EFA23

The European Forum Alpach 2023 took place from 19 August to 2 September under the theme "Bold Europe" with a focus on the many crises the continent is facing.

Impressions of EFA23:

EFA23 Modules

19 A 20 A

Euregio Days

The Forum for people who want to find regional solutions to global problems.

The people of the Tyrol/South Tyrol/Trentino Euroregion gather in Alpbach. Outstanding research and innovation will be awarded and “Tyrol Day” marks a festive highlight.

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Participation in the Euregio Days is free of charge.

19 A 24 A

Alpbach Seminars

The Forum for outstanding young talents to learn, debate and engage.

Each year, EFA awards about 600 scholarships to young people. The Alpbach Seminars offer five days of inspirational and thought-provoking sessions. This year, tickets were also available for individual participation.

24 A 27 A

Lab Days

The Forum for innovative minds to deep dive, envision and co-create on a specific topic.

In the mornings, invited participants work on pre-defined topics and find answers to specific questions. Walks, chats and stages are part of the Lab Days programme for all visitors and allow for international exchange.

27 A 30 A

Europe in the World Days

The Forum for Europeans who drive ideas for a strong and democratic Europe.

Together with young scholarship holders, they de the issues facing Europe in the world today: Climate, Finance and Economy, Democracy and Security. These four days will be marked by a variety of innovative formats, including walks, stages, workshops and rituals.

30 A 2 S

Austria in Europe Days

The Forum for those who shape Europe from an Austrian perspective.

To define Austria’s role in Europe and vice versa, the Austria in Europe Days mark the season opening of Austrian politics. Key actors of civil society, business, and parliament productively engage with each other and the next generation.

Theme & Tracks

This year's theme BOLD EUROPE allows us to continue last year'’s vision of anew Europe. With the multiple crises our continent is still facing, a Bold Europe becomes necessary.

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For too long, European prosperity has been based on cheap Russian enengy, the huge Chinese market and American security guarantees. In 2023, Europe must accept this new reality and take a bold leap. It must urgently reduce its dependencies while remaining open to the world. Europe needs to massively build renewable energy systems, diversify away from dominating suppliers and vulnerable legacy Industries, and take its security into its own hands.

More than that: Europe also needs to become bolder in shaping the world. It must use the current window of opportunity to accelerate the green transition and strengthen its global leadership in the fight against climate change. Europe's former economic powerhouses must bring their economies back on track and regain their competitiveness by investing more in technology and innovation.


Ic The Climate Opportunity

Rallying for Climate Action

  • How do we design climate action to bring about a truly sustainable and socially just transformation? 
  • What are the structures, innovations, incentives, models and mindsets it needs to enable this action? 
  • What is everyone’s role in climate action? 

Fin

Fighting for Europe´s Economic Sovereignty

  • How to secure the financial future of Europe’s young generations? 
  • How to finance Europe’s bid to win the global race for technology and innovation? 
  • How to manage future economic and financial relations with Ukraine and with Russia?  

Sec

Securing Europe in a Multipolar World

  • How can the EU better translate its strengths into political clout and contribute to peace? 
  • What should a future European security architecture look like? 
  • How is technology used in the global competition and how might it contribute to peace-building? 

Ic The Future of Democracy and the Rule of Law in Europe

Reinforcing Democracy in Europe

  • How can we safeguard and enhance democratic resilience? 
  • How can we effectively include citizens in democratic processes? 
  • How can we improve democratic leadership? 

EFA23 Speakers Selection

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Nataša Pirc Musar

President

Republic of Slovenia

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Alexander Van der Bellen

Federal President

Republic of Austria

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Anu Bradford

Henry L. Moses Professor of Law and International Organization

Columbia Law School

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Gernot Wagner

Climate economist

Columbia Business School

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Rob Hopkins

Co-Founder

Transition Network

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Michael Kofman

Research Program Director

Center for Naval Analyses (CNA)

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Stephan Leithner

Member of the Executive Board

Deutsche Börse AG

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Eva Maydell

Member of the European Parliament

European Parliament

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Stuart Peach

Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to the Western Balkans

Government of the United Kingdom

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Catherine Ashton

Former High Representative of the EU and Vice President of the European Commission

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Oleksandra Matviichuk

Head of the Organisation

Centre for Civil Liberties (2022 Nobel Peace Prize awardee)

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Dmytro Natalukha

Chairman of the Economic Affairs Committee

Parliament of Ukraine

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Yuriko Backes

Minister of Finance Luxembourg

Ministry of Finance Luxembourg

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Jeff Booth

Entrepreneur and Author

Ego Death Capital

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Melissa Fleming

Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications

United Nations

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Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces

Executive Director/former President of the United Nations General Assembly

GWL Voices for Change and Inclusion

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Osmani-Sadriu Vjosa

President

Republic of Kosovo

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sviatlana tsikhanouskaya

Opposition Leader of Belarus / Head of the United Transition Cabinet

Republic of Belarus

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Sergei Guriev

Provost

Sciences Po

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Anuna De Wever Van der Heyden

Trade and investment policy officer

Climate Action Network Europe

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Carmen Possnig

Doctoral researcher, ESA reserve astronaut

University of Innsbruck

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Oby Ezekwesili

President/ Founder / CEO

Human Capital Africa (HCA) / School of Politics, Policy and Governance (SPPG)

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Kaidi Ruusalepp

Founder and CEO

Funderbeam

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Yana Barinova

EFA23 Arts and Culture Guest Curator

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Paschal Donohoe

Minister of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, and, President of the Eurogroup

Government of Ireland

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Wolfgang Ischinger

President of the Foundation Council

Munich Security Conference Foundation

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Ralph Hamers

Senior Advisor

UBS Group AG

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Pascal Lamy

Vice-President

Paris Peace Forum

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Arancha González Laya

Dean Paris School of International Affairs

Sciences Po

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Carl Bildt

Co-Chair

European Council on Foreign Relations

Programme 2023

All times in CEST

Saturday, 19. August

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Sunday, 20. August

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Monday, 21. August

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Tuesday, 22. August

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Wednesday, 23. August

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Thursday, 24. August

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Friday, 25. August

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Saturday, 26. August

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Sunday, 27. August

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Monday, 28. August

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Tuesday, 29. August

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Wednesday, 30. August

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Thursday, 31. August

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Friday, 01. September

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Saturday, 02. September

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Find the programme in PDF form here:

Arts & Culture

The Arts and Culture programme of EFA23 addressed the struggles of European societies to welcome their newcomers, as well as the wider aspirations for peaceful coexistence between humans and nature.

At EFA23, art was not just decoration – it was part of the dialogue. Curated by Yana Barinova, the Arts & Culture programme opened up space to explore some of the most urgent questions of our time: How do we live together – across borders, cultures, and identities? How do we respond to migration, displacement, and the shifting relationship between people and the planet?

At the heart of the programme was the idea of movement – physical, emotional, and artistic. Many of the participating artists brought personal experiences of migration, exile, or transformation into their work, giving their contributions a sense of intimacy, depth, and immediacy.

Among the featured artists were:

  • Deborah Sengl and Angélica Castelló, whose collaborative installation reflected on the realities of displacement
  • Soli Kiani, exploring control, resistance, and self-determination in oppressive systems
  • Rojin Sharafi, blending noise, folk, ambient, and experimental electronics into powerful soundscapes
  • Matthias Kranebitter and Sara Glojnarić, who used composition to navigate the space between music and society
  • Stefanie Wuschitz, Felix Höfler, and Verena Kuni, investigating the interplay between art, technology, and social change
  • Mohammad Rahimi and Masoumeh Jalalieh, whose works offered deeply personal perspectives on flight and belonging
  • Students from the Art Meets Technology project at the University of Applied Arts Vienna
  • and Shabana Zahir, who brought Afghan experiences to the forefront through her poetry and voice

Some contributions were loud and provocative, others quiet and reflective – but all were moving, political, and personal. Together, they showed how art can help us make sense of a world in motion.

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Yana Barinova: FRACTURED FUTURES

Yana Barinova was chosen for her broad experience in cultural mediation. She was born in Odesa in 1989 and graduated from the Sorbonne University with a PhD in Arts and Sciences. She was Director of the Department of Culture in Kyiv, Ukraine before the Russian war of aggression began on 24 February 2022. She then moved to Vienna with her daughter. She has since curated an exhibition at Vienna’s Künstlerhaus, co-curated the GMUNDEN.PHOTO festival, and currently works at the ERSTE Foundation on European Policies and Ukrainian relations and at viennacontemporary on International Development.