More innovative, younger and broader - the 24th Europa-Forum Wachau starts today, Thursday 13 June 2019, at Göttweig Abbey with a completely new format. Under this year's motto "Making Europe fit for the future", numerous guests will gather at the Benedictine Abbey over the next three days to discuss the topics of "Next Economy" and "New Society" with a focus on the European Union.

In the run-up to the event, around 1,200 people from all over Lower Austria took part in salons, focussing on different aspects of Europe. Citizens have contributed their ideas for living together in the Europe of the future. In addition to the political discussions on Friday and Saturday, the effects of artificial intelligence in the health sector will be discussed today at the Technology and Health Conference. This evening, 80 international and national students and young people from Europe will take part in the forum as part of the EU project "Erasmus +" and present their ideas for a better Europe as part of a competition with a start-up pitch in the Landesgalerie.

Once again this year, high-calibre guests will be taking part in the Europe Forum. In addition to Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner and the President of the Europa-Forum Wachau Martin Eichtinger, Federal Chancellor Brigitte Bierlein, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn, President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani and the Prime Minister of North Macedonia Zoran Zaev will take part in the talks. WKO President Harald Mahrer, author Marc Elsberg and futurologist Matthias Horx will also take part in the Wachau Europe Forum 2019.

Photo: NLK/Reinberger