

dialogue with Russia is not possible anymore in the 

current environment. Among them is Ukraine that 

has repeatedly called for Russia to be expelled from 

the OSCE. 

But several other countries still hold on to the idea 

of keeping the channels of dialogue with Russia open 

and – most importantly - putting all energy into carrying 

the OSCE through the tumultuous times and 

preserving the basic structures of the organisation for 

possible use in the future. 

Those states argue that - should there ever be a 

ceasefire in Ukraine - the international community 

might want to call on the OSCE as the only international 

security organisation that unites all main players 

as members to observe the truce with a monitoring 

mission. 

This means that while currently the OSCE is paralysed 

and unable to deliver on its core mandate, those 

states argue that it may be needed again in the future 

when circumstances change and cooperative security 

is in everyone’s interest again. 

OSCE Secretary General 

Helga Schmid (left), OSCE 

Chairperson-in-Office and 

Foreign Minister of Malta 

Ian Borg (right) together 

with former OSCE 

Chairperson-in-Office and 

Foreign Minister of North 

Macedonia Bujar Osmani 

at the OSCE Ministerial 

Council meeting in Skopje, 

1 December 2023. 



53

LE MONDE NEWS 

Latest update from around the globe 

Text: Daniela Pötzl 

PHOTOS: ADOBE STOCK, BEIGESTELLT 

BOOK TIP 

Croatia’s homecoming 

to Europe 

Our CD author Otmar Lahodynsky, 

long-time “profil“ editor and 

honorary president of the 

Association of European Journalists 

(AEJ), has embarked on a historical 

search for clues about Croatia. 

Based on files from the state 

archives, his book “Croatia‘s 

Homecoming to Europe“ traces the 

path from independence to EU 

accession with numerous anecdotes. 

Political witnesses from the early 

days to the recent accession to Schengen and the euro have their say. 

Large sections are devoted to the question of Croatia‘s recognition 

after the break-up of Yugoslavia. 

verlagderapfel.at 

VACATION 

Holidays despite crises 

For the third time, Europäische Reiseversicherung has published the 

results of a community survey that examines holiday plans and 

trends. Of the newsletter subscribers surveyed, 96 per cent travelled 

as planned in 2023. 75 per cent of trips were within Europe, with 

more trips than planned to Asia and as a cruise. Inflation and political 

unrest have only a minor impact on the number of trips planned for 

2024. Nevertheless, there is a desire for more information on travel 

insurance services and tips on travel safety. Italy, Austria and Spain 

are the most popular holiday destinations for 2024, Inflation and 

political unrest have only a minor impact on the number of trips 

planned for this year. 

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World in turmoil 

Ever since the withdrawal of Western troops from Afghanistan and the 

Russian invasion of Ukraine, we have known that the previous order has 

come to an end. The world is in turmoil. But how will it reorganise itself and 

what will it look like in the 21st century? What upheavals, ruptures and upheavals 

are we facing? 

In his geopolitical analysis, Herfried Münkler shows where the lines of 

conflict will run in the future. There is much to suggest that a new system of 

regional zones of influence will emerge, dominated by five major powers. 

Where are the dangers of this new order, where are its opportunities? 

rowohlt.de 

TRAVEL 

New York Times recommends 

Vienna 

Since 2008, the US daily newspaper “The 

New York Times“ has published its “52 Places 

to Go“, the most influential travel ranking in 

the USA, which inspires travellers when 

choosing their next destination. This year, 

they highlight Vienna - as “the city where the 

waltz became famous“ – alongside national 

parks, archaeological sites and other world 

metropolises. In their justification for Vienna 

(38th place), they refer to the newly opened 

cultural institutions Wien Museum and House 

of Strauss. At the completely renovated and 

expanded Wien Museum, the newly designed 

and free permanent exhibition “Vienna. My 

History“, which impressively documents 

Vienna‘s history – from a Roman military 

camp to the most liveable city in the world 

today. 

wien.info 

Located in the historic heart of Vienna 

and surrounded by its most imposing 

houses of art and music, lies the elegant 

Hotel am Konzerthaus Vienna. 

Be inspired by the enchanting history and 

allow yourself to become the star guest, 

spectator and actor. Many of the major 

sights and cultural places are in the 

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L’AUTRICHE INTERVIEW 

Verteidigungsministerin Klaudia Tanner 

„Das Verteidigungsministerium war immer mein Wunschressort.“ 

“Leading the Ministry of Defence has always been my wish.“ 

Mit der „Mission Vorwärts“ ist das Bundesheer auf einem guten Weg. 

The Armed Forces are on the right track with the “Mission Forward”. 

Interview: Walter Feichtinger Photos: Ralph Manfreda 

CD: Frau Bundesministerin, Sie sind seit 7. Jänner 

2020 Bundesministerin für Landesverteidigung 

– als erste Frau. Was hat Sie bewegt, diese nicht 

sehr dankbare Aufgabe zu übernehmen? 

Klaudia Tanner: Das war schon immer 

mein Traumjob und mein Wunschressort. 

Ich habe auf meinem gesamten beruflichen 

Lebensweg immer Positionen 

angestrebt, die vorher noch von keiner Frau 

besetzt worden waren. 

Und was war die größte Herausforderung? 

Eine Frau an der Spitze war generell eine 

Herausforderung. Aber Anfang 2020 standen 

der kritische Zustand des Bundesheeres, 

die mangelnde und lückenhafte Wahrnehmung 

in der Öffentlichkeit sowie die 

enorme mediale Beobachtung im Vordergrund. 

Ich habe von Anfang an für ein höheres 

Budget gekämpft – und ich bin stolz 

darauf, dass es drei Mal in Folge erhöht 

wurde. Aber wir sind noch nicht fertig, 

auch 2032 nicht. 

Zwei Drittel der Österreicherinnen und 

Österreicher haben eine positive Grundhaltung 

zum Bundesheer. Worauf führen Sie das zurück? 

Jeder einzelne Heeresangehörige trägt 

dazu bei. Die starken Arme der Armee, z. B. 

bei Hochwasser oder beim großen Einsatz 

während der Pandemie, sind für alle sichtbar. 

Der 24.2.2022 (Anmerkung: Russischer 

Angriff auf die Ukraine) hat die positive 

Wahrnehmung und das Vertrauen zusätzlich 

verstärkt. Dazu tragen auch die vielen 

Militärexperten mit ihren Medienauftritten 

bei, das Interesse ist überwältigend. Damit 

ist das Bild vom „neuen Bundesheer“ auch 

in der Mitte der Gesellschaft angekommen, 

das Vertrauen in das Heer ist gestiegen. 

Sie betonen häufig die Notwendigkeit einer 

Umfassenden Landesverteidigung (ULV), vor 

allem aber der Geistigen Landesverteidigung. 

Was ist darunter zu verstehen? 

Schon während der Pandemie wurde 

klar, dass ein umfassender Zugang erforderlich 

ist. Erinnern wir uns nur an die 

schwierige Energie- und Lebensmittelversorgung. 

Das Konzept der ULV ist unschlagbar 

und in der Verfassung verankert, 

aber in Vergessenheit geraten. Die Geistige 

Landesverteidigung ist ein zentraler Teil davon, 

das Bildungsministerium nimmt sie 

wieder in den Lehrplan auf. Denn wenn nur 

ein niedriger Prozentsatz bereit ist, Österreich 

mit der Waffe zu verteidigen, dann 

liegt das häufig am geringen Wissensstand. 

Daher müssen wir die Geistige Landesverteidigung 

wiederbeleben und der Jugend 

erklären, was Sicherheit, freies Wahlrecht 

und Demokratie bedeuten. 

Nach jahrzehntelanger Durststrecke erhält Ihr 

Ministerium nun erheblich mehr Geld. Wofür 

sind die 18 Mrd. vorgesehen? 

Ja, es ist tatsächlich gelungen, das Budget 

für die nächsten 4 Jahre auf 18 Mrd. Euro zu 

heben. Parteiübergreifend wurde sogar ein 

eigenes Gesetz verabschiedet, um für die 

umfangreichen und teils langfristigen Beschaffungsvorhaben 

die nötige Planungssicherheit 

zu geben. Für die Entwicklung des 

Bundesheeres gibt es einen genauen Aufbauplan, 

der Investitionen im Bereich Mobilität, 

Schutz und Wirkung sowie Infrastruktur 

vorsieht. Dieser Plan erstreckt sich 

bis 2032 und gibt auch Richtlinien für die 

Zeit danach. Denn viele Vorhaben erfordern 

einen langen Zeitraum, z. B. die weitreichenden 

Luftabwehrsysteme. Wir gehen 

dabei äußerst transparent vor und berichten 

regelmäßig dem Parlament, auch über 

notwendige Anpassungen. 

In Europa werden Soldaten zur Mangelware, in 

Deutschland denkt man laut über die Wiedereinführung 

der Wehrpflicht nach. Österreich hat 

sich 2013 in einer Volksbefragung klar für deren 

Beibehaltung ausgesprochen. Eine gute 

Entscheidung? 

Absolut, ich habe damals dafür gekämpft. 

Heute beneiden uns viele Staaten 

darum. Denn die Wehrpflicht ermöglicht 

es, mit der Jugend in Kontakt zu kommen 

und sie anzusprechen. Jährlich kommen 

16.500 junge Männer, die man vom Unternehmen 

Bundesheer begeistern kann. Viele 

haben ja keine Ahnung, was das Heer bietet 

und was es heißt, Soldat zu sein. Der 

Grundwehrdienst ist außerdem ein wichtiges 

integratives Element, wenn z. B. der 

Sohn eines Akademikers mit dem Sohn eines 

Handwerkers im selben Zimmer ist 

oder in Übungen und Einsätze geht. 

Das Bundesheer beschafft modernes Gerät, das 

hochqualifiziertes Personal erfordert. Experten 

sind aber Mangelware, um sie ist ein regelrechter 

Wettlauf ausgebrochen. Was bietet das 

Militär, was andere nicht haben? 

Die Deckung des Personalbedarfs ist die 

größte Herausforderung und steht daher 

2024 im Zentrum. Wir bieten einerseits 

eine unglaubliche Vielfalt an Berufen und 

Ausbildungsmöglichkeiten, die das ÖBH 

attraktiv machen. Andererseits ist es ein 

einzigartiger Beruf, wo man letztlich bereit 

ist, sein Leben dafür einzusetzen. Viele sind 

von den Auslandsmissionen begeistert, wo 

sie internationale Erfahrung sammeln können. 

Aber wir werden in Zukunft finanziell 

mehr bieten müssen, um den Personalbedarf 

abdecken zu können. Nur ein Detail: 

Der Sold für die Rekruten ist 10 Jahre nicht 

erhöht worden, aber das haben wir nun geändert. 

PHOTOS: XYXXYXYXY 

KLAUDIA TANNER (53) 

wurde in Scheibbs (Niederösterreich) 

geboren und studierte Jus. Danach war sie in 

verschiedenen politischen und wirtschaftlichen 

Funktionen tätig. Zuletzt war sie 

Direktorin des Bauernbunds in Niederösterreich, 

bevor sie im Jänner 2020 als erste Frau 

in dieser Funktion österreichische 

Verteidigungsministerin wurde. 

was born in Scheibbs (Lower Austria) and 

studied law. She then held various political 

and economic positions. Most recently, she 

was Director of the Farmers‘ Union in Lower 

Austria before becoming the first woman to 

hold this position as Austrian Minister of 

Defence in January 2020. 

Der Frauenanteil im Bundesheer ist weiterhin 

„bescheiden“. Auf Ihre Initiative gibt es nun 

auch für Frauen die Möglichkeit, Grundwehrdienst 

zu leisten. Was versprechen Sie sich 

davon, wie viele sind gekommen? 

Es hat mich überrascht, dass zwar seit 

1998 Frauen den Soldatenberuf ergreifen 

können, aber der direkte Zugang über den 

Grundwehrdienst nicht möglich war. Diese 

Hürde wurde letztes Jahr beseitigt. Das Interesse 

am freiwilligen Grundwehrdienst ist 

groß, seit April 2023 haben wir 212 Bewerberinnen, 

von denen 126 bereits eingerückt 

sind oder in Kürze kommen werden. Der 

Frauenanteil ist von 3,5% im Jahr 2020 auf 

nunmehr 4,5% gestiegen, aber da ist noch 

Luft nach oben. 

Österreichs Entscheidung zur Teilnahme am 

Aufbau eines Europäischen Luftabwehrsystems 

(ESSI) hat für Überraschung und Kritik gesorgt. 

Warum ist es so wichtig, dass Österreich daran 

teilnimmt? 

Aufgrund der geänderten Bedrohungslage 

ist es besonders wichtig, den Luftraum 

schützen zu können. Wir haben mit dem 

System Goldhaube eine sehr gute passive 

Komponente, aber bei der aktiven Abwehr 

große Defizite. Die Mitwirkung am europäischen 

Abwehrschirm war daher ein Gebot 

der Stunde. Schließlich verlangt die Verfassung, 

die Neutralität mit allen Mitteln zu 

schützen. Die Frage nach der Vereinbarkeit 

mit der Neutralität stellt sich nicht, denn die 

Entscheidung über einen Einsatz bleibt in 

Österreich. Die Schweiz sieht das ähnlich 

und ist auch dabei. Durch die Kooperationen 

wird das System interoperabel, günstiger 

und es geht schneller. Es wäre daher ein 

großer Fehler und verantwortungslos, nicht 

dabei zu sein. 



59


Finnland ist der NATO beigetreten, die 

Aufnahme Schwedens dürfte in Kürze erfolgen. 

Damit sind in der EU nur mehr Irland, Malta, 

Zypern und Österreich neutral. Gerät Österreich 

damit in eine Außenseiterrolle? 

Den Eindruck habe ich überhaupt nicht, 

denn Österreichs Positionen und Beiträge 

sind bekannt und anerkannt. Österreich bezieht 

auch immer klar Stellung, wir verhalten 

uns in der EU solidarisch. Die Rolle als 

militärisch Neutraler schafft auch Möglichkeiten, 

wenn es um das große Ziel des Friedens 

und der Friedenssicherung nach einem 

Krieg geht. Da leistet Österreich schon 

viele Jahre Besonderes mit seinen mehr als 

1.000 Soldaten und Soldatinnen, etwa auf 

dem Westbalkan, im Libanon oder wie bis 

zuletzt in Mali. 

Wird Österreich dieses starke Engagement bei 

internationalen Friedenseinsätzen fortsetzen? 

Es gibt einen Regierungskonsens, diesen 

Weg fortzusetzen. Natürlich muss man immer 

Anpassungen vornehmen. Wir folgen 

dabei dem Motto „stark im Inland, fokussiert 

im Ausland“. Zahlen allein sind dabei 

nicht entscheidend, es geht darum, etwas zu 

bieten, was tatsächlich benötigt wird. So hat 

z. B. die Entsendung einer einzigen Soldatin 

nach Mozambique große Aufmerksamkeit 

und Dankbarkeit hervorgerufen. 

Frau Bundesministerin, Sie sind nun 4 Jahre im 

Amt. Haben Sie das Bundesheer verändert? Hat 

diese Aufgabe Sie verändert? 

Wir alle haben wahnsinnig viel positiv 

verändert und bewegt, das ist eine gemeinsame 

„Mission Vorwärts“, die für eine Aufwärtsbewegung 

sorgt. Es bereitet große 

Freude, wenn man Projekte von der Planung 

über den Spatenstich bis zur Einweihung, 

wie z. B. das Stellungsgebäude in 

Wien, oder einen Radarturm in Langenlebarn, 

umsetzen kann. Ob mich die Aufgabe 

verändert hat? Das kann nur meine Umgebung 

beantworten, aber dieses Amt ist noch 

immer sehr erfüllend. 

Sie sind bekannt für Ihren Elan und großen 

persönlichen Einsatz: Wie bringen Sie alles 

unter einen Hut? 

Ohne die Unterstützung und das Verständnis 

meiner Familie könnte ich das 

nicht bewältigen. Denn ich gebe immer 

120%, da bleibt für die Familie nicht viel 

Zeit über. Und als Ministerin habe ich ein 

exzellentes enges Umfeld, auf das ich mich 

verlassen kann. 

Spätestens im Herbst dieses Jahres wird 

gewählt. Unabhängig vom Wahlausgang - stehen 

Sie als Verteidigungsministerin wieder zur 

Verfügung? 

Unbedingt, in jedem Fall, denn das Verteidigungsministerium 

ist nach wie vor 

mein Wunschressort. 

CD: Minister Tanner, you’ve been the Federal 

Minister of Defence since 7 January 2020 – and 

notably the first woman to hold this position. 

What drove you to take on this challenging role? 

Klaudia Tanner: It’s always been my 

dream job and the ministry I aspired to 

lead. Throughout my career, I’ve consistently 

sought roles previously not held 

by women. 

And what has been your biggest challenge? 

Being a woman at the helm has been a 

challenge in itself. But at the start of 2020, 

the critical state of the Austrian Armed 

Forces, their underrepresentation in public 

perception and intense media scrutiny 

took centre stage. I’ve been advocating for 

increased funding from the get-go – and 

I’m proud that we’ve managed to secure 

higher budgets three years in a row. But our 

work isn’t done, not even by 2032. 

Two-thirds of Austrians hold a positive view of the 

Armed Forces. To what do you attribute this? 

Each and every member of the military 

contributes to this perception. The strength 

of our forces, evident in situations like 

flood relief or during the extensive pandemic 

response, is visible to everyone. The 

events of 24 February 2022 (Editor’s note: 

referring to the Russian attack on Ukraine) 

have further boosted this positive perception 

and trust. Additionally, the frequent 

media appearances by our military experts 

have generated overwhelming interest. 

This has placed the image of the “new Armed 

Forces” firmly in the public consciousness, 

enhancing trust in the military. 

You often emphasise the necessity of comprehensive 

national defence (CND), and particularly the 

concept of spiritual national defence. Could you 

elaborate on this? 

The pandemic made it clear that a comprehensive 

approach is necessary. Just consider 

the challenges we faced with energy 

and the food supply. The CND concept is 

unbeatable and enshrined in our constitution, 

yet it had been somewhat overlooked. 

Spiritual national defence is a key part of 

this, and the Ministry of Education is reintegrating 

it into the curriculum. The reason 

a low percentage of our population is willing 

to defend Austria with arms is often 

due to a lack of awareness. Hence, we need 

to revive spiritual national defence and 

educate the youth about what security, free 

elections and democracy truly mean. 

After decades of financial constraints, your 

ministry is now receiving significantly more 

funding. What are the plans for the 18 billion 

euro? 

Indeed, we have successfully increased 

the budget for the next four years to 18 billion 

euro. A cross-party law was passed to 

provide the necessary planning security for 

extensive and long-term procurement projects. 

The development plan for the Armed 

Forces includes investments in mobility, 

defence, effectiveness and infrastructure. 

This plan extends up to 2032 and sets guidelines 

for the period beyond. Many projects, 

like the advanced air defence systems, 

require a long timeframe. We’re committed 

to transparency and regularly report to Parliament, 

including necessary adjustments. 

In Europe, soldiers are becoming scarce, and 

Germany is considering reinstating conscription. 

PHOTOS: RALPH MANFREDA 

In 2013, Austria decisively voted to maintain 

conscription. Was that a wise decision? 

Absolutely, and I was a strong proponent 

at that time. Many countries now envy 

our position. Conscription allows us to 

connect with and engage the youth. Each 

year, 16,500 young men are introduced to 

the Armed Forces, many of whom are unaware 

of what the military offers and what it 

means to be a soldier. Moreover, conscription 

serves as an important integrative element, 

like when an academic’s son shares a 

room with a tradesman’s son or together 

partake in exercises and operations. 

The Armed Forces are acquiring state-of-the-art 

equipment that requires highly skilled personnel. 

However, experts are in short supply and there’s a 

fierce competition to recruit them. What does the 

military offer that others don’t? 

Meeting the personnel needs is our biggest 

challenge and a central focus for 2024. 

We offer an incredible variety of careers and 

training opportunities, making the Armed 

Forces an attractive choice. It’s a unique profession 

where one is ultimately prepared to 

risk their life. Many are excited about overseas 

missions where they can gain international 

experience. However, we need to offer 

more financially in the future if we want to 

meet our staffing needs. For instance, the 

recruits’ salaries hadn’t been raised for 10 

years, but we’ve now rectified that. 

The proportion of women in the Armed Forces 

remains modest. You’ve recently opened the door 

for women to voluntarily undertake basic military 

service. What are your expectations from this, 

and how many have joined? 

I was surprised to find that, although women 

have been able to pursue a military career 

since 1998, direct access through basic 

military service wasn’t available. This barrier 

was removed last year. The interest in voluntary 

basic military service has been substantial; 

since April 2023, we have had 212 female 

applicants, with 126 already enlisted or 

about to join. The female participation rate 

has increased from 3.5% in 2020 to 4.5%, 

but there’s still room for improvement. 

Klaudia Tanner gibt immer 120 % 

- auch beim Interview mit Walter 

Feichtinger. 

Klaudia Tanner always gives 120% on 

the job – as demonstrated during the 

interview with Walter Feichtinger. 

60 



61


SINCE 1707 

Austria’s decision to participate in the development 

of a European air defence system (European 

Sky Shield Initiative or ESSI) has been met with 

surprise and criticism. Why is it crucial for Austria 

to be involved? 

In the face of evolving threats, protecting 

our airspace has become essential. We 

have a strong passive component with the 

Goldhaube system, but we’re lacking in active 

defence. Participating in the European 

defence shield is a necessary move. Our 

constitution demands that we protect our 

neutrality by all means. The issue of whether 

this aligns with our neutrality is a nonstarter, 

as the decision to deploy the system 

remains with Austria. Switzerland has a similar 

view and is also taking part. Cooperation 

will make the system interoperable, 

more cost-effective and faster to implement. 

Opting out would be a grave mistake 

and irresponsible. 

With Finland joining NATO and Sweden’s entry 

impending, Austria remains one of the few neutral 

countries in the EU. Does this isolate Austria 

internationally? 

I don’t believe so. Austria’s viewpoints 

and contributions are well-regarded and 

acknowledged. We’ve always been clear 

and consistent in our positions and demonstrate 

solidarity within the EU. Our 

military neutrality offers unique opportunities, 

particularly in promoting peace and 

post-conflict stabilisation. Austria has been 

a major player in peacekeeping for years, 

with over 1,000 troops involved in missions 

in the Western Balkans, Lebanon and until 

recently Mali. 

Minister Tanner, you’ve been in office for four 

years now. Have you changed the Armed Forces? 

Has this role changed you? 

We’ve collectively made significant, positive 

changes – it’s a unified “Mission Forward” 

that is also propelling us upwards. 

It’s incredibly rewarding to see projects 

through from inception to completion, like 

the new Conscription Commission office 

in Vienna or the radar tower in Langenlebarn. 

Has the role changed me? That’s something 

for others to judge, but I still find 

this position immensely fulfilling. 

You’re known for your energy and personal 

commitment. How do you manage to juggle 

everything? 

It wouldn’t be possible without my 

family’s support and understanding. I always 

give 120% on the job, which means 

there’s limited time left for family. And as a 

minister, I have an excellent close-knit 

team I can rely on. 

Elections are due by autumn this year. Regardless 

of the outcome, would you be willing to continue 

as Minister of Defence? 

Absolutely, in any case. The Ministry of 

Defence remains my department of choice. 

PHOTO: RALPH MANFREDA 

Will Austria continue its strong commitment to 

international peacekeeping operations? 

There’s a government consensus to 

maintain our path. Adjustments are always 

needed, of course. Our approach is “strong 

domestically, focused internationally”. It’s 

not just about numbers; it’s about providing 

what’s truly needed. For instance, sending 

just one female soldier to Mozambique 

garnered immense attention and 

gratitude. 

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L’AUTRICHE EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION 

Die Donau als Fluss der europäischen Einigung 

The Danube as a river of European unity 

Wichtige EU-Region 

Important EU region 

Die EU-Strategie für den Donauraum sieht sich großen Herausforderungen gegenüber. Österreich hat 

heuer den Vorsitz und eine Fülle von Veranstaltungen organisiert. 

The EU Strategy for the Danube Region faces significant challenges. This year, Austria has assumed the 

presidency and has organised a plethora of events. 

Text: Gerhard Bitzan 

Die Donauregion reicht vom 

Schwarzwald zum Schwarzen 

Meer und hat 115 Millionen 

Bewohner. 

The Danube Region stretches 

from the Black Forest to the 

Black Sea and is home to 115 

million inhabitants. 

Die Eckdaten des Donauraumes 

sind beeindruckend: 800.000 

Quadratkilometer, 115 

Millionen Bewohner, 14 Staaten. Geprägt 

wird die Region von der Donau, die mit 

ihren 2.850 Kilometern der zweitlängste 

Strom in Europa, nach der Wolga, ist. Die 

Donau ist wirtschaftlich gesehen eine 

wichtige Wasserstraße, hat touristisch 

vieles zu bieten und ist historisch gesehen 

eine wichtige Verbindung zwischen 

Westeuropa und dem Schwarzen Meer. 

Vor allem die Wiener haben da eine 

besonders romantische Sicht, viele denken 

sofort an Donau-Monarchie oder 

Donauwalzer. „Die Donau ist sozusagen 

Kommandowechsel. 

Change of command. 

Sloweniens Außenministerin 

Tanja Fajon übergibt die 

EUSDR-Präsidentschaft an 

Außenminister Alexander 

Schallenberg. 

Slovenia‘s foreign minister 

Tanja Fajon hands over 

the EUSDR-Presidency to 

her counterpart Alexander 

Schallenberg. 

ein Teil der österreichischen DNA“, meint 

Botschafter Harald Stranzl, Nationaler 

Koordinator für die EU- 

Donauraumstrategie im Wiener 

Außenministerium, im Gespräch mit CD, 

siehe Interview auf Seite 68. 

Als in der EU die Idee reifte, die Staaten 

direkt an der Donau und in ihrem 

Einzugsbereich zu einer europäischen 

Makro-Region zusammenzufassen, war 

die Zustimmung groß. Besonders 

treibende Kräfte waren Österreich und 

auch Rumänien. Im Juni 2011 wurde dann 

die EU-Strategie für den Donauraum 

(EUSDR) offiziell ins Leben gerufen. Ziel 

dieser Initiative ist die Förderung der wirt- 

PHOTOS: BMEIA/ MICHAEL GRUBER 

SOURCE: EUSDR 



65


Blick vom Braunsberg in Hainburg an der Donau, 

entlang der Donau und auf den Nationalpark 

Donau-Auen. View from the Braunsberg in Hainburg 

on the Danube, along the Danube and on the Danube 

Floodplain National Park. 

INTERVIEW 

MARTIN EICHTINGER 

schaftlichen, kulturellen und politischen 

Entwicklung des Donauraumes. Durch engere 

Zusammenarbeit der Staaten sollen 

allen Bewohnern bessere Chancen auf höhere 

Bildung, Beschäftigung und Wohlstand 

ermöglicht werden; „Wohlstand 

durch Vielfalt“, lautet das übergeordnete 

Motto der Donauraum-Strategie. 

Die EUSDR hat als zentrale Anlaufstelle 

ein Büro in Wien, mit Zweigstelle in 

Bukarest – und wechselt jährlich die 

Präsidentschaft. Schon bald nach der 

Gründung hatte Österreich 2014 erstmals 

für ein Jahr die Präsidentschaft inne. Am 1. 

November vergangenen Jahres übergab 

Vorgänger Slowenien den Vorsitz erneut 

an die Regierung in Wien, die diesen bis 

Ende 2024 innehat und eine Fülle von 

Veranstaltungen organisiert hat. 

Dieses Mal steht die rot-weiß-rote 

Präsidentschaft unter besonderen 

Herausforderungen. Zum einen ist es das 

Thema Ukraine, die Mitglied der EUSDR 

ist und weiterhin brutalen russischen 

Angriffen auf Infrastruktur und 

Bevölkerung ausgesetzt ist. Für die Stadt 

Kiew ist die Donau als Handelsweg Teil 

ihrer wirtschaftlichen Überlebensstrategie. 

Außenminister Alexander Schallenberg 

hat dies bei der Übernahme der 

Präsidentschaft ausdrücklich betont: 

„Genauso wie die Donau heute die Ausfuhr 

ukrainischer Lebensmittel in die Welt 

ermöglicht, wird sie morgen den 

Wiederaufbau der Ukraine unterstützen“, 

sagte der Minister. 

Der zweite wichtige Punkt während 

Österreichs Vorsitz betrifft das Thema EU- 

Erweiterung. Da sich in der EU- 

Donauraum-Initiative sowohl EU- 

Mitglieder als auch Nichtmitglieder 

treffen, gilt die EUSDR als wichtiges 

verbindendes Instrument der 

Heranführung der Beitrittskandidaten. 

Mit dem EU-Beschluss im Dezember, 

Beitrittsverhandlungen mit der Ukraine 

und der Republik Moldau aufnehmen zu 

wollen, sind jetzt alle Donauraum-Staaten 

entweder in der EU oder am Weg nach 

Brüssel. „Dies unterstreicht die enorme 

geopolitische Bedeutung der Donau. In 

den kommenden Jahren wird Europas 

zweitlängster Strom zur Gänze ein EU- 

Fluss sein“, sagt Botschafter Martin 

Eichtinger, Sonderbeauftragter für Nachbarschaftspolitik 

und die außenpolitische 

Dimension des Donauraumes im Außenministerium, 

im Interview auf Seite 67. 

Auch der Nationale Koordinator, 

Botschafter Stranzl, betont diesen Aspekt 

der europäischen Einigung. „Da drängt 

sich das schöne Bild auf, dass die Donau 

zum neuen Fluss der europäischen 

Einigung in Osteuropa geworden ist. So 

wie der Rhein diese Rolle in Westeuropa 

vor 60 oder 70 Jahre gespielt hat.“ Und er 

PHOTOS: ADOBE STOCK, BMEIA/ MICHAEL GRUBER 

fügt hinzu: „Es ist gut, dass wir da mit 

dabei sind und mitgestalten können.“ 

Organisatorisch ist die nationale 

Koordination des österreichischen 

Vorsitzjahres geteilt. Die außen- und 

europapolitische Dimension wird im 

Außenministerium wahrgenommen; da ist 

Botschafter Harald Stranzl der nationale 

Koordinator. Die regionalpolitische und 

wasserwirtschaftliche Koordination wird 

im Landwirtschaftsministerium von 

Bundesminister Norbert Totschnig 

ausgeführt. 

Die EU-Strategie ist so aufgebaut, dass 

es grundsätzlich vier Themenfelder 

(pillars) gibt. Das sind Anbindung, 

Umweltschutz, Aufbau von Wohlstand 

und Stärkung des Donauraums. Diese vier 

Säulen sind wiederum in zwölf thematische 

Prioritätsbereiche (priority areas) 

aufgeteilt. Österreich hat in drei 

Prioritätsbereichen die Koordinationsrolle 

übernommen. 

Wichtig ist auch der wirtschaftliche 

Aspekt. Viele Unternehmen sehen in 

diesem Raum eine große ökonomische 

Chance. „In vielen dieser Länder sind wir 

Investor Nummer Eins oder Zwei oder 

einer der wichtigsten Handelspartner“, 

betont Botschafter Eichtinger. Auch der 

wachsende Tourismus auf der Donau ist da 

ein wichtiger Punkt. 

Österreich legt auch einen Schwerpunkt 

auf das Jugendthema. So gibt es seit letztem 

Jahr einen Jugendrat der Donaustrategie- 

Staaten. Dieser wird auch zu den geplanten 

Donau-Ministerkonferenzen in Österreich 

eingeladen. Und was Zivilgesellschaft 

betrifft, soll die Idee der österreichischen 

EU-Gemeinderäte auch im Donauraum 

propagiert werden. 

The Danube Region’s statistics are 

staggering: spanning 800,000 square 

kilometres, and home to 115 million 

people across 14 countries. Dominated by 

the Danube River, which, at 2,850 

kilometres, is Europe’s second-longest 

„Wichtige Plattform für EU-Beitrittskandidaten“ | 

”Important platform for EU accession candidates.” 

Botschafter Eichtinger ist Sonderbeauftragter und Koordinator für Nachbarschaftspolitik im Außenministerium. 

Ambassador Eichtinger is Special Envoy and Coordinator for neighbourhood policy. 

Welche Auswirkungen 

hat die 

EU-Strategie für den 

Donauraum (EUSDR) 

auf die EU-Erweiterungspolitik? 

Die Donauraumstrategie 

umfasst das 

gesamte Einzugsgebiet 

der Donau. Es gibt 14 

Mitgliedstaaten, neun 

davon sind EU-Mitglieder, fünf nicht. Aber alle fünf 

sind mittlerweile Kandidatenländer. Im Falle der 

Ukraine, von Moldau, Serbien und Montenegro sind 

die Beitrittsverhandlungen im Laufen oder es gibt 

einen Beschluss über deren Aufnahme. Bei 

Bosnien-Herzegowina hoffen wir, dass es dem 

Europäischen Rat im März gelingen wird, auch hier 

die Eröffnung von Beitrittsverhandlungen zu 

beschließen. Die Donauraumstrategie ist eine sehr 

wichtige Plattform, um diese Länder an die EU 

heranzuführen – im Sinne von gradueller 

Integration. 

Österreich hat derzeit den Vorsitz der EUSDR 

inne. Was sind die inhaltlichen Schwerpunkte 

dieser Präsidentschaft? 

Wir haben drei große thematische Schwerpunkte. 

Der erste ist Stabilität und Sicherheit, was auch 

bedeutet, allen Mitgliedstaaten der EU-Strategie 

eine klare EU-Perspektive anzubieten. Hier ist die 

Unterstützung der Ukraine und Moldau ganz 

besonders wichtig. Zweiter großer Schwerpunkt ist 

die Wirtschaft. Unter dem Titel Innovation, Skills 

and Business Opportunities werden wir das Thema 

Fachkräftemangel aufgreifen und Unternehmen in 

der Donauregion zusammenführen. Der dritte ist 

der Nachhaltigkeitsschwerpunkt. Dabei geht es um 

die Bewahrung des Ökosystems der Donau und um 

die grüne Energiewende. 

Welche Themen sind für Sie noch besonders 

wichtig? 

In den zwölf Priority Areas wird die ganze 

Bandbreite der politischen Themen bearbeitet. 

Zusätzlich erwähnen möchte ich die verstärkte 

Einbeziehung der Jugend. Das ist während unserer 

Präsidentschaft ein ganz wichtiger Schwerpunkt, 

genauso wie die Einbeziehung der Zivilgesellschaft. 

Betonen möchte ich auch noch die 

Fortführung und Vertiefung der engen Zusammenarbeit 

der Donauländer im Bereich der Kultur. 

How does the EU Strategy for the Danube 

Region (EUSDR) impact EU enlargement 

policy? 

The Strategy for the Danube Region spans the entire 

Danube catchment area. It includes 14 member states, 

nine of which are EU members, and five are not. 

However, all five are now candidate countries. For 

Ukraine, Moldova, Serbia and Montenegro, accession 

negotiations are underway or have been agreed upon 

in principle. We are hopeful that, come March, the 

European Council will decide to open accession 

negotiations with Bosnia-Herzegovina as well. The 

Strategy for the Danube Region serves as a vital 

platform for drawing these countries closer to the EU 

through gradual integration. 

Austria currently presides over the EUSDR. 

What are the focal points of its presidency? 

We have three major thematic focal points. The first is 

stability and security, which includes offering all 

countries that are part of the strategy a clear EU 

perspective. Supporting Ukraine and Moldova is 

particularly crucial in this aspect. The second major 

focus is on the economy. Under the banner of 

innovation, skills and business opportunities, we aim to 

address the shortage of skilled workers and bring 

together companies in the Danube Region. The third 

focus is on sustainability, concerning the preservation 

of the Danube ecosystem and the green energy 

transition. 

What other issues do you find particularly 

important? 

The twelve priority areas cover a wide range of political 

topics. Additionally, I’d like to emphasise the increased 

involvement of young people. This is a significant focus 

during our presidency, just as the inclusion of civil 

society as a whole. I would also like to highlight the 

continuation and deepening of the close cooperation 

among the Danube countries in the cultural sector. 



67


INTERVIEW 

HARALD STRANZL 

Norbert Totschnig: 

Minister für Landwirtschaft, Regionen und 

Wasser. Minister for Agriculture, Regions and Water 

Resources. 

„Die Donauregion befindet sich in einem riesigen Umbruch.“ | 

”The Danube Region is undergoing profound transformation.” 

Botschafter Stranzl ist Nationaler Koordinator EU-Donauraumstrategie im Außenministerium in Wien. 

Ambassador Stranzl is National Coordinator EU-Danube Strategy. 

Sie sind Nationaler 

Koordinator der 

österreichischen 

Präsidentschaft im 

Außenministerium. 

Was sind die 

wichtigsten Events? 

Das Hauptevent eines 

jeweiligen Vorsitzes ist 

das Jahresforum der 

Donauraumstrategie. 

Es wird heuer in Kooperation mit der Stadt Wien 

am 20. und 21. Juni in der Akademie der 

Wissenschaften stattfinden. Wichtig ist auf 

politischer Ebene das Treffen der Außenminister/ 

innen auf Einladung von Alexander Schallenberg. 

Zum ersten Mal wird es auch ein Treffen der 

Bürgermeister/innen der Hauptstädte der 

Donauländer geben. Und dann gibt es noch ein 

Treffen der Parlamentspräsident/innen der 

Donauländer auf Einladung von Nationalratspräsident 

Wolfgang Sobotka am 18. und 19. März. 

Österreich hatte schon einmal, 2014, die 

Präsidentschaft inne. Wie haben sich die 

Voraussetzungen geändert? 

Es ist spannend und bemerkenswert, wie sehr sich 

im letzten Jahrzehnt der Kontext verändert hat. Die 

Region befindet sich in einem riesigen Umbruch. 

Da geht es nicht nur um Russlands brutalen 

Angriffskrieg gegen die Ukraine, wodurch plötzlich 

die Donau in den Fokus gerückt und zu einer ganz 

wichtigen Lebensader für die Ukraine geworden 

ist. Es gibt viele weitere Veränderungen, die sich 

im Donauraum abspielen: Geopolitische 

Verschiebungen, Klimawandel, Naturkatastrophen, 

Dürreperioden etc., die die Donau als Transportund 

Ökosystem massiv betreffen. 

Worin unterscheidet sich das österreichische 

Programm vom Vorgänger Slowenien? 

Eine Vorsitzführung ist immer eine Dienstleistung 

an den Mitgliedstaaten. Wir haben einerseits 

bewusst auf Kontinuität gesetzt, uns aber auch um 

neue Akzente bemüht. Beim Fokus auf die Jugend 

als „NextGenerationDanube“ wollen wir noch 

konkreter werden. Wir setzen aber auch stark auf 

eine Einbindung der Wirtschaft und des 

Privatsektors, z. B. im Rahmen eines „Danube 

Region Business Summit“ im Herbst 2024. 

CD: As the National Coordinator of the EU 

Strategy for the Danube Region at the Austrian 

Ministry for European and International Affairs, 

what are the key events planned? 

The flagship event during any presidency is the Annual 

Forum of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, 

taking place this year in collaboration with the City of 

Vienna on 20 and 21 June at the Austrian Academy of 

Sciences. A key political milestone is the Foreign 

Ministers’ meeting, hosted by Foreign Minister 

Alexander Schallenberg. For the first time, there will 

also be a gathering of the mayors from the Danube 

countries’ capitals. Additionally, the Danube countries’ 

parliamentary leaders will meet on 18 and 19 March, 

convened by National Council President Wolfgang 

Sobotka. 

Austria previously held the presidency in 2014. 

How have conditions changed since then? 

It‘s striking to see how significantly the context has 

shifted over the last decade. The region is undergoing 

a profound transformation. It’s not only about Russia’s 

brutal war of aggression against Ukraine, which has 

unexpectedly brought the Danube into focus as a vital 

lifeline for Ukraine. There are numerous other shifts 

occurring within the Danube region: geopolitical 

changes, climate change, natural disasters, droughts 

etc., all impacting the Danube as both a transport route 

and an ecosystem. 

How does the Austrian programme differ from 

its predecessor, Slovenia? 

Each Presidency serves the member states. We’ve 

intentionally maintained continuity with Slovenia while 

pursuing at the same time our own, Austrian priorities. 

We want to specifically focus on youth as the “NextGenerationDanube”. 

And we’re also encouraging the 

involvement of the business community and private 

sector, for instance, through a “Danube Region 

Business Summit” scheduled for November 2024. 

river after the Volga, it is not only a crucial 

economic waterway but also a treasure 

trove of tourist attractions and a historic 

link between Western Europe and the 

Black Sea. For the Viennese in particular, 

the river evokes a sense of romantic 

nostalgia, conjuring images of the Danube 

Monarchy and the waltz. “The Danube is 

essentially part of the Austrian DNA,” says 

Ambassador Harald Stranzl, National 

Coordinator for the EU Strategy for the 

Danube Region at the Ministry for 

European and International Affairs, in a 

discussion with CD (see interview on page 

68). 

When the EU conceived the idea of 

uniting the Danube-adjacent states and 

their catchment areas into a European 

macro-region, the response was 

overwhelmingly positive, with Austria and 

Romania playing pivotal roles. In June 

2011, the EU Strategy for the Danube 

Region (EUSDR) was officially launched, 

aiming to promote economic, cultural and 

political development. By fostering closer 

cooperation among these countries, the 

initiative seeks to improve education, 

employment and prosperity for all 

residents under the banner of “Prosperity 

through Diversity”. 

The EUSDR is headquartered in 

Vienna, with a branch in Bucharest, and 

the presidency rotates annually. Austria, 

having first held the presidency in 2014, 

took over again on 1 November of the 

previous year from Slovenia, organising an 

extensive range of events until the end of 

2024. 

This Austrian presidency is marked by 

unique challenges, including the situation 

in Ukraine, an EUSDR member, which 

continues to face brutal Russian assaults on 

its infrastructure and population. For Kyiv, 

the Danube is a vital commercial artery 

essential for its economic survival strategy. 

Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg 

emphasised this upon assuming the 

presidency: “Just as the Danube enables 

the export of Ukrainian foodstuffs to the 

world today, it will support Ukraine’s 

PHOTOS: BMEIA/ MICHAEL GRUBER, BEIGESTELLT 

reconstruction tomorrow,” he stated. 

Another critical issue during Austria’s 

tenure is EU expansion. With the EUSDR 

bringing together both EU members and 

non-members, it serves as a key instrument 

for integrating candidate countries. With 

the EU’s decision in December to start 

accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova, 

all Danube Region states are now either in 

the EU or on their way to Brussels. “This 

underscores the Danube’s immense 

geopolitical significance. In the coming 

years, Europe’s second-longest river will 

entirely be an EU river,” says Ambassador 

Martin Eichtinger, Special Envoy and 

Coordinator for neighbourhood policy 

and the foreign policy dimension of the 

Danube Region, in an interview on page 

67. 

Ambassador Stranzl also highlights this 

aspect of European integration, likening 

the Danube to the new river of unity in 

Eastern Europe, much as the Rhine played 

this role in Western Europe 60 or 70 years 

ago. He adds, “It’s good that we are part of 

this and can contribute to shaping it.” 

The Austrian presidency’s national 

coordination is divided between foreign/ 

European policy dimensions, led by 

Ambassador Stranzl at the Ministry for 

European and International Affairs, and 

regional/water management coordination, 

overseen by Minister Norbert Totschnig at 

the Ministry of Agriculture. 

The EU strategy is structured around 

four pillars: connectivity, environmental 

protection, prosperity building and 

strengthening the Danube Region, 

further divided into twelve priority areas. 

Austria plays a leading coordination 

role in three of these areas. 

Economic opportunities also play a 

significant role, with many businesses 

viewing the region as a lucrative market. 

“In many of these countries, we are either 

the number one investor or a leading 

trade partner,” notes Ambassador 

Eichtinger. The booming tourism industry 

along the Danube is another key focus. 

Austria also prioritises youth engagement 

with the creation of the Danube 

Youth Council last year, which will participate 

in the upcoming Danube Ministerial 

Meeting in Austria. Additionally, 

the concept of Austrian EU municipal 

councils is being promoted throughout 

the Danube Region to enhance civil society 

involvement. 

OPENING SUMMER 2024 

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The ARCOTEL AQ will be part of this dynamic development. 

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with boasting spacious panoramic windows or balcony 

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L’AUTRICHE AMBASSADOR OF SCIENCE 

Österreichs Nachhaltigkeits-Uni Nummer Eins 

Austria’s premier university for sustainability 

BOKU/Universität für Bodenkultur | University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences 

Text & Interview: Julia Kistner 

DIRECTOR’S TALK 

INFO 

Klimaschutz drinnen wie draußen: 

Der Neubau der BOKU ist ein 

Pioniergebäude für Holzbauweise 

und nachhaltiges Bauen. 

Climate protection from the inside 

out: BOKU’s new building sets the 

standard for sustainable timber 

construction. 

wollen eine der führenden Life Sciences-Universitäten 

in Europa bei 

„Wir 

Klimaschutz, Biodiversität, Nachhaltigkeit 

und Bioökonomie sein und als österreichische 

Nachhaltigkeits-Uni den gesellschaftlichen Diskurs 

bei den drängenden Fragen der Gegenwart und 

der Zukunft maßgeblich mitgestalten“, stellt BOKU- 

Rektorin Eva Schulev-Steindl hohe Ansprüche an 

sich, ihr Team und ihre Studierenden. Man nehme 

seine Vorbildfunktion als „grüne Uni“ wahr, wolle 90 

Prozent der Emissionen bis 2040 einsparen. „Wir 

möchten auch die Internationalisierung weiter vorantreiben 

und die Attraktivität eines BOKU-Studiums, 

das auf dem Arbeitsmarkt einer Vollkaskoversicherung 

gleichkommt, noch bekannter machen.“ 

“At our university, we’re setting our sights 

on becoming a European leader in life 

sciences, especially in areas like climate 

action, biodiversity, sustainability and the bioeconomy. 

As a beacon of sustainability in Austria, we’re 

committed to actively contributing to the critical 

conversations surrounding today’s and tomorrow’s 

challenges,” says BOKU rector Eva Schulev-Steindl, 

outlining ambitious goals for herself, her team and 

the students. Embracing its responsibility as a “green 

university”, BOKU aims for a dramatic reduction in 

emissions – targeting a 90% decrease by 2040. “We’re 

also keen on enhancing our global presence and elevating 

the prestige of a BOKU degree, which is already 

highly valued in the professional world.” 

PHOTOS: CHRISTOPH GRUBER | BOKU MEDIENSTELLE, BOKU EIGENPRODUKTION 

Eva Schulev-Steindl 

Wie wichtig sind Universitäten für die internationale 

Diplomatie und Zusammenarbeit? 

Die Nutzung wissenschaftlicher Zusammenarbeit im Sinne von 

„Science Diplomacy“ zwischen Ländern, um gemeinsame Probleme 

anzugehen und internationale Partnerschaften aufzubauen wird 

immer wichtiger, um die globalen Herausforderungen unserer Zeit 

gemeinsam zu lösen. Die BOKU war schon immer international 

aktiv. Wir haben rund 200 Partnerinstitutionen. Die BOKU war in 

Österreich hier Pionierin, etwa bei der Entwicklung einer 

Internationalisierungsstrategie 1998, englischsprachiger 

Masterstudien seit 2003, expliziter Verankerung von Development 

Research in der Strategie 2009, Sprachenpolitik 2012 oder Joint 

Degrees seit 2012. Auch mit Vietnam ist die BOKU seit 25 Jahren in 

gemeinsamen Projekten verbunden. 

Internationalität wird auf der BOKU großgeschrieben. Wie 

hoch ist der Anteil ausländischer Studierender? 

Im Wintersemester 2023/24 hatten 27,6 Prozent der 10.205 

BOKU-Studierenden keine österreichische Staatsbürgerschaft, 

davon fünf Studierende aus Vietnam. Das Interesse vietnamesischer 

Studierender an BOKU-Studien ist groß, aber die 

Stipendienmöglichkeiten fehlen. Es wäre wünschenswert in Kontakt 

zum Projekt 89 der vietnamesischen Regierung treten zu können, 

um die BOKU auf die Liste der „förderbaren Universitäten“ zu 

setzen. 

Heimische Studierende sind in den elf internationalen Doctoral 

Rektorin der Universität für Bodenkultur Wien BOKU | Rector of the University of Natural 

Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna 

„Forschung und Entwicklung sind ohne internationale Projekte undenkbar.“ 

“Research and development are unthinkable without international projects.“ 

Schools, in den dreizehn internationalen und neun 

englischsprachigen in Österreich angebotenen Masterstudien aktiv 

und nutzen unsere Austauschprogramme für Studien und Praktika. 

In Europa sind das ERASMUS und CEEPUS, in Übersee die 

Programme Joint Study, Freemover oder auch wissenschaftliche 

Stipendien. Wir haben gemeinsame Masterprogramme mit 

Universitäten in Neuseeland oder Kenia. Der internationale 

Austausch ist wesentlich, damit Studierende die für den 

Arbeitsmarkt notwendigen interkulturellen und Fremdsprachen- 

Kompetenzen erlangen. Forschung und Entwicklung sind ohne 

internationale Projekte undenkbar. 

How critical are universities in fostering international 

diplomacy and collaboration? 

The role of universities in bridging nations through “Science 

Diplomacy”, using scientific partnerships to tackle shared 

challenges and forge global alliances, is ever more crucial in our 

collective effort to address the world’s pressing issues. BOKU has 

long been a global player, boasting partnerships with about 200 

institutions worldwide. As an innovator in Austria, BOKU was 

among the first to craft an internationalisation strategy back in 

1998, launch English-language master’s programmes in 2003, 

integrate development research into its core strategy by 2009, 

implement a language policy in 2012 and introduce joint degrees 

from the same year. Additionally, BOKU has been engaged in 

collaborative projects with Vietnam for over 25 years. 

How significant is the international student presence at BOKU? 

In the winter term of 2023/24, international students made up 

27.6% of BOKU’s student population, totalling 10,205, with five of 

these students coming from Vietnam. This reflects a strong interest 

from Vietnamese students in our programmes, highlighting a need 

for expanded scholarship opportunities. Engaging with Vietnam’s 

Project 89 could further position BOKU as a preferred institution for 

international scholars. 

At BOKU, domestic students also immerse themselves in a global 

learning environment through participation in eleven international 

doctoral schools, thirteen international and nine English-language 

master’s programmes available in Austria, and various exchange 

programmes for study and internships abroad. These programs 

include ERASMUS and CEEPUS in Europe, as well as Joint Study, 

Freemover and scientific scholarships globally. Our collaborative 

master’s programmes with universities in New Zealand and Kenya 

underscore the importance of international exchange in fostering 

the intercultural and foreign language skills that are vital in today’s 

job market. Moreover, research and development at BOKU are 

deeply enriched by our involvement in international projects. 

BOKU in Kürze 

BOKU in brief 

Österreichs führende 

Life-Sciences-Universität wurde 

1872 gegründet. Sie beschäftigt 

derzeit knapp 2.170 Wissenschaftler*innen 

und 830 

allgemeines Personal. Sie hat 

über 1.040 Studierende und 

knapp 2.400 Absolventinnen 

pro Jahr, davon sind mehr als 

die Hälfte weiblich. Unterrichtet 

wird ganzheitlich: Jeder 

Studiengang an der BOKU 

kombiniert Natur- und 

Ingenieurwissenschaften mit 

Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften. 

As Austria’s premier institution 

for life sciences, established in 

1872, BOKU boasts a dedicated 

team of nearly 2,170 scientists 

and 830 administrative staff. 

With a student body exceeding 

1,040 and an annual graduation 

rate of nearly 2,400, over half of 

whom are women, BOKU 

emphasises a comprehensive 

approach to education. Each 

programme at BOKU skilfully 

integrates natural and 

engineering sciences with 

elements of economics and 

social sciences, ensuring a 

well-rounded and holistic 

educational experience. 

INFO: 

boku.ac.at 

Die BOKU ist bestens vernetzt, lockt 

Studierende aus der ganzen Welt an. 

Es gibt bereits 35 BOKU- 

Absolvent*innen aus Vietnam. 

BOKU stands as a hub of international 

education, drawing students globally, 

with 35 graduates hailing from 

Vietnam alone. 

70 Cercle Diplomatique 1/2024 Cercle Diplomatique 1/2024 

71

L’AUTRICHE ENERGY SECURITY 

Gegenwind für die Energiewende 

Challenges in the energy transition 

Text: Julia Kistner 

Milliardeninvestitionen in Anlagen und Leitungen, lange Verfahren, mangelnde Bürger-Akzeptanz. 

Was der grünen Transformation im Weg steht. 

The path to the energy transition is hindered by the need for substantial investments in infrastructure and 

power grids, lengthy approval processes and a lack of widespread public support. 

Lange Verfahren. 

Protracted approval times. 

PHOTOS: XYXY 

SOURCE: APG, MARTIN HÖRMANDINGER 

Politische Ziele für die Energiewende 

sind schnell gesetzt. Ob sie je erreicht 

werden steht auf einem anderen Blatt. 

Laut jüngster EU-Vorgabe sollen die Mitgliedsstaaten 

bis 2040 rund 90 Prozent ihrer 

CO2-Emissionen verglichen mit 1990 einsparen, 

bevor Europa 2050 ganz klimaneutral 

werden will. 

Österreich will sogar schon 2040 klimaneutral 

sein und bis 2030 den gesamten 

Stromverbrauch auf das Jahr gerechnet 

vollständig aus erneuerbaren Energiequellen 

decken. Das wären 80 Milliarden Kilowattstunden 

„grüner“ Strom! 

Bis wir dort hinkommen, sind allerdings 

noch Milliardeninvestitionen in 

Strom-, Gas- und Wasserstoff-Leitungen 

und -Anlagen notwendig. 

Bürgerwiderstand und Verfahrensmarathon 

Was die Energiewende ausbremst sind 

langwierige Genehmigungsverfahren – 

fünf bis sieben Jahre für ein Windkraftrad 

und bis zu zehn Jahren für eine Stromtrasse 

– und die geringe Akzeptanz der Bevölkerung 

von Pumpkraftspeichern, Leitungen, 

Windräder oder Solarparks vor ihrer 

Haustüre. 

Als jüngstes Beispiel für Bürgerwiderstand 

gegen Klimaschutzprojekte nennt 

Gerhard Christiner, technischer Vorstand 

des Übertragungsnetzbetreibers Austrian 

Power Grid den Protest gegen Stromleitungen 

des Industriekonzerns Voestalpine. 

Der Stahlkocher plant in Linz und in Donauwitz 

zwei klassische Hochöfen durch 

Lichtbogenöfen zu ersetzen und so jährlich 

vier Millionen Tonnen Emissionen einzusparen. 

Doch vorerst bringt ein einziger 

geplanter Strommast das Projekt zur Strecke, 

berichtet Gerhard Christiner: „Er 

müsste auf einer Wiese mit Trockenrasen 

aufgestellt werden, dagegen hat der gegnerische 

Anwalt Beschwerde beim Bundesverwaltungsgericht 

eingelegt.“ Interessant 

sei die Begründung des Gerichts, weshalb 

man der Beschwerde mit aufschiebender 

Wirkung stattgegeben habe: „Der Gesetzgeber 

hat bis jetzt nicht festgelegt, was Priorität 

hat, der Klimaschutz oder der Umwelt- 

und Nachbarschaftsschutz.“ Die 

Regierung müsse endlich das Elektrizitätswirtschaftsgesetz 

sowie das Erneuerbaren- 

Ausbau-Beschleunigungsgesetz auf den 

Weg bringen und hier eindeutig Klimaschutz 

als vorrangig erklären. Ausständig 

sei auch die Umsetzung der überarbeiteten 

EU-Erneuerbaren-Richtlinie Red III, die 

Verfahren beschleunigt. 

Säumige Regierung 

Eine sichere Energieversorgung sei einfach 

zu wichtig für den Wohlstand des 

Landes, als dass wir uns damit Zeit lassen 

könnten, so Gerhard Christiner. Auf Anfrage 

von Cercle Diplomatique im Kabinett 

von Klimaschutz-, Energie- und Umweltministerin 

Leonore Gewessler heißt es lapidar: 

„Das Erneuerbaren-Ausbau-Beschleunigungsgesetz 

befindet sich aktuell 

in Arbeit. Das Klimaschutzgesetz ist in regierungsinterner 

Abstimmung. Das Elektrizitätswirtschaftsgesetz 

wurde erst kürzlich 

in öffentliche Begutachtung geschickt. 

Das Erneuerbare-Gase-Gesetz befindet 

sich in regierungsinterner Abstimmung.“ 

„Wenn wir so weitermachen wie bisher, 

werden wir mit großer Wahrscheinlichkeit 

die österreichischen Klimaziele verfehlen“, 

drängt auch Barbara Schmidt, Generalsekretärin 

der Interessensgemeinschaft Oesterreichs 

Energie auf mehr Tempo bei der 

Gesetzesfindung und den Genehmigungsverfahren: 

„Wir haben zu wenige gewidmete 

Flächen, auf denen die Kraftwerke errichtet 

werden können.“ 

Schon 80 Prozent Erneuerbare 

Man dürfe Österreich aber auch nicht 

schlecht reden: Die Alpenrepublik zählt 

mit einem Erneuerbaren-Anteil von zuletzt 

rund 80 Prozent zu den „grünen“ Vorreitern 

Europas. „Österreich muss aber 

noch fünf und zehn Prozent seines jährlichen 

Strombedarfs aus den umliegenden 

Ländern importieren. Um das zu ändern, 

braucht es hunderte Wasserkraftwerke, gut 

tausend Windräder und hunderttausende 

Photovoltaik-Anlagen (PV). Auch gehen 

wir davon aus, dass sich der Strombedarf in 

„Wenn wir so weitermachen, 

verfehlt Österreich 

die Klimaziele.“ 

“Continuing on our current 

path greatly risks failing to 

meet Austria’s climate 

objectives.” 

Barbara Schmidt 

Generalsekretärin Oesterreichs 

Energie 

Secretary General of Oesterreichs 

Energie 

Ein Windrad ist in drei Monaten 

aufgestellt aber erst in fünf bis 

sieben Jahren genehmigt. 

It’s possible to construct a wind 

turbine within three months, yet 

obtaining the necessary approvals can 

take from five to seven years. 



73


Künftig soll durch österreichische Gasleitungen 

teilweise auch Wasserstoff fließen. 

In the coming years, Austrian gas pipelines will be 

adapted to transport hydrogen as well. 

Für 100 Prozent „grünen“ Strom braucht es noch 

weitere hunderttausende PV-Anlagen. 

To attain a fully “green” electricity supply, a 

significant increase in photovoltaic (PV) installations 

is essential. 

Österreich bis 2040 verdoppeln wird. Um 

diesen Bedarf zu decken, muss sich die installierte 

Kraftwerksleistung gegenüber 

heute verdreifachen“, sagt Barbara Schmidt. 

Leitungsnotstand – Lücken im Netz 

„Derzeit bezieht Österreich aufs Jahr betrachtet 

noch 55 bis 60 Prozent seines Gasbedarfs 

aus Russland. Bis 2027 will Europa 

auf russisches Gas ganz verzichten“, erinnert 

E-Control-Vorstand Alfons Haber, 

„damit Gas dann auch von West nach Ost 

fließen kann, braucht es den Ausbau des 

Teilstücks der West-Austria-Gasleitung, 

den WAG-Loop. Eine weitere Gaslieferroute 

geht von Deutschland über Tschechien 

und die Slowakei nach Österreich und eine 

dritte Lieferroute über Italien.“ 

Mit dem WAG-Loop, ein zusätzlicher 

40 Kilometer langer paralleler Leitungsstrang, 

könne die Gastransportkapazität 

aus Deutschland um 30 Prozent erhöht 

lines and facilities. 

Public resistance and procedural marathons 

The progress of the energy transition is 

being stalled by protracted approval procedures 

– requiring five to seven years for a 

wind turbine and as much as ten years for a 

power line – coupled with the limited acceptance 

among the public for the placement 

of pump storage power plants, transmission 

lines, wind turbines or solar parks 

near their communities. 

Highlighting a recent case of public 

pushback against climate action initiatives, 

Gerhard Christiner, technical director of 

the transmission system operator Austrian 

Power Grid, references opposition to power 

lines by the industrial giant Voestalpine. 

The company aims to swap out two traditional 

blast furnaces at its Linz and Donauwitz 

sites for electric arc furnaces, which 

would cut emissions by four million tonnes 

a year. However, the project is currently 

being thwarted by the proposed placement 

of just one electricity pylon, as reported by 

Christiner. He explains, “This pylon would 

need to be installed on a meadow characterised 

by dry grassland, a move that has 

prompted a legal challenge from an oppowerden, 

erklärt Stefan Wagenhofer, Geschäftsführer 

der Gas Connect Austria 

GmbH. Doch noch gehe es um die Finanzierung. 

Das Projekt habe höchste Priorität, 

versichert das Klimaschutzministerium, 

eine Teilfinanzierung sei aus 

Budgetmitteln denkbar. „Wir rechnen für 

den WAG-Loop mit Kosten in Höhe von 

200 Millionen Euro. Aus unserer Sicht wäre 

eine Förderung mit 70 Millionen für das 

Projekt notwendig“, meint Stefan Wagenhofer. 

Zudem sei die Anpassung des Tarifmodells 

notwendig. 

Grüne Wende mit Wasserstoff 

Der Ausbau der Gasleitung in beide 

Richtungen sei auch für den späteren 

Transport von Wasserstoff wichtig, der in 

Kombination mit den großen österreichischen 

Gasspeichern ein essentieller Baustein 

für eine alternative Energiezukunft 

sei. Auch ließe sich so die Überproduktion 

von Strom im Sommer mit dem höheren 

Bedarf im Winter besser ausgleichen. „Mit 

dem WAG-Loop schaffen wir die Grundlage 

für Transportkorridore, wie sie im European 

Hydrogen Backbone abgebildet sind. 

Die aktuelle Projektplanung sieht eine Fertigstellung 

Anfang bis Mitte 2027 vor“, sagt 

Stefan Wagenhofer, „als Land im Zentrum 

des europäischen Erdgasnetzes sind wir ein 

wichtiger Teil von Versorgungskorridoren 

wie dem South H2 Corridor, der grünen 

Wasserstoff aus Nordafrika über Italien 

nach Österreich und weiter nach Bayern 

bringen soll.“ 

Hoher Speicherbedarf 

Ausgebaut werden müssten auch die 

Speicher- und Pumpspeicherkraftwerke, 

um die immer stärkeren Schwankungen 

der erneuerbaren Stromquellen auszugleichen. 

„Wichtig ist, dass man aufeinander 

abgestimmt in alternative Anlagen, Strom- 

PHOTOS: HANNAHECKER, RICARDOHERRGOTT, GRAPHIC: APG, BEIGESTELLT 

netze und Speicher investiert“, betont 

Gerald Christiner. Dafür erstelle die APG 

Netzentwicklungspläne. Der jüngste sieht 

bis 2034 Investitionen von neun Milliarden 

Euro in das Übertragungsnetz vor. Viele 

Milliarden Euro müssen obendrein in die 

Verteilernetze fließen, die durch den jüngsten 

Boom privater Photovoltaikanlagen 

stark gefordert sind. 

Private Musterschüler bei PV-Anlagen 

Der private Ausbau von Photovoltaik- 

Anlagen hat sich laut Babara Schmidt in den 

vergangenen Jahren verdoppelt, „wir rechnen 

heuer mit weiteren Steigerungen.“ Diese 

Entwicklung sei zwar grundsätzlich positiv, 

allerdings werden damit die 

Stromnetzkapazitäten knapp, der Leitungsausbau, 

der sich immer an den Auslastungsspitzen 

orientieren muss, wird kostspielig. 

„Die Herausforderung wird sein mit gestaffelten 

Stromtarifen je nach Tageszeit und 

digitaler Bedarfserfassung mit Smart Metern 

die Haushalte zu motivieren, möglichst 

viel von ihrem erzeugten Strom selbst zu 

verbrauchen, statt ihn einzuspeisen“, meint 

E-Control-Chef Alfons Haber. Als Stromspeicher 

könnte in Zukunft auch das eigene 

E-Auto dienen. 

Defining political goals for transitioning 

to green energy might seem 

simple, but turning these goals into 

tangible outcomes is an entirely different 

story. As per recent directives from the EU, 

member states are tasked with cutting their 

carbon emissions to approximately 90% 

below 1990 levels by 2040, paving the way 

for Europe to achieve complete climate 

neutrality by 2050. 

Austria is aiming even higher, targeting climate 

neutrality by 2040 and planning to 

fulfil its total electricity needs with renewable 

energy by 2030. This ambitious plan involves 

generating 80 billion kilowatt-hours 

of eco-friendly electricity! 

However, achieving these targets will necessitate 

billions in investments for the development 

of electric, gas and hydrogen pipe- 

Stromnetz Österreich: Es braucht 

einen Schulterschluss für den 

Lückenschluss 

Austrian electricity network: 

collaborative efforts are essential 

to overcome existing challenges. 

„Der Gesetzgeber muss 

Klimaschutz als vorrangig 

erklären.“ 

“The government must 

prioritise climate action.” 

Gerhard Christiner 

Technischer Vorstand Austrian 

Power Grid 

Technical director of Austrian 

Power Grid 



75


Land der Strome: Über 60 Prozent des heimisch erzeugten Stroms stammt aus Wasserkraft. Land of currents: more than 60% of the country’s electricity is generated 

from hydropower. 

sing lawyer at the Federal Administrative 

Court.” What makes the court’s decision to 

temporarily halt the project noteworthy is 

the rationale: “The law has yet to clarify 

whether climate action takes precedence 

over environmental and local community 

protection.” It’s critical for the government 

to push forward with the Electricity Industry 

Act and the Renewables Expansion Acceleration 

Act, explicitly prioritising climate 

action. Additionally, the adoption of the 

updated EU Renewable Energy Directive 

RED III, aimed at speeding up such processes, 

remains on the agenda. 


Government delays 

“The importance of a secure energy supply 

to our nation’s prosperity cannot be 

overstated, leaving no room for delays,” states 

Christiner. When Cercle Diplomatique 

contacted the Minister for Climate Action, 

Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation 

and Technology Leonore Gewessler, the response 

was succinct: “Work on the Renewables 

Expansion Acceleration Act is ongoing. 

The Climate Protection Act is currently 

under internal government review. The 

Electricity Industry Act has just been released 

for public consultation, and the Renewable 

Gases Act is also undergoing internal 

review.” 

“Continuing on our current path greatly 

risks failing to meet Austria’s climate objectives,” 

warns Barbara Schmidt, Secretary 

General of Oesterreichs Energie, the organisation 

representing the interests of the 

Austrian electricity sector. She advocates 

for a quicker pace in legislative and approval 

procedures, highlighting a critical bottleneck: 

“There are simply not enough designated 

zones for constructing power 

plants.” 

Already at 80% renewable 

However, it’s important not to undersell 

Austria’s achievements: with a renewable 

energy share of about 80%, the Alpine republic 

stands as one of Europe’s “green” leaders. 

“Nonetheless, Austria still needs to 

import five to ten percent of its annual electricity 

demand from neighbouring countries. 

To change this, we need hundreds of 

hydroelectric power plants, around a 

thousand wind turbines and hundreds of 

thousands of photovoltaic (PV) systems. 

We also anticipate that Austria’s electricity 

demand will double by 2040. To meet this 

demand, the capacity of power plants installed 

will need to triple compared to today,” 

says Schmidt. 

Network shortfall – gaps in the grid 

“Presently, Austria relies on Russia for 

55 to 60 percent of its annual gas requirements. 

By 2027, Europe intends to fully eliminate 

its dependency on Russian gas,” 

points out Alfons Haber, director of E-Control. 

“To enable gas to be transported from 

west to east, it is essential to construct a segment 

of the West Austria Gas Pipeline, 

known as the WAG Loop. Additionally, 

another route for gas supply stretches from 

Germany through the Czech Republic and 

Slovakia to Austria, with a third route coming 

through Italy.” 

With the addition of the WAG Loop, a new 

40-kilometre parallel pipeline, the capacity 

for gas transportation from Germany could 

be increased by 30 percent, details Stefan 

Wagenhofer, managing director of Gas 

Connect Austria GmbH. However, securing 

funding remains a challenge. The project 

is deemed a high priority by the Ministry 

for Climate Action, with the possibility 

of partial funding from budget allocations 

being considered. “We estimate the WAG 

Loop’s cost at 200 million euro. From our 

perspective, a subsidy of 70 million euro 

would be necessary for the project,” says 

Wagenhofer. Additionally, a revision of the 

tariff model is required. 

Green transition through hydrogen 

Enhancing the gas pipeline network for 

bidirectional flow is also pivotal for the future 

transportation of hydrogen. This, combined 

with Austria’s significant gas storage 

capabilities, forms a crucial pillar for an alternative 

energy future. It would also aid in 

offsetting the electricity surplus generated 

during the summer against the increased 

demand in winter. “By implementing the 

WAG Loop, we are establishing the groundwork 

for transport corridors as outlined in 

the European Hydrogen Backbone (EHB). 

PHOTOS: VERBUND/ JOHANNES WIEDL, FOTO GEORG WILKE 

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The project is currently slated for completion 

by early to mid-2027,” explains Wagenhofer. 

“As a nation at the heart of Europe’s 

natural gas network, Austria plays a vital 

role in supply routes such as the South H2 

Corridor, designed to transport green hydrogen 

from North Africa through Italy to 

Austria and onwards to Bavaria.” 

Increased storage requirements 

The expansion of storage facilities and 

pumped storage power plants is crucial to 

balance the growing variability of renewable 

energy sources. “It’s essential for investments 

in alternative energy facilities, power 

grids and storage systems to be synchronised,” 

stresses Gerald Christiner. To facilitate 

this, APG is formulating grid development 

strategies. The most recent plan 

projects investments of nine billion euro in 

the transmission network by 2034. Furthermore, 

the surge in private photovoltaic installations 

necessitates multi-billion-euro 

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investments in distribution networks to accommodate 

the increased load. 

Showcase of private initiatives in PV installations 

Barbara Schmidt notes that the private 

sector’s adoption of photovoltaic (PV) systems 

has doubled in recent years, with expectations 

for further growth this year. 

While this trend is inherently beneficial, it 

results in limited capacity for the electricity 

network and makes the expansion of power 

lines, which must account for peak demand, 

increasingly expensive. “The key challenge 

will be encouraging households to use as 

much of the electricity they generate as 

possible directly, rather than exporting it to 

the grid. This can be achieved through the 

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Haber. Additionally, electric vehicles 

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“We should encourage 

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L‘AUTRICHE BUSINESS 

Neues aus Österreich 

News from Austria 


Von links nach rechts: Tirols Landeshauptmann 

Anton Mattle, Bundeskanzler Karl 

Nehammer, Minister Martin Kocher und 

Steffen Lang, President, Operations bei 

Novartis. 

From left to right: Tyrol‘s Governor Anton 

Mattle, Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer, 

Minister Martin Kocher and Steffen Lang, 

President, Operations at Novartis. 

Mega-Projekt | Mega project 

Erweiterung des Flughafens Wien | 

Expansion of Vienna Airport 

Präsentiert wurde das Projekt von Niederösterreichs 

Landeshauptfrau Johanna Mikl-Leiter (2.v.r.), dem Wiener 

Bürgermeister Michael Ludwig (2.v.l.) sowie den beiden 

Flughafen-Vorständen Julian Jäger (links) und Günther 

Ofner (rechts). Auf 70.000 m2 entstehen u. a. zahlreiche 

neue Einkaufs- und Gastronomieflächen, große und exklusive 

Lounges mit insgesamt 6.000 m2, mit bequemen Transferverbindungen. 

The project was presented by 

Johanna Mikl-Leitner (2nd r.), 

Governor of Lower Austria, Michael 

Ludwig (2nd l.), Mayor of 

Vienna, and the two airport board 

members Julian Jäger (left) and 

Günther Ofner (right). The 

70,000 m2 site will include 

numerous new shopping and 

catering areas, large and exclusive 

lounges totalling 6,000 m2, with 

convenient transfer connections. 

viennaairport.com 

Wirtschaft | Economy 

Novartis investiert in Österreich 

| Novartis invests in Austria 

Rund 500 Mio. Euro werden in den Ausbau der Zellkulturtechnologie 

in Österreich investiert und folgt damit der 

Strategie des Unternehmens. Die Investition stärkt den 

Tiroler Campus Kundl/Schaftenau als führenden Biotech- 

Standort in Europa und trägt dazu bei, die kontinuierliche 

Versorgung mit Biopharmazeutika aus Österreich zu 

beschleunigen. Die Anlage in Schaftenau soll im Sommer 

2024 vollständig in Betrieb genommen werden, während die 

Anlage in Kundl im Herbst 2025 betriebsbereit sein und 350 

neue hochqualifizierte Arbeitsplätze auf dem Campus 

schaffen wird. 

Around 500 million euros will be invested in the expansion of 

cell culture technology in Austria, in line with the company‘s 

strategy. The investment strengthens the Tyrolean campus 

Kundl/Schaftenau as a leading biotech location in Europe and 

helps to accelerate the continuous supply of biopharmaceuticals 

from Austria. The plant in Schaftenau is scheduled to be fully 

operational in summer 2024, while the plant in Kundl will be 

ready for operation in autumn 2025 and will create 350 new 

highly qualified jobs on the campus. 

novartis.at 

Zahl im Quartal 

Quarterly figure 

9.16 

Millionen Einwohner in 

Österreich. 

million inhabitants in 

Austria. 

Luftfahrt | Aviation 

Neue AUA-Destination Boston | New 

AUA destination Boston 

Austrian Airlines hebt ab Juli 2024 zu neuen Horizonten ab 

und eröffnet eine ganzjährige Flugverbindung nonstop von 

Wien nach Boston. Österreichs Homecarrier wird die 

US-Metropole an der Ostküste zunächst bis zu sechs Mal pro 

Woche anfliegen. Michael Trestl, Chief Commercial Officer 

von Austrian Airlines: „Wir freuen uns, Boston als neue und 

äußerst attraktive Destination ankündigen zu dürfen.“ 

Bedeutende Bildungseinrichtungen, darunter Harvard und 

das MIT, machen Boston zu einem faszinierenden Reiseziel. 

Zudem wird die Flotte um zwei B787 Dreamliner erweitert. 

Austrian Airlines takes off to new horizons in July 2024, 

inaugurating a year-round nonstop flight from Vienna to 

Boston. Austria’s home carrier will initially operate up to six 

flights per week to the US metropolis on the East Coast, 

Michael Trestl, Chief Commercial Officer of Austrian Airlines: 

“We are excited to announce Boston as a new and highly 

attractive destination.“ Boston’s world-renowned universities, 

including Harvard and MIT, make it a fascinating and enticing 

travel destination. Additionally, two B787 Dreamliners will also 

be added to the fleet. 

austrian.com 

Kongresswesen | Congress Business 

Größter Datenvisualisierungs-Kongress | 

Largest data visualization conference 

Der WienTourismus konnte mit der „Visualization Conference“ erstmals die weltweit 

größte Fachtagung für Datenvisualisierung für Wien gewinnen. Zwischen 2. und 7. 

November 2025 werden sich mehr als 1.000 Wissenschaftler im Austria Center 

Vienna über neueste Forschungsergebnisse im Bereich der Datenanalyse 

austauschen. Entscheidender Erfolgsfaktor beim Zuschlag für Wien ist dessen 

internationales Ansehen als mitteleuropäisches Zentrum für Visual Computing und 

Datenanalyse. Erst zum dritten Mal wird die IEEE VIS 2025 in Europa abgehalten, 

nach Berlin (2018) und Paris (2014). Seit 2016 hat das IEEE seinen Europa-Sitz im 

zweiten Wiener Gemeindebezirk. 

With the “Visualization Conference“, the Vienna Tourist Board has succeeded in 

attracting the world‘s largest specialist conference for data visualisation to Vienna for 

the first time. Between 2 and 7 November 2025, more than 1,000 scientists will come 

together at the Austria Center Vienna to discuss the latest research findings in the field 

of data analysis. The decisive factor in Vienna‘s success is its international reputation as 

a Central European centre for visual computing and data analysis. This is only the third 

time that IEEE VIS 2025 has been held in Europe, after Berlin (2018) and Paris (2014). 

The IEEE has had its European headquarters in Vienna‘s second district since 2016. 

ieeevis.org 

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Der Klanggigant 

Harmonies of the infinite 

Zentrum der Feierlichkeiten: Das 

Brucknerhaus Linz. 

Center of the celebrations: 

Brucknerhaus Linz. 

2024 feiert die Musikwelt 200 Jahre Anton Bruckner. Oberösterreich ehrt den in der Nähe von Linz 

geborenen, genialen Tonsetzer und Neuerer der Klassischen Musik mit einem landesweiten Jubiläumsjahr 

und wird zum Epizentrum der Brucknerbegeisterung. 

In 2024, the music world marks the bicentennial of Anton Bruckner, celebrating two centuries since 

the birth of the legendary composer and classical music innovator. Upper Austria, where Bruckner was 

born close to Linz, dedicates a nationwide anniversary year to honour this extraordinary figure, positioning 

itself as the heart of the Bruckner celebrations. 

Text & Interview: Rois & Stubenrauch 

Neuerer der Klassischen 

Musik: 

Anton Bruckner, 

Wien 1892. 

Innovator of 

classical music: 

Anton Bruckner, 

Vienna 1892. 

PHOTOS: L. GRILLICH, WIEN PRESSE; R. NEWMAN; R. MASTROIANNI; I. KEUNE; 

Es waren radikale Klänge, die am 9. Mai 1868 im 

Linzer Redoutensaal gespielt wurden: düster, 

manchmal chaotisch, doch auch verspielt, 

kraftvoll, voller Hoffnung und strahlendem Optimismus. 

Kein Zweifel, hier hatte einer eine neue, ganz eigene 

musikalische Handschrift gefunden. Am Dirigentenpult 

der damals 43-jährige Komponist Anton 

Bruckner selbst, der seine 1. Sinfonie erstmals dem 

Publikum vorlegte. Die neuartigen musikalischen 

Motive und die abrupten Rhythmus- und Stimmungswechsel 

in Bruckners erstem sinfonischen Werk wurden 

vom Publikum und der Kritik positiv aufgenommen 

– weitere zehn Sinfonien sollten in den 

kommenden 28 Jahren noch folgen. 

Anton Bruckner auf allen Kanälen 

Am 4. September 2024 jährt sich der Geburtstag 

Anton Bruckners, Neuerer der klassischen Musik des 

19. Jahrhunderts, begnadeter Organist und wichtiger 

Wegbereiter der Moderne zum 200. Mal. In den Konzertsälen 

der Welt, und im Speziellen in Oberösterreich, 

wird dieses Jahr viel Musik des in Ansfelden in 

der Nähe von Linz geborenen Komponisten erklingen. 

Mit „Anton Bruckner 2024“ wird ganz Oberösterreich 

zur Bühne und stellt zum Jubiläumsjahr des 

großen Komponisten ein beeindruckendes Programm 

mit internationaler Strahlkraft und vielen großen 

Namen auf, das dem Klang seiner monumentalen 

Sinfonien ebenso nachspürt wie der Wirkung Bruckners 

auf Genres von der Literatur bis hin zum zeitgenössischen 

Tanz. „Das Kulturland Oberösterreich 

macht mit einer breiten Palette an Konzerten, Ausstellungen 

und Veranstaltungen die nachhaltige Bedeutung 

des beeindruckenden Werks Anton Bruckners 

sichtbar“, betont Thomas Stelzer, Landeshauptmann 

von Oberösterreich, die vielen Facetten des Brucknerjahres. 

Im Posthof in Linz etwa zeigen Starchoreograph 

Stephen Shropshire und die São Paulo Dance 

Company „Celebration“, ein zeitgenössisches Tanzstück 

basierend auf dem sinfonischen Werk Anton 

Bruckners, im Alten Dom feiert das Musiktheater 

„Der Findling“ seine Weltpremiere. Das Ars Electronica 

Center lädt mit „Being Anton“, einem immersiven 

Klangraum und der spielerischen Deep-Space-Applikation 

„Playing Anton“, in Bruckners Klangwelten einzutauchen. 

„Das ganze Jahr 2024 ist eine Einladung, 

dem großartigen Musiker Anton Bruckner näher zu 

kommen“, so Stelzer weiter. Epizentrum des Brucknerjahres 

ist naturgemäß das Brucknerhaus in Linz, das 

den Komponisten mit fast einhundert Orchesterkonzerten, 

Veranstaltungen und Gesprächen feiert. 

Bruckner, wie er wirklich klingt 

Höhepunkt und zugleich seltenes musikalisches 

Hörerlebnis des Konzertreigens im Brucknerhaus ist 

die Aufführung aller 11 Brucknersinfonien im 

Originalklang durch elf der renommiertesten 

Originalklangorchester Europas. „Man wird 

überraschende Facetten an Bruckners Musik entdecken 

können!“, so der Intendant des Brucknerhauses, 

Dietmar Kerschbaum. Le Concert des Nations unter 

Jordi Savall, der Concentus Musicus Wien, Pablo 

Heras-Casado mit der Sopranistin Christiane Karg 

und Anima Eterna Brugge, Kent Nagano mit dem 

Concerto Köln oder The Orchestra of the Age of 

Enlightenment mit Ádám Fischer am Dirigentenpult 

sind nur einige der großen Namen, die im Rahmen 

dieser Reihe das Brucknerhaus zum Klingen bringen 

werden. „Wir werden Bruckners Sinfonien weltweit 

zum ersten Mal auf Instrumenten seiner Zeit hören. 

Der Originalklangzyklus wird unsere Hörgewohnheiten 

auf jeden Fall bereichern“, ist Kerschbaum überzeugt. 

Das Spiel auf historischen Instrumenten wird 

Bruckners vielschichtigen Klangkosmos näher an den 

vom Komponisten intendierten Klang bringen, neue 

Nuancen und Texturen im Zusammenspiel der einzel- 

Konzert zu Bruckners 200. 

Geburtstag: Franz Welser- 

Möst. Stegreif Orchester. 

Concert for Bruckner‘s 200th 

birthday: Franz Welser-Möst. 

Stegreif Orchestra. 



83


Brucknerjahr: Oberösterreichs 

Landeshauptmann Thomas Stelzer 

mit Norbert Trawöger. 

Bruckner Year: Upper Austrian 

Governor Thomas Stelzer with 

Norbert Trawöger. 

unglaublicher natürlicher Schönheit und Gesanglichkeit, 

von großer Wärme und Menschlichkeit“, so 

Markus Poschner, Chefdirigent des Anton Bruckner 

Orchester Linz, treffend. Bruckners Kompositionen 

zählen heute zu den meist aufgeführten Werken im 

Klassikbetrieb. Seine Klangsprache ist 2024 noch genauso 

frisch, gewagt und revolutionär, wie sie es vor 

140 Jahren war. „Bruckner vermochte sämtliche Parameter 

der Musik an ihre Grenzen zu bringen“, fasst 

Poschner die bahnbrechende Wirkung Buckners auf 

die Musikgeschichte zusammen. Anlass genug, sich 

2024 intensiv in Anton Bruckners spannende Klangwelten 

zu vertiefen. 

On 9 May 1868, the Linz Redoutensaal was 

filled with ground-breaking sounds: dark, 

occasionally chaotic, yet infused with playfulness, 

strength, hope and bright optimism. It was 

clear that a new, completely distinct musical voice 

had emerged. At the helm, conducting, was the 

43-year-old Anton Bruckner, introducing his 1st 

Symphony to the audience for the very first time. 

This symphonic debut, with its innovative motifs 

and dramatic shifts in rhythm and mood, was met 

with enthusiasm from both the audience and critics. 

This marked the beginning of a remarkable journey, 

with Bruckner going on to compose nine more 

symphonies over the next 28 years. 

Bruckner on every channel 

4 September 2024 marks the 200th commemoration 

of Anton Bruckner’s birth, a pivotal figure in 

19th-century classical music, an extraordinary organist 

and a trailblazer for modern music. This milestone 

year will see concert venues worldwide, particularly 

in Upper Austria, echoing with the compositions 

of Bruckner, who hailed from Ansfelden, close to 

Linz. The “Anton Bruckner 2024” celebration transforms 

all of Upper Austria into a vibrant stage, presenting 

a captivating line-up with international allure 

and featuring esteemed artists to honour the anniversary 

of this acclaimed composer. The event will 

Radikale Klänge. Der junge Komponist 

Anton Bruckner, 1854. 

Radical sounds. The young composer 

Anton Bruckner, 1854. 

„Playing Anton“, interaktives 

Klangerlebnis im Ars 

Electronica Center Linz. 

“Playing Anton“, interactive 

sound experience at the Ars 

Electronica Centre Linz. 

nen Stimmen eröffnen und – wie es Dirigent Ádám 

Fischer auf den Punkt bringt – Bruckners Musik 

„menschlicher“ machen. In seinen monumentalen 

Sinfonien liegt Bruckners unumstrittener und entscheidenden 

Beitrag zur Musikgeschichte: Mit neuen 

musikalischen Ideen wie Überblendungen oder der 

Generalpause führte er die Sinfonie aus der Erstarrung, 

in die sie nach den Meilensteinen, die Beethoven 

für diese Musikgattung geschaffen hatte, geraten 

war. Bruckners unerschrockene musikalische Innovationen 

an der Schwelle zwischen Spätromantik und 

Moderne eröffneten neue Wege und legten die Basis 

für nachfolgende Komponisten wie Mahler, Schönberg 

oder Schostakowitsch. 

Der Komponist als menschliches Genie 

So unumstritten Bruckners Beitrag zur Musikgeschichte 

heute gilt, war der Komponist Zeit seines 

Lebens auch eine widersprüchliche, kontroversielle 

Figur. Als Orgelvirtuose von 70.000 begeisterten Besucherinnen 

und Besuchern im Londonder Crystal 

Palace 1871 als Rockstar seiner Epoche gefeiert, 

musste er nichtsdestotrotz in Wien viele schwierige 

Jahre um Anerkennung für seine Sinfonien kämpfen. 

Als Professor für Musiktheorie am renommierten 

Wiener Konservatorium (heute die Universität für 

Musik und darstellende Kunst) war er de facto Teil 

der höheren Wiener Gesellschaft, sein Auftreten mit 

Kurzhaarfrisur und überweiter Kleidung glich dennoch 

mehr dem eines Landschullehrers aus der Provinz. 

Das ewige Zweifeln an seinem Werk ließ Bruckner 

seine Sinfonien mehrfach umschreiben, sodass 

viele in zwei, manche in drei Fassungen vorliegen. 

Abseits seiner menschlichen Eigenarten – musikalisch 

kann Anton Bruckner gar nicht hoch genug eingeschätzt 

werden. „Bruckners Musik ist von 

PHOTOS: M. HIESLMAIR; LAND OÖ / M. MAYRHOFER; J. LÖWY 

Anton 

Bruckner 

The Pious Revolutionary 


21.3.2024 – 26.1.2025 

State Hall of the Austrian National Library 

onb.ac.at


Das Brucknerjahr entfaltet den 

komplexen Klangkosmos des 

Komponisten. 

The Bruckner Year unfolds the 

composer‘s complex cosmos of 

sound. 

Ländliche Herkunft: Bruckners 

Geburtshaus in Ansfelden. 

Rural origins: Bruckner‘s birthplace 

in Ansfelden. 

Norbert Trawöger Künstlerischer Leiter „Anton Bruckner 2024“ | 

Artistic Director of “Anton Bruckner 2024” 

„Mein Staunen hat kein Ende.“ “Bruckner never ceases to astonish.” 

Zu Bruckner im 

Originalklang: 

„Musik ist als 

Zeitkunst immer 

original im 

Augenblick. Wir als 

Bruckner Orchester 

Linz haben den 

Genius Loci nicht 

nur eingeschrieben, sondern sind ihm in all 

seinen Fassungen täglich neu auf der Spur. Was 

auch die jetzt schon preisgekrönte Gesamtaufnahme, 

in der Markus Poschner gemeinsam mit 

dem Bruckner Orchester und dem RSO Wien, 

Bruckner neu freigelegt hat, beweist. Das 

Wissen, wie in Oberösterreich am Ursprung 

Bruckners getanzt und gesungen wird, ist dabei 

hilfreich und spürbar. Dieser Bruckner ist 

beweglich, tänzerisch und verlässt sich nicht 

auf den oft tradierten Überwältigungsmodus.“ 

Über die Begeisterung für Bruckner: 

„Ich bin im Alter von acht Jahren im 

Plattenschrank meines Vaters über die „Vierte“ 

Bruckner gestolpert. Das war ein unfassbares 

Erlebnis, ich habe nur so gestaunt, dass es so 

etwas überhaupt geben kann. Die Vierte war 

meine Höhle, in die ich mich von da an immer 

wieder zurückgezogen habe. Mein Staunen hat 

nach über vier Jahrzehnten kein Ende.“ 

Bezüglich des typisch Oberösterreichischen 

an Bruckner: 

„Ich sage immer, er ist weder Traditionalist 

noch Avantgardist, sondern ein Traditions- 

Avantgardist. Das ist gewissermaßen typisch 

für Oberösterreich. Wir sind bodenverbunden, 

halten unsere Traditionen hoch, haben aber 

gleichzeitig einen Sinn für Innovationen. Man 

denke an die vielen Weltmarktführer in der 

Industrie, Ars Electronica oder die neue 

Digitaluni. Diese Mischung prägt unsere 

Mentalität. Bruckner ist Oberösterreicher, aber 

er reißt die Türen zur Welt auf. Er gehört zu uns, 

gehört uns aber nicht, lässt uns aber in der 

ganzen Welt hören!“ 

On Bruckner’s music in its original essence: 

“Music, as an art form bound by time, is always 

original in the moment. The Bruckner Orchestra 

Linz is deeply connected to the spirit of the place, 

constantly rediscovering Bruckner in all his versions 

every single day. This dedication is further 

demonstrated by the award-winning complete 

recording, where Markus Poschner and the 

Bruckner Orchestra, alongside the RSO Vienna, 

have reinterpreted Bruckner’s work. Understanding 

the traditional dance and song of Upper Austria, 

where Bruckner originated, enriches and informs 

our approach. This interpretation of Bruckner is 

lively, dance-like and eschews the often traditional 

emphasis on sheer power.” 

On the enthusiasm for Bruckner: 

“I discovered Bruckner’s ‘Fourth Symphony’ at 

the tender age of eight, hidden within my father’s 

collection of records. The experience was nothing 

short of astounding; I was captivated by the 

realisation that such music could exist. Since then, 

the Fourth has been my sanctuary, a place of retreat 

I’ve returned to time and again. Even after four 

decades, Bruckner never ceases to astonish.” 

Regarding what embodies the essence of 

Upper Austria in Bruckner’s music: 

“I often describe him as not merely a 

traditionalist or an avant-gardist but a fusion of 

both — a ‘tradition-avant-gardist’, if you will. This 

duality is somewhat emblematic of Upper Austria 

itself. We are deeply rooted and committed to 

preserving our traditions, yet we are also 

forward-thinking, with a keen eye for innovation. 

This is evident in our global industry leaders, in 

institutions like Ars Electronica and in initiatives 

such as the new digital university. This blend of 

tradition and innovation defines our mindset. 

Bruckner is quintessentially Upper Austrian in this 

respect, yet his music opens doors to the global 

stage. He is of us but transcends us, allowing our 

voice to be heard worldwide!” 

delve into the depths of his grand symphonies and 

explore Bruckner’s impact across various domains, 

from literature to modern dance. “Upper Austria, 

through a diverse array of concerts, exhibitions and 

activities, brings to light the enduring legacy of Anton 

Bruckner’s remarkable body of work,” states 

Governor of Upper Austria Thomas Stelzer, underscoring 

the multifaceted nature of the Bruckner 

year. For example, at the Posthof in Linz, celebrated 

choreographer Stephen Shropshire and the São Paulo 

Dance Company unveil “Celebration”, a modern 

dance creation inspired by Bruckner’s symphonies, 

while the Musiktheater debuts “Der Findling” at the 

Old Cathedral. The Ars Electronica Center offers a 

plunge into Bruckner’s auditory realms with “Being 

Anton”, an engaging sound space, alongside the interactive 

“Playing Anton” experience. “The entire year 

2024 invites everyone to connect more intimately 

with the legendary musician Anton Bruckner,” adds 

Stelzer. The focal point of the Bruckner celebrations, 

the Brucknerhaus in Linz, is set to host nearly a 

hundred orchestral performances, gatherings and dialogues, 

celebrating the composer’s legacy. 

Bruckner as he truly sounds 

A standout feature of the concert line-up at the 

Brucknerhaus is the extraordinary opportunity to 

hear all 11 Bruckner symphonies performed on 

period instruments by eleven of Europe’s most 

distinguished period instrument orchestras. 

“Listeners will uncover astonishing aspects of 

Bruckner’s music!” proclaims Dietmar Kerschbaum, 

the Brucknerhaus director. Notable ensembles like 

Le Concert des Nations led by Jordi Savall, the 

Concentus Musicus Vienna, Pablo Heras-Casado 

featuring soprano Christiane Karg and Anima 

Eterna Brugge, Kent Nagano with Concerto Köln 

and The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment 

conducted by Ádám Fischer are among the acclaimed 

acts set to captivate the Brucknerhaus in this series. 

“For the first time globally, Bruckner’s symphonies 

will be played on period instruments. The ‘Original 

Sound Cycle’ is sure to enrich our listening 

experiences,” Kerschbaum asserts. Performing on 

historical instruments promises to align Bruckner’s 

intricate soundscapes more closely with the 

composer’s intended auditory vision, unveiling fresh 

subtleties and textures in the orchestration and, as 

Ádám Fischer aptly states, rendering Bruckner’s 

music “more human.” Bruckner’s grand symphonies 

PHOTOS: R. WINKLER; M. FRODL; OÖLANDES-KULTUR; M. BORGGREVE 

represent his unequivocal, pivotal contribution to 

the annals of music history: introducing new musical 

concepts like cross-fading and the extensive pause, 

he rejuvenated the symphonic form, which had 

somewhat languished after Beethoven’s significant 

contributions. Bruckner’s bold innovations at the 

juncture of late Romanticism and the dawn of 

modernity charted new territories, paving the way 

for the likes of Mahler, Schoenberg and Shostakovich. 

Bruckner’s genius 

Today, Anton Bruckner’s influence on music 

history is uncontested, yet during his lifetime, he was 

a figure of contradictions and controversies. In 1871, 

he was hailed as the era’s rock star by 70,000 

enthusiastic fans at London’s Crystal Palace for his 

virtuoso organ performances. However, back in 

Vienna, he faced an uphill battle for years to gain 

recognition for his symphonies. Despite holding a 

professorship in music theory at the esteemed 

Vienna Conservatory (now the University of Music 

and Performing Arts, Vienna) and being an integral 

Das renommierte Danel-Quartett spielt Bruckners 

Werke für Streichquartett. 

The renowned Danel Quartet plays Bruckner‘s works 

for string quartet. 

F R E N C H & I N T E R N AT I O N A L S C H O O L 

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an impressive alumni network 

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+43 (0) 1 317 22 41 


A GRADUATION WITH 2 DIPLOMAS, 

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87


Große Namen im Originalklang- 

Zyklus: Pablo Heras-Casado, 

Kent Nagano. 

Big names in the original sound 

cycle: Pablo Heras-Casado, 

Kent Nagano. 

MILITÄRMUSIKFESTIVAL 2024 

PARTNERSCHAFT MIT HERZ: 

BUNDESHEER UND LICHT INS DUNKEL 

Markus Poschner Chefdirigent Anton Bruckner Orchester Linz | 

Principal Director of the Bruckner Orchestra Linz 

„Vorwegnahme des 20. Jahrhunderts.“ “Anticipating the 20th century.” 

Zur musikalischen 

Sprengkraft 

Bruckners: 

„Bruckner 

komponierte 

auratisch. Seine 

Themen, seine 

Architektur wie sein 

gesamter Aufbau 

einer Sinfonie, sind immer polar. Der Blick nach 

oben ins Unendliche, wie der nach unten in die 

Tiefe der Seele, zwischen Polka und Choral, 

Wirtshaus und Kirche liegt die Welt Bruckners. 

Seine Kritiker haben davon nichts verstanden. Er 

schrieb vermutlich überhaupt nur Sinfonien, um 

allein sein zu können, um der gesellschaftlichen 

und institutionellen Enge zu entkommen. Eine 

Einsamkeit, in der er mit Gott direkt reden 

konnte.” 

Über Bruckner als Türöffner der Moderne: 

„Bruckner kannte und beherrschte wie kaum 

ein anderer die Traditionen der vorhergehenden 

Jahrhunderte. Und dennoch vermochte er 

sämtliche Parameter der Musik an ihre Grenzen 

zu bringen. Melodie, Rhythmus und Harmonik 

wurden bis in ihre atomaren Bestandteile 

zerlegt und wieder neu zusammengesetzt. 

Seine 9. Sinfonie steht hier sinnbildlich für die 

musikalische Vorwegnahme des 20. Jahrhunderts. 

Er polarisierte Kontraste, noch bevor 

György Ligeti und Olivier Messiaen Mystik und 

Ekstase kombinierten. Die Ideen der Verräumlichung 

von Musik waren ihm vertraut, noch 

bevor sie in der seriellen Musik definiert 

wurden.“ 

Zur Weisheit in Bruckners Musik: 

„Seine Werke sind voller musikalischer 

Rätsel, voller Geheimnisse und Tiefen, 

deswegen sind wir so fasziniert von ihm. Wie 

konnte jemand aus solch kleinsten ländlichen 

Verhältnissen, der Zeit seines Lebens meist nsur 

Ablehnung für seine Kompositionen erfuhr, 

Musik von solch emotionaler Weitsicht und 

Einsicht, von solch unglaublicher Größe 

erfinden? In seinen Sinfonien eröffnet sich eine 

geheimnisvolle Welt der Mystik, die uns berührt 

und die Seele zum Klingen bringt.“ 

On Bruckner’s profound musical force: 

“Bruckner’s composition style was enveloped in 

an aura. His motifs, structural design and the 

overarching framework of his symphonies were 

inherently polarised. Capturing the expanse 

between the heavens and the soul’s innermost 

depths, Bruckner’s music navigates the spectrum 

from Polka to chorale, and from tavern to church. 

This is the universe Bruckner invites us into — a 

realm completely misunderstood by his critics. 

Perhaps he composed symphonies as a means to 

solitude, a refuge from the pressures of society and 

institutional expectations. In this solitude, Bruckner 

found a direct line to the divine, conversing with 

God through his music.” 

On Bruckner as a pioneer of modernity: 

“Bruckner was unparalleled in his grasp and 

mastery of the musical traditions that preceded 

him. Yet, he boldly stretched the boundaries of 

music to their utmost. Melody, rhythm and 

harmony were dissected to their core elements and 

then ingeniously reconfigured. His 9th Symphony 

emblematically anticipates the musical evolution of 

the 20th century, introducing stark contrasts way 

before the likes of György Ligeti and Olivier 

Messiaen explored the realms of mysticism and 

ecstasy. Bruckner was experimenting with the 

spatial distribution of music long before the 

concept became a staple in serial compositions.” 

On the profound insight in Bruckner’s music: 

“Bruckner’s compositions are a labyrinth of 

musical enigmas, brimming with secrets and 

profound depths, which is precisely what captivates 

us. How did someone with such modest, rural 

origins, who encountered widespread dismissal of 

his works for the majority of his life, manage to 

produce music that speaks with such emotional 

prescience and depth, and of such astonishing 

scope? His symphonies unveil a mysterious world 

of mysticism that reaches deep within us, 

resonating with the soul.” 

part of Vienna’s elite society, his simple appearance, 

characterised by his short hair and loose-fitting 

clothes, painted him more as a provincial 

schoolteacher. Bruckner’s chronic self-doubt led him 

to revise his symphonies repeatedly, resulting in 

multiple versions of many of his works. Despite these 

personal quirks, Anton Bruckner’s musical genius is 

beyond dispute. “Bruckner’s music radiates an 

incredible natural beauty and melodiousness, filled 

with warmth and humanity,” remarks Markus 

Poschner, principal conductor of the Bruckner 

Orchestra Linz. Today, Bruckner’s compositions 

remain among the most frequently performed in the 

classical music canon, their sound as fresh, daring 

and innovative as it was 140 years ago. “Bruckner 

pushed the boundaries of music to their utmost 

limits,” Poschner reflects on Bruckner’s profound 

impact on the course of music history. This makes 

2024 a perfect time to immerse oneself in the 

thrilling soundscapes of Anton Bruckner. 

INFO 

Highlights Anton Bruckner 2024 

Festkonzerte & Festakt 

Markus Poschner & Bruckner Orchester Linz 

22.03.2024 

Zubin Mehta & Wiener Philharmoniker 

23.03.2024, Brucknerhaus Linz 

Celebration 

São Paulo Dance Company & Stephen Shropshire 

12.04. (Uraufführung) u.13.04.2024, Posthof Linz 

Playing Anton 

Deep Space, Ars Electronica Center Linz 

Happy Birthday, Anton! 

Konzert zu Bruckners 200. Geburtstag in Ansfelden 

Franz Welser-Möst & The Cleveland Orchestra 


Sinfonien-Zyklus 

Bruckners Sinfonien im Originalklang 

10.09. - 10.10.2024, Brucknerhaus Linz 

PHOTOS: J. CHEN; A. SAITO; K. KIKKAS 

23.05.|24.05. 

GRAFENEGG 

WOLKENTURM 

19:00 UHR 

anton-bruckner-2024.at 

BUNDESHEER.AT 


SAVOIR VIVRE VISION DIALOGUE 

„Die perfekte Sommeroper.“ | “The ideal summer opera.” 

Clemens Unterreiner über die Oper als letzte große analoge Kunstform. | Clemens Unterreiner on opera as the last bastion of 

grand analogue art. 

Interview: Rois & Stubenrauch 

Das Janoska 

Ensemble im 

Programm der 

KulturBurg. 

The Janoska 

Ensemble in the 

KulturBurg 

programme. 

INFO 

CLEMENS UNTERREINER 

ist seit 2024 neuer Intendant der Oper Burg Gars. Seit 2005 

Ensemblemitglied der Wiener Staatsoper, wo sein breites 

Repertoire inzwischen mehr als 90 Rollen umfasst, ist er als 

gefragter Gastsolist ebenso auf vielen internationalen Opernund 

Konzertbühnen von London über New York bis Tokio zu 

hören. Im Juni 2023 wurde er zum österreichischen Kammersänger 

ernannt. 

Sie starten mit „L‘elisir d‘amore“ in Ihre erste Saison als 

Intendant der Oper Burg Gars. 

Donizettis „Liebestrank“ ist die perfekte Sommeroper: 

Italien-Feeling pur, spritzige Musik voller 

Leidenschaft, Humor, Sentimento – und vor allem: 

mit einem Happy End der Liebe. Für mich ist Oper 

die letzte große analoge Kunstform aus Musik, Gesang, 

Bühnenbild, Licht, Kostüm, Maske und vielem 

mehr. Wir leben diese traditionelle Kunstform auf 

der historischen Freiluftbühne der Oper Burg Gars 

mit ihrer unverstärkten Naturakustik. In einer immer 

lauter werdenden Welt ist dies eine Wohltat für 

die Ohren, den Geist und die Seele. Die Musik soll in 

eine andere Welt entführen, auch zum Nachdenken 

anregen, aber vor allem unterhalten. Ich möchte dazu 

einladen, ein paar Stunden dem Alltag zu entfliehen 

und mit einem Lächeln nach Hause zu kommen. 

Es ist Ihnen gelungen, ein beeindruckendes Ensemble nach 

Gars zu bringen. 

Das Wichtigste für mich ist immer die Qualität in 

allen Disziplinen. Künstlerisch, menschlich, Spielfreude, 

internationales Flair, Respekt und Teamgeist. 

Der Ensemblegedanke ist mir wichtig – auf, hinter 

und neben der Bühne. Die besten Künstlerinnen 

und Künstler nützen wenig, wenn der positive Spirit 

fehlt oder der Funke nicht überspringt. Aber genau 

deshalb wusste ich ja, wen ich frage, und durfte aus 

meiner riesigen kollegialen Schatzkiste ein wirklich 

harmonisches, künstlerisches Top-Team für mein 

Premierenjahr zusammenstellen. 

Was macht das Besondere dieses Sommerfestivals aus? 

Die Oper Burg Gars steht seit 35 Jahren für große 

Oper unter freiem Himmel. Mit ihren 1.300 Sitzplätzen 

in der spektakulären Freiluftarena der Babenberger 

Burgruine aus dem elften Jahrhundert ist sie Österreichs 

größtes unverstärktes Klassik-Festival. 

Sie sind an der Wiener Staatsoper zu erleben, geben 

Liederabende, engagieren sich karitativ. Und jetzt auch 

Ihre Intendanz in Gars. Wie geht das alles unter einen Hut? 

Ich liebe bekanntermaßen große Hüte! Und habe 

früh gelernt, meine Zeit effizient einzuteilen. Ich lebe 

meine Leidenschaft und Neugier aus und möchte 

noch so viele Ideen umsetzen. Egal was ich tue, ich 

gebe immer 100% – ob in Gars oder auf den Bühnen 

der Welt. Frei nach dem Motto: „Unmögliches wird 

immer sofort erledigt, Wunder dauern leider etwas 

länger“. 

PHOTOS: U. HOELZEL; A. PFEFFER; A. BITESNICH; I. PRADER; R. WINKLER 

Ursprünglich wollten Sie Paukist werden – 2023 wurden 

Sie zum Kammersänger ernannt und haben die Intendanz 

in Gars übernommen! Warum dann doch Sänger und 

Intendant? 

Ich wollte als Kind so vieles werden - Ritter, Erfinder, 

Koch, Kaiser, … Paukist deshalb, weil ich 

schon als kleines Kind perfekt alle Kochtöpfe meiner 

Mutter bespielt habe. Später war ich Galerie-Stehplatzler 

an der Staatsoper, habe immer begeistert zu 

den Philharmonikern hinuntergeschaut und den 

Paukisten bewundert. Ich bin aber mit fünf Jahren 

zeitweise erblindet und habe mich dadurch über 

Schallplatten und das Radio in die Oper verliebt. Ich 

war ein absoluter Pavarotti-Fan und wollte dann unbedingt 

Opernsänger werden. Das hat mich geprägt 

und so gibt es für mich immer einen Weg, eine Perspektive, 

und vor allem die große Liebe zur Oper und 

zur klassischen Musik, die mir in meinem Leben 

sehr geholfen hat. Diese wunderbare Macht der Musik 

möchte ich dem Publikum weitergeben. 

You’re launching your first season as director of the Burg Gars 

Opera with “L’elisir d’amore”. 

Donizetti’s “The Elixir of Love” is the ideal summer 

opera: quintessentially Italian, filled with passionate 

and lively music, seasoned with humour and sentimentality 

and crucially, ending with love’s victory. 

Opera, to me, is the epitome of the analogue arts, weaving 

together music, vocal artistry, set design, lighting, 

costumes, makeup and more into a harmonious whole. 

We honour this timeless art on the historic open-air 

stage of the Burg Gars Opera, embracing its natural 

acoustics without the intrusion of electronic amplification. 

In our increasingly loud world, this opera provides 

a haven for the ears, mind and soul. The music 

aims to whisk audiences away, inspire reflection and, 

above all, entertain. I invite you to step away from the 

everyday for a few hours and return home with a smile. 

You’ve successfully gathered a remarkable ensemble for 

Gars. 

For me, quality is the most important criterion in all 

areas. Artistic integrity, humanity, enthusiasm for performing, 

international allure, respect and teamwork 

are all essential. I deeply value the idea of ensemble cohesion, 

not just on stage but also behind the scenes. 

Having the best artists means nothing without positive 

energy and the necessary spark of inspiration. This is 

exactly why I knew who to contact, enabling me to leverage 

my extensive network of colleagues to assemble 

a genuinely cohesive, first-rate artistic team for my inaugural 

year. 

What distinguishes this summer festival from others? 

For over 35 years, the Burg Gars Opera has been 

synonymous with majestic open-air opera performances. 

With its 1,300-seat amphitheatre nestled among 

the stunning ruins of the 11th-century Babenberg castle, 

it is recognised as Austria’s premier classical festival 

that operates without the use of electronic amplification. 

You also grace the stage at the Vienna State Opera, give 

Lieder recitals, engage in charitable work and now you’ve 

taken up the directorship in Gars. How do you juggle all these 

responsibilities? 

I really enjoy taking on various roles, metaphorically 

speaking! From an early age, I mastered the art of 

time management. I’m driven by my passions and aim 

to realise as many ideas as I can. Regardless of whether 

I’m in Gars or performing on stages worldwide, I always 

put in my utmost effort. This aligns with the saying: 

“The impossible we do at once; miracles just take a 

little longer.” 

Your initial ambition was to become a timpanist, but in 2023, 

you were recognised as a Kammersänger (literally “chamber 

singer”, an honorific title for distinguished opera and 

classical music singers) and embraced the directorship in 

Gars! What prompted the transition to singing and directing? 

As a child, I dreamt of being a knight, an inventor, 

a chef and even an emperor. My interest in becoming a 

timpanist was sparked by my childhood ability to play 

all of my mother’s cooking pots to perfection. Spending 

time in the standing area of the Vienna State Opera, 

I would gaze in awe at the Philharmonic Orchestra, 

particularly the timpanists. However, at the age of five, 

I temporarily lost my sight, which led me to discover 

my love for opera through listening to records and the 

radio. I became an ardent fan of Pavarotti and was determined 

to pursue a career as an opera singer. This 

journey has profoundly shaped me, offering direction, 

perspective and, most importantly, a deep love for opera 

and classical music that has been a constant source 

of support in my life. It is this enchanting power of music 

that I strive to share with the audience. 

Oper Burg Gars 

2024 

Oper 

L’elisir d’amore – Der 

Liebestrank 

The Elixir of Love 

Gaetano Donizetti 

13.07.–03.08.2024 

KulturBURG 

Klassisches Rahmenprogramm 

von Mai bis 

September u.a. mit Sunnyi 

Melles, Miriam Kutrowatz, 

Chris Lohner oder dem 

Janoska Ensemble. 

Traditional programme 

running from May to 

September, featuring 

appearances by Sunnyi 

Melles, Miriam Kutrowatz, 

Chris Lohner and the 

Janoska Ensemble among 

others. 

operburggars.at 

2024 in Gars zu erleben: Chris 

Lohner, Martha Matscheko. 

2024 to experience in Gars: Chris 

Lohner, Martha Matscheko. 

has taken the helm as the new director of the Burg Gars Opera 

starting in 2024. Since joining the Vienna State Opera ensemble 

in 2005, he has developed an extensive repertoire, covering more 

than 90 roles. Unterreiner is also a highly sought-after guest 

soloist, gracing many of the foremost opera and concert stages 

globally, from London to New York to Tokyo. In recognition of his 

substantial contributions to the opera world, he was honoured 

with the title of Austrian Kammersänger in June 2023. 


Große Oper 

unter freiem 

Himmel in der 

Babenberger 

Burgruine. 

Grand opera in 

the open air in the 

ruins of 

Babenberg Castle. 


91

SAVOIR VIVRE CULTURE PREVIEW 

Cecilia Bartoli (ba)rockt! | Cecilia Bartoli: Baroque ‘n’ roll! 

BAROCCHISSIMO, Wiener Staatsoper. | Vienna State Opera. 

Text: Rois & Stubenrauch 

„Giulio Cesare in 

Egitto“ in 

packender 

Neuinszenierung. 

“Giulio Cesare in 

Egitto“ in a 

gripping new 

production. 

INFO 

Opern-Weltstar Cecilia Bartoli 

Opera superstar Cecilia Bartoli 

„Mit Unterstützung aus Hollywood und 

einem Barockopern-Taumel versuchen wir 

die Staatsoper 2024 zu (ba)rocken!“ 

“With help from Hollywood and a Baroque ‚n‘ 

Roll opera that echoes the 18th-century 

European craze, we’re set to make the State 

Opera’s walls resonate like never before in 

2024.” 


Gastspiel der 

Superlative an 

der Wiener 

Staatsoper. 

Guest performance 

of 

superlatives at 

the Vienna State 

Opera. 

PHOTOS: OPÉRA DE MONTE-CARLO / F. DEMESSENCE; WIENTOURISMUS / C. STEMPER / P. BAUER; OMC, „GIULIO CESARE IN EGITTO“ / M. BORRELLI (3) 

Starbesetzung: „La Bartoli“ als Cleopatra. 

Star cast: “La Bartoli“ as Cleopatra. 

Cecilia Bartoli kehrt an die Wiener Staatsoper 

zurück: „BAROCCHISSIMO“, Bartolis Gastspiel 

im Haus am Ring Anfang Juni, feiert 

eine Woche lang die Barockoper in ihren schillernden 

Facetten. Im Zentrum steht Händels Barockoper 

„Giulio Cesare in Egitto“ in einer packenden Neuinszenierung 

von Davide Livermore. In der Rolle der 

Cleopatra ist selbstverständlich Superstar Bartoli 

selbst mit ihrer ausdrucksstarken Mezzosopranstimme 

zu erleben. „Die wohl schönste Oper von Georg 

Friedrich Händel dürfte mit der betörenden Musik 

der Musen auf dem Berg Parnass sogar das mit 

Klangwundern verwöhnte Staatsopernpublikum 

verführen“, gibt sich die Operndiva überzeugt. Mit 

nach Wien bringt die umjubelte Sängerin, die ebenso 

als Intendantin der Oper in Monte Carlo verantwortlich 

zeichnet, auch das von ihr gegründete, auf Originalinstrumenten 

musizierende Orchester, „Les Musiciens 

du Prince, Monaco“ – und Hollywoodstar 

John Malkovich! „Mit Unterstützung aus Hollywood 

und einem Barockopern-Taumel, wie er im 18. Jahrhundert 

Europa erfasste, versuchen wir die Staatsoper 

auch 2024 zu (ba)rocken.“ 

Programmhighlight unter Hollywood-Mitwirkung: 

„Their Master’s Voice“, eine maßgeschneiderte 

Show für Bartoli und Malkovich, die als „Gender- 

Duell“ zwischen der umtriebigen Sängerin und dem 

Hollywoodstar angekündigt ist. Das lyrische Spektakel 

taucht an zwei Abenden ein in die Lebensgeschichte 

des Barockkomponisten und Musiklehrers 

Nicola Porpora und seiner berühmten Schüler Farinelli 

und Caffarelli, die mit ihren engelsgleichen 

Stimmen Europas Konzertbühnen des 18. Jahrhunderts 

eroberten. Mit „Their Master’s Voice“ haben 

sich Bartoli und Malkovich, die sich künstlerisch 

gegenseitig sehr schätzen, einen gemeinsamen 

Wunsch erfüllt und die so glamouröse wie tragische 

Geschichte der barocken Gesangsstars auf die Bühne 

gehoben. Der österreichische Regisseur Michael 

Sturminger inszeniert das mit Spannung erwartete 

„Gender-Duell“, das sowohl theatralische Erzählung 

als auch musikalische Feier ist und mit den großen 

Arien für Kastraten aus der Barockzeit aufwartet. 

Bartoli spinnt das Thema aber noch weiter und initiiert 

rund um das Gastspiel ebenso ein Symposium, 

das sich mit dem Thema Oper und Gender auseinandersetzt. 

„Den Begriff Gender mögen viele Opernfans 

vielleicht nicht mehr hören. Aber in der barocken 

Oper war das Gendern – teils sinnlich, teils grausam 

– ganz normal: Sopranistinnen sangen Männerpartien, 

junge Kastraten die Rolle der Liebhaberin, und das 

Publikum verfiel dem verwirrenden Spiel“, so die Sängerin, 

die selbst schon, die Geschlechtergrenzen verwischend, 

und in Szene gesetzt mit dramatischem 

Make-up und effektvollem Bart für das Cover ihrer 

viel beachteten Farinelli-CD posierte. 

„Farinelli & Friends“, das große Galakonzert am 

11. Juli, beschließt dann das grandiose Gastspiel des 

Weltstars im Haus am Ring. Der Juli, normalerweise 

längst der Beginn der Sommerpause, bringt der Wiener 

Staatsoper mit „BAROCCHISSIMO“ einen der 

absoluten Höhepunkte der Saison 2023/24. 

Cecilia Bartoli is making a grand return to the 

Vienna State Opera with “BAROCCHISSI- 

MO”, a week-long celebration of Baroque opera 

that’s set to dazzle early this June at the prestigious 

venue on the Ringstrasse boulevard. The highlight of 

this extravaganza is a captivating new rendition of 

George Frideric Handel’s Baroque masterpiece “Giulio 

Cesare in Egitto”, directed by Davide Livermore. Taking 

on the role of Cleopatra, Bartoli will enchant with 

her dynamic mezzo-soprano voice. “Handel’s most exquisite 

opera, blessed with the Muses’ melodious 

charm from Mount Parnassus, is poised to captivate 

the State Opera’s audience, which is no stranger to auditory 

wonders,” the celebrated soprano shares. Bartoli, 

renowned for her singing as well as her role as the director 

of the Opera in Monte Carlo, brings with her the 

orchestra she founded, Les Musiciens du Prince, Monaco, 

known for their performances on authentic instruments 

– and none other than Hollywood icon John 

Malkovich! “With help from Hollywood and a Baroque 

‚n‘ Roll opera that echoes the 18th-century European 

craze, we’re set to make the State Opera’s walls 

resonate like never before in 2024.” 

Hollywood and opera collide in an unforgettable 

performance: “Their Master’s Voice”, a unique show 

tailored for Bartoli and Malkovich, is presented as a 

“battle of the sexes” featuring the dynamic duo. This 

musical journey, spread over two nights, explores the 

life and legacy of Baroque composer and vocal coach 

Nicola Porpora, alongside his celebrated pupils, Farinelli 

and Caffarelli, whose heavenly voices enchanted 

Europe’s concert halls in the 18th century. “Their 

Master’s Voice” represents a shared vision for Bartoli 

and Malkovich, who share a deep mutual admiration, 

bringing to life the poignant and glamorous stories of 

Baroque music’s most famous voices. Under the direction 

of Michael Sturminger from Austria, this muchanticipated 

“battle of the sexes” merges dramatic storytelling 

with a musical homage, showcasing some of the 

Baroque period’s most spectacular arias for castrati. 

Bartoli expands on the theme by hosting a symposium 

alongside the guest performances, focusing on 

opera and gender issues. “Some opera enthusiasts 

might feel overexposed to the term ‘gender’. Yet, in the 

realm of Baroque opera, gender fluidity was the norm, 

spanning from the sensual to the cruel: female sopranos 

often portrayed male characters, while young castrati 

assumed the roles of female lovers, leaving audiences 

fascinated by this intriguing spectacle,” the singer 

elaborates. Bartoli herself has explored these boundaries, 

strikingly adopting makeup and a convincing beard 

for the cover of her critically acclaimed Farinelli CD, 

thus engaging in the conversation on gender portrayal 

in opera. 

“Farinelli & Friends”, the grand gala concert scheduled 

for 11 July, will bring a dazzling close to the international 

star’s remarkable guest appearance at the 

iconic venue on the Ring Road. July, which typically 

signifies the onset of the summer break, will see the 

Vienna State Opera break tradition by hosting “BA- 

ROCCHISSIMO”, positioning it as one of the most 

anticipated highlights of the 2023/24 season. 

Eine Woche Barock-Taumel mit Cecilia Bartoli. 

A week of baroque frenzy with Cecilia Bartoli. 

„Barocchissimo“ 

Giulio Cesare in Egitto 

Oper von Georg Friedrich 

Händel 

Les Musiciens du Prince - 

Monaco 

Mit Carlo Vistoli, Cecilia 

Bartoli, Max Emanuel 

Cencic, Kangmin Justin 

Kim u.a. 

06. u. 09.07.2024 

Their Master’s Voice 

Ein “Gender-Duell” 

zwischen John Malkovich 

und Cecilia Bartoli 

Regie: Michael Sturminger 


Farinelli & Friends 

Galakonzert 


wiener-staatsoper.at 


93

SAVOIR VIVRE CULTURAL RENEWALS 

Kultureller Schub 

A cultural boost 


Jugendstil-Juwel: Farbenprächtige 

Ornamente in der Ehemaligen 

Synagoge St. Pölten. 

Art Nouveau jewel: colourful ornaments 

in the former synagogue in St. Pölten. 

St. Pölten potenziert 2024 seine Kunst- und Kulturprojekte, welche die Stadt nachhaltig 

zum Kulturhotspot umformen sollen. 

In 2024, St. Pölten is set to amplify its array of art and culture projects, transforming 

the city into a lasting cultural hub. 

PHOTOS: ARCH. DI W. PFOSER ZT; INJOEST / B. WIEDL; J. BOLLWEIN / FLASHFACE.COM 

St. Pölten will es wissen! Die Niederösterreichische 

Landeshauptstadt hat das Jahr 2024 zu ihrem 

Kunst- und Kulturjahr ausgerufen. Neben 

den bestehenden Kulturinstitutionen sollen vor allem 

das sich über das gesamte Jahr spannende, interdisziplinäre 

Festival Tangente und die Wiedereröffnung 

der Ehemaligen Synagoge als offenes Kulturzentrum 

für viel frischen kulturellen Schub sorgen. 

Sich berühren lassen 

Zum unverkennbaren Profil der neuen 

Kulturdestination zählt ein starker Fokus auf die 

Gegenwartskunst und kulturelle Themen, die sich 

mit den Lebensrealitäten des 21. Jahrhunderts 

auseinandersetzen. Die interdisziplinäre wie 

international aufgestellte Tangente St. Pölten trägt 

den programmatischen Untertitel „Festival für 

Gegenwartskultur“ und soll in gewisser Weise 

auch ein Gegenentwurf zu einem Europa, in dem 

wieder Kriege geführt werden und zu einer von 

Debatten um Migration, Klimaschutz und 

Demokratie polarisierten Gesellschaft sein, wie 

Tarun Kade, kuratorischer Leiter des Festivals, 

betont: „Die Tangente ist ein Festival, das sich der 

Gegenwart verschrieben hat. Die Gegenwart ist 

die „Tipping Time“, in der es gilt, die Zukunft zu 

gestalten. Die Tangente beschäftigt die Frage, wie 

wir Spielräume des Handelns und Gestaltens 

wiedergewinnen können. Und sie ist selbst ein 

Versuch, dies auch zu tun!“ Diesen hohen 

Anspruch umsetzen soll ein dichtes Programm 

Domplatz: Das neue Festival Tangente 

und das Festspielhaus St. Pölten laden 

zum sommerlichen Open-Air. 

Domplatz: The new festival Tangente 

and the Festspielhaus St. Pölten invite 

you to a summer open-air event. 

entlang der Schwerpunkte „Ökologie“ zum 

Festivalstart, gefolgt von „Erinnerung“ und 

schließlich „Demokratie“ im Herbst. An 

Höhepunkten mangelt es nicht im dichten 

Festivalprogramm: Zu nennen sind etwa das 

ungewöhnliche Theaterprojekt in freier Natur, 

„Shared Landscapes“ von Caroline Barneaud und 

Stefan Kaegi oder „Freeway Dance“, eine 

Performance-Hymne der japanischen 

Choreografin und Tänzerin Ayaka Nakama. Oder 

die hochkarätig besetzte Konzertreihe „Orgel Experimentell“ 

u. a. mit Kali Malone und John Zorn. 

Los geht es am 30. April im Festspielhaus St. Pölten 

mit der zeitgenössischen Oper „Justice“ von 

Milo Rau, Hèctor Parra und Fiston Mwanza Mujila 

mit dem Tonkünstler-Orchester. 

Von Barockmusik bis Klezmer 

Zweites prägendes Kulturprojekt 2024 ist die 

Wiedereröffnung der Ehemaligen Synagoge St. Pölten. 

Das 1913 eröffnete Jugendstil-Juwel, einst das 

geistige Zentrum der blühenden jüdischen Gemeinde 

der Stadt, wurde im November 1938 in seinem 

Inneren zum großen Teil zerstört und ist nun 

in den vergangenen zwei Jahren mit großem Aufwand 

renoviert worden. Für Martha Keil, verantwortlich 

für das Programm dieser neuen bzw. wiedergewonnenen 

Kultureinrichtung im Herzen der 

Stadt, ist der entscheidende Punkt, dass die Ehemalige 

Synagoge aktiv das kulturelle Leben in der Stadt 

mitprägen soll. “Wir richten kein Museum ein, wir 

Die Wiedereröffnung der Ehemaligen 

Synagoge als Kulturzentrum bringt 

neue Perspektiven. 

The reopening of the former synagogue 

as a cultural centre opens up new 

perspectives. 



KULTURJAHR 2024 | ART AND CULTURE YEAR 2024 

H.E. David Roet 

Botschafter des Staates Israel in Österreich | 

Ambassador of the State of Israel to Austria 

„Die Ehemalige Synagoge St. Pölten ist ein wunderschönes Jugenstil-Gebäude und für sich 

schon ein Mahnmal. Es ist ein sichtbares Zeichen für das lebendige jüdische Leben vor der 

Shoah, das wie durch ein Wunder die Zerstörungen der Nazi-Zeit überdauert hat. Ich hoffe, 

dass sie ein Ort der Begegnung wird, wo Menschen in Österreich das Judentum und seine 

Kultur besser kennenlernen als Teil dieses Landes und als Teil der österreichischen 

Geschichte. Dies ist besonders in Zeiten des steigenden Antisemitismus wichtig.“ 

“The Former Synagogue of St. Pölten is a beautiful Art Nouveau building and a monument in its 

own right. It stands as a visible testament to the vibrant Jewish life before the Shoah, 

miraculously surviving the destruction of the Nazi era. I hope it becomes a place of encounter 

where people in Austria can better understand Judaism and its culture as part of this country 

and its history. This is especially important in times of rising antisemitism.” 

Johanna Mikl-Leitner 

Landeshauptfrau von Niederösterreich | Governor of Lower Austria 

„Tatsächlich gewinnt die Ehemalige Synagoge als Kulturzentrum, 

das die jüdische Geschichte und Kultur in den Mittelpunkt stellt, 

zusätzliche Bedeutung in dieser Zeit. Sie ist auch ein Symbol für das 

Streben nach Frieden, Verständigung und Respekt. In einer Welt, die 

mit Unsicherheiten konfrontiert ist, bietet das Kulturzentrum Raum für Gespräche über 

Gemeinsamkeiten und die Notwendigkeit, gemeinsam für eine bessere Zukunft einzutreten.“ 

“Indeed, the Former Synagogue’s transformation into a cultural centre focusing on Jewish 

history and culture has gained additional significance given recent events. It also symbolises 

the pursuit of peace, understanding and respect. In a world facing uncertainties, the cultural 

centre provides a space for discussions about commonalities and the need to collectively strive 

for a better future.” 

Paul Gessl 

Geschäftsführer NÖ Kulturwirtschaft | Director of NÖ Kulturwirtschaft 

„Das Kulturjahr „Kultur St. Pölten 2024“ ist zeitgenössisch, vielfältig und kulturell aktiv, 

verstärkt das kulturelle Angebot in Niederösterreich und wird die Weiterentwicklung der 

Landeshauptstadt St. Pölten prägen.“ 

“The St. Pölten Art and Culture Year 2024 is contemporary, diverse and culturally engaged, 

enhancing the cultural offerings in Lower Austria and shaping the further development of the 

state capital, St. Pölten.” 

lassen den Raum selbst erzählen und schaffen einen 

Ort, der sich mit jüdischer Kultur und unserer gemeinsamen 

Geschichte auseinandersetzt“, so Keil, 

die auch Direktorin des Instituts für jüdische Geschichte 

Österreichs ist, das seinen Sitz ebenfalls in 

der Ehemaligen Synagoge hat. Einen ersten Höhepunkt 

zum Kulturkalender St. Pöltens steuert das 

neue Kulturzentrum mit den „Jewish Weekends“ 

mit jüdischer Musik in ihrer ganzen Bandbreite bei. 

Als Kurator für das sich über zwei Wochenenden 

im Juni erstreckende Festival konnte der bekannte 

Radiomoderator und Weltmusikexperte Johann 

Kneihs gewonnen werden. Das hochkarätige Programm 

jüdischer Musik und Kultur abseits bekannter 

Klischees, wie Kneihs betont, reicht von der Barockmusik 

bis zu jüdischen Singer-Songwritern der 

Gegenwart und bringt etwa den Auftritt der Kantorin 

Sveta Kundish, einer der ersten Frauen in dieser 

traditionellen Männerdomäne, oder der New Yorker 

Klezmerlegende Frank London mit der österreichischen 

Erstaufführung seines großartigen Albums 

‚Ghetto Songs‘. Die „Jewish Weekends“ 

strecken ihre Fühler auch über die Ehemalige Synagoge 

hinaus und bespielen in der gut vernetzten 

Kulturszene der Stadt etwa auch die Bühne am Hof 

sowie das Festspielhaus St. Pölten. 

Kulturstadt im internationalen Kontext 

Eine Reihe weiterer spannender Kunstprojekte 

im Stadtraum von St. Pölten wie die Intervention 

des Schweizer Künstlers Christian Phillipp Müller 

für den Domplatz, das KinderKunstLabor im 

neugestalteten Altoona-Park oder der 

Kunstparcours „The Way of the Water“ entlang 

von Traisen und Mühlbach, zusammengestellt von 

der international renommierten Kuratorin Joanna 

Warsza, unterstreichen die Ernsthaftigkeit und 

den Anspruch des Kunst- und Kulturjahres 2024. 

Ganz entscheidender, wichtiger Punkt im 

kulturellen Selbstverständnis des Unterfangens: 

St. Pölten möchte seine kulturelle Rolle und 

Relevanz über Niederösterreich und Österreich 

hinaus gehend in einem internationalen Umfeld 

finden. Nicht das nahe, kulturell übermächtige 

Wien soll als Referenz dienen, „St. Pölten versteht 

sich als eigenständige, zukunftsweisende 

Mittelstadt im mitteleuropäischen Kontext mit 

einem klaren kulturellen Profil“, wie 

Landeshauptfrau Johanna Mikl-Leitner betont. 

Es entsteht also an vielfältigen Spielorten vom 

PHOTOS: BOTSCHAFT DES STAATES ISRAEL IN ÖSTERREICH; P. MONIHART; KLAUSBAUERPHOTOGRAPHY; C. PARODI 

Festspielhaus St. Pölten oder dem Landestheater 

Niederösterreich über das Glanzstoff-Gelände, 

den Domplatz, das Cinema Paradiso und die neu 

renovierte Ehemalige Synagoge bis hin zu den 

Wäldern und Wiesen St. Pöltens sehr viel Neues, 

Spannendes und Einzigartiges. Mit starker eigener 

Handschrift, die ab diesem Frühjahr den 

Abstecher nach St. Pölten des Öfteren zu einem 

kulturell erhellenden Unterfangen macht. 

St. Pölten is on a mission! The capital of Lower 

Austria has declared 2024 as its Art and 

Culture Year. Aiming to enhance its cultural 

standing, the city will spotlight the year-long, 

interdisciplinary Tangente festival and the 

reopening of the Former Synagogue as an open 

cultural centre, injecting vibrant and fresh cultural 

momentum. 

Engaging the senses 

Central to the new cultural destination’s 

unmistakable identity is a strong focus on 

contemporary art and cultural themes that grapple 

with the realities of life in the 21st century. The 

Tangente St. Pölten festival, both interdisciplinary 

and international in scope, proudly bears the 

subtitle “Festival for Contemporary Culture”. It 

Das Tangente Festival 

eröffnet mit der zeitgenössischen 

Oper „Justice“. 

The Tangente Festival opens 

with the contemporary opera 

“Justice“. 

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INFO 

Highlights Kunstund 

Kulturjahr St. 

Pölten | Highlights of 

the St. Pölten Year of 

Art and Culture 

Justice 

Oper von Hèctor Parra, 

Milo Rau u. Fiston Mwanza 

Mujila, Tonkünstler- 

Orchester 

30.04., 01.05.2024, 

Festspielhaus St. Pölten 

Katalog der Vögel 

Olivier Messiaen, 

Pierre-Laurent Aimard, 

Birgit Minichmayr. 

Mit Texten von Fiston 

Mwanza Mujila, Vinciane 

Despret 

01.05.2024, Festspielhaus 

St. Pölten 

Freeway Dance 

Ayaka Nakama 

03.05., 04.05.2024, 

Freiraum St. Pölten 

Jewish Weekends 

Festival jüdischer Musik 

mit Sveta Kundish, Frank 

London u. a. 

07.-16.06.2024 

Sacred Music for Two 

Guitars 

Radical Jewish Culture 

Julian Lage, Gyan Riley 

04.07.2024, Ehemalige 

Synagoge St. Pölten 

Domplatz Open-Air 

Best-of Bernstein 

Tonkünstler-Orchester, 

China Moses, Myles Sanko 


tangente-st-poelten.at 

ehemalige-synagoge.at 

stpoeltentourismus.at 

Tarun Kade, kuratorischer 

Leiter der Tangente. 

Tarun Kade, curatorial director 

of Tangente. 

Autor Fiston Mwanza Mujila. Joanna Warsza gestaltet „The 

Way of the Water“. 

Author Fiston Mwanza Mujila. Joanna Warsza designs “The 

Way of the Water“. 

Tangente Festival: John Zorn, Birgit Minichmayr, Milo Rau. 

aims to offer an alternative vision to a Europe 

marred by war and a society divided by debates 

over migration, climate change and democracy. 

Tarun Kade, the festival’s curatorial director, 

underscores this vision: “Tangente is a festival 

committed to the present moment. This moment is 

the tipping time, a critical juncture for shaping the 

future. Tangente explores how we can reclaim 

spaces for action and creativity. And it is an 

endeavour to do just that!” The festival seeks to 

fulfil this ambitious goal with a rich programme 

focused on “Ecology” at its launch, followed by 

“Memory” and concluding with “Democracy” in 

the autumn. The festival’s packed schedule is not 

short of highlights, featuring unique projects like 

the outdoor theatre project “Shared Landscapes” by 

Caroline Barneaud and Stefan Kaegi or “Freeway 

Dance”, a performance anthem by Japanese 

choreographer and dancer Ayaka Nakama. Not to 

mention the star-studded “Organ Experimental” 

concert series featuring artists such as Kali Malone 

and John Zorn. The festival kicks off on 30 April at 

the St. Pölten Festival House with the contemporary 

opera “Justice” by Milo Rau, Hèctor Parra and 

Fiston Mwanza Mujila, performed by the 

Tonkunstler Orchestra. 

From Baroque to Klezmer 

The second key cultural initiative for 2024 is 

the reopening of the Former Synagogue of St. Pölten. 

This Art Nouveau gem, inaugurated in 1913 

and once the spiritual heart of the city’s thriving 

Jewish community, was largely destroyed on the 

inside in November 1938. It has now been painstakingly 

restored over the past two years. For Martha 

Keil, who is in charge of programming for this 

newly revived cultural institution at the city’s core, 

PHOTOS: S. IRVINE; R. WENER / BURGTHEATER; B. BORGERS; P. RAUCHECKER; A. DRVNIK; J. VÖLKL; S. NORGET; ESEL.AT 

the goal is for the Former Synagogue to actively 

shape the city’s cultural scene. “We’re not setting 

up a museum; we’re letting the space tell its town 

story and are creating a venue that engages with 

Jewish culture and our shared history,” says Keil, 

also the director of the Institute for Jewish History 

in Austria, located in the Former Synagogue. A 

highlight in St. Pölten’s cultural calendar is the 

new cultural centre’s “Jewish Weekends”, showcasing 

the full spectrum of Jewish musical culture. 

Renowned radio presenter and world music expert 

Johann Kneihs has been enlisted to curate the 

festival, spanning two weekends in June. Offering 

a high-calibre programme of Jewish music and 

culture beyond well-worn clichés, as Kneihs highlights, 

the range extends from Baroque music to 

contemporary Jewish singer-songwriters. It features 

performances by Cantor Sveta Kundish, one 

of the first women in this traditionally male domain, 

and New York Klezmer legend Frank London 

with the Austrian premiere of his acclaimed 

album “Ghetto Songs”. The Jewish Weekends also 

reach beyond the Former Synagogue, engaging 

with the city’s well-connected cultural scene, including 

performances at the Bühne am Hof and 

the St. Pölten Festival House. 

A cultural city in an international context 

A plethora of exciting art projects throughout St. 

Pölten, such as the intervention by Swiss artist Christian 

Phillipp Müller at Domplatz, the Children’s Art 

Laboratory in the redesigned Altoona Park or the 

“The Way of the Water” art trail along the Traisen 

and Mühlbach rivers, curated by the internationally 

acclaimed Joanna Warsza, underscore the ambition 

and seriousness of the Art and Culture Year 2024. A 

crucial point in the cultural ethos of this initiative is 

St. Pölten’s desire to assert its cultural significance 

and role not just within Lower Austria or Austria, 

but on an international stage. “St. Pölten is not trying 

to compete with the nearby cultural giant Vienna, 

but to be recognised as an independent, forwardthinking 

mid-sized city in the Central European 

context with a distinct cultural identity,” as emphasised 

by Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner. 

Thus, from the St. Pölten Festival House and the 

State Theatre of Lower to the Glanzstoff site, Domplatz, 

Cinema Paradiso and the newly renovated Former 

Synagogue, extending to the forests and meadows 

around St. Pölten, there’s a wealth of new, 

exciting and unique offerings. With a strong and distinctive 

signature, these initiatives promise to make 

a trip to St. Pölten a culturally enlightening experience 

starting this spring. 

Temporäre Intervention des 

Künstlers Christian Phillipp 

Müller für den neu gestalteten 

Domplatz. 

Temporary intervention by the 

artist Christian Phillipp Müller 

for the newly designed 

cathedral square. 

Souldiva China Moses beim 

Domplatz Open-Air. Souldiva 

China Moses at the Domplatz 

Open-Air. 



99

SAVOIR VIVRE MUSEUM VISIT 

„Freuds Einfluss aufzeigen.“ | “Demonstrating Freud’s impact.” 

Sigmund Freud Museum, Berggasse 19, 1090 Wien | Vienna 

DIRECTOR’S TALK 

Text und Interview: Rois & Stubenrauch 

INFO 

Originalschauplatz: 

Wartezimmer in Freuds 

Praxis. 

Original setting: waiting 

room in Freud‘s practice. 

Berggasse 19: Hier revolutionierte Sigmund 

Freud das menschliche Selbstbild, entwickelte 

die Psychoanalyse und ließ seine Patientinnen 

und Patienten auf dem berühmten roten Sofa 

Platz nehmen. 47 Jahre war die Adresse Freuds Lebens- 

und Arbeitsmittelpunkt, bevor die Familie aufgrund 

ihrer jüdischen Herkunft 1938 vor den Nationalsozialisten 

nach London fliehen musste. Als 

Originalschauplatz macht das Sigmund Freud Museum 

mit der Erweiterung 2020 erstmals alle von der 

Familie Freud genutzten Räume zugänglich. Die aktuelle 

Sonderausstellung „un:heimlich“ thematisiert 

den anhaltenden Einfluss des Erfinders der Psychoanalyse 

bis zur Gegenwartskunst. 

Berggasse 19: The Sigmund Freud Museum stands as 

a beacon of psychological exploration, where the 

father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, reshaped 

our understanding of the human psyche. For 47 years, this 

iconic address served as Freud’s home and workspace, 

where he developed psychoanalytic theory and welcomed 

patients to his renowned red sofa. In 1938, amid the looming 

threat of Nazism due to their Jewish heritage, the 

Freud family sought refuge in London. The museum’s 2020 

expansion has, for the first time, opened up all the rooms 

once inhabited by Freud and his family to the public. The 

current special exhibition, “The Uncanny”, explores Freud’s 

enduring influence on contemporary art, inviting visitors 

to reflect on the uncanny aspects of the human mind. 

PHOTOS: SIGMUND FREUD PRIVATSTIFTUNG / HERTHA HURNAUS / STEPHANIE LETOFSKY / MARTIN HÖRMANDINGER; MAX HALBERSTADT; 

OLIVER OTTENSCHLÄGER (4) 

Monika Pessler 

Direktorin Sigmund Freud Museum | Director of the Sigmund Freud Museum 

Was kann die Berggasse 19, Geburtsort 

der Psychoanalyse und originale 

Wirkstätte Freuds, heute vermitteln? 

Heute sind alle Räume der Berggasse 19, in 

denen Freud 47 Jahre lebte und arbeitete, 

öffentlich zugänglich: die Privatwohnung, 

seine Ordination wie auch seine erste 

Praxis im Hochparterre. Weil mit der Flucht 

der Freuds vor den Nationalsozialisten 1938 

der Großteil des Familienbesitzes ins 

Londoner Exil transferiert wurde, sind 

einige Originale bis heute dort verblieben. 

Im Laufe der letzten Jahrzehnte sind aber 

zahlreiche Gegenstände an ihren 

Ursprungsort zurückgekehrt und liefern 

eine umfassende Vorstellung von der 

Atmosphäre dieses bedeutenden Kulturstandortes. Es ist uns 

aber ebenso wichtig, mit Wechselausstellungen die aktuelle 

Bedeutung von Freuds Arbeit für unsere heutigen Verhältnisse 

in Kultur und Gesellschaft zu beleuchten. 

Auf welche Weise assoziieren die Arbeiten der neuen 

Ausstellung „un:heimlich“ mit Freuds Psychoanalyse? 

Freud maß dem Unheimlichen hohe Bedeutung bei, es schien 

ihm „einer besonderen Betrachtung wert“, wie er in seinem 

Aufsatz „Das Unheimliche“ 1919 schreibt. Mit „un:heimlich“ 

nehmen wir die internationale zeitgenössische Kunstproduktion 

in den Fokus. Die ausgewählten Arbeiten wirken auf den ersten 

Blick vertraut, evozieren bei näherer Betrachtung aber ein 

unheimliches Gefühl. 

Im Hochparterre zeigen Sie auch Werke aus der 

Konzeptkunstsammlung des Sigmund Freud Museums. 

Es war mein Anliegen, die Vielschichtigkeit von Freuds Einfluss 

auf unsere Kulturentwicklung aufzuzeigen. Vielen ist gar nicht 

bewusst, wie sehr Freud mit seinen Erkenntnissen die 

Selbstsicht der Menschen beeinflusste. Gleichzeitig haben 

zahlreiche andere Wissensbereiche von Freuds Einsichten 

profitiert, die Naturwissenschaften ebenso wie die 

Geisteswissenschaften und Künste. Es kommt also nicht von 

ungefähr, dass Franz Wests „Liège“ in Freuds ehemaligem 

Behandlungszimmer zu sehen ist, oder eine Objektinstallation 

Ilya Kabakovs mit Tisch und Sessel in Freuds Arbeitszimmer. 

Worin liegt der internationale Stellenwert der 

„Bibliothek der Psychoanalyse“ im Sigmund Freud 

Museum? 

Unsere Bibliothek – und darauf sind wir stolz – wurde von Anna 

Freud wenige Jahre nach der Museumsgründung 1971 ins Leben 

gerufen. Ihr Wunsch war es, diesen Ort in Erinnerung an ihren 

Vater und seine Kolleginnen und Kollegen wieder zu einem 

Zentrum wissenschaftlichen Austausches werden zu lassen. 

Heute ist die Bibliothek und das Archiv des Sigmund Freud 

Museums ein stark frequentiertes Kommunikationsforum für 

österreichische und internationale Studierende, Interessierte 

und Expertinnen und Experten unterschiedlicher 

Fachrichtungen. 

What insights can today’s visitors gain from Berggasse 19, 

the cradle of psychoanalysis and Freud’s original 

workplace? 

Today, Berggasse 19 welcomes the public to explore every nook 

and cranny of Freud’s life and work, including his private 

residence, consultation rooms and the very first practice on the 

raised ground floor. Despite the loss of many original items to 

London during the Freud family’s escape from the Nazis in 1938, 

numerous artefacts have since returned, offering a rich 

portrayal of this significant cultural site’s ambience. Equally 

important to us is shedding light on Freud’s work’s relevance to 

contemporary culture and society through temporary 

exhibitions. 

How do the artworks in the new “The Uncanny” exhibition 

relate to Freud’s psychoanalysis? 

Freud attributed significant importance to the concept of the 

uncanny, deeming it worthy of special consideration in his 1919 

essay “The Uncanny”. The exhibition brings international 

contemporary art into focus, featuring works that appear 

familiar at first glance but evoke an eerie feeling upon closer 

inspection. 

The museum is also showcasing works from its Collection 

of Conceptual Art. 

It was my goal to demonstrate the complexity of Freud’s impact 

on our cultural development. Many are unaware of how 

profoundly Freud’s discoveries influenced human selfperception. 

His insights have benefited numerous fields, from 

the natural and social sciences to the arts. It’s no coincidence 

that Franz West’s “Liège” is displayed in Freud’s former 

treatment room, or an object installation by Ilya Kabakov, 

featuring a table and chair, situated in Freud’s study. 

What is the international significance of the “Library of 

Psychoanalysis” at the Sigmund Freud Museum? 

We take pride in our library, initiated by Anna Freud shortly 

after the museum’s opening in 1971, as a tribute to her father 

and his colleagues, aiming to re-establish this site as a hub of 

scientific exchange. Today, the library and archive serve as a 

vibrant forum for Austrian and international students, 

enthusiasts and experts from various disciplines. 

Verborgene Gedanken 

visueller Natur 

Ausgewählte Werke der 

Konzeptkunstsammlung des 

Sigmund Freud Museums. 

A presentation of selected works 

from the Sigmund Freud Museum’s 

Conceptual Art Collection. 

Gewalt erzählen 

Comic-Ausstellung 

bis 08.04.2024 

un:heimlich 

In Zusammenarbeit mit der 

Kunsthalle Tübingen. Mit Werken 

von Louise Bourgeois, Cindy 

Sherman, Jeff Wall u. a. 

A collaboration with Kunsthalle 

Tübingen; featuring works by Louise 

Bourgeois, Cindy Sherman, Jeff Wall 

and others. 

26.04.–04.11.2024 

EYES | OCHI 

Schauraum Berggasse 19 

bis April 2024 

Sigmund Freud 1921. 

Eyes / Ochi, Schauraum. 

Comic-Ausstellung. 

Eyes / Ochi, Show room. 

Comic exhibition. 

INFO: 

freud-museum.at 

Aus der Konzeptkunstsammlung: 

Pier Paolo Calzolari, Franz West. 

From the conceptual art collection: 

Pier Paolo Calzolari, Franz West. 

100 Cercle Diplomatique 1/2024 Cercle Diplomatique 1/2024 101

SAVOIR VIVRE AMBASSADORS OF MUSIC 

„Musik ist ein großes Privileg.“ | “Music is a great privilege.” 

Marta Gardolińska. Die Dirigentin über den Luxus eines Konzertereignisses. | The conductor on the luxury of live concerts. 

Interview: Rois & Stubenrauch 

INFO 

4 

Die Sommernachtsgala Grafenegg läutet in Österreich die 

sommerliche Festivalsaison ein und ist dank der TV-Bilder 

auch ein europaweites Medienspektakel. Wie möchten 

Sie selbst das Konzert im geopolitisch schwierigen Jahr 

2024 verstanden wissen? 

Musik hat die einzigartige Fähigkeit, ihre Rezipienten zu 

sensibilisieren. Sie ist auch ein Symbol für Einheit, Verständnis 

und Zusammenarbeit, unabhängig von Herkunft, Geschlecht und 

Status der Menschen, die Musik machen. Ich denke, dass allein 

die Auswahl der Solisten und meine Einladung, diese schöne 

Veranstaltung auszurichten, eine Art Botschaft ist – Künstler aus 

verschiedenen Kulturkreisen treffen sich zum ersten Mal auf der 

Bühne. Es ist in diesen Tagen besonders wichtig, sich daran zu 

erinnern, dass der Lebensstil, den wir in Europa genießen, ein 

großes Privileg und Luxus ist und wir sehr dankbar sein sollten 

für diese schönen Momente, die wir in Sicherheit und Frieden 

teilen können. 

Können Sie schon etwas zum Programm sagen – es wird ja 

auch ein Akkordeon, gespielt von Martynas Levickis, mit 

auf der Bühne sein? 

Das Repertoire umfasst wunderschöne Opernmusik, aber auch 

folkloristische Elemente – jeder Solist auf der Bühne wird etwas 

darbieten, das ihm am Herzen liegt und seinen Wurzeln 

entspricht. Auf diese Weise haben wir ein sehr buntes, leicht 

ungewöhnliches Programm geschaffen, mit dem wir die Zuhörer 

auf eine Reise auch über die Grenzen Europas hinaus einladen! 

Sie gehören zur jungen Dirigentinnen-Generation, die 

gerade die Welt erstürmt, und werden die erste Frau am 

Pult der Sommernachtsgala Grafenegg sein. Ist es im Jahr 

2024 nun endlich eine Selbstverständlichkeit, eine 

Dirigentin am Pult zu erleben? 

Eine Selbstverständlichkeit vielleicht noch nicht. Es braucht noch 

einige Saisonen Zeit und weitere Generationen gut ausgebildeter 

Dirigentinnen, um eine Ausgeglichenheit zu erreichen – es ist ein 

Prozess, der aber in den letzten Jahren mit großen Schritten 

vorangegangen ist. 

im Sport eingesetzten mentalen Techniken sind auch bei der 

Vorbereitung auf einen musikalischen Auftritt zu 100 % wirksam. 

The Midsummer Night’s Gala in Grafenegg marks the 

beginning of Austria’s summer festival season and, thanks to 

television broadcasting, has become a pan-European 

spectacle. In the geopolitically tense year of 2024, how do you 

hope the concert will be perceived? 

Music possesses a unique power to make its listeners more 

receptive and empathetic. It stands as a symbol of unity, 

understanding and cooperation, transcending the origins, 

genders and statuses of its creators. The selection of soloists and 

my invitation to host this magnificent event send a clear 

message: artists from diverse cultural backgrounds are coming 

together and encountering one another on stage for the first 

time. In today’s world, it’s crucial to remember that the lifestyle 

we enjoy in Europe is a significant privilege and luxury. We ought 

to be profoundly thankful for these moments of beauty shared in 

safety and peace. 

Could you give us a sneak peek of the programme, especially 

with Martynas Levickis playing the accordion on stage? 

Our repertoire spans exquisite operatic pieces alongside folkloric 

elements, allowing each performer to share something deeply 

personal and rooted in their heritage. This approach has led to a 

vibrant and slightly unconventional programme, inviting our 

audience on a journey beyond Europe’s borders. 

You are part of a new generation of female conductors making 

waves internationally, and you’ll be the first woman to take the 

podium at the Midsummer Night’s Gala in Grafenegg. Is having 

a female conductor something we can take for granted in 

2024? 

Perhaps we shouldn’t take it for granted yet. Achieving balance 

will require a few more seasons and generations of well-trained 

female conductors. However, the process has made significant 

strides in recent years. 

Sommernachtsgala Grafenegg 

2024 

Marta Gardolińska, Dirigentin 

Tonkünstler-Orchester Niederösterreich 

Regula Mühlemann, Sopran 

Pene Pati, Tenor 

Martynas Levickis, Akkordeon 


grafenegg.com 

Die polnische Dirigentin zählt 

zur jungen Generation auf den 

Konzertbühnen. 

The Polish conductor is one of 

the younger generation on the 

concert stage.. 

Sie haben Ihre musikalische Ausbildung in Warschau 

begonnen, in Wien fortgesetzt, wo sie heute leben. Ist 

Wien „the place to be“ für eine Musikerin? 

Wien ist sicherlich „the place to learn music”. Es gibt hier eine Art 

von musikalischer Tradition, die man in keiner anderen Stadt der 

Welt findet! Hier trifft man auch jeden Tag die allerbesten Künstler 

der Welt, was sehr inspirierend ist. 

You began your musical education in Warsaw, then continued 

in Vienna, where you now reside. Is Vienna the place to be if 

you are a musician? 

Vienna is undoubtedly the place to learn music. The city is 

imbued with a musical tradition unmatched anywhere else in the 

world. It’s also a daily meeting point for some of the world’s 

finest artists, offering endless inspiration. 

PERSONAL DETAILS 

PHOTOS: BARTEK BARCZYK (2) 

Bevor Sie sich endgültig für die Musik entschieden haben, 

war eine Karriere als Profi-Sportlerin ebenfalls eine 

Option. Sehen Sie Parallelen zwischen dem Spitzensport 

und dem Musikbetrieb? 

Sport lehrt Disziplin, die im Musikleben sehr nützlich ist, und stärkt 

gleichzeitig das Bewusstsein für den eigenen Körper und seine 

Bedürfnisse. In der Musik kann die Herangehensweise stärker auf 

Inspiration und Kreativität basieren, im Berufsleben als Musikerin 

hilft der Sport-Pragmatismus aber sehr dabei, Emotionen abzubauen 

und sich auf die Vorbereitung zu konzentrieren. Genauer gesagt: Die 

Before fully committing to music, you considered a career as a 

professional athlete. Do you see parallels between elite sports 

and the music industry? 

Sports teach discipline, invaluable in the musical sphere, and 

enhance awareness of one’s body and its needs. While music 

often leans more heavily on inspiration and creativity, the 

pragmatism from sports is beneficial for managing emotions and 

focusing on preparation. Specifically, mental techniques used in 

sports are entirely applicable and effective in preparing for a 

musical performance. 

Marta Gardolińska dirigiert als erste Frau die Sommernachtsgala Grafenegg 2024. 

Gardolińska arbeitete bereits mit namhaften Orchestern wie dem Los Angeles 

Philharmonic oder dem London Symphony Orchestra zusammen. In der Saison 

2020–2021 gab die junge Dirigentin ihr Operndebüt in Nancy und wurde zur 

musikalischen Leiterin der Opéra national de Lorraine ernannt, seit der Saison 

2022–2023 ist Marta Gardolińska erste Gastdirigentin des Orquestra Simfònica de 

Barcelona. 

Marta Gardolińska is the first female conductor of the Midsummer Night’s Gala in 

Grafenegg in 2024. She has collaborated with prestigious orchestras such as the Los 

Angeles Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestra. In the 2020-2021 season, 

Gardolińska made her operatic debut in Nancy and was appointed musical director at 

the Opéra national de Lorraine. Since the 2022-2023 season, she has been the 

principal guest conductor of the Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona. 

102 Cercle Diplomatique 1/2024 Cercle Diplomatique 1/2024 103

SAVOIR VIVRE ARTS 

Was Sie nicht versäumen sollten | What you won‘t want to miss 

Kunst & Kultur Frühjahr 2024 | Arts & Culture Spring 2024 

Text: Evelyn Rois 

Humanistische Ideale | 

Humanuist ideals 

2024 feiert die Schallaburg 50 Jahre Ausstellungsbetrieb! Die Jahresausstellung „RENAISSANCE einst, jetzt & hier“ (13. 04.-03.11.2024) ergründet nicht nur die Ideale der 

Epoche und erzählt anhand ausgewählter Exponate aus dem In- und Ausland von den großen Umbrüchen dieses Zeitalters, ebenso wird die umfassend restaurierte 

Schallaburg als bedeutendes Renaissanceschloss selbst zum zentralen Ausstellungsobjekt. 

Schallaburg celebrates 50 years of exhibitions in 2024! The annual exhibition “RENAISSANCE then, now & here“ (13 April - 3 November 2024) not only explores the ideals of 

the era and uses selected exhibits from Austria and abroad to tell the story of the great upheavals of this age, but the extensively restored Schallaburg itself, as an important 

Renaissance palace, will also become the central exhibition object. 

schallaburg.at 

Meisterwerke des Jugendstils 

| Masterpieces of art nouveau 

PHOTOS: WIEN MUSEUM / KAINZ; R. PESSL; KHM-MUSEUMSVERBAND; VIG / M. THUMBERGER; I. GUSEINOV; L. 

STELZEL; ESTATE OF ROY LICHTENSTEIN / ALBERTINA, BILDRECHT VIENNA 2024 

Martha Jungwirth, Große Natur, 

1993. 

Spannende Konfrontationen 

| Exciting confrontations 

Lettland, Tschechien, Serbien, 

Österreich - Highlights aus sechs 

verschiedenen Sammlungen in vier 

Ländern der Vienna Insurance Group 

werden erstmals gemeinsam 

gezeigt. „Unknown Familiars“ im 

Leopold Museum führt mit einem 

spannenden, assoziativ gestalteten 

Parcours von der klassischen 

Moderne über jugoslawische 

Avantgarde der 1970er bis zu 

aktuellen Positionen der Gegenwartskunst. 

08.05.-06.10.2024. 

For the first time ever, a unique 

exhibition showcases highlights 

from six distinct collections across 

four countries – Latvia, Czechia, 

Serbia and Austria – all part of the 

Vienna Insurance Group. Titled 

“Unknown Familiars”, this exhibit at 

the Leopold Museum provides an 

immersive exploration that spans 

from classical modernity, through 

the Yugoslav avant-garde 

movement of the 1970s, to current 

contemporary art trends. 

08.05.2024-06.10.2024 

leopoldmuseum.org 

Taus Makhacheva, Super Taus and 

a Camel Yasha, 2014. 

Nutztier im Klimawandel | Livestock in climate change 

Kamele, Dromedare, Lamas und Alpakas zählen zu den ältesten Nutztieren der 

Menschheit. „Auf dem Rücken der Kamele“ im Weltmuseum Wien (bis 26.01.2025) 

erzählt von dieser Symbiose - von den Steppen Asiens bis zum Hochland Boliviens. 

Die genügsamen Tiere gelten zudem als Hoffnungsträger bei der Suche nach 

Lösungen für den Klimawandel, so hat die Generalversammlung der Vereinten 

Nationen 2024 zum Internationalen Jahr der Kameliden ausgerufen. 

Camels, dromedaries, llamas and alpacas are among the oldest farm animals known 

to mankind. “On the Backs of Camels“ at the Weltmuseum Wien (until 26 January 

2025) tells the story of this symbiosis – from the steppes of Asia to the highlands of 

Bolivia. The frugal animals are also seen as a beacon of hope in the search for 

solutions to climate change, which is why the United Nations General Assembly has 

declared 2024 the International Year of Camelids. 

weltmuseumwien.at 

Pop Art Ikonen | Pop art 

icons 

Mehr als 90 Gemälde, Skulpturen und 

Grafiken versammelt die Albertina für 

ihre große Roy Lichtenstein 

Retrospektive zum 100. Geburtstag 

des Meisters der Pop Art (08.03.- 

14.07.2024). Unter den 30 Leihgebern 

der Schau vom Whitney Museum bis 

zum Moderna Museet Stockholm 

befindet sich auch Norbert 

Winkelmayer, einer der bedeutendsten 

privaten Sammler der Arbeiten 

Roy Lichtensteins und Hoteleigentümer 

des Sans Souci Wien. Anlässlich 

der Ausstellung in der Albertina legt 

das Sans Souci ein Roy Lichtenstein 

Package auf inkl. Besuch der Albertina 

und Kunstrundgang durch die 

hoteleigene Roy-Lichtenstein-Privatsammlung. 

The Albertina Museum Vienna is 

marking the centenary of pop art 

master Roy Lichtenstein with a major 

retrospective that gathers more than 

90 paintings, sculptures and prints. 

This celebration, running from 8 

March to 14 July 2024, features loans 

from 30 prestigious institutions, 

including the Whitney Museum and 

Moderna Museet Stockholm. Among 

the lenders is Norbert Winkelmayer, a 

significant private collector of 

Lichtenstein’s work and owner of the 

Sans Souci Boutique Hotel Vienna. In 

conjunction with the exhibition, Sans 

Souci is offering a special Roy 

Lichtenstein package, including a visit 

to the Albertina Museum Vienna and 

a guided tour of the hotel’s private 

Lichtenstein collection. 

albertina.at 

sanssouci-wien.com 

Das im Dezember wiedereröffnete Wien 

Museum leuchtet in seiner Sonderausstellung 

“Secessionen – Klimt, Stuck, Liebermann” die 

Secessionsbewegungen in München, Wien 

und Berlin an der Wende zum 20. Jahrhundert 

aus. Anlass, zahlreiche grandiose Meisterwerke 

dieses radikalen Aufbruchs in die Moderne 

– aus der eigenen Sammlung wie des 

Kooperationspartners Alte Nationalgalerie 

Berlin - ins Scheinwerferlicht zu stellen. 

23.05.-13.10.2024. 

The recently reopened Wien Museum shines 

a spotlight on the Secession movements of 

Munich, Vienna and Berlin at the turn of the 

Hochland 

Max Kurzweil, Dame in 

20th century with its “Secessions. Klimt, 

Boliviens. 

Gelb, 1899. 

Stuck, Liebermann” exhibition. This is a 

chance to admire spectacular masterpieces 

from this radical modernist break, featuring 

works from its collection and the Alte 

Nationalgalerie Berlin. 

23.05.2024-13.10.2024. 


wienmuseum.at 


SAVOIR VIVRE ARTS 

Ursina Braun. 

Barock at its best! 

Immersive Art: Patricia Domiìnguez, AdriaÌn Villar Rojas, Thao Nguyen Phan, Rasa Smite & Raitis 

Smits. 

Für eine bessere Welt | For a better world 

100 Tage internationales Programm, das Kunst, Design, Architektur und Wissenschaft verknüpft und 

Antworten auf die Klimakrise aufzeigen möchte. Die Klima Biennale Wien (05.04.-14.07.2024) startet 

ambitioniert in ihre erste Ausgabe. Die Biennale Zentrale im KunstHausWien etwa zeigt „Into the Woods“, 

16 zeitgenössische Positionen zum Zustand unserer Wälder und deren Zerstörung. Am Festivalareal auf dem 

Nordwestbahnhofgelände wiederum werden künstlerische Perspektiven auf eine lebenswerte Zukunft 

vorgestellt, u. a. die spannende Arbeit der vietnamesischen Medienkünstlerin Thao Nguyen Phan. 

The Climate Biennale Vienna (5 April-14 July 2024) kicks off its ambitious first edition with a 100-day 

international programme linking art, design, architecture and science to address climate change. Highlights 

include “Into the Woods” at the KunstHausWien, showcasing 16 contemporary takes on our forests and 

their destruction, and the festival site at Nordwestbahnhof presenting artistic visions for a sustainable 

future, including the captivating work of Vietnamese media artist Thao Nguyen Phan. 

biennale.wien 

Styrian 

Klezmore. 

Birgit Minichmayr. 

Fazil Say. 

Festspielklänge | Festival sounds 

„Die Macht der Musik“ steht als Motto über dem Programm 

der diesjährigen Styriarte (21.06.-21.07.2024). Der großartige 

musikalische Bogen spannt sich von Händel über Mozart bis 

zu Bertl Mütter, vom Tastenzauber bis zur spektakulären 

Jahreszeitenoper frei nach Vivaldi, vom Styriarte Festspiel- 

Orchester bis zu Fazıl Say. 

Under the banner “The Power of Music”, this year’s 

Styriarte festival (21 June-21 July 2024) promises an 

extraordinary musical journey from Handel and Mozart to 

Bertl Mütter. Audiences can expect everything from 

keyboard magic to a spectacular seasonal opera inspired by 

Vivaldi, performed by the Styriarte Festival Orchestra and 

Fazıl Say. 

styriarte.com 

PHOTOS: DOMIÌNGUEZ; VILLAR ROJAS; THAO NGUYEN; SMITE & SMITS / K. MADJARE; M. BORGGREVE; REITHOFER MEDIA; LAIF; F. KARADUMAN; LIECHTENSTEIN / THE PRINCELY COLLECTIONS 

Anton Bruckner persönlich | Anton Bruckner 

up close 

Die Österreichische Nationalbibliothek feiert das Brucknerjahr 2024 

im Prunksaal mit der Sonderausstellung „Anton Bruckner. Der 

fromme Revolutionär“. Notenblätter und viele Dokumente aus der 

Sammlung der Nationalbibliothek zeigen den Komponisten im 

Spannungsfeld gegensätzlicher sozialer Lebensfelder. Besonderes 

Highlight: Am 28.03, 02.05 und 03.06.2024 spielen Mitglieder der 

Wiener Symphoniker im Rahmen der Ausstellung in der 

Österreichischen Nationalbibliothek drei Konzerte mit Werken des 

kühnen musikalischen Neuerers. 

21.03.2024 - 26.01.2025 

The Austrian National LibraryAnton Bruckner up close 

is commemorating the 2024 Bruckner Year with “Anton Bruckner. 

The Pious Revolutionary”, a special exhibition in the library’s 

State Hall showcasing scores and documents that reveal the 

composer amid contrasting social spheres. Highlights include 

three concerts by members of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, 

playing the bold innovator’s works on 28 March, 2 May and 3 

June 2024. 

21.03.2024-26.01.2025 

onb.ac.at 

A...kademie der bildenden Künste Wien 

Gemäldegalerie 

History Tales 

Fact und Fiction 

in History Painting 

A. van Dyck, Porträt Maria de Tassis, 

um 1630. 

Als Mäzen, Kunstsammler und Bauherr 

legte er die Basis der Fürstlichen 

Sammlungen. „Herkules der Künste – 

Johann Adam Andreas I. von Liechtenstein 

und das Wien um 1700“, die aktuelle 

Ausstellung im Gartenpalais Liechtenstein 

(bis 01.05.2024) präsentiert die Gemälde 

und Kunstwerke, die der Fürst von den 

besten Künstlern Europas der damaligen 

Zeit erwarb und für seine neu errichteten 

Paläste in Auftrag gab. Peter Paul Rubens ist 

dabei ebenso vertreten wie Anthonis van 

Dyck oder Marcantonio Franceschini. 

As a patron, art collector and builder, he 

laid the foundations of the Princely 

Collections. “Hercules of the Arts. Johann 

Adam Andreas I von Liechtenstein and 

Vienna around 1700”, the current 

exhibition at the Garden Palace 

Liechtenstein (until 1 May 2024), 

showcases masterpieces acquired from 

Europe’s finest artists of the era, including 

works by Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van 

Dyck and Marcantonio Franceschini. 

palaisliechtenstein.com 

Schillerplatz 3, 1010 Wien www.kunstsammlungenakademie.at 

Ana Torfs, Révolution, Fotodiptychon (Detail), 2003 © Ana Torfs 


27.9.2023 – 26.5.2024 

Schillerplatz 3, 1010 Wien www.kunstsammlungenakademie.at 

Motif using works by Ana Torfs, Révolution, photo diptych (detail), 2003 © Ana Torfs; and 

Unknown artist after Paul Delaroche, Napoleon I in Fontainebleau on 31 March 1814 (detail), 

after 1840 © Graphic Collection of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna

SAVOIR VIVRE CONNOISSEUR 

Essen und trinken mit Stil | Wine and dine in style 


Kulinarische Vereinigung | Culinary association 

20 Jahre JRE-Österreich | 20 years of JRE-Austria 

Doppelter Grund zum Feiern bei den Jeunes Restaurateurs: Die europäische 

Vereinigung der Spitzenköche und Restaurateuren feiert 2024 ihr 50-jähriges, die 

österreichische JRE-Gruppe ihr 20-jähriges Gründungsjubiläum mit einem 

Feuerwerk kulinarischer Events. Präsident der österreichischen Vereinigung ist 

Richard Rauch (Geschwister Rauch), Vizepräsident ist Vitus Winkler (Sonnhof by 

Vitus Winkler). Den Auftakt bilden die JRE-Gourmet Weeks im März. Am 30. Juni 

2024 verwandelt JRE-Österreich den Park des Märchenschlosses Grafenegg von 11 

bis 20 Uhr in eine fantastische Gourmetwelt. 43 JRE-Köche und Köchinnen 

bereiten vor Ort ebenso viele kleine Kreationen in 13 Küchenstationen zu. 

Double reason to celebrate at Jeunes Restaurateurs: the European association of 

top chefs and restaurateurs will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024, while 

the Austrian JRE group will be celebrating its 20th anniversary with a firework 

display of culinary events. President of the Austrian association is Richard Rauch 

(Geschwister Rauch), Vice President is Vitus Winkler (Sonnhof by Vitus Winkler). 

The JRE Gourmet Weeks will kick off in March. On 30 June 2024, JRE-Austria will 

transform the park of fairytale Grafenegg Castle into a fantastic gourmet world 

from 11 am to 8 pm. 43 JRE chefs will prepare just as many small creations in 13 

kitchen stations on site. 

jre.eu 

Umgestaltung | Redesign 

Ode an den Süden | Ode to the south 

Seit Anfang Dezember 2023 ist es angerichtet im Limón am Schubertring, dem neuen 

Rooftop-Restaurant mit Bar! Mit der Kulinarik Italiens, Frankreichs und Spaniens am 

Teller und einem spektakulären Blick über die Dächer der Stadt, stellt das Hotel Grand 

Ferdinand in Wien das neueste Gastro-Juwel vor, im 8. Stock des Ringstraßenhotels. 

Florian Weitzer hat als umtriebiger Patron in vielen Urlauben die Speisekarten Italiens, 

Frankreichs und Spaniens rauf und runter probiert. Und ist nun stolz darauf „das Beste 

aus drei kulinarischen Welten an einem Ort anzubieten.“ Von der Bouillabaisse 

Marseillaise über den hausgemachten Raviolo alla Carbonara bis hin zum Pollo a la 

Mallorquina – im Limón reist man an einem Abend von der Côte d’Azur an die 

Amalfiküste und weiter nach Mallorca. 

Since the beginning of December 2023, the Limón on Schubertring, the new rooftop 

restaurant and bar, has been open! With the culinary delights of Italy, France and 

Spain on the plate and a spectacular view over the rooftops of the city, the Hotel 

Grand Ferdinand in Vienna presents the latest gastronomic jewel on the 8th floor of 

the Ringstrasse hotel. As a busy patron, Florian Weitzer has tasted the menus of 

Italy, France and Spain up and down on many holidays. And is now proud to „offer 

the best of three culinary worlds in one place.“ From the Bouillabaisse Marseillaise 

to the homemade Raviolo alla Carbonara and Pollo a la Mallorquina - at Limón, you 

can travel from the Côte d‘Azur to the Amalfi Coast and on to Mallorca in one 

evening. cucinalimon.com 

PHOTOS: FLORIAN WEITZER HOTELS & RESTAURANTS, BRANDSTÄTTER VERLAG, OBST OSWALD, ZWEIBAUM / CHRIS PERKLES 

Süßes | Sweets 

Tiefgekühlter Schoko-Snack | Frozen chocolate 

snack 

Außen zarte Vollmilchschokolade mit mindestens 35 Prozent Kakaogehalt, 

innen auserlesene, tiefgefrorene Früchte. Schofrulade ist bei mindestens 

-18°C im Tiefkühlregal zu lagern. Den Tiefkühl-Snack gibt es in den Sorten 

Erdbeere, Banane, Himbeere und Mango und wird vom steirischen 

Familienunternehmen Obst Oswald in Gleinstätten produziert. Erhältlich 

ist die Schofrulade bei Interspar, BILLA Plus, MPreis, Gurkerl, Mjam Market, 

METRO und im Onlineshop. 

Delicate milk chocolate with a minimum cocoa content of 35 per cent 

on the outside and exquisite frozen fruit on the inside. Schofrulade 

should be stored at a minimum of -18°C in the freezer. The frozen snack 

is available in strawberry, banana, raspberry and mango flavours and is 

produced by the Styrian family business Obst Oswald in Gleinstätten. 

The Schofrulade is available at Interspar, BILLA Plus, MPreis, Gurkerl, 

Mjam Market, METRO and in the online shop. 

schofrulade.at 

TOP 5 OPENINGS 

Neu in Wien | New in Vienna 

Handwerkliche Brote, 1020 

/ Artisan breads 

das-tho.at 

Dalmatinische Verwöhnung, 

1150 / Dalmatian indulgence 

pijat.at 

Hummus in Variationen, 

1090 / Hummus in variations 

thehummusworkshop.at 

Asiatische Burger, 1060 / 

Asian burgers 

shisoburger.com 

Köstliche Knödel, 1090 / 

Delicious dumplings 

wiener-genuss-knoedelwien.at 

Neben süßen werden auch 

pikante Knödel angeboten. 

In addition to sweet dumplings, 

savoury ones are also on offer. 

BUCHTIPP | BOOK TIP 

Probier doch mal | Try it 

Nach einer Kochlehre sammelte Hans Gerlach reichlich 

Erfahrungen als Koch in Zwei- und Drei-Sterne-Restaurants, 

studierte Architektur und spezialisierte sich 

schließlich darauf, die Zusammenhänge beim Kochen 

mit Spaß zu erforschen. Wöchentlich bringt er mit Text 

und Bild seine beliebte Magazin-Kolumne „Probier doch 

mal“ in der Süddeutschen Zeitung einem großen 

Publikum nahe. 

After training as a chef, Hans Gerlach gained a wealth of 

experience as a chef in two- and three-star restaurants, 

studied architecture and finally specialised in exploring 

the connections between cooking and having fun. Every 

week, he brings his popular magazine column “Try it“ to 

a large audience with text and pictures in the 

Süddeutsche Zeitung. 

ISBN: 978-3-7106-0765-3 

brandstaetterverlag.at 



SAVOIR VIVRE 60 YEAR ANNIVERSARY 

Hotel InterContinental Wien 

„Ein internationales Tor zur Welt.“ | ”An international gateway to the world.” 

Alles Gute zum runden Jubiläum! | All the best for your round jubilee! 

Text & Interview: Daniela Pötzl 

Brigitte Trattner General Manager InterContinental Wien 

„Eine architektonische Stilikone ihrer Zeit.“ „An architectural style icon of its time.“ 

HOTEL DETAILS 

PHOTOS: FAYER, ALEXANDER JÄGER, KLAUS MARCUS. DORIS KUCERA, ARCHIV INTERCONTINENTAL WIEN 

Das InterContinental Wien wurde als direktes Tochterunternehmen 

der Pan American World Airways am 6. März 1964 

feierlich als erstes Hotel einer internationalen Kette eröffnet 

und wird heuer 60 Jahre alt. Was hat das Hotel damals schon 

so besonders gemacht? 

Es war das erste internationale Hotel, etwas Vergleichbares gab es in 

Wien nicht. Die Architektur des Hotels war die vergangenen 60 Jahre 

immer wieder Anlass für Diskussionen – es ist ein zeittypisches 

Bauwerk der frühen 60er Jahre und wurde damals nach modernsten 

Maßstäben gebaut. Maßgeblich trug das Hotel zur Entwicklung des 

Kongresswesens in Wien bei, war es doch mit eigenen Konferenzsälen 

samt Synchronübersetzern am neuesten Stand der Technik 

ausgestattet und trug als Gründungsmitglied des „Kongresszentrums 

Hofburg“ zum Know-how-Transfer in der Hotellerie bei. Zudem stand 

das Haus immer schon für Innovation und Internationalität. 

Bereits im Eröffnungsjahr wurde das Hotel zum Filmset, mit 

damaligen Filmstars wie Peter Alexander, Conny Froboess und 

Gunther Philipp. Auch in späteren Jahrzehnten kamen die 

Stars – die der Musik durch die Nähe zum Konzerthaus und 

des Films durch die Viennale. 1993 war das Hotel für den Life 

Ball Sponsor und Kooperationspartner der ersten Stunde. 

Welche Stars durften Sie persönlich begrüßen? 

Die Viennale war und ist heuer seit 10 Jahren wieder Kooperationspartner. 

Während dieser Zeit ziehen das Viennale Team als auch viele Stars 

und Regisseure bei uns ein, was immer etwas ganz Besonderes für uns 

ist. Die zweite wichtige Kooperation über 14 Jahre war jene mit dem 

Life Ball. Ich durfte Stars aus Mode, Kultur und Film, wie z. B. 

Oscar-Gewinner Christoph Waltz und den Filmproduzenten Eric 

Pleskow, im Haus willkommen heißen. 

Der Eigentümer Michael Tojner möchte die Geschichte der 

internationalen, in die Jahre gekommenen Stilikone, fortschreiben. 

Was bringt die Zukunft? 

Der Plan ist, das Hotel neu zu errichten, so sollte ein neues InterContinental 

ähnlichen Formats entstehen, jedoch mit einem größeren und 

modernen Konferenzzentrum für bis zu 1.000 Personen. 

Der Konferenztourismus ist das Kundensegment mit der größten 

Wertschöpfung, nicht nur für ein Hotel, sondern auch für die Stadt 

Wien. Zudem kommt, dass das InterContinental Wien auch in Zukunft 

zu dem wird, das es immer war: ein Hotel nach dem neuesten Stand 

der Technik gebaut, mit den Schwerpunkt-Themen wie Nachhaltigkeit, 

Umwelt und Energietechnik und der Einbeziehung des Areals 

sowie des angrenzenden Eislaufplatzes. Auch die legendäre 

Intermezzo Bar mit ihrem funkelnden Kristallluster wird es wieder 

geben. 

The InterContinental Vienna was ceremoniously inaugurated on 

6 March 1964 as a direct offshoot of Pan American World 

Airways, being the city’s first hotel that is part of an international 

chain, and is presently commemorating its 60th anniversary. 

What distinguished the hotel as exceptional at the time? 

It came to be Vienna’s foremost international hotel, a notion 

previously unparalleled. The architecture of the hotel has spurred 

debate for the past six decades – epitomising the architectural 

zeitgeist of the early ‘60s, erected in line with the cutting-edge 

standards of that period. The hotel played a pivotal role in propelling 

Vienna’s conferencing sector forward, boasting its own conference 

halls equipped with simultaneous interpretation facilities and the 

latest technological advancements, and as an inaugural member of 

the “Hofburg Conference Centre”, it facilitated the exchange of 

expertise within the hospitality industry. Furthermore, the hotel has 

consistently epitomised innovation and global reach. 

Since its inauguration year, the hotel has been popular with film 

stars, hosting celebrities such as Peter Alexander, Conny 

Froboess and Gunther Philipp. Over subsequent decades, 

luminaries from the music world, owing to its proximity to the 

concert hall, and from the cinematic sphere through the 

Viennale, have often frequented it. In 1993, the hotel partnered 

as a sponsor and entered a cooperation with the Life Ball. Which 

celebrities have you had the honour of meeting personally? 

For the past decade, we’ve been working with the Viennale. 

Throughout this period, we’ve had the privilege of accommodating 

the Viennale team along with numerous celebrities and directors, 

which remains a highlight for us. For 14 years, another significant 

collaboration was with the Life Ball. I’ve had the honour of hosting 

stars from the worlds of fashion, culture and cinema, including Oscar 

laureate Christoph Waltz and film producer Eric Pleskow, at our 

establishment. 

The proprietor, Michael Tojner, is eager to perpetuate the 

narrative of this internationally renowned, venerable style icon. 

What prospects lie ahead? 

The vision entails reconstructing the hotel to unveil a new 

InterContinental of a similar calibre, albeit featuring an expanded and 

more contemporary conferencing centre with the capacity to host up 

to 1,000 attendees. Conference tourism represents the sector with 

the utmost economic impact, not solely for the hotel but also for 

Vienna at large. Moreover, the InterContinental Vienna will persist as 

it has always been: a hotel constructed employing the latest 

technology, with a focus on sustainability, environmental considerations 

and energy technology, integrating the surrounding area as well 

as the neighbouring ice rink. The legendary Intermezzo Bar, adorned 

with its dazzling crystal chandeliers, is set for a comeback. 

Von oben nach unten: Aufgang zum 

Mezzanin; Feierliche Segnung des 

Hauses bei der Eröffnung durch den 

Apostolischen Nuntius, Erzbischof 

Rossi; Ballsaal in den 1960ern. 

From top to bottom: Staircase to the 

mezzanine; Ceremonial blessing of the 

building at the opening by the 

Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Rossi; 

Ballroom in the 1960s. 

Das Hotel InterContinental Wien wurde 1964 eröffnet. Als direktes Tochterunternehmen der Pan American World Airways galt die InterContinental 

Hotels Group vielen als Symbol einer neuen und vernetzteren Welt. Das Flugnetz der Pan Am, wie sie später hieß, galt als Garant für internationales und 

interkontinentales Publikum. Zu Gast in Wien waren u. a. die jungen Rolling Stones, die glamouröse Fürstin Gracia Patricia von Monaco, der amerikanische 

Nobelpreisträger James Tobin sowie hochrangige Entscheidungsträger aus Politik und Wirtschaft. 

The Hotel InterContinental Vienna was opened in 1964. As a direct subsidiary of Pan American World Airways, the InterContinental Hotels Group was 

seen by many as a symbol of a new and more connected world. The flight network of Pan Am, as it was later known, was seen as a guarantee for international 

and intercontinental travellers. Guests in Vienna included the young Rolling Stones, the glamorous Princess Gracia Patricia of Monaco, the American 

Nobel Prize winner James Tobin and high-ranking decision-makers from politics and business. 

Der fast fertige Hotelbau 1964. 

The almost completed hotel building 1964. 



111

SAVOIR VIVRE GLOBAL ADVISER 

Verreisen, logieren und besuchen | 

Where to go, where to stay and what to see 

Das Beste aus aller Welt. | The best from around the world. 

Text: Gerald Sturz 

Zypern | Cyprus 

Minthis Resort 

Golfspieler werden von diesem Resort begeistert sein. Der 

18-Loch-Championship-Golf-Course befindet sich im 

geschützten Natura 2000 Naturreservat, passt sich anmutig 

der schön modulierten Landschaft an, führt vorbei an 

Hunderten Olivenbäumen und an einem Kloster aus dem 12. 

Jahrhundert und bietet immer wieder fantastische Ausblicke 

auf das Troodos Gebirge. Die Suiten und Villen des Resorts 

sind exklusiv ausgestattet, das holistische Wellness-Spa 

verbindet alte Heilungsmethoden mit modernen wissenschaftlichen 

Erkenntnissen und die zypriotische Küchen im 

Restaurant Amaracus lässt keine Wünsche offen. 

Golf enthusiasts will be in heaven at Minthis Resort. Its 18-hole 

championship golf course, set within the protected Natura 

2000 nature reserve, gracefully weaves through a beauti-fully 

undulating landscape, past centuries-old olive trees and a 

12th-century monastery, offering stunning views of the Troodos 

Mountains. The resort’s suites and villas are the epitome of 

luxury, its holistic wellness spa blends ancient healing with 

modern science and the Cypriot cuisine at Amaracus Restaurant 

leaves no stone unturned in delighting the palate. 

minthisresort.com 

Bali 

Como Hotels and Resorts 

Wer es nicht mehr erwarten kann, bis hierzulande endlich der Sommer mit voller Wucht 

anrauscht, sondern jetzt schon und augenblicklich viel, viel Sonne, tropische Wärme und 

heiße Tage am Pool haben will, der sollte schleunigst eine dieser Inseln im Südosten 

Asiens aufsuchen, die all diese Wünsche wahr werden lassen. Zum Beispiel Bali. Die 

indonesische Insel bietet bekanntlich alles, wovon man träumt. Wer die Insel in ihrer 

ganzen Vielfalt kennenlernen will, den laden die famosen Como Hotels and Resorts zum 

Resort-Hopping ein. Strand, Surf und Party im Como Uma Resort im Badeort Canggu, 

Kultur und Meditation im Como Uma in Ubud, dem spirituellen Zentrum der Insel, 

Wellness und Wellbeing im ultraluxuriösen Como Shambhala Estate, das sich mitten im 

Dschungel befindet und sich als „retreat for change“ versteht. Ja, manchmal kann das 

Glück auch eine Insel sein. 

For those who can’t wait for the summer to arrive and are craving an immediate dose of 

sunshine, tropical warmth and lazy pool days, Southeast Asia beckons with islands like Bali 

that turn dreams into reality. Bali, Indonesia’s famed island, offers everything one could wish 

for. Those eager to experience the island’s diverse charm are invited by the es-teemed Como 

Hotels and Resorts to indulge in a bit of resort-hopping. From the beach, surfing and 

partying at Como Uma Resort in the trendy Canggu, to culture and meditation at Como Uma 

in Ubud, the island’s spiritual heart, and wellness and well-being at the ul-tra-luxurious 

Como Shambhala Estate nestled in the 

jungle, described as a “retreat for change”. 

Sometimes, happiness really can be found 

on an island. 

comohotels.com 

PHOTOS: BEIGESTELLT 

Venedig | Venice 

NH Collection Grand Hotel Palazzo dei Dogi Rome Hotel 

Venedig ist bekanntlich zu jeder Jahreszeit voll. Doch glücklicherweise gibt es Ecken in der Stadt, die 

vom Overtourismus noch verschont geblieben sind. Zum Beispiel der der Lagune zugewandte Teil von 

Cannaregio. Man ist abseits der Touristenströme und dennoch ist es nicht weit zu den Sehenswürdigkeiten 

der Stadt. Genau hier befindet sich ein ganz wunderbares Hotel. Das NH Collection Grand Hotel 

Palazzo dei Dogi ist im Palast Rizzo-Patarol untergebracht, einem eleganten Gebäude aus dem 17. 

Jahrhundert. Die Zimmer des kürzlich renovierten 5-Sterne-Hauses sind im venezianischen Stil gehalten 

und mit modernen Akzenten versehen. 

Venice is a city that’s bustling year-round. Yet, thankfully, there are still corners untouched by overtourism, 

like the area facing the lagoon in Cannaregio. Here, away from the tourist throngs yet close to the city’s 

attractions, lies a wonderful hotel. The NH Collection Grand Hotel Palazzo dei Dogi, housed in the elegant 

17th-century Rizzo-Patarol palace, offers recently refurbished rooms that blend Venetian style with 

modern touches, making the 5-star establishment a truly special place to stay. 

nh-hotels.com 

113

SAVOIR VIVRE GLOBAL ADVISER 

Malaysia 

Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas 

Malaysia hat sich in den letzten Jahren zu einem neuen 

Trendreiseziel entwickelt. Vor allem die Küste zum Südchinesischen 

Meer, einen Katzensprung von Singapur entfernt, bietet 

schöne Strände, tolle Resorts und eindrucksvolle Mangrovenwälder 

im Hinterland. Eines dieser sehr empfehlenswerten 

Resorts ist das Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas. Die 

weitläufige Anlage bietet so ziemlich alles, was man zur 

Erholung und Regeneration braucht: ein erstklassiges Spa, 

zwei große Swimmingpools, mehrere Restaurants und Bars. 

Und dann halt den Strand, von dem man lange hinaus ins 

überraschend warme Südchinesische Meer waten kann. Ganz in der Nähe sind zwei Golfplätze, die 

Hotelgäste nutzen können. 

Recently, Malaysia has emerged as a hot new travel destination. The coast along the South China 

Sea, just a stone’s throw from Singapore, boasts beautiful beaches, stunning re-sorts and 

impressive mangrove forests. Among these, Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas stands out in 

particular. This expansive resort offers everything needed for relaxation and rejuvenation: a 

top-notch spa, two large swimming pools, multiple dining options and direct access to the 

surprisingly warm waters of the South China Sea. Nearby, two golf courses are available for guest 

use. 

anantara.com 

Flandern | Flanders 

James Ensor 

Ganz im Zeichen eines der bedeutendsten 

belgischen Malers der Moderne steht heuer 

Flandern. Anlässlich des 75. Todestages von 

James Ensor wird das Werk dieses „Vaters der 

Moderne“, dessen skurrile und groteske Bilder 

mit Masken, Skeletten und Fischskeletten 

spielen, in großen Ausstellungen in den Museen 

von Ostende, Antwerpen und Brüssel gezeigt. 

Ein guter Anlass, sich nach Flandern und auf die 

Spuren von James Ensor zu begeben. 

This year, Flanders is celebrating one of Belgium’s 

most significant modernist painters, James Ensor. 

Marking the 75th anniversary of his death, the 

works of this “father of modernism”, known for 

his bizarre and grotesque imagery featuring 

masks, skeletons and fish bones, will be 

showcased in major exhibitions across Ostend, 

Antwerp and Brussels. It’s a perfect occasion to 

explore Flanders and trace the footsteps of James 

Ensor. 

ensor2024.be 


114 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2023

SAVOIR VIVRE REAL ESTATE 

Begehrte Wasserlagen 

Desirable waterfront living 

Text: Michaela Hocek 

Nicht zuletzt in Zeiten des Klimawandels wird Wohnen am Wasser im urbanen Raum 

ein immer begehrenswerterer Faktor hinsichtlich der Lebensqualität in Großstädten. 

As climate change reshapes our world, the allure of waterfront living in urban settings is 

on the rise, marking a significant trend in enhancing life quality in major cities. 


Wien hat beim Thema „Wohnen am Wasser“ 

mit der Alten und Neuen Donau sowie 

dem Donaukanal oder auch dem Liesingbach 

viele spannende Lebensräume in unterschiedlichen 

Bezirken zu bieten. Neuerdings rücken zusätzlich 

bisher im zukunftsweisenden Wohnbau 

unerschlossenere Areale in den Fokus – vor allem die 

Donauarme im 22. Bezirk wie das Mühl- und Schillerwasser 

oder auch künstlich angelegte Seen wie der 

Badeteich Hirschstetten. Allesamt haben sie gemein, 

dass ein erholsamer Ausgleich zum fordernden Berufsleben 

quasi vor der Haustür wartet. 

Einer der „Platzhirschen“ in diesem Wohngenre 

ist Glorit. Das eigentümergeführte, österreichische 

Unternehmen positionierte sich in den vergangenen 

Jahren verstärkt als Premium-Bauträger in Wasserlagen 

und hat beispielsweise mit seinem Projekt am 

Fischerstrand ein exklusives Aushängeschild im 

Portfolio, das neben der Lage und hochwertiger Ausführung 

zusätzlich auch durch die Anbindung an die 

U-Bahn, die UNO-City oder auch die Innenstadt in 

kürzester Zeit erreichbar machen, punktet. „Mit 

Glorit sind unsere Kunden im wahrsten Sinne des 

Wortes auf der sicheren Seite. Nicht nur, was die 

Lage in den grünen Freizeitoasen Wiens und dem 

Wiener Umland betrifft, sondern auch hinsichtlich 

Bauqualität, Ausstattung, Bonität und Beratung. Das 

gilt speziell für die Finanzierung, wo wir gemeinsam 

mit unabhängigen Beratern individuelle Lösungen 

anbieten können“, so Lukas Sattlegger, Geschäftsführer 

bei Glorit. Neu ist seit der 1. Jahreshälfte 2023 

auch, dass ausgewählte Objekte nicht nur zum sofortigen 

Eigentumserwerb, sondern mit der Option 

zum Mietkauf angeboten werden. Hier wird darauf 

gesetzt, innerhalb von vier Jahren die Entscheidung 

zu fällen, ob man ins Eigentum wechseln möchte 

oder nicht. 

Attraktive Uferlage 

Die Möglichkeit freifinanzierte Eigentumswohnungen 

mit Mietkauf-Option zu bewohnen, bietet 

sich auch beim Badeteich Hirschstetten in der Donaustadt. 

Das Projekt „Leo am Teich“ offeriert 99 

Objekte zur Auswahl, die neben dem Ausblick aufs 

Wasser auch unweit von grundlegenden Einrichtungen 

zur Nahversorgung bieten. Die Gebäude zeichnen 

sich durch eine Höhenstaffelung in vier vorgegebenen 

Bauklassen mit zwei bis maximal elf 

Geschoßen aus. Auf diese Weise wird eine ausreichende 

Belichtung der Gebäude und des Freiraums 

gewährleistet. In den Erdgeschoßzonen ist Platz für 

Supermärkte, Lokale, eine Apotheke und Bäckerei 

sowie einen Kindergarten vorgesehen. Gemeinschaftsräume 

wie eine Bibliothek, einen Spieleverleih- 

und Multifunktionsraum sind Pluspunkte für 

eine individuelle Freizeitgestaltung. Zeitgemäß und 

kontemplativ ist auch der Plan, bestehende Gewächshäuser 

für die gemeinschaftliche Nutzung zu 

erschließen. Außerdem wird ein großer Anteil der 

Dachflächen begrünt und auch begehbar sein und es 

werden neue Kinder- und Jugendspielplätze sowie 

Sportflächen für aktive Bewohner und Grünflächen 

für Erholungssuchende geschaffen. Bike- und Carsharing 

sowie die Vorbereitung aller Stellplätze für 

Elektrofahrzeuge sind ein positives Signal hinsichtlich 

der nachgefragten Mobilitätstrends. 

Wohntraum Turm 

Ein Wohnprojekt, wo es hoch hinaus geht und nur 

noch wenige Einheiten verfügbar sind – darunter ein 

Penthouse – ist der Marina Tower der Buwog. Mit 

seiner Höhe von 140 Metern wurde er zu einem neuen 

„Wahrzeichen“ an der Donau und für seine Bewohner 

wurden 44.850 Quadratmeter Nutzfläche 

geschaffen, um die nötige Infrastruktur für den Alltag 

zu schaffen. Zudem sind U-Bahn und die Autobahnauffahrt 

nicht weit entfernt. Dass außergewöhnliche 

Wohnangebote in Wien gut ankommen, zeigte der 

Fakt, dass bereits mehr als 90 Prozent aller Einheiten 

bereits zu Bauabschluss verwertet waren. Dafür verantwortlich 

sind laut David Hofmann, Geschäftsführer 

der Marina Tower Holding, „die Lage entlang der 

Donau, speziell in der Nähe des grünen Praters, die 

U-Bahn-Anbindung ans Stadtzentrum und der 

hochwertige Wohnbau.“ Außerdem sympathisch ist 

der Fakt, dass durch die Überplattung des Handelskais, 

die den direkten Zugang zum Donauufer ermöglicht, 

dem sogenannten „Marina Deck“ auch ein 

gesellschaftlicher Mehrwert geschaffen wurde. 

Noch höher hinaus 

Stolze 180 Meter misst der Wohnturm der Danubeflats 

der S+B Gruppe und Soravia an der Neuen 

Donau in Höhe der Donaucity nahe an der U1 und 

Donauuferautobahn sowie Reichsbrücke als direkte 

Verbindung ins Zentrum, wo im Herbst letzten Jahres 

die Gleichenfeier über die Bühne ging. Aktuell 

sind noch zehn Prozent der Wohneinheiten verfüg- 

AM FISCHERSTRAND 

Glorit hat sich erfolgreich als 

Premium-Bauträger in Wasserlagen 

positioniert. 

Glorit has successfully established 

itself as a leading developer of 

premium waterfront properties. 



117


EXKLUSIVER BLICK | EXCLUSIVE VIEW 

Marina Tower wurde zum weithin sichtbaren 

Wahrzeichen modernen Wohnraums an der Donau. 

Marina Tower stands out as a prominent symbol of 

contemporary residential architecture along the 

Danube. 

Zurück an die Alte Donau 

Ein exklusives Penthouse mit privatem Pool und 

Dachterrasse – inklusive Blick über die Alte Donau 

bis hin zur Stadt – erwartet die zukünftigen Besitzer 

des „Goldenen Schwans“ von Tom Krauss. Hier wird 

bewusst auf Großzügigkeit gesetzt, wie der im Mittelpunkt 

stehende Wohnsalon mit rund 76 Quadratmetern 

beweist. Weitere Highlights sind ein Master- 

Bedroom mit Luxusbad en-suite und direktem 

Zugang zur Terrasse. In dem Objekt finden sich 

noch zwei weitere Badezimmer. Das Galeriegeschoß 

ist je nach individueller Intention nutzbar. Denkbar 

sind ein weiterer Schlafbereich, Office oder Raum 

für Fitness und Freizeit. Wofür auch immer, man 

sich entscheidet, fix ist der Zugang zur Dachterrasse 

mit Privatpool samt Gegenstromanlage. Weiters 

wartet hier eine Vier-Zimmer-Wohnung mit 130 

Quadratmetern und Loggia mit Blick aufs Wasser 

auf neue Besitzer. 

Dieser aktuelle Überblick zeigt, dass sich der 

Kreis aus perfekter Symbiose von urbanem Lebensstil 

mit traditioneller Wiener Gemütlichkeit perfekt 

schließen lässt. 

Vienna International Centre and the city centre, making 

getting around a breeze. Lukas Sattlegger, 

Glorit’s managing director, emphasises the company’s 

dedication to customer satisfaction, stating, “With 

Glorit, our clients are in good hands, assured of the 

best in location, construction quality, amenities, financial 

stability and professional advice. This is particularly 

evident in our approach to financing, where 

we collaborate with independent advisors to devise 

individual solutions.” A novel feature since early 

2023 is the offer of selected properties on a rent-toown 

basis, providing the flexibility to decide within 

four years whether to proceed with the purchase. 

Charming waterfront living 

The Hirschstetten bathing pond in Donaustadt 

presents a unique living opportunity with the “Leo 

am Teich” project, where flats are likewise available 

with a rent-to-own option. This project boasts 99 

units, offering not just scenic water views but also 

proximity to vital amenities. The architectural design 

features a cascading height arrangement across four 

BADETEICH 

HIRSCHSTETTEN | 

BATHING POND 

HIRSCHSTETTEN 

Ein neues Stadtgebiet 

entwickelt hier mit „Leo am 

Teich“ seinen zukunftsweisenden 

Charme. 

“Leo am Teich” is ushering in 

an era of innovative charm in 

this budding urban 

neighbourhood. 

bar. Auch sie setzen eine Landmark nach internationalem 

Vorbild, die die Neo-Eigentümer Ende 2024 

beziehen können. „Hochhäuser wie Danubeflats 

sind für nachhaltige Stadtentwicklung mit besonders 

großer Verantwortung verbunden. Sie prägen Stadtteile 

und entfalten repräsentative Wirkung und 

Strahlkraft weit über das Gebäude hinaus. So wird 

auch Danubeflats nach Fertigstellung nicht nur ein 

architektonisches Meisterwerk, sondern auch ein 

Ort für modernes, urbanes sowie nachhaltiges Leben 

sein“, betont Erwin Soravia, CEO von Soravia. Die 

Lobby wird mit eigenem Doorman besetzt und private 

Freiflächen wie ein beheizter Pool, hauseigenes 

Gym, Sauna und eine Event-Lounge steigern den Lebensstandard. 

Wert gelegt wird auf die Nutzung der Erdgeschoßzonen 

sowie der Neugestaltung attraktiver 

Freiflächen. Nahversorger und ein Restaurant werden 

hier einziehen und die teilweise Überplattung 

der Autobahn wird die Lärmbelästigung für die gesamte 

Nachbarschaft nachhaltig verringern. Außerdem 

entsteht ein öffentlicher Zugang zur Donau in 

Form eines 50 Meter langen Badesteges. Eine imposante 

Zahl am Rande: Das Gesamtgewicht des 

höchsten Wohnturms Österreichs beträgt 120.000 

Tonnen. 

Vienna has embraced the waterfront living 

trend with open arms, offering a variety of 

exciting residential options near bodies of 

water like the Alte and Neue Donau (Old and New 

Danube), the Donaukanal and the Liesing stream. 

Notably, the city is turning its gaze to previously 

overlooked areas for innovative housing projects. 

The 22nd district, with its enchanting Danube offshoots 

such as Mühlwasser and Schillerwasser, 

along with man-made gems like the Hirschstetten 

bathing pond, is drawing particular interest. These 

spots stand out for their ability to provide a peaceful 

retreat from the hustle and bustle of work life, 

conveniently located right outside one’s front door. 

Glorit, a prominent company in the Austrian property 

sector, has emerged as a leading developer of 

premium waterfront properties. Among its standout 

properties is its new development on Fischerstrand, 

a flagship project that exemplifies the company’s 

commitment to prime locations and exceptional 

quality. This property distinguishes itself not only 

through its scenic setting and superior craftsmanship 

but also via its excellent transportation links. 

Residents enjoy easy access to the U-Bahn, the 

PHOTO: MARKO KOVIC, GS VISUALS, STEPHAN HUGER (2) 

Residences by the lake 

IN HARMONY WITH NATURE - LUXURY LIVING, WELLNESS, CULINARY AND 

PURE RECREATION IN BURGENLANDS UNIQUE NATURE RESORT 

In harmony with nature you live opulently on two floors in an idyllic setting on the hotel‘s own swimming lake. The Residence by the lake impresses 

with natural materials, sustainable building culture and a homely atmosphere. Indulge in the luxury of the in-house sauna with shower. Embedded in 

a fantastic natural landscape, exclusive holiday fun awaits you outside as well. Enjoy the unrestricted view of the lake and let your soul dangle. 


VILA VITA Pannonia**** S | Storchengasse 1 | 7152 Pamhagen | +43 2175/21800 | info@vilavitapannonia.at | www.vilavitapannonia.at

Gardegasse 


URBANER CHIC | URBAN CHIC 

Der goldene Schwan an der Alten Donau überzeugt mit 

Penthouse und Vier-Zimmer-Domizil. 

The Golden Swan epitomises luxury with its exclusive penthouse 

and spacious four-room residences on the Alte Donau. 

TOURING THE VIENNA 

ART UNIVERSITIES WITH BIG 1 | Semperdepot 

Lehárgasse 6, 1060 Vienna 

2 | Academy of Fine Arts Vienna 

Schillerplatz 3, 1010 Vienna 

NEUE LANDMARK | NEW 

LANDMARK 

Danubeflats katapultierte 

sich mit 180 Metern Höhe 

zum höchsten Wohnturm 

Österreichs. 

Rising to a majestic 180 

metres, Danubeflats is 

celebrated as Austria’s tallest 

residential structure. 

INFO 

berresgasse.bwsg.at 

danubeflats.at 

glorit.at/wasser 

marinatower.at 

tomkrauss.at 


designated construction categories, ranging from two 

to eleven stories, ensuring ample sunlight for both the 

residences and communal areas. On the ground level, 

residents will find a variety of conveniences, including 

supermarkets, dining options, a pharmacy, a bakery 

and even a kindergarten. The community is 

further enriched with shared spaces like a library, a 

game rental service and a multifunction room, catering 

to a wide range of leisure activities. The thoughtful 

inclusion of converting existing greenhouses for 

communal enjoyment adds to the allure. Additionally, 

the project commits to sustainability and community 

well-being with extensive green roofs, new 

playgrounds, sports facilities for active lifestyles and 

tranquil green areas for relaxation. The initiative also 

embraces current mobility trends by offering bike 

and car-sharing services and equipping all parking 

spaces for electric vehicles, underscoring a forwardthinking 

approach to urban living. 

Sky-high residential dream 

The Marina Tower, developed by Buwog, is a towering 

testament to modern living, soaring 140 metres 

above the Danube. With its completion, it now stands 

as a striking new landmark, offering 44,850 square 

metres of living space that covers all the essentials of 

daily life. This architectural marvel is conveniently 

located near U-Bahn and motorway access, ensuring 

seamless connectivity. The project’s overwhelming 

success is evident, with over 90% of its units, including 

a coveted penthouse, claimed by the time construction 

wrapped up. David Hofmann, managing director 

of Marina Tower Holding, attributes this 

popularity to “the tower’s prime location by the Danube, 

close to the Prater, excellent underground links 

to the city centre and the superior quality of its residential 

spaces.” Moreover, the development of the 

“Marina Deck”, a thoughtful addition bridging the 

gap over the Handelskai road, provides residents 

with seamless access directly to the Danube, thereby 

enhancing both convenience and community value. 

Aiming higher 

The Danubeflats, a joint venture between the S+B 

Group and Soravia, is another notable residential tower, 

soaring 180 metres high. Strategically located 

near the Neue Donau, close to the Donau City, the 

U1 U-Bahn line, the Donauufer Autobahn and the 

Reichsbrücke bridge for direct city centre access, it 

marked a significant milestone with its topping-out 

ceremony last autumn. Currently, ten percent of its 

units remain open for occupancy. This project is set 

to redefine urban living standards, drawing inspiration 

from global architectural feats, with move-ins expected 

by the end of 2024. Erwin Soravia, managing 

director of Soravia, argues that “the significant role 

skyscrapers like the Danubeflats play in sustainable 

urban planning, highlighting their ability to transform 

districts and extend their influence well beyond 

their physical premises. Upon completion, the Danubeflats 

is anticipated to be not just an architectural 

marvel but also a hub for contemporary, eco-friendly 

living.” The tower will feature exclusive amenities including 

a lobby with a doorman, private recreational 

spaces like a heated pool, a gym, a sauna and an event 

lounge, all designed to elevate the living experience. 

The project also emphasises the revitalisation of 

ground floor areas and the creation of engaging open 

spaces. It will welcome local vendors and a restaurant, 

while the partial covering of the motorway 

below promises a quieter environment for residents 

and neighbours alike. Additionally, a 50-metre-long 

jetty will offer public access to the Danube, enhancing 

the site’s recreational appeal. An interesting 

note: the total weight of Austria’s tallest residential 

building is 120,000 tonnes. 

Alte Donau views across the skyline 

“The Golden Swan” by Tom Krauss presents an 

opulent penthouse complete with a private pool and 

a rooftop terrace, offering panoramic views from the 

Alte Donau to the city skyline. This residence is designed 

with an emphasis on open, expansive living 

spaces, as seen in the grand living salon that stretches 

over 76 square metres. The penthouse features a luxurious 

master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom 

and direct terrace access. Additionally, there are two 

more bathrooms available. The gallery level offers 

flexible space, perfect for an extra bedroom, home 

office or recreational area, all with easy access to the 

rooftop terrace, equipped with a private pool and a 

counter-current system for an unparalleled living experience. 

Also available is a four-room apartment 

covering 130 square metres, featuring a loggia that 

provides serene water views, ready to welcome its 

new inhabitants. 

This overview highlights the harmonious blend of 

urban sophistication and the quintessential comfort 

of Viennese life, beautifully completing the circle of a 

modern, yet cosy living environment. 

RENDERINGS: SQUAREBYTES, BEIGESTELLT 

Paid Advertisement 

The Atelierhaus of the Academy of 

Fine Arts Vienna 1 , known locally 

as the Semperdepot, is the first stop 

on our tour of Vienna’s art universities 

and one of the properties that fall 

under the remit of Bundesimmobiliengesellschaft. 

Built by the architects 

Gottfried Semper and Carl Freiherr 

von Hasenauer, the building in Lehárgasse 

is now home to the Academy’s 

studios and workshops and is used 

for exhibitions and performances. 

Today’s Atelierhaus was built between 

1874 and 1877 in the Vienna Historicist 

style and was used at first mainly as 

a production facility and depot for 

the Vienna State Opera and the Burgtheater. 

The inscription “Staatstheaterdepot” 

at Lehárgasse 8 still bears 

witness to this today. 

Just a seven-minute walk away, on 

Schillerplatz, we find the main 

building of the Academy of Fine Arts 

Vienna 2 – the magnificent fourstorey 

palace built by Theophil Hansen 

in the Italian Renaissance style. Three 

and a half years were dedicated to 

renovating the building before it 

reopened in mid-2021. The picture 

gallery spans works from the Middle 

Ages to the 21st century. The permanent 

exhibition has 180 artworks, 

the highlight of which is the Last 

Judgement triptych by Hieronymus 

Bosch dating from around 1500. 

A change of scenery – both in terms 

of address and architecture: The 

campus of the mdw – University of 

Music and Performing Arts Vienna 

3 on Anton-von-Webern-Platz is a 

statement of university construction 

culture where historical substance 

and modern architecture unite. The 

Future Art Lab with its spectacular 

contemporary architecture is located 

here alongside the film studios and 

the university library. It also houses 

a sound theatre, a cinema and a 100- 

seater concert hall. 

Our tour now takes us to the Vordere 

Zollamtsstraße site of the University 

of Applied Arts Vienna 4 . The former 

finance building, which was built 

between 1895 and 1901, has been 

transformed into a modern campus 

spanning around 15,000 square 

metres. A notable titbit: The auditorium, 

which extends over two 

floors, stands on rubber springs to 

Ostarrichipark 

eliminate any vibrations from the 

nearby metro line. The fact that the 

building is used by applied arts 

students and lecturers is plain to see 

from the large red “A” emblazoned 

on the façade. 

Also worth a look is the main building 

of the University of Applied Arts Stadt 

Rathaus 

Wien 5 

Rathaus 

on Oskar-Kokoschka-Platz, just on 

the other side of the Vienna River. 

The crowning glory of our tour and 

Parlament 

a chance to grab a good coffee comes 

with what may well be the most 

famous Art Nouveau building in the 

city – the Austrian Postsparkasse 6 

Volkstheater 

on Georg-Coch-Platz. Built by Otto 

Wagner, this architectural jewel is 

home to institutes of the University 

mumok 

of Applied Arts Vienna, the Johannes 

Kepler University Linz, the Austrian 

Leopold 

Academy of Sciences, the Vienna Museum 

branch of the Ludwig Boltzmann 

Institute for Research on the 

Consequences of War, and the headquarters 

of the Austrian Science 

Fund FWF. The large ticket hall with 

its Café Exchange is open to the public 

on weekdays. 

Stuckgasse 

Zollergasse 

Alser Straße 

Josefstädter Straße 

Neustiftgasse 

Stiftgasse 

Sigmund-Freud-Park 

Rathausplatz 

Linke Wienzeile 

1 

Währinger Straße 

4 

Schottentor 

Schottenring Schottenring 

Schottentor 

Volksgarten 

Burgring 

1 

Rechte Wienzeile 

3 © Hertha Hurnaus 

© Harald A. Jahn 

Wipplingerstraße 

© Bruno Klomfar 

Burggarten 

2 

Börsegasse 

Alte Börse 

Neutorgasse 

Gonzagagasse 

Rudolfspark 

3 | mdw – University of Music and 

Performing Arts Vienna 

Anton-von-Webern-Platz 1, 

1030 Vienna 

4 | University of Applied Arts Vienna, 

Expositur Zollamtsstraße 

Vordere Zollamtsstraße 7, 

1030 Vienna 

5 | University of Applied Arts Vienna, 

Schwanzer-Wörle-Bau 

Oskar-Kokoschka-Platz 2, 

1010 Vienna 

6 | Otto Wagner Postsparkasse 

Georg-Coch-Platz 2, 1010 Vienna 

www.big.at 

instagram.com/ 

bundesimmobiliengesellschaft 

Schottenring 

Kärntner Ring 

Resselpark 

Salztorbrücke 

2 

6 

Stephansdom 

© Helmut Wimmer 

© David Schreyer 

Parkring 

Stadtpark 

Rennweg 

6 

5 

4 

3 

R

SAVOIR VIVRE LIFESTYLE 

Frischer Wind | Breath of fresh air 

Schönes für mehr Lebensgefühl. | Beautiful for a better attitude to life. 

Text: Michaela Hocek 

Maskuliner Fokus | 

Masculine focus 

Der neue Concept Store für Gents „LEANSCHI & friends“ von Fabien Burnier in der Wiener 

Spiegelgasse überzeugt mit einer vielseitigen Auswahl und einem mit Bedacht ausgewählten 

Sortiment an edlen Accessoires für Männer und Frauen, die auf der Suche nach einem besonderen 

Geschenk für Herren sind. „Wir sehen uns ein wenig als Pioniere, die gerne Geheimtipps verraten 

und auf weniger bekannte, aber nicht minder spannende Marken mit raffinierten, smarten und 

alltagstauglichen Accessoires aufmerksam machen“, so Burnier. 

LEANSCHI & friends, a new concept store for gents by Fabien Burnier on Vienna’s Spiegelgasse, 

impresses with a thoughtfully selected range of sophisticated accessories for men and women 

seeking unique gifts for gentlemen. “We like to think of ourselves as pioneers, keen to share insider 

tips and spotlight lesser-known brands that offer clever, stylish and practical accessories,” says 

Burnier. 

leanschi.com 

Individueller Touch | Personalised touch 

Mode neu gedacht | Rethinking fashion 

Gemütlicher Blickfang | Cosy showstopper 

Mit den Produkten von CEWE kann man seine persönliche 

Kreativität und Wohnvorstellungen umsetzen. Die 

Gestaltung mit dem intuitiven Konfigurator online oder in 

der CEWE Fotowelt App ist denkbar einfach und das 

Sortiment wird laufend erweitert. Für die eigenen vier 

Wände besonders schön: Fotoleinwände, Photo Streetmap 

Poster und Premium Poster mit Rahmen. 

CEWE offers a canvas for your creativity and home decor 

dreams, with products that are easily customisable through 

an intuitive online configurator or the CEWE Fotowelt App. 

Their ever-expanding range includes stunning options for 

your living space, such as photo canvases, photo streetmap 

posters and premium framed posters. 

cewe-fotoservice.at 

Start-up-Gründer Dieter Pfeiffermann macht Schluss mit 

Mode von der Stange. Stattdessen werden die Kleidungsstücke 

von Levity mittels 3D-Scan und virtueller Anprobe aus 

hochwertigen Stoffen innerhalb der EU maßgefertigt. Somit 

sind sie Einzelstücke, die auf die persönlichen Bedürfnisse 

und Wünsche zugeschnitten sind und gleichzeitig ein 

Gegenpol zur Überproduktion in der Modeindustrie. 

Start-up founder Dieter Pfeiffermann is moving away from 

off-the-rack fashion. Instead, Levity creates custom clothing 

from high-quality fabrics in the EU, tailored to individual needs 

and desires through 3D scanning and virtual fitting. These 

unique pieces not only cater to personal style but also 

counteract the fashion industry’s overproduction. 

houseoflevity.com 

Das Sofa Gémonville von Loberon ist ein Statement und Ruhepol 

im Zuhause, ein Design-Highlight, das keinerlei Abstriche in 

Sachen Komfort macht. Dafür sorgen die hochwertige Polsterung, 

das stabile Gestell aus Kiefernholz, die klassische Eisenfederung 

sowie zwei Rücken- und Zierkissen. Es ist im Materialmix aus 

Leinen und Kunstfasern oder aus weichem Polyestersamt 

erhältlich. 

The Gémonville sofa by Loberon stands as both a statement and 

sanctuary in any home, blending design excellence with 

uncompromised comfort. Its superior cushioning, sturdy pine wood 

frame, classic spring system and accompanying back and decorative 

pillows ensure a luxurious seating experience. Available in a linen 

and synthetic fibre mix or plush polyester velvet. 

loberon.at 

Brillentrends 2024 | Eyewear trends 2024 

Intensives Erlebnis | Intense experience 

Reminiszenz Himalaya | Himalayan reminiscence 

Fröhliche Designs | Joyful designs 

„Unikate mit mondialem Touch“ sind die Spezialität des Slow-Fashion-Labels Ellamar. Die Clutches, 

Hand-, Laptop- und Reisetaschen, Schuhe, Gürtel sowie Armbänder aus Leder und Kelims etc. werden 

in Österreich exklusiv verkauft. 

The slow fashion label Ellamar specialises in ‘unique pieces with a global flair’. Their collection, ranging 

from clutches, handbags, laptop and travel bags to shoes, belts and bracelets made from leather and Kilim, 

is exclusively available in Austria. ellamar.eu 

Das Motto des österreichischen Fachoptikers lautet 

„Bestes Sehen und bestes Aussehen“. Natürlich weiß 

er somit auch über die It-Pieces der Saison Bescheid. 

Es wird knallig bunt, sportlich und futuristisch-geometrisch. 

Pilotenbrillen glänzen im Flat Top-Design. Fr!tz 

Eyewear und Prada lassen mit eckigen Fassungen die 

1970er-Jahre aufleben. Chloé präsentiert filigrane 

Frames mit ästhetischen Farbverläufen und Gucci setzt 

auf duales Farbenspiel. 

Austria’s optician of choice promises the best in vision 

and style, and they’re clued into this season’s must-have 

pieces. Expect a riot of colours, sporty vibes and 

futuristic geometric shapes. Aviator glasses shine with a 

flat top design, while Fr!tz Eyewear and Prada revisit the 

1970s with square frames. Chloé offers delicate frames 

featuring aesthetic gradients, and Gucci embraces a 

dual-tone 

spectacle. 

wutscher.com 


Die neuen Düfte „This is Really Her!“ und „This is reall 

him!“ von Zadig&Voltaire entführen olfaktorisch ins 

Pariser Nachtleben. Die Damen dürfen sich auf ein 

Bouquet aus rosafarbenen Beeren mit Akkorden von 

Basilikum und Rosen freuen, die von amberähnlichen 

Rumnoten, metallischen Kastanien-Nuancen, Patschuli 

und Vanille umringt werden. Die Herren riechen nach 

Pampelmuse und Zitrone, Orangenblüten in Harmonie 

mit Ambernoten und einem abschließenden Palo-Santo- 

Akkord. 

Zadig&Voltaire’s latest fragrances, “This Is Really Her!” 

and “This Is Really Him!”, whisk you away to the Parisian 

nightlife. Ladies can look forward to a bouquet of pink 

berries with basil and rose notes, encircled by amber-like 

rum, metallic chestnut, patchouli and vanilla, while gents 

get a blend of grapefruit and lemon, orange blossom 

harmonised with amber and a final touch of Palo Santo. 

zadig-et-voltaire.com 

douglas.at 

Die goldenen Risse des Glacier-Zifferblatts der „Neverest“ von 

Norqain sind von den zerklüfteten Gletscherspalten des 

Khumbu-Eisbruchs – dem gefährlichsten Abschnitt bei Mount 

Everest-Besteigungen – inspiriert. Die COSC-zertifizierte Uhr 

verfügt über ein Manufakturkaliberwerk mit 70 Stunden 

Gangreserve und ist bis 200 Meter wasserfest. Zehn Prozent 

der Einnahmen aus dem Verkauf der „Neverest“ gehen an das 

„Butterfly Help Project“, das in erster Linie Töchtern und 

Söhnen von Sherpas, die ihr Leben in den 

Bergen des Himalayas verloren haben, 

Zugang zu Bildung ermöglicht. 

The golden fissures on the Glacier dial of 

Norqain’s “Neverest” watch are inspired 

by the treacherous crevasses of the 

Khumbu Icefall on Mount Everest. 

This COSC-certified timepiece 

features a manufacture movement 

with a 70-hour power reserve and 

is water-resistant up to 200 

metres. Ten percent of sales 

proceeds are donated to the 

“Butterfly Help Project”, 

supporting education for the sons 

and daughters of Sherpas who 

have perished in the Himalayas. 

norqain.com 


123

SAVOIR VIVRE AMBASSADOR'S DRIVE 

Wendig wie eine Biene | Agile as a bee 

Der Botschafter von Slowenien auf CD-Testfahrt mit dem Rover Evoque S | The Ambassador of Slovenia performs a test drive for 

CD with a Rover Evoque S. 

Interview: Stephan Burianek | Photos: Lukas Charwat 

Aleksander Geržina nimmt im Range Rover 

Evoque zunächst auf dem Beifahrersitz Platz. 

Der Botschafter der Republik Slowenien ist 

eine manuelle Gangschaltung gewohnt und lässt sich 

von Nirmal Singh, Diplomatic Sales Manager bei Denzel 

Auto, kurz den Automatik-Stick erklären. Die Strecke 

von seiner Residenz in der Bankgasse zum Augarten 

kennt Geržina dafür besser als die meisten Wiener: 

„Die hat nur eine kurze Grünphase“, sagt er später bei 

einer roten Ampel. 

Geržina war bereits ab 2009 für vier Jahre der 

Botschafter in Wien und fühlt sich der Bundeshauptstadt 

dementsprechend verbunden: „Jeder Bezirk 

hat seinen eigenen Charakter.“ Mit seiner Familie 

spaziert er besonders gerne durch den Augarten: 

„Der befindet sich in der Nähe und hat in jeder Jahreszeit 

eine eigene Ausstrahlung.“ Für einen Fotostopp 

halten wir vor der dortigen Porzellanmanufaktur. 

Dorthin lädt die slowenische Botschaft 

gelegentlich zu Veranstaltungen ein, was vielleicht 

auch ein wenig an einem nationalen Bezugspunkt 

liegt, der sich wenige Meter davon entfernt befindet: 

Der Botschafter führt zu einer Tafel am Eingangstor 

zum Park, auf der Anton Janša gewürdigt wird. Janša 

war Maria Theresias persönlicher Imker und Bienenzüchter. 

„Die Bienen sind für das Gleichgewicht 

in der Natur sehr wichtig, daher hat sich Slowenien 

vor einigen Jahren für die Schaffung eines Weltbienentags 

eingesetzt. Wir haben uns auf der Generalversammlung 

in New York erfolgreich dafür eingesetzt, 

den 20. Mai zum Weltbienentag zu erklären 

– das ist Janšas Geburtstag.“ 

Nicht zuletzt durch die Europäische Union sind 

Slowenien und Österreich in vielen gemeinsamen 

Projekten miteinander verbunden, etwa über „The 

Alps4GreenC“, das eine nachhaltige Energiegewinnung 

in Alpenregionen zum Ziel hat. Slowenien 

punktet durch eine vielfältige Landschaft auf kleinem 

Raum: „Man kann Anfang Mai am selben Tag 

Skifahren und danach in einem See oder im Meer 

schwimmen.“ Aber auch kulturell hat Slowenien einiges 

zu bieten, immerhin spielen zwei Slowenen bei 

den Wiener Philharmonikern. Am Slowenischen 

Nationalfeiertag am 19. Juni wird man das 20-jährige 

Jubiläum der Mitgliedschaften bei EU und NATO 

mit einem Konzert der Slowenischen Philharmonie 

im Wiener Musikverein feiern. 

Und der Range Rover? „Der gefällt mir sehr. Ein 

wunderschönes Fahrgefühl!“ Große Menschen sollten 

hinten vielleicht nicht sitzen, dafür ist der kompakte 

S.E. Aleksander Geržina mag das wunderschöne Fahrgefühl 

im Range Rover Evoque S. 

H.E. Aleksander Gerzina H.E. Aleksander Geržina likes the 

wonderful driving experience in the Range Rover Evoque S. 



SAVOIR VIVRE AMBASSADOR'S DRIVE 

Premium-SUV aufgrund seiner großen Wendigkeit 

vor allem für den Stadtverkehr geeignet. Unsere Testfahrt 

macht auch der Wirtschaftsrat der slowenischen 

Botschaft mit, Matjaž Marko. Er und seine Frau haben 

zwei Autos, erzählt er, ein größeres und ein kleineres. 

„Wir diskutieren immer, wer das kleinere verwenden 

darf.“ Um den Range Rover Evoque ließe es sich zweifellos 

wunderbar feilschen. 

Aleksander Geržina initially settles into the 

passenger seat of the Range Rover Evoque. 

The Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia, 

being more accustomed to driving with a manual 

gearbox, receives a quick tutorial on handling the 

automatic gear lever from Nirmal Singh, diplomatic 

sales manager at Denzel Auto. The journey from his 

residence on Bankgasse to Augarten park is a route 

Geržina knows better than many locals in Vienna: 

“The green light doesn’t last very long here,” he later 

comments at a red signal. 

Geržina has been serving as ambassador in Vienna 

since 2009 and over four years, he has developed 

a deep affinity for the city: “Each district brims with 

its unique character.” He particularly cherishes strolling 

through Augarten park with his family. “It’s close 

by and offers its distinct charm across the seasons.” 

For a moment to capture memories, we halt in front 

of the local Vienna Porcelain Manufactory Augarten. 

The Slovenian embassy occasionally hosts gatherings 

there, which might subtly connect to a point of national 

pride just a stone’s throw away. The ambassador 

guides us to a commemorative plaque at the park’s 

entrance, paying homage to Anton Janša, who served 

as Maria Theresa’s personal beekeeper and apiarist. 

“Bees play a crucial role in maintaining nature’s equilibrium. 

Hence, a few years back, Slovenia proposed 

the establishment of a World Bee Day. We led a successful 

campaign at the General Assembly in New 

York to earmark 20 May as World Bee Day — coinciding 

with Janša’s birthday.” 

Thanks largely to the European Union, Slovenia 

and Austria enjoy a partnership through numerous 

collaborative efforts, such as “The Alps4GreenC”, 

which focuses on fostering sustainable energy solutions 

in the Alpine regions. Slovenia is renowned for 

its varied landscape compressed into a compact area. 

“In early May, it’s possible to enjoy skiing and then 

take a dip in a lake or the sea within the same day.” 

Ideal in jedem Gelände | Perfect for every terrain 

Dieser kompakte Premium-SUV macht sich nicht nur im Stadtverkehr gut, sondern bewährt sich 

auch in Offroad-Situationen, etwa durch die Clearsight-Fuktion, mit der man bei großen Steigungen 

durch die Motorhaube hindurchblicken kann, oder die Bergabfahrt-Hilfe. Die Anfahrtshilfe Low 

Traction Launch ermöglicht zudem eine optimale Traktion bei glattem Untergrund. 

This compact premium SUV shines not only in urban environments but also when tackling 

off-road challenges. Features such as the Clearsight technology, which offers a virtual view 

through the bonnet on steep inclines, and the hill descent control are standout details. 

Additionally, the low traction launch system ensures superior grip on slick surfaces. 

Technische Daten | Technical specifications 

Evoque S P300e Plug-in Hybrid-Benziner 

Max. Motorleistung | Max power output 

Höchstgeschwindigkeit | Top speed: 

Reichweite (innerstädtisch) | Range: 

Kraftstoffverbrauch (kombiniert)| Fuel consumption: 

Stromverbrauch (kombiniert, gewichtet): | Energy consumption 

Beschleunigung 0-100 km/h (sek.) 

| Acceleration 0-100 km/h (in seconds) 

227 kW (309 PS) / 5.500 U/min 

213 km/h 

75 km 

1,4 l/100 km 

18,3 kWh/100 km 

6,4 Sekunden 

Preis inkl. USt | Price incl. VAT ab | from € 59.999,- | 

(keine NoVA bei Hybrid-Variante / No NoVa for hybrid variant) 

Smart Aging is no secret anymore. 

Renew your cells from within with spermidineLIFE® 

Original 365+. 1 Whether heart cells, skin cells or brain 

cells - they all need support to help keep your body 

healthy. 

CelVio Complex® is the secret ingredient of all 

spermidineLIFE® products, comprised of 100% natural 

and clinically tested spermidine. 2 

Beyond its natural beauty, Slovenia also boasts significant 

cultural contributions, including two Slovenians 

performing with the Vienna Philharmonic. On 

25 June, Slovenian Statehood Day, the 20th anniversary 

of Slovenia’s membership in the EU and 

NATO will be commemorated with a performance by 

the Slovenian Philharmonic at the Musikverein Wien. 

And the Range Rover? “I’m quite fond of it. It’s a 

fantastic driving experience!” While it might not be 

the first choice for taller individuals in the rear seats, 

this compact premium SUV stands out for its exceptional 

agility, making it particularly well-suited for 

navigating city traffic. Matjaž Marko, economic 

counsellor at the Slovenian embassy, also takes part 

in the test drive. He reveals that he and his wife own 

two cars, one larger and one smaller. “We often debate 

over who gets to use the smaller one.” Vying for a 

turn with the Range Rover Evoque would surely be a 

pleasurable dispute. 

INFO: 

landrover.at denzel.at 

Oben: Gruppenbild mit Range Rover, von rechts nach links: Sloweniens 

Botschafter Aleksander Geržina, CD-Herausgeber Alexander 

Bursky, Nirmal Singh, Diplomatic Sales Manager bei Denzel Auto, 

CD-Autor Stephan Burianek und Wirtschaftsrat Matjaž Marko. 

Above: Group photo with Range Rover, from right to left: Slovenia's 

ambassador Aleksander Geržina, CD publisher Alexander Bursky, 

Nirmal Singh, Diplomatic Sales Manager at Denzel Auto, CD author 

Stephan Burianek and business councillor Matjaž Marko. 

www.spermidineLIFE.com 


1 Zinc contributes to normal DNA and protein synthesis and the protection of the cell against oxidative stress and has a function in cell division. 

2 Aging (Albany NY). 2018;10(1):19-33 doi: 10.18632/aging/101354 


SAVOIR VIVRE MOTOR TALK 

Eine nachhaltige Benchmark | A sustainable benchmark 

Mercedes-Benz E-Klasse / Mercedes-Benz E-Class 

Text und Interview: Stephan Burianek 

DIRECTOR‘S TALK 

INFO 

Die E-Klasse von Mercedes-Benz ist 

immer vorne dabei. 

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is always at 

the forefront. 

Die E-Klasse ist gleichsam die Kernsubstanz 

der Marke Mercedes-Benz und ein Nimbus, 

an der sich bis heute alle Hersteller in der 

obersten Mittelklasse zu messen haben. Das Infotainment 

und die Telematik machen die neue E-Klasse zu 

einem führenden Technologieträger. Obwohl der 

Wagen mit fünf Metern sehr lang ist, fährt er sich extrem 

kompakt und agil. Zugleich ist, wie für Mercedes 

typisch, der Langstreckenkomfort perfekt. Im Inneren 

punktet der Wagen mit einem Gefühl der 

Geborgenheit sowie mit einer extrem wertigen Materialanmutung. 

Die neue E-Klasse wird laut Merbag 

stark mit Hybrid-Antrieb angefragt. Die elektrische 

Reichweite liegt jenseits von hundert Kilometern, 

hinzu kommt entweder ein Benzin- oder Dieselmotor, 

wodurch man sorgenfrei auch längere Strecken 

fahren kann. 

The E-Class embodies the very essence of the 

Mercedes-Benz brand, setting a standard 

that all manufacturers in the executive midsize 

category have strived to match. The cuttingedge 

infotainment and telematics systems establish 

the new E-Class as a frontrunner in technology. 

Despite its five-metre length, the vehicle provides 

an impressively compact and nimble driving experience. 

In true Mercedes fashion, it also offers unparalleled 

comfort for long journeys. Inside, the 

vehicle exudes a feeling of safety and features exceptionally 

high-quality materials. According to 

Merbag, there’s a significant demand for the new 

E-Class with hybrid drive. Its electric range surpasses 

one hundred kilometres, supported by either a 

petrol or diesel engine, ensuring effortless travel 

over extended distances. 

FOTOS: BEIGESTELLT 

Warum sollte man einen Mercedes-Benz bei Ihnen kaufen? 

Unser Slogan lautet: „Das beste für Sie und Ihren Mercedes- 

Benz.“ Wir arbeiten jeden Tag daran, diesem Satz gerecht zu 

werden und der Kundenorientierung alles unterzuordnen. In 

Bezug auf Diplomatic Sales haben wir eine lange Tradition und 

mehrere Mitarbeiter, die sich exklusiv diesem Bereich widmen 

und die in Summe um die zehn Sprachen sprechen. 

Sie bieten praktisch in allen Kategorien sämtliche 

Antriebsarten an. 

Elektro und Hybrid überholen derzeit beinahe schon die 

Verbrenner. Man sieht ziemlich klar, wohin der Zug fährt. Knapp 

ein Viertel ist bereits rein elektrisch, und Hybrid wird von vielen 

als das Beste aus beiden Welten gesehen. 

Was macht Ihr Service besser als das der Mitbewerber? 

Wir stellen hohe Ansprüche an unsere Mitarbeiter in Bezug auf 

die fachliche und soziale Kompetenz. Wir schulen sie regelmäßig 

und führen Mystery Shoppings durch. Das betrifft nicht nur den 

Bereich Sales, sondern auch After Sales. Wir investieren viel, um 

die Qualität immer am Punkt zu halten, immerhin sind die 

Ansprüche in den vergangenen Jahren nicht zuletzt durch die 

unterschiedlichen Antriebssysteme merklich gewachsen. Auch 

hinsichtlich der Reparaturkompetenz liegt die Latte bei uns sehr 

hoch. Wir bilden derzeit über 70 Lehrlinge aus und wirken somit 

dem Fachkräftemangel entgegen. 

Sie haben kürzlich Ihren Standort Donaustadt völlig neu 

gestaltet. 

Mercedes hat mit „MAR20X“ ein neues Konzept für Showrooms 

und Kundenbereiche geschaffen, und das haben wir im Standort 

Donaustadt, der sich in der Nähe der UNO-City befindet, auf 1.500 

Quadratmetern umgesetzt. In dem neuen Ambiente fühlen sich 

die Kunden extrem wohl, und es wird in diesem vielleicht 

schönsten Wiener Autohaus der Luxus der Marke zusätzlich 

untermauert. 

Sie agieren neuerdings nicht mehr als klassischer 

Autohändler, sondern sind nun direkt in den Vertrieb von 

Mercedes-Benz eingebunden. 

Kein Mercedes Benz-Partner ist mehr Händler. Wir agieren 

Martin Heger 

Geschäftsführer | Managing Director 

gleichsam als Agenten, wobei eben die Beratung im Vordergrund 

steht. Das kommt bei den Kunden gut an und kann die Wartezeit 

auf ein Auto reduzieren, weil das dahinterliegende Lager deutlich 

größer ist. Auch andere Hersteller werden so agieren, aber wir 

sind hier die Vorreiter. 

Why should someone purchase a Mercedes-Benz from you? 

Our mantra is: “Nothing but the best for you and your Mercedes- 

Benz.” We dedicate ourselves daily to fulfilling this promise, with 

customer satisfaction at the forefront of everything we do. 

Regarding diplomatic sales, we boast a rich history and a team 

solely devoted to this sector, fluent in around ten languages 

collectively. 

It appears you offer a wide range of drive types across all 

segments. 

Electric and hybrid vehicles are on the brink of overtaking traditional 

combustion engines. The direction the industry is taking is quite 

clear. Nearly one-fourth of our fleet is now fully electric, with many 

considering hybrids as the best of both worlds. 

What distinguishes your service from others in the market? 

We uphold rigorous standards for our staff’s technical competence 

and interpersonal skills. Through ongoing training and mystery 

shopping, we maintain excellence not just in sales but in after-sales 

service as well. Given the increasing demand and diversity of drive 

types, we invest substantially in quality assurance. Our commitment 

to superior repair skills is unwavering. Presently, we’re training over 

70 apprentices, contributing to alleviating the skilled workforce 

shortage. 

You’ve recently revamped your Donaustadt site. 

Mercedes has rolled out “MAR20X”, a novel showroom and 

customer area concept, which we’ve embraced across 1,500 square 

metres at our Donaustadt site, adjacent to the Vienna International 

Centre. This refurbishment offers our customers unparalleled 

comfort, further elevating the opulence of our brand in what is 

arguably Vienna’s most exquisite car showroom. 

You’ve transitioned beyond the role of a conventional car 

dealership to become directly involved in Mercedes-Benz’s 

sales process. 

No Mercedes-Benz partner is a mere dealer today. We serve as 

consultants, prioritising advisory services. This model has been 

warmly welcomed by our clientele and can significantly shorten the 

waiting period for a vehicle, courtesy of a considerably larger stock. 

While other manufacturers are likely to adopt this model, we take 

pride in being the forerunners of this initiative. 

Merbag ist ein Schweizer 

Unternehmen mit einer über hundert 

Jahre langen Geschichte. Die Wiener 

Standorte wurden im April 2020 

übernommen und zwei Jahre später 

einem Rebranding unterzogen. 

Merbag is a Swiss enterprise 

boasting a rich heritage of over a 

century. The Vienna branches were 

integrated into the Merbag family in 

April 2020, with a brand 

transformation following two years 

thereafter. 

Technische Daten | 

Technical data 

Die mehr als zwei Dutzend 

E-Klasse-Modelle unterscheiden sich 

durch ihre Form (Limousine, Coupé, 

Kombi) und ihre Antriebsmodelle (ab 

€ 69.958,- inkl. MwSt und NoVA), 

wobei Diesel-Motoren und Plug-in 

Hybrid-Diesel vorherrschen. 

Beispiel: E 300 de 4MATIC 

Limousine mit Plug-in Hybrid Diesel: 

The E-Class range, featuring more 

than two dozen variants, spans 

several body types (Saloon, Coupé, 

Estate) and drive type configurations 

(starting from €69,958, 

inclusive of VAT and NoVA), with a 

strong emphasis on diesel and 

plug-in hybrid diesel engines. 

Example: E 300 de 4MATIC Saloon 

with plug-in hybrid diesel: 

Leistung | Output 

Hybrid: 143 kW + 90 kW (194 PS + 122 PS) 

Höchstgeschwindigkeit | Maximum speed 

235 km/h 

Design und Technik am Puls der 

Zeit, sowohl in der neuen E-Klasse 

(oben) als auch im Merbag-Standort 

Donaustadt (rechts). 

Cutting-edge design and 

technology, both in the new E-Class 

(above) and at Merbag‘s 

Donaustadt site (right). 

Die Standorte | Locations : 

Standort Troststraße: Troststraße 109-111, 1104 Wien 

Standort Donaustadt: Donaustadtstraße 51, 1220 Wien 

Standort Liesing: Oberlaaerstraße 333, 1230 Wien 

Standort Triesterstraße: Triesterstraße 283, 1230 Wien (ausschließlich Gebrauchtwagen / pre-owned vehicles only) 

Standort Brunn: Wiener Straße 154, 2345 Brunn am Gebirge 

INFO: 

merbag.at 


SAVOIR VIVRE MOTOR 

Kluge Autos braucht das Land. | Smart cars: driving the country forward. 

Mit Stil in den Frühling | Accelerating into the spring with style 


BMW iX2: Sportlich, kraftvoll, vollelektrisch | 

Sporty, powerful, fully electric 

Motor Engine 

R4 Turbodiesel, R4 Mild-Hybrid Benziner 

Antrieb Drive 

Vorderradantrieb 

kW (PS) kw (HP) 110 (150) 

Hubraum Displacement 

1.498-1.968 ccm 

Kraftstoffverbrauch Fuel consumption 

5,0 l/100 km / Mild-Hybrid: 5,4 l/100 km 

Preis Price ab | from: € 47.990,– 

Das kompakte SUV-Coupé von BMW gibt es in seiner zweiten Generation erstmals auch vollelektrisch. Der BMW iX2 legt mit seiner kraftvollen Silhouette und der neuen, 

markanten Frontpartie einen starken Auftritt hin. Seine auf 4,5 Meter gewachsene Länge sorgt für ausreichend Platz und ein Kofferraumvolumen von 525 Litern. Den sportlichen 

SUV gibt es wahlweise mit Front- oder Allradantrieb, mit einer Reichweite von bis zu 478 km. An einer Gleichstrom-Ladestation beträgt die Ladezeit des iX2 auf 80% der 

Batteriekapazität alltagstaugliche 30 Minuten. 

BMW’s compact SUV coupé is entering its exciting second generation, now electrifying 

the streets as a fully electric model for the very first time. The BMW iX2 makes an 

impactful entrance with its powerful silhouette and a newly designed, striking front end. 

With its length now stretched to 4.5 metres, it provides plenty of room and a generous 

boot capacity of 525 litres. This sporty SUV is available with either front-wheel or 

all-wheel drive, boasting a range of up to 478 km. Charging is a breeze at DC fast 

charging stations, where the iX2 reaches 80% battery capacity in just about 30 minutes. 

Motor Engine 

Antrieb Drive 

kW (PS) kw (HP) 

Elektrische Reichweite Range 

Energieverbrauch Consumption 

Preis | Price 

1 bzw. 2 Elektromotor(en) 

Antrieb Frontantrieb, Allradantrieb 

150-230 kW (204-313) 

449-478 km 

17,7-15,3 kWh/100 km 

ab | from: € 47.400,– 

Jeep Avenger e-Hybrid: Das Beste aus vielen Welten | 

The best of many worlds 

Škoda Superb: Neue Features für das Flaggschiff | New features for the flagship model 

Neues Interieurkonzept, effizientere Antriebsstränge, verbesserte Aerodynamik, optimierte Scheinwerfer – das Flaggschiff von Škoda 

startet mit Verve in das Jahr 2024! 1,6 Mio. mal verkaufte sich der Škoda Superb bereits seit seiner Markteinführung 2001. Nun kommt er 

in der vierten Generation mit neu gestalteten, markanten LED-Matrix-Scheinwerfern, einem noch ergonomischeren Interieur mit 

freistehendem 13 Zoll Infotainmentdisplay, sowie zahlreichen neuen Assistenzsystemen. Geblieben ist sein großzügiges Platzangebot und 

das beeindruckende Ladevolumen des Škoda Superb – 690 l beim Kombi, 645 l bei der Limousine. 

The flagship Škoda is zooming into 2024 with new energy! Sporting a fresh interior concept, more efficient engines, better aerodynamics 

and upgraded headlights, the Škoda Superb has been a favourite since its 2001 debut, selling over 1.6 million units. Now in its fourth 

generation, it features eye-catching redesigned LED matrix headlights, a more user-friendly interior with a standalone 13-inch infotainment 

display and a variety of new assistance systems. It continues to offer the spaciousness and impressive cargo capacity the Škoda 

Superb is known for – 690 litres for the estate model and 645 litres for the saloon. 

PHOTOS: ŠKODA AUTO / PORSCHE HOLDING; AUDI AG; BMW AG; STELLANTIS N.V. 

Audi Q6 e-tron: Next Generation Elektromobilität | The next 

generation of electric mobility 

Audi erfindet sich neu und bahnt mit dem Q6 e-tron den Weg in die vollelektrische 

Zukunft der Marke. Der neue, in Ingolstadt gebaute Oberklasse-SUV ist Audis erste 

Baureihe auf der neu entwickelten Premium Platform Electric, zahlreiche weitere 

Audi Modelle sollen in den nächsten Jahren folgen. Elektromotoren der neuesten 

Generation treiben den Q6 e-tron mit bis zu 517 PS voran, das 800 Volt-Bordnetz 

ermöglicht kurze Ladezeiten, eine neue Batteriegeneration bis zu 600 Kilometer 

Reichweite. Offizielle Weltpremiere feiert der Audi Q6 e-tron am 18. März, 

ausgeliefert wird ab dem Sommer. 

Audi is on a transformative journey towards an all-electric future, leading the 

charge with the Q6 e-tron. This new luxury SUV, crafted in Ingolstadt, is the first 

model to be built on Audi’s innovative Premium Platform Electric, setting the stage 

for a range of Audi models to follow. It’s equipped with the latest in electric motor 

technology, offering up to 517 hp. Thanks to its 800-volt architecture, the Q6 

e-tron boasts rapid charging capabilities, while its next-gen batteries promise a 

range of up to 600 kilometres. The world will get its first official look at the Audi 

Q6 e-tron on 18 March, with deliveries expected to begin this summer. 

Motor Engine 

2 Elektromotoren 

Antrieb Drive 

Allradantrieb 

kW (PS) kw (HP) 295-380 (402-517) 

Energieverbrauch Energy consumption noch keine Angabe 

Reichweite Range 

bis 600 km 

Preis | Price ab | from: € 60.000,- 

Spritziges Fahrverhalten, hohe Wendigkeit und 20 cm Bodenfreiheit, ergänzt von 

Features wie einem Panoramaschiebedach oder Sitzen mit Massagefunktion – der 

Jeep Avenger bringt Funktionalität, sparsamen Verbrauch, Großstadttauglichkeit 

und Geländegängigkeit unter einen Hut. Der agile SUV holte sich denn auch – in 

seiner Elektro-Variante – die begehrte Auszeichnung „Car of the Year 2023“. Nun 

komplettiert ein e-Hybrid die Modellpalette des Avenger: Der integrierte 

21-kW-Elektromotor sorgt für zusätzliche Leistung und übernimt bei niedrigen 

Geschwindigkeiten den Antrieb komplett. Ein sympatischer Allrounder für alle 

Fälle. 

The Jeep Avenger stands out with its lively handling, high agility and a ground 

clearance of 20 cm, enhanced by features like a panoramic sunroof and seats 

equipped with a massage function. This Jeep Avenger marries functionality, 

economical fuel usage, urban adaptability and off-road prowess. The electric 

variant of this agile SUV bagged the prestigious “Car of the Year 2023” award. 

Now, the Avenger family welcomes an e-Hybrid version: it boasts a 21-kW electric 

motor that provides an extra boost of power and handles low-speed propulsion 

entirely on its own. A versatile all-rounder for any occasion. 

Motor Engine 

R3 Benziner Mild-Hybrid 

Antrieb Drive 

Vorderradantrieb 

kW (PS) kw (HP) 74 (100) 

Hubraum kw (HP) 

1.199 ccm 

Kraftstoffverbrauch Consumption 5,0-4,9 l/100km 

Preis | Price ab | from: € 26.700,– 



131

SAVOIR VIVRE WEEKENDER 

KREMS-STEIN 

Moderne Kunst und mittelalterliches Flair 

Modern art meets medieval charm 

Text: Claudia Jörg-Brosche 

Krems kann man zu jeder Zeit des 

Jahres genießen. 

Krems can be enjoyed at any time of 

the year. 

Die Doppelstadt Krems-Stein am Eingang zur weltberühmten Weinlandschaft der 

Wachau begeistert mit spannenden Kontrasten zwischen Mittelalter und Avantgarde. 

Nestled at the gateway to the world-renowned Wachau wine region, the twin towns of 

Krems-Stein captivate with their thrilling juxtaposition of medieval atmosphere and 

avant-garde vibes. 

PHOTOS: DONAU FESTIVAL KREMS/DAVID VISNJIC, POINT OF VIEW GMBH, ROBERT HERBST, ANDREAS HOFER 

Es ist kaum zu glauben, aber zwischen 

dem 11. und 14. Jahrhundert war die 

kleine Stadt Krems in Niederösterreich 

weitaus bedeutender als die heutige 

Bundeshauptstadt Wien. Die älteste Stadt 

Niederösterreichs (erste urkundliche Erwähnung 

995) beherbergte im 12. Jahrhundert 

die erste babenbergische Münzprägestätte 

und erhielt im 15. Jahrhundert das 

Privileg für den Bau einer Donaubrücke. 

Doch die bewegte Geschichte Krems‘ reicht 

noch viel weiter zurück: Das Gebiet war bereits 

in der Eisenzeit besiedelt, wie der 

Fund eines 27.000 Jahre alten Kindergrabs 

beweist (es gilt als älteste bekannte Grabstätte 

Österreichs). Und die am Kremser 

Rehberg entdeckte, 32.000 Jahre alte Frauenstatuette 

namens Venus vom Galgenberg 

(„Fanny“) gilt als ältestes Kunstwerk unseres 

Landes. 

Ab der Slawenzeit und ganz besonders 

ab dem Frühmittelalter mauserte sich die 

Stadt mit der günstigen Lage am Donaustrom 

zu einem bedeutenden Handelsplatz. 

Wein, Getreide, Erze und Salz aus dem Salzkammergut 

wurden im Donauhafen von 

Stein umgeschlagen. Wohlstand und Reichtum 

folgten. Bald wuchsen Stein und die 

Altstadt von Krems, die vornehm zurückgezogen 

auf den Berggängen dahinter liegt, zu 

einer florierenden Doppelstadt zusammen. 

Doch dann kam der Bahn- und später 

auch Autoverkehr auf, der im 19. Jahrhundert 

einen massiven Rückgang des Schifffahrts-Handels 

auf der Donau bewirkte und 

somit einen schleichenden Niedergang des 

Doppelstädtchens einläutete. Das Ende der 

goldenen Zeiten erweist sich für heute als 

großes Glück, denn in der Stagnation fehlte 

Geld für Stadterneuerungen und Umbauten. 

So blieb das einzigartige Stadtensemble 

mit Prachtbauten aus Gotik und Renaissance, 

engen Gässchen und idyllischen 

Plätzen bis heute erhalten. Krems zählt zu 

den vollkommensten historischen Städteensembles 

unseres Landes! Da begeistern 

Bürger- und Kaufmannshäuser mit reich 

verzierten Portalen, verspielten Erkern 

oder filigraner Sgraffito-Malerei sowie eindrucksvolle 

Architekturschätze wie der 

Göttweigerhof, die Minoriten-, Piaristenund 

Pfarrkirche, die Gozzoburg, das barocke 

Rathaus oder das Steiner Tor (einziges 

erhaltenes Stadttor und Wahrzeichen der 

Stadt). Um nur einige wenige zu nennen. 

Doch Krems-Stein ist keineswegs museal 

verstaubt, sondern steht mit beiden 

(Städte)Beinen fest im jetzigen Leben. Das 

beweist nicht nur die abweisende Strafvollzugsanstalt 

inmitten der Altstadt, sondern 

vielmehr (und weitaus positiver) der Rang 

der Stadt als bedeutendes Zentrum der 

modernen Kunst und Kultur, Avantgarde 

sowie als innovative Universitätsstadt. 

Epizentrum des zeitgenössischen Kulturschaffens 

ist die Kunstmeile Krems: hier reihen 

sich die Kunsthalle in der ehemaligen 

Tabakfabrik, die Landesgalerie Niederösterreich, 

das Karikaturmuseum (u.a. mit Werken 

von Manfred Deix), das Forum Frohner, 

der Klangraum Krems im einstigen Minoritenkloster 

sowie das gotische Eventzentrum 

der Dominikanerkirche aneinander. Die beiden 

Festivals „Imago Dei“ (Musik aus 

verschiedenen Epochen, Kulturen und 

Religionen) sowie das Donaufestival Krems 

(Plattform für Performance, Sound, 

Installationen und bildende Kunst) sind 

international bekannte Aushängeschilder 

der zeitgenössischen kreativen Szene. 

Krems ist aber nicht nur Kultur-, sondern 

auch Weinstadt. Die sonnenverwöhnten 

Rebhänge der über 2.000 Jahre alten 

Weinbauregion Wachau schließen direkt 

an die Altstadt an. Hier gedeihen Weißweine 

(vorwiegend Grüner Veltliner und Riesling) 

von besonderer Qualität. 

Liebhaber edler Tropfen können in der 

Weinerlebniswelt Sandgrube 13 wein.sinn 

tiefer in die Materie eintauchen. Oder sie 

wohnen in den Weinbergen: In grüner Ruhelage 

mit Blick auf Stift Göttweig und die Donau 

und dennoch nahe der Altstadt lädt das 

Steigenberger Hotel & Spa Krems zu Wellness, 

Entspannung und Genuss ein. Direkt 

vor der Haustüre beginnen die schönsten 

Rad- und Wanderwege (wie z.B. der herrliche 

Weitwanderweg Welterbesteig Wachau). 

Krems ist das Tor zur berühmten Wachau. 

Dieser rund 30 Kilometer lange Donau- 

Abschnitt (UNESCO Weltkulturerbe) zählt 

zu den schönsten Flusslandschaften Europas. 

Die schöne blaue Donau wird von malerischen 

Dörfern wie Mauthern, Weißenkirchen, 

Dürnstein oder Spitz sowie 

trutzigen mittelalterlichen Burgen (Dürnstein, 

Aggstein) gesäumt. Kulinarischer 

Botschafter ist neben dem Wein die Marille: 

Die Früchte der rund 100.000 Bäume 

sind als eingetragene Marke EU-weit geschützt. 

Während der Marillenblüte (Mitte 

März bis Mitte April) versinkt die Wachau 

in einem weiß-rosa Blütenmeer – und zur 

Erntezeit im Juli gibt es die süßen Früchte 

vielerorts und in vielerlei Gestalt zu verkosten 

und kaufen. 

It might be hard to believe, but between 

the 11th and 14th centuries, the quaint 

town of Krems in Lower Austria held 

more significance than today’s capital, 

Vienna. As the oldest city in Lower Austria, 

with its first recorded mention in 995, 

Krems was a hub of activity in the 12th 

century, hosting the first Babenberg mint 

and, by the 15th century, was granted the 

privilege to construct a bridge over the 

Danube. However, the rich tapestry of its 

history stretches even further back: the area 

was settled as early as the Iron Age, 

evidenced by the discovery of a child’s grave 

dating back 27,000 years (considered the 

oldest known burial site in Austria). 

Moreover, the Venus of Galgenberg, a 

32,000-year-old female figurine unearthed 

in Krems, is celebrated as the oldest piece of 

art in the country’s history. 

From the Slavic era, and particularly 

throughout the early medieval period, the 

city’s advantageous position along the Danube 

River saw it flourish into a significant trading 

hub. Wine, grain, ores and salt from the 

Salzkammergut region were bustling through 

the Danube port of Stein. Prosperity and 

wealth ensued. Before long, Stein and the Old 

Town of Krems, which sits elegantly retracted 

on the hill paths behind, merged into a thri- 

Donaufestival Krems. 

Hohepriesterin bei der umweltkritischen 

Performance Toxic Temple rund 

um eine spekulative Religion. High 

Priestess at the environmentally critical 

performance Toxic Temple centred 

around a speculative religion. 

Die Stadt Krems hat einen ganz 

besonderen Charme. 

The town of Krems has a very special 

charm. 



SAVOIR VIVRE WEEKENDER 

TangenteSt.Pölten 

30.4. + 1.5. 

Krems Kunstmeile (oben) und Atmo Imago Dei. 

Krems Art Mile (above) and Atmo Imago Dei. 

INFO 

IM WEB: 

krems.info, wachau.com, donau.com 

Steigenberger Hotel & Spa Krems 

Panorama-Spa und -Wellness, gehobene Kulinarik, 

MICE-Location 

hrewards.com/de 

steigenberger-hotel-spa-krems 

EVENT-HIGHLIGHTS 

Imago Dei, 5. bis 29. März 2024 

klangraum.at 

Ausstellung des britischen Shootingstars 

Thomas J Price (Sklpturen), ab 27. April 2024 

kunsthalle.at 

Donaufestival Krems, April 

donaufestival.at 

Sonnwend-Feiern, 22. und 29. Juni 

sonnenwende.at 

Alles Marille, 4. bis 21. Juli 

krems.info/alles-marille 

WANDERN 

Welterbesteig Wachau 

welterbesteig.at 

Weitwanderweg Kremstal-Donau 

kremstal.at 

Steigenberger Hotel Krems: hier kann man sich in den Restaurants und im Wellness- und Spa-Bereich verwöhnen 

lassen. Steigenberger Hotel Krems: you can indulge yourself in the restaurants and in the wellness and 

spa area. 

ving twin city. 

Then came the rise of railway and later 

automobile traffic in the 19th century, which 

caused a significant decline in Danube 

shipping trade, marking the beginning of a 

gradual downturn for the twin towns. 

However, what seemed like the end of a 

golden era turned out to be a stroke of luck 

for the present day, as the lack of funds for 

urban renewal and remodelling during 

these stagnant times meant that the unique 

urban ensemble of splendid Gothic and 

Renaissance buildings, narrow lanes and 

idyllic squares has been preserved to this 

day. Krems stands as one of the most 

complete historic urban ensembles in the 

country. Visitors are charmed by the burgher 

and merchant houses with their richly 

decorated portals, whimsical oriels and 

delicate sgraffito paintings, as well as 

architectural treasures such as the 

Göttweigerhof courtyard, the Minorite, 

Piarist and Parish churches, the Gozzoburg 

town castle, the baroque Town Hall or the 

Steiner Tor (the only remaining city gate and 

a symbol of the city), to name just a few. 

Yet Krems-Stein is far from being a dusty 

relic; it’s very much alive and kicking in the 

present day. This is evidenced not just by the 

imposing prison nestled in the heart of the old 

town, but more so (and much more positively) 

by the city’s status as a significant hub 

for modern art and culture, avant-garde movements 

and as an innovative university town. 

Kunstmeile Krems stands as the epicentre 

of contemporary cultural creation, where a 

succession of prestigious venues lines the 

streets. These include the Kunsthalle in a former 

tobacco factory, the State Gallery of Lower 

Austria, the Caricature Museum featuring 

works by Manfred Deix among others, 

the Forum Frohner, the Klangraum Krems in 

the old Minorite Monastery and the gothic 

event centre of the Dominican Church. The 

area is celebrated for hosting two internationally 

acclaimed festivals: “Imago Dei”, showcasing 

music from various epochs, cultures 

and religions, and the Donaufestival, a platform 

for performance, sound, installations 

and visual arts. Together, these festivals and 

venues showcase the vibrant contemporary 

creative scene that Krems is renowned for. 

Krems is not just a hub of culture but also 

a celebrated wine city. Nestled against its 

historic old town are the sun-drenched vineyards 

of Wachau, a wine-growing region 

with more than 2,000 years of history. Here, 

white wines, primarily Grüner Veltliner and 

Riesling, flourish, producing vintages of exceptional 

quality. 

For connoisseurs of fine wines, Sandgrube 

13 wein.sinn offers a deep dive into the 

craft. Alternatively, guests can immerse 

themselves in the vineyard life: the Steigenberger 

Hotel & Spa Krems, situated in a 

tranquil green setting with views over Göttweig 

Abbey and the Danube River, yet still 

close to the old town, promises relaxation, 

wellness and culinary delights. Right on the 

doorstep, the most picturesque cycling and 

hiking trails await (including the magnificent 

Wachau World Heritage Trail), inviting 

exploration and adventure. 

Krems serves as the gate to the famed 

Wachau winegrowing region, a UNESCO 

World Heritage stretch of the Danube River 

that spans around 30 kilometres and is considered 

one of Europe’s most stunning river 

landscapes. This picturesque section of the 

beautiful blue Danube is adorned with 

quaint villages such as Mauthern, Weißenkirchen, 

Dürnstein and Spitz, and is guarded 

by imposing medieval castles like Dürnstein 

and Aggstein. Alongside wine, the 

Wachau apricot serves as a culinary emblem 

of the region: the fruit from approximately 

100,000 trees enjoys EU-wide protection as 

a registered trademark. During the apricot 

blossom season from mid-March to mid- 

April, Wachau is transformed into a sea of 

white and pink blossoms. Come July, the 

harvest season offers the chance to taste and 

purchase these sweet fruits in various forms 

and from numerous vendors. 

PHOTOS: NIEDERÖSTERREICH WERBUNG/ANDREAS HOFER,, SASCHA OSAKA/OSAKA.AT, GREGOR TITZE 


Musiktheater 

Milo Rau, Hèctor Parra, 

Fiston Mwanza Mujila, 

Tonkünstler-Orchester 

Festival für 

Gegenwartskultur 

30.4–6.10.2024 

Justice 

3.5.– 

12.5. Shared 

Landscapes 

Theater 

Caroline Barneaud, Stefan Kaegi 

(Rimini Protokoll) 

9.5.–11.5. 

Tipping 

Time Klimakonferenz 

Globart, Solektiv 

134 



SAVOIR VIVRE UPCOMING 

Wo es uns gefällt | Where we love to be 

Ideen für eine Auszeit | Ideas for a time-out 


KELLERFÜHRUNG | WINE CELLAR TOUR 

Im ältesten Weingut Österreichs | In Austria’s 

oldest winery 

Die Weinkellerführung im Stift Klosterneuburg ist seit jeher ein Höhepunkt für 

Besucher. Vom Besucherempfang geht es über Freitreppen zum Presshaus, 

von dort führt eine Wendeltreppe in den Gärkeller mit seinen großen 

Eichenfässern, weiter geht es in den Barock-Keller und zwei weitere 

Stockwerke tiefer steht man im Barrique-Keller mit seinen 200 kleinen 

Eichenfässern. Danach geht es in die Vinothek zur genussvollen Weinverkostung. 

Dieser 600 Meter lange Rundgang wurde mit rund 1.000 Leuchtmitteln, 

3.000 Meter Stromkabel und 400 Weinflaschen neu inszeniert. 

The wine cellar tour at Klosterneuburg Abbey has always been a highlight for 

visitors. From the visitors‘ reception, the tour leads up a flight of steps to the 

press house, from there a spiral staircase leads to the fermentation cellar 

with its large oak barrels, then on to the baroque cellar and two more floors 

down to the barrique cellar with its 200 small oak barrels. This 600-metrelong 

tour has been newly staged with around 1,000 lamps, 3,000 metres of 

power cable and 400 wine bottles. During the tour, the path of the grape is 

traced. Then it‘s off to the vinotheque for an enjoyable wine tasting. 

stift-klosterneuburg.at 

KULINARISCHES EVENT | CULINARY EVENT 

Köstliche lange Tafel | Delicious long table 

Am Hauptplatz kann man den Duft aus den Küchen schon riechen. Jeder einzelne Platz ist feinst gedeckt für all jene, die Außergewöhnliches zu schätzen 

wissen. Teller um Teller füllt sich die Tafel mit den köstlichen Kreationen der kreativen Grazer Köche. Und die besten steirischen Winzer schenken ihre Weine 

aus. Hier ist der Genuss am 24. August 2024 zu Hause! Bei Schlechtwetter wird die Karte zu einem Gutschein, der in allen GenussHauptstadt Partnerbetrieben 

eingelöst werden kann. 

You can already smell the flavours from the kitchens on the main square. Every single place is laid out for all those who appreciate the extraordinary. Plate 

after plate fills the table with the delicious creations of Graz‘s creative chefs. And the best Styrian winegrowers pour their wines. Enjoyment is at home 

here on 24 August 2024! In the event of bad weather, the ticket becomes a voucher that can be redeemed at all GenussHauptstadt partner businesses. 

graztourismus.at 

PHOTOS: HARRY SCHIFFER, STIFT KLOSTERNEUBURG/ JAKOB GSÖLLPOINTNER, BAUMEISTER GUTSTEIN/ TRIAD, ALMHOF FAMILY RESORT AND SPA 

SPORTANGEBOT | SPORTS FACILITIES 

Bewegte Kinder | Children in motion 

Mit einem bunten Sportangebot startet das Mitgliedshotel der Kinderhotels 

Europa, das Almhof Family Resort & Spa in Gerlos, ab Mai in die Sommersaison. 

Für ein Plus an Komfort und Wohlgefühl erstrahlen 44 Zimmer nach 

einem umfassenden Facelift in neuem Glanz. Holzvertäfelungen, raffinierte 

Beleuchtung, Designtapeten und neue Betthäupter aus verschiedenen Stoffen 

sorgen für Begeisterung. Im Rahmen der Almi’s Special Wochen, buchbar von 

1. bis 22. Juni oder von 7. bis 28. September 2024, erhalten kleine Gäste ab vier 

Jahren einen gratis Schwimmkurs. 

The Almhof Family Resort & Spa in Gerlos, a member hotel of Kinderhotels 

Europa, is starting the summer season in May with a colourful range of 

sports activities. For added comfort and well-being, 44 rooms will shine in 

new splendour following a comprehensive facelift. Wood panelling, 

sophisticated lighting, designer wallpaper and new bed headboards in a 

variety of fabrics are sure to delight. As part of the Almi‘s Special Weeks, 

bookable from 1 to 22 June or from 7 to 28 September 2024, young guests 

aged four and over receive a free swimming course. 

familyresort.at 

MIT ÜBERNACHTUNG | WITH OVERNIGHT STAY 

Tour in die Bucklige Welt | Tour to the Bucklige Welt 

Das Triad ist ein einzigartiger Ort der Kulinarik, eingebettet in die zauberhafte 

Landschaft der Buckligen Welt. Mit ehrlicher Gastfreundschaft und höchster 

kulinarischer Perfektion verwöhnen Veronika und Uwe Machreich ihre Gäste. Neben 

traditionell Bodenständigem wird die moderne Küche zelebriert – immer in 

Zusammenarbeit mit heimischen Produzenten. Ab Juni kann man auch im Gästehaus 

übernachten, sechs Zimmer stehen dann bereit. 

The Triad is a unique place of culinary delights, nestled in the magical landscape of 

the Bucklige Welt. Veronika and Uwe Machreich spoil their guests with honest 

hospitality and the highest culinary perfection. Modern cuisine is celebrated 

alongside traditional, down-to-earth dishes – always in collaboration with local 

producers. From June it will also be possible to stay overnight at the guest house, 

with six rooms available. 

triad-machreich.at 



SAVOIR VIVRE MUST READ 

Lesenswertes über Österreich 

Books on Austria worth reading 

Text: Gerald Sturz 

Fine hotels 

selected by 

CERCLE 

DIPLOMATIQUE 

ECONOMIQUE et TOURISTIQUE INTERNATIONAL 

can also be found in these exclusive hotels: 

PREMIUM 

PARTNER 

Andaz Vienna 

Am Belvedere 

DIPLOMATIQUE 

CERCLE 

PHOTOS: ANDAZ VIENNA AM BELVEDERE, FRANZ BRÜCK 

Günther Haller 

Café Untergang. 

Stalin, Hitler, Trotzki, Tito 

1913 in Wien 

Stefanie Moshammer 

Vienna 

Sepp Dreissinger 

365 Portraits 

Richard Cockett 

Vienna 

Eine der vielen kleinen Geschichten, die der 

deutsche Autor Florian Illies in seinem wunderbaren 

Buch „1913. Der Sommer des Jahrhunderts“ erzählt, 

spielt in Wien und beschreibt, wie an kalten 

Wintertagen zwei Männer im Park von Schloss 

Schönbrunn spazieren gehen, die später Geschichte 

schreiben würden. Josef Stalin und Adolf Hitler. 

Vielleicht, so Illies, haben sie sogar gelegentlich, 

wenn sie einander begegneten, den Hut gezogen 

und sich freundlich zugenickt. Nicht nur Stalin und 

Hitler lebten damals in Wien. Auch Leo Dawidowitsch 

Bronstein, genannt Trotzki, und Josip Broz, 

genannt Tito, befanden sich damals im Wiener Exil. 

In seinem Buch „Café Untergang“ begibt sich der 

Journalist Günther Haller auf die Spuren dieser vier 

„Revolutionäre des Bösen“. 

One of the many intriguing tales recounted by 

German author Florian Illies in his splendid work 

“1913. The Year Before the Storm” unfolds in Vienna. It 

portrays how, during the chilly winter days, two men 

destined to leave an indelible mark on history strolled 

through the park of Schönbrunn Palace: Josef Stalin 

and Adolf Hitler. Illies muses that, should their paths 

have crossed, they might have even tipped their hats 

and nodded courteously to one another. Vienna at the 

time was not just a haven for Stalin and Hitler. Lev 

Davidovich Trotsky and Josip Broz, better known as 

Tito, were also in exile in the city. In his book “Café 

Untergang”, journalist Günther Haller traces the 

footsteps of these four “revolutionaries of evil”. 

– 

Molden Verlag 

€ 27,– 

Der Luxuswarenkonzern Louis Vuitton macht ja alles 

Mögliche, das gut, edel und teuer ist. Nicht nur Mode 

und Accessoires. Er macht zum Beispiel auch in Kunst 

(Fondation Louis Vuitton) und demnächst sogar auch 

in Sachen Hotellerie (Louis Vuitton Hotel an den 

Pariser Champs-Élysées). Und er macht auch Bücher. 

Die sind, wie es sich für einen Luxuskonzern gebührt, 

sehr schön und aufwendig produziert (tolles Papier, 

erstklassiger Druck, elegantes Design). Eine dieser 

Buchreihen nennt sich „Fashion Eye“ und stellt Städte 

und Regionen aus der Perspektive von Modefotografen 

vor. Nun ist in dieser Reihe ein Buch über Wien 

erschienen, fotografiert von der jungen Fotografin 

Stefanie Moshammer. Dass ihr Blick auf Wien nichts 

mit den üblichen Wien-Klischees zu tun hat, 

überrascht nicht. 

The luxury conglomerate Louis Vuitton is renowned for 

creating items that embody quality, sophistication and 

exclusivity, extending far beyond fashion and 

accessories. Their ventures include art (through the 

Fondation Louis Vuitton) and, soon, hospitality (with 

the opening of the Louis Vuitton Hotel on Paris’ 

Champs-Élysées). They also delve into publishing, 

producing books that are as luxurious as one would 

expect from such a brand — featuring fine paper, 

superior printing and elegant design. Their “Fashion 

Eye” series offers perspectives on cities and regions 

through the lens of fashion photographers. The latest 

addition features Vienna, captured by the talented 

young photographer Stefanie Moshammer, presenting 

a view of the city that eschews the typical clichés. 

– 

Amalthea Verlag 

€ 55,– 

Das Bild, das den Dichter H.C. Artmann zeigt, wie er, 

wie einst Carl Spitzwegs armer Poet, mit aufgespanntem 

Schirm in seinem Bett liegt, ist längst ein 

Klassiker. Eine Ikone der fotografischen Porträtkunst. 

Es ist eines der Fotos, die Sepp Dreissinger 

über die Jahre von österreichischen (und deutschen) 

Künstlern geschaffen hat. Von Thomas Bernhard vor 

allem, Peter Handke, Elfriede Jelinek, Helmut 

Qualtinger und vielen anderen. Wenn man nun 

dieses monumentale Buch durchblättert, begibt 

man sich auf eine Reise durch die österreichische 

Kunst- und Kulturgeschichte der vergangenen fünf 

Jahrzehnte. Alles analog hergestellte Schwarzweißbilder. 

Das fotografische Lebenswerk des 

„Beethoven der Portraitkunst“, als den die 

Süddeutsche Zeitung Sepp Dreissinger neulich 

bezeichnet hat. 

The photograph of the poet H.C. Artmann, 

reminiscent of Carl Spitzweg’s “The Poor Poet”, lying 

in bed under an open umbrella, has become iconic in 

portrait photography. It is one of the many photos 

Sepp Dreissinger has taken over the years of Austrian 

(and German) artists, including Thomas Bernhard, 

Peter Handke, Elfriede Jelinek and Helmut Qualtinger, 

among others. Flipping through this monumental 

book is a journey through the last five decades of 

Austrian art and cultural history. All the images are 

analogue black and white, showcasing Dreissinger’s 

life’s work, recently dubbed the “Beethoven of 

portrait art” by Süddeutsche Zeitung. 

– 

Album Verlag, 465 Seiten 

€ 59,– 

Dass Wien zum Beginn des vergangenen Jahrhunderts ein 

Brutkasten der künstlerischen und kulturellen Moderne und 

Avantgarde war, ist inzwischen im Überfluss dokumentiert. 

Auch die Sache mit der Psychoanalyse und der Wiener Schule 

der Ökonomie ist Allgemeinwissen. Aber das ist längst nicht 

alles, was zwischen der vorletzten Jahrhundertwende bis zum 

Jahr 1938 in Wien gedacht, ersonnen und verwirklicht wurde. 

„How the City of Ideas Created the Modern World“ nennt der 

britische Journalist und Historiker Richard Cockett sein Buch 

im Untertitel, das beschreibt, wie Wien auch in so vielen 

anderen Bereichen die Welt verändert hat. „In jedem Thema“, 

bekennt Richard Cockett, „über den ich las oder schrieb, von 

der Wirtschaft bis zur Werbung, von der Philosophie bis zu 

Einkaufszentren, von der Spionage bis zur modernen Keramik, 

finde ich einen Wiener an der Wurzel von allem“. Eine 

faszinierende Lektüre. 

It has been well-documented that Vienna was a crucible of 

artistic and cultural modernity and avant-garde at the dawn of 

the last century. The contributions of psychoanalysis and the 

Vienna School of Economics are now common knowledge. 

However, this barely scratches the surface of Vienna’s influence 

from the turn of the last century up to 1938. British journalist 

and historian Richard Cockett’s book, subtitled “How the City of 

Ideas Created the Modern World”, details how Vienna 

revolutionised numerous other fields. “In any field that I read 

and wrote about, from business to advertising, from philosophy 

to shopping malls, from espionage to modern ceramics, there 

was usually a Viennese at the root of it,” Cockett reveals. 

A fascinating read. 

Yale University Press 

USD 35,– 

General Manager 

Michel Wittwer 

Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere 

Arsenalstrasse 10 

1100 Vienna 

+43 1 205 7744 1234 

andazviennaambelvedere.com 

These selected hotels offer 

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Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere l Arcotel Kaiserwasser l Ayurveda Resort Mandira l Hotel Astoria l Astoria Relax & 

Spa-Hotel l BLEIB BERG Health Retreat l Hotel Bristol - A Luxury Collection Hotel Vienna l Austria Trend Hotel 

Bosei l Austria Trend Hotel Europa l Chaletdorf Prechtldorfgut l Chaletdorf Priesteregg l Das Kronthaler l Die 

Josefine Hotel l European Ayurveda Resort Sonnhof l Falkensteiner Schlosshotel Velden l Feriendorf Holzlebn l 

Flemings Selection Hotel Wien-City l Golden Hill Country Chalets & Suites l Grand Ferdinand - Hotel am Ring l 

Grand Hotel Wien l Hotel Goldener Hirsch l A Luxury Collection Hotel Salzburg l Good Life Resort Riederalm l 

Gradonna****s Mountain Resort l G’schlössl Murtal l Hilton Danube l Hilton Garden Inn l Hilton Vienna Park l 

Hilton Vienna Plaza l House of Time Vienna l Hofwirt Seckau l Hotel Imperial, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Vienna 

l Steigenberger Hotel Herrenhof l Imperial Riding School Renaissance Hotel Vienna l Interalpen-Hotel Tyrol l 

Kitzbühel Country Club l Hotel Kitzhof Mountain Design Resort l Hotel Hochschober l Hotel Lamée l Hotel 

Schloss Leopoldskron l Le Meridien Vienna l Luxuslodge „Zeit zum Leben“ l Hotel Am Konzerthaus Vienna 

- MGallery l Miramar Adria-Relax-Resort l O11 Boutique Hotel l Obertauern [PLACESHOTEL] by Valamar l 

Naturresort Puradies l Nils am See l Park Hyatt Vienna l Kempinski Hotel Das Tirol l Austria Trend Hotel Park 

Royal Palace Vienna l Travel Charme Fürstenhaus am Achensee l Austria Trend Parkhotel Schönbrunn l The 

Ritz-Carlton Vienna l Rosewood Vienna l Sacher Wien l Hotel Sans Souci l Austria Trend Hotel Savoyen Vienna 

l Schloss Fuschl, A Luxury Collection Resort & SPA l Schloss Gabelhofen l SPA RESORT STYRIA****S l Hotel 

Schloss Mönchstein Salzburg l Sheraton Grand Salzburg l Schlosshotel Seevilla l Steigenberger Hotel & Spa 

Krems l Steirerschlössl l The Guesthouse Vienna l Thermalhotel Fontana l Lebenberg Schloss-Kitzbühel l Hotel 

Topazz l SO/ Vienna l Stanglwirt l Vienna Marriott Hotel l Vila Vita Pannonia l Hotel Warmbaderhof l 

Would you like to belong to these exclusive hotels? 

If so, please contact us! l office@firstclassmedia.at 


SAVOIR VIVRE MY AUSTRIA 

S.E. Pedro López Quintana 

Apostolischer Nuntius | Apostolic Nuncio 

Interview: Daniela Pötzl Photos: Ralph Manfreda 

Sie sind nun seit fast 5 Jahren in Wien. Welche Orte haben Sie 

in der Stadt ganz besonders liebgewonnen? 

Wien ist eine außergewöhnliche Stadt mit vielen wunderbaren 

Plätzen, man kann sich gar nicht entscheiden. Ich mag das Zentrum 

der Stadt besonders gerne. Ich liebe Wiens Geschichte sehr und gehe 

auch gerne am Abend spazieren. Wenn man dieses Ambiente 

besucht, fühlt man sich in alte Zeiten versetzt, mit all den Palais und 

Baudenkmälern. Und ich liebe die Ringstraße – sie ist eine 

eindrucksvolle Straße, die 5,3 km lang ist und während des 

Historismus in den 1860er bis 1890er Jahren erbaut wurde. Auch das 

Kunsthistorische und das Naturhistorische Museum wurden zu jener 

Zeit gebaut, wie auch die Wiener Staatsoper, das Parlament, das 

Rathaus, das Burgtheater und die Universität Wien, die in der zweiten 

Hälfte des 19. Jahrhunderts errichtet wurden. 

Was macht Wien aus Ihrer Sicht so einzigartig? 

Wenn ich Gäste zu Besuch habe, empfehle ich stets, dass sie mit der 

Straßenbahn oder dem Bus fahren. So kann man den wahren Charakter 

des imperialen Wiens besonders gut entdecken. Wenn ich die 

Ringstraße entlanggehe, habe ich auch immer das Gefühl, einen Walzer 

in meinem Kopf zu hören. Ein ganz besonderer Ort ist auch die 

Kapuzinergruft, die einen an die Geschichte der Habsburger erinnert. 

Hatten Sie auch die Gelegenheit andere Bundesländer 

Österreichs kennen zu lernen? 

Ich habe nicht nur das „offizielle“ Österreich kennengelernt, sondern 

war auch in vielen ländlichen Gegenden unterwegs und habe 

gesehen, wie man dort lebt. Ich habe alle Bundesländer besucht. Am 

öftesten war ich im Burgenland. Im Rahmen der Bregenzer Festspiele 

hatte ich auch die Gelegenheit nach Vorarlberg zu reisen. Eine 

Landschaft, von der ich sehr beeindruckt war, vor allem von den 

Dörfern in den Bergen und Tälern. Ich habe auch Stifte besucht, wie 

zum Beispiel Melk, Lilienfeld, Heiligenkreuz und Klosterneuburg. In 

Graz war ich schon vier Mal zu Gast und ich habe auch das steirische 

Lipizzanergestüt Piber besucht. 

Gibt es Parallelen zwischen Ihrem Geburtsland Spanien und 

Österreich? 

Die Parallele zwischen Österreich und Spanien ist die Geschichte, die 

die Länder historisch, wie auch kulturell, verbindet. Sobald man in 

Wien ankommt, trifft man in der Innenstadt auf die Spanische 

Hofreitschule. Karl VI. war der Vater von Maria Theresia und ab 1711 

bis zu seinem Tod 1740 Kaiser des Heiligen Römischen Reiches und 

Herrscher der Habsburgermonarchie. Und viele Spanier kamen 

damals nach Österreich und siedelten sich hier an. 

You have been in Vienna for almost 5 years now. Which places in 

the city have you become particularly fond of? 

Vienna is an extraordinary city with many wonderful places, it‘s hard 

to choose. I particularly like the city centre. I love Vienna‘s history 

very much and also enjoy walking around in the evening. When you 

visit this area, you feel like you‘ve been transported back in time, with 

all the palaces and monuments. And I love the Ringstrasse - it‘s an 

impressive street that is 5.3 kilometres long and was built during the 

historicism period from the 1860s to the 1890s. The Kunsthistorisches 

Museum and the Natural History Museum were also built at 

that time, as were the Vienna State Opera, the Parliament, the City 

Hall, the Burgtheater and the University of Vienna, which were built 

in the second half of the 19th century. 

What makes Vienna so unique in your opinion? 

When I have guests visiting, I always recommend that they go by 

tram or bus. This is a particularly good way to discover the true 

character of imperial Vienna. When I walk along the Ringstrasse, I 

always feel like I can hear a waltz in my head. Another very special 

place is the Capuchin Crypt, which reminds you of the history of the 

Habsburgs. 

Have you also had the opportunity to get to know other Austrian 

federal provinces? 

I not only got to know the „official“ Austria, but also travelled to 

many rural areas and saw how people live there. I visited all the 

federal provinces. I was most often in Burgenland. I also had the 

opportunity to travel to Vorarlberg as part of the Bregenz Festival. I 

was very impressed by the landscape, especially the villages in the 

mountains and valleys. I also visited abbeys such as Melk, Lilienfeld, 

Heiligenkreuz and Klosterneuburg. I have been to Graz four times, 

and I have also visited the Styrian Lipizzaner stud farm in Piber. 

Are there any parallels between your native Spain and Austria? 

The parallel between Austria and Spain is the history that connects 

the countries both historically and culturally. As soon as you arrive in 

Vienna, you come across the Spanish Riding School in the city centre. 

Charles VI was the father of Maria Theresa and Emperor of the Holy 

Roman Empire and ruler of the Habsburg Monarchy from 1711 until his 

death in 1740. And many Spaniards came to Austria at that time and 

settled here. 

Do you have a favourite place that you can tell us about? 

I have a favourite place. I particularly like the Wachau. You can find 

nature, the Danube, Dürnstein and good wines there. 

PERSONAL DETAILS 

S.E. Erzbischof Pedro López Quintana wurde am 27. Juli 1953 in Barbastro (Spanien) geboren. Nach der Priesterweihe 1980 

promovierte er im Kanonischen Recht und trat 1984 in den Diplomatischen Dienst des Heiligen Stuhls ein. In den vergangenen Jahren 

wirkte er als Apostolischer Nuntius in Litauen, Estland und Lettland. Am 4. März 2019 wurde er zum Apostolischen Nuntius in 

Österreich ernannt und ist der Doyen des Diplomatischen Corps in Österreich. 

H.E. Archbishop Pedro López Quintana was born on 27 July 1953 in Barbastro (Spain). After his ordination to the priesthood in 1980, 

he obtained a doctorate in canon law and entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1984. In recent years, he has served as 

Apostolic Nuncio in Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia. He was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Austria on 4 March 2019 and is the doyen of 

the Diplomatic Corps in Austria. 

Haben Sie einen Lieblingsort, den Sie uns verraten? 

Ich habe einen Lieblingsort. Ich mag die Wachau ganz besonders. 

Man findet dort Natur, die Donau, Dürnstein und gute Weine. 

Das Wappen des Apostolischen 

Nuntius, Seiner Exzellenz Erzbischof 

Pedro López Quintana. 

The coat of arms of the Apostolic 

Nuncio, His Excellency Archbishop 

Pedro López Quintana. 

Von oben nach unten: 

Der Apostolische Nuntius. 

Die Apostolische Nuntiatur in Wien 

gilt als älteste ständige Einrichtung 

dieser Art und besteht seit 495 

Jahren, im Bild die Hauskapelle. 

Die Wachau im Frühling. 

From top to bottom: 

The Apostolic Nuncio. 

The Apostolic Nunciature in Vienna is 

the oldest permanent institution of its 

kind and has been in existence for 495 

years, pictured here the house chapel. 

The Wachau in spring. 



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A REVIEW OF SOCIAL 

EVENTS OF THE RECENT 

PAST.

LES RENDEZVOUS EVENTS 

Popping of Flashbulbs 

November 2023 

CD‘s publishers invited newly accredited Ambassadors to the 

traditional Welcome Lunch at the Restaurant Patara - Fine Thai Cuisine. 

Find more 

photos online 


A 

Event 

November 2023 

CD‘s publishers invited together with Katharina and Norbert H. Kaspar to a “Madam Ambassadors‘ and 

VIP Ladies‘ Christmas Season Opening“ to the MAX & AUREL Showroom at Vienna‘s Stock 

Exchange Halls. 

A 

Shopping in a pre-Christmas 

atmosphere was the motto of 

the relaxed evening. 

Event 

Getting to know each other in an 

informal atmosphere and delicious Thai 

cuisine in one of the best Thai 

restaurants in the city, were at the 

centre of this meal. 


November 2023 

The PaN Prize of the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA) 

was awarded to the Austrian-Polish Society in 2023. 

Left: The award was presented to 

Theodor Kanitzer (2nd left), 

President of the Austrian-Polish 

Society, by Ambassador 

Christoph Thun-Hohenstein (very 

left), Head of the Section for 

International Cultural Relations, 

at a ceremony at the ministry. 

Hermann Mückler, President of 

the umbrella organisation PaN, 

gave the laudatory speech (r.). 

PHOTOS: PAN/ÖSTERREICHISCH-POLNISCHE GESELLSCHAFT 





Below: Andrea Fürnweger, publisher of Cercle 

Diplomatique, together with Sebastian Ömer 

(r.), Director at Arcotel Kaiserwasser. 

A 

Event 

November 2023 

The traditional Advent wreath binding for Personal Assistants and Protocol Staff took 

again place at the Arcotel Kaiserwasser. 

Left: Andrea Fürnweger, publisher of Cercle 

Diplomatique, together with Director 

Sebastian Ömer and Werner Sagerschnig, 

Head of Sales, Arcotel, invited personal 

assistants and protocol staff from the 

embassies to a pre-Christmas get-together 

at the Arcotel Kaiserwasser. The group 

visited an exclusive NFT exhibition at the 

hotel with Elisabeth Mühlbacher, curator of 

the Museum Gugging, and learnt all about 

digital art. Afterwards, the group was spoilt 

with delicacies from the hotel‘s own kitchen 

and finished off with a drink at the bar. 

November 2023 

Traditional end of the year 2023 in the officers‘ mess of the Maria 

Theresien Kaserne 

Left: Brigadier Kurt Wagner, Military 

Commander of Vienna, invited guests to the 

traditional end-of-year event 2023. 

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December 2023 

The Club Tirol celebrated its 15th birthday at the festive Prater Alm. 

Club Tirol President Julian Hadschieff (5th 

from right) und Vice President Renate 

Danler (6th from right) reminisced on stage 

about the club‘s beginnings in 2008. Peter 

Hanke, Vienna City Councillor for Finance 

and Economics, was invited as guest of 

honour (2nd left). 

PHOTOS: FISCHLER/CLUB TIROL, RENE BRUNHÖLZL 



December 2023 

Reception for the Diplomatic Corps in Graz 


Club Tirol New Year‘s reception with State Secretary Florian Tursky 

Governor Christopher Drexler, President 

of the Provincial Parliament Manuela 

Khom (right) and Provincial Councillor 

Werner Amon (above) invited the diplomatic 

and consular corps to an aperitif in the 

arcades, followed by a reception and 

dinner in the Knights‘ Hall of the Provincial 

Palace. 

PHOTOS: LAND STEIERMARK/ROBERT BINDER 

PHOTOS: ULRIKE WIESER/CLUB TIROL 

The Club Tirol looked in the Ministry of Finance 

at Austria‘s digital future at the New Year‘s 

reception with State Secretary Florian Tursky 

(middle), Club Tirol President Michael 

Hadschieff (right) and Vice President Renate 

Danler (left). 


The AmCham Austria (American Chamber of Commerce) invited members and guests to a 

New Year‘s cocktail at the Hotel Imperial. 

Left: AmCham President and 

Country Managing Director of 

Accenture, Michael Zettel. 

Right: H.E. Petra Schneebauer, 

Austrian Ambassador to the USA 

(right) with Susanne Reisinger- 

Anders, Executive Director 

AmCham Austria. 

PHOTOS: AMCHAM 

Celebrate Life 


Concerts, Galas, Corporate Events, 

www.zoegernitz.com 

Conventions, Jubilees, and much more



ZuckerBäckerball at the Hofburg 

Left: Honorary Vice-Consul Birgit Sarata 

enthusiastically took on her role as “ball 

mum“ of the ZuckerBäckerball once again 

this year. 

PHOTOS: RIPIX 


New Year‘s reception of the Austrian-Belgian Society 

The Austrian-Belgian Society hosted its 

traditional New Year‘s reception on the 

premises of the District Museum in 

Josefstadt. Numerous members, sponsors 

and guests from the worlds of diplomacy and 

business attended. 

Left: President Bruno Demol (very right). 

PHOTOS: MICHAEL NITSCHE 

Sehnsucht nach 

Entspannung 


Vice President of the Austrian-Belgian 

Society, Brigitte Beidinger (3rd right) with 

her spouse Hubert (very right). 

#thermenvulkanland 

#deinsehnsuchtsland 

www.thermen-vulkanland.at 

www.steiermark.com 

Foto: Thermen- & Vulkanland / Michael Königshofer



New Year‘s reception of the Chambre de Commerce Franco Autrichienne 

(CCFA) at Raiffeisen Bank International 

Pictured above: CCFA 

President Alain de Krassny 

(4th right) and CCFA 

Managing Director Céline 

Garaudy (3rd right). 

Above: The event took place under 

the patronage of H.E. Gilles Pécout, 

the French ambassador. 

A School of the Future 


77th Viennese Croatian Ball at the Parkhotel Schönbrunn 

Left: H.E. Daniel Gluncic, Croatian Ambassador 

to Austria. 

The theme of this year‘s ball was the 

cross-border region Heideboden, where the 

Croatian-speaking population lives together 

with their German-, Hungarian- and Slovakianspeaking 

neighbours and where there is also a 

Jewish and Roma heritage. This thematic focus 

complemented the general motto “Hrvati meet 

Schönbrunn“. 

PHOTOS: CCFA 


ENTGELTLICHE EINSCHALTUNG PHOTOS: AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL VIENNA 

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empowers each student with the skills and 

character strengths necessary to be positively 

impactful global citizens who strive for personal 

growth and excellence in an ever-changing 

world. 

STUDENTS Set within the rich cultural context 

of Austria and the beauty of the Vienna Woods, 

the American International School Vienna is 

one of the top international schools in the country. 

Founded in 1959, AIS Vienna today proudly 

serves 800 students, representing close to 80 

nationalities, from Pre-Kindergarten through 

Grade 12 (IB Diploma or American Diploma). 

AIS Vienna’s core values - respect, aspire, and 

achieve - ensure that students develop intellectually 

and interculturally while internalizing the 

commitment and leadership necessary in today’s 

globally-minded world. 

FACULTY Teachers at AIS Vienna are a dedicated 

group of educators who take a deeply personal 

interest in their students. The school is 

fortunate enough to include published authors, 

accomplished musicians and artists, and professional 

scientists among its faculty. 

PROGRAMS AIS Vienna is the most experienced 

English-language school in Austria, offering 

a unique combination of a nurturing, family 

atmosphere with a challenging educational environment 

backed by its history of academic 

achievement. School programs focus on academics, 

but also on the development of students’ 

creative and leadership abilities and emotional 

intelligence. The school recognizes individual 

learning styles, making every effort to differentiate 

instruction, allowing students to reach their 

full potential in different areas, be it in academics, 

athletics, or in visual and performing arts. 

TECHNOLOGY At AIS Vienna, technology and innovative 

practice stimulates curiosity and creativity, 

inspires the joy of discovered passions, and provides 

students with the tools and skills to confidently 

meet future challenges. Technology is fundamental 

in providing equal access to learning for all students. 

AIS Vienna is a 1:1 Apple device school. 

Find out more at ais.at 




The 75th Officers‘ Ball took place at the Hofburg under the motto “SoundS of Music“. 


Old cellar in a new light at Klosterneuburg Abbey 

Right: Chief of the General Staff, 

General Rudolf Striedinger. 

Below: Minister of Defence, 

Klaudia Tanner and her spouse 

Martin Tanner. 

Below, very right: Partner 

country was the USA, honoured 

by the presence of H.E. Victoria 

Reggie Kennedy, US ambassador. 

The wine cellar tour at Klosterneuburg Abbey, 

the oldest winery in Austria, has always been a 

highlight for visitors. Now this 600 metre long 

tour with its countless steps has been given a 

new look. It brings the cultural heritage of 

viticulture closer in an impressive and 

narrative way. During the tour, the path of the 

grape is traced. Around 1,000 lamps, 3,000 

metres of power cable and 400 bottles of wine 

were used. Provost Anton Höslinger (left, 

middle), Klosterneuburg‘s Mayor Christoph 

Kaufmann (2nd left) and numerous guests 

from politics, business and society enjoyed the 

opening. 

PHOTOS: CARINA KARLOVITS & PETER LECHNER, PRIVAT 

PHOTOS: STIFT KLOSTERNEUBURG 

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3,400 guests from Austria and abroad 

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New Year‘s reception of IRE (Salzburg Institute of the Regions of Europe) at Vienna‘s City Hall 


Lawyers‘ Ball at the Hofburg under the motto “Vienna meets Tokyo“ 

More than 120 guests, among them many Ambassadors, from 

several European countries came to the City Senate meeting 

room of Vienna City Hall to attend the traditional New Year‘s 

reception of the Salzburg Institute of the Regions of Europe 

(IRE). IRE Chairman Franz Schausberger thanked Mayor 

Michael Ludwig, who attended the reception. The City of 

Vienna has been an active member and supporter of the IRE 

since it has been founded. 

PHOTOS: MAX SLOVENCIK 

PHOTOS: HAUS DER BARMHERZIGKEIT/APA-FOTOSERVICE/SCHEDL 

PHOTOS: STADT LINZ/ STURM 


New Year‘s reception for the Consular Corps in Upper Austria 

Pictured right: The Governor of Upper Austria, Thomas Stelzer (very right), and the Mayor of Linz, Klaus Luger (left), 

hosted the traditional New Year‘s reception for the Consular Corps of Upper Austria in the Old Town Hall pictured with 

Cecilia Baldivieso De Witzany, Honorary Consul of Bolivia. 


Welcome to the 102nd Elmayer Kränzchen! 

Over 3,000 ball guests danced for a good 

cause on that evening. The proceeds of 

60,000 euros altogether will go with 30,000 

euros to FRIDOLINA childcare at the Haus der 

Barmherzigkeit and with 30,000 euros to 

UNICEF Austria for Kindernothilfe in Ukraine. 

Pictured left: Thomas Schäfer-Elmayer (very 

left) with Christine Zach and Alexander 

Schallenberg, Austrian Federal Minister for 

European and International Affairs. 

Above: Inspired by Lawyers‘ Association President 

Alexander T. Scheuwimmer (2nd left), who is half-Japanese, 

the motto of the oldest ball in the world this time was 

“Vienna meets Tokyo“. Justice Minister Alma Zadic (very 

left), Heather Mills, ex-wife of Paul McCartney and Brigitte 

Bierlein, former Federal Chancellor and President of the 

Constitutional Court, enjoyed the evening. 

Kommunikation 

in sicheren Händen 

PHOTOS: KATHARINA SCHIFFL 

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Spurlos verschwunden… | Vanished without a trace... 

Thomas Schäfer-Elmayer, Leiter der Tanzschule Elmayer in Wien | Head of the Elmayer Dance School 

Interview: Daniela Pötzl 

IMPRESSUM 

Thomas Schäfer-Elmayer 

studierte Wirtschaftswissenschaften 

in Wien und St. 

Gallen mit Abschluss als lic. 

oec. HSG. Danach war er 17 

Jahre lang in leitenden Funktionen 

bei internationalen 

Industriekonzernen tätig. 

Seit 1987 leitet er in dritter 

Generation die Tanzschule 

Willy Elmayer-Vestenbrugg 

in Wien. Er ist Autor von 9 

Büchern zum Thema 

Etikette. Zuletzt 2018 

erschien sein Ratgeber „Der 

große Elmayer“ im ecowin 

Verlag. In seinen Seminaren 

in Business Etikette schöpft 

er aus seiner internationalen, 

jahrzehntelangen 

Berufspraxis in Industrieund 

Dienstleistungsunternehmen. 

studied economics in Vienna 

and St. Gallen, graduating as 

lic.oec. HSG. Afterwards, he 

worked in leading positions 

at various multinational 

industrial groups for 17 years. 

Since, 1987, he has been the 

third-generation head of the 

Elmayer Dance School in 

Vienna. He is the author of 

nine books on the subject of 

etiquette. In his seminars on 

business etiquette, he draws 

from his long, international 

experience of working at 

major firms. 

etikette.at 

elmayer.at 


Wenn aus realen Menschen plötzlich Geister werden. 

When real people become ghosts. 

CD: Was versteht man unter dem Begriff „Ghosting“? 

Schäfer-Elmayer: Das Wort stammt aus dem 

Englischen und bedeutet im Deutschen sinngemäß 

den wortlosen Kontaktabbruch von Beziehungen und 

Freundschaften. Wie ein Geist („Ghost“) verschwindet 

ein Mensch beim Ghosting aus dem Leben eines anderen. 

Bekannt wurde Ghosting eigentlich als Phänomen 

bei Dating-Plattformen. 

Nun hat sich das Thema „Ghosting“ aber auf weitere 

Bereiche ausgedehnt, wie z. B. im Recruiting-Bereich. 

Ghosting im Job oder am Arbeitsplatz betrifft Arbeitnehmer 

und Arbeitgeber gleichermaßen. Die eine 

Seite wartet auf Job-Zusagen und Antworten, die andere 

Seite wartet (vergeblich) auf neue Mitarbeiter, die 

nach wenigen Tagen nie wieder auftauchen. Eine totale 

Nicht-Kommunikation erachte ich als totale Respektlosigkeit. 

Manchmal ist es auch Bequemlichkeit 

oder mangelnder Mut. 

Ghosting im Job oder am Arbeitsplatz betrifft Arbeitnehmer und Arbeitgeber gleichermaßen. 

Ghosting in the workplace can affect both employees and employers. 

Haben wir während der Pandemie-Zeit ein wenig verlernt, 

miteinander zu reden und unsere Vorstellungen und 

Wünsche für den zukünftigen Job konkret zu äußern? 

Die Corona-Zeit war so außergewöhnlich und junge 

Menschen waren es nicht mehr gewohnt, sich richtig 

zu präsentieren. Viele waren deprimiert und wollten 

sich gar nicht mehr zeigen, um nicht einen 

negativen Eindruck zu hinterlassen. Diese Zeiten haben 

wir hoffentlich hinter uns gelassen und wir sollten 

wieder viel mehr kommunizieren – positive wie negative 

Dinge. 

Wenn man zum Beispiel im Freundeskreis oder bei 

Verwandten eingeladen ist und nun wider Erwarten 

verhindert ist, wann schickt es sich abzusagen? 

Eine Absage sollte man so früh wie möglich aussprechen. 

Für den Fall, dass Sie absagen müssen, bedanken 

Sie sich zuerst für die Einladung, erst dann 

bedauern Sie, dass Sie dieser eben nicht Folge leisten 



PHOTOS: TANZSCHULE ELMAYER, ADOBE STOCK 

können. Fügen Sie hinzu, dass Sie den Gastgebern 

und den anderen Gästen einen schönen 

Abend, eine schöne Feier, oder wozu auch immer 

eingeladen wurde, wünschen, und dass Sie 

es sehr bedauern, diesmal nicht dabei sein zu 

können. Auch wenn Sie schriftlich eingeladen 

werden, ist bei kleineren, privaten Einladungen 

eine persönliche Absage immer das Beste. 

Das Phänomen Ghosting hat auch Einflüsse auf die 

Gastronomie, wenn größere Gruppen in Top-Hotels 

oder Lokalen reservieren und dann nicht kommen. 

Könnte man das Problem so lösen, indem man eine 

Anzahlung verlangt? 

Top-Koch Michael Wankerl zum Beispiel hat 

in Graz in seinem Lokal Gerüchteküche nicht 

nur konsequent auf Gemüseküche umgestellt, 

sondern hat sich von Theater- und Konzertbesuchen 

inspirieren lassen. Seine Gäste sind nun 

aufgefordert Tickets bei ihm vorab zu erwerben 

und auch vorab zu bezahlen. 

CD: What exactly is “ghosting”? 

Schäfer-Elmayer: The term “ghosting” refers 

to the silent cessation of all communication 

in relationships and friendships. Like a ghost, a 

person just disappears from another’s life. Ghosting 

initially began as a phenomenon on dating 

platforms. 

However, the concept of “ghosting” has since 

broadened to encompass other areas, such as the 

recruiting sector. 

Ghosting in the workplace can affect both 

employees and employers. One side anticipates 

job offers and call-backs, while the other side is 

left waiting (in vain) for new employees who 

disappear after just a few days, never to be seen 

again. I consider total non-communication to 

be a form of utter disrespect. Sometimes, it’s also 

down to laziness or a lack of courage. 

Have we somewhat forgotten how to communicate 

with each other during the pandemic, and to clearly 

express our expectations and desires for new jobs? 

The COVID era was extraordinary, and 

young people became unaccustomed to presenting 

themselves properly. Many felt depressed 

and preferred to stay out of sight to avoid leaving 

a negative impression. Hopefully, we’ve moved 

past those times, and we should now aim to 

communicate more – about both the good and 

the bad. 

For instance, if you’re invited by friends or relatives 

but unexpectedly can’t make it, when is it appropriate 

to cancel? 

Cancellations should be made as soon as 

possible. If you need to cancel, start by thanking 

them for the invitation, then express regret that 

you can’t attend. Add that you wish the hosts 

and other guests a pleasant evening, celebration 

or whatever the occasion may be and that you’re 

truly sorry to miss out this time. Even if the invitation 

was sent in writing, a personal response is 

always best for smaller, private events. 

The ghosting phenomenon has begun to impact the 

hospitality industry, with large groups booking top 

hotels or venues and then not showing up. Could the 

issue be addressed by requiring a deposit? 

Top chef Michael Wankerl, for example, has 

not only switched to a plant-based menu at his 

Graz establishment Gerüchteküche but has also 

drawn inspiration from theatre and concert ticketing. 

His guests are now required to purchase 

and pay for tickets in advance. 

DER CHAMPAGNER 

UNTER DEN ÖLEN 

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dani.poetzl@firstclassmedia.at 

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Evelyn Rois & Bruno Stubenrauch 

Dr. Gerhard Bitzan, Mag. Stephan Burianek, 

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Frequency of Publication: 4 x p.a., 40,000 copies 

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All articles in CERCLE DIPLOMATIQUE are copyrighted. Further 

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Price list valid from 1 January, 2024. 

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AU REVOIR 

Ingenious view! 

Sigmund Freud Museum | Berggasse 19 | Wien, 9. Bezirk | Vienna, 9th district 

Text & Photo: Rois & Stubenrauch 

Spiegelbild. 

Der Blick in den schönen 

Spiegel mit dem filigran 

gearbeiteten Rahmen in 

Sigmund Freuds 

ehemaliger Praxis, heute 

das Herzstück des 

Sigmund Freud Museums, 

wirft nicht nur das eigene 

Spiegelbild zurück - unzählige 

von Freuds 

Patientinnen und Patienten 

haben sich vor ihrer 

Konsultation in ihm 

betrachtet - er steht auch 

als Metapher für den Blick 

auf das innere Selbst in der 

Psychoanalyse, die zu 

Beginn des 20. Jahrhunderts 

die Grundfesten der 

Gesellschaft erschütterte. 

Mirror image. 

The exquisite mirror, 

framed with intricate 

craftsmanship in what was 

once Sigmund Freud’s 

practice, now stands as the 

focal point of the Sigmund 

Freud Museum. This mirror 

does more than merely 

reflect one’s appearance; it 

has been the silent witness 

to the anticipatory glances 

of countless patients prior 

to their consultations with 

Freud. Moreover, it 

embodies a metaphor for 

the introspective journey 

of psychoanalysis that 

profoundly challenged 

societal norms at the onset 

of the 20th century. 

freud-museum.at 


Freude am Fahren. 

THE 

5 

NEW 

TOURING 

bmw.at/the5-touring 

BMW 520d Touring: Kraftstoffverbrauch, kombiniert WLTP in l/100 km: 5.3–5.9; 

CO 2 

-Emissionen, kombiniert WLTP in g/km: 140–154. 

Symbolfoto

CERCLE DIPLOMATIQUE - issue 01/2024

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