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Summit in Alpbach: Chancellor is discussing the future of Europe!
The European Forum Alpbach took place in Tyrol on August 29, 2025, with prominent speakers and around 200 guests from politics and business.
Summit in Alpbach: Chancellor is discussing the future of Europe!
On August 29, 2025, a festive cocktail evening took place in the Böglerhof in Alpbach, which was European Forum Alpbach (EFA) celebrated. Around 200 guests from politics, media and business were invited to this special occasion. ORF general director Roland Weißmann opened the event, which served as a platform for networking and exchange in an international context.
European challenges were discussed, especially in the speeches that were held at the event. Chancellor Christian Stocker emphasized the importance of such conversations in his greeting. Weißmann himself emphasized the need for digital sovereignty and media literacy in the present time. Othmar Karas, President of the Forum, also expressed a positive statement about the mood of the 4,000 visitors: inside that were expected throughout the entire forum in Alpbach.
Opening of the forum and central topics
The 80th edition of the European Forum Alpbach began on the same Sunday morning with a traditional "state -standard reception" at the village square. Local shooters and a brass band were present. The Tyrolean anthem "Zu Mantua in gangs", the Austrian national anthem and the European anthem were sung, accompanied by an honorary salut and the typical schnapps distribution. Forum President Andreas Treichl and Tirol's governor Anton Mattle, who described the current political situation as the "moment of truth", were also present.
Mattle found that half of humanity will choose this year, but only a small part under free, democratic conditions. In addition, the governor warned of panic in dealing with artificial intelligence (AI) and demanded healthy middle roads and regulations for their use. South Tyrol's governor Arno Kompatscher joined this argument and spoke about the need to lead a critical discourse over AI.
Diverse participation and outlook
The European Forum Alpbach offers numerous opportunities for active participation. This includes not only access to the event itself, but also programs such as scholarships, the Leadership Lab and Alpbach in Motion. Membership within the forum enables exclusive access to the most pressing challenges in Europe and offers great opportunities for networking.
The EFA takes place every summer in Tyrol and attracts over 4,000 participants annually: inside. The current issues of the forum are the climate, business and finance as well as security and democracy. An intensive examination of these questions should help to inform young people about the importance of a “democratic, rule of law”. In view of the current political and social challenges, it is more important than ever to take the basic values of democracy seriously.