The government and Parliament celebrated the 50th anniversary of the “Family Equalisation Fund” in a ceremony on 22 June 2005. The respective law has been in force since 1 January 1955. To mark the occasion, Federal Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel and Minister for Social Affairs Ursula Haubner presented the “Family Alliance” initiative – a platform composed by politicians, economic leaders, enterprises, media, interest groups, science, family organisations and religious communities. The aim is to support the reconciliation of working and family lives on a long-term basis.
This year the Family Equalisation Fund (FLAF) or “Family Fund“, as Chancellor Schüssel called it, makes available 5.2 billion euro for the support of families. This makes Austria “Europe’s most family-friendly country“, said the Federal Chancellor. The new “Family Alliance“ was important as family policy could not be limited to financial policy.
The annual budget of the FLAF is 3.6 billion euro. 1 billion euro is contributed from the general tax revenue. A deficit of 436 million euro is likely in 2006, which will be covered by the federal government. The Ministry for Social Affairs expects a plus by 2010 as a result of increasing revenue. Two thirds of the FLAF’s budget are funded from employer’s contributions (4.5% of the payroll). Other financial resources are income and corporate income taxes as well as contributions of the Länder.
The FLAF does not only cover transfer benefits such as childcare benefit, free public transport for pupils and child allowance, but also pays for in vitro fertilisation, thanks to which 1,000 children more were born in Austria. ■

Since 1 July 2005 Austria has a new police. One day earlier Austria’s two police forces (urban and rural police) were formally merged in a public celebration at the Ministry of the Interior based on an amendment adopted in December 2004. Federal Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel and Minister of the Interior Liese Prokop presented the letter of appointments to the nine police commanders of the Länder and their deputies.
The plans to create a uniform law enforcement body comprising all security police units date back to 2003. “This is the most comprehensive reform of the police force in the Austrian history”, said Schüssel emphasising the speedy implementation within only two and a half years.
The Federal Chancellor informed that reasons for the reform had been to boost efficiency and to streamline bureaucratic structures. In a first phase 500 officers were assigned to field services and an additional 800 field services jobs will be created. “This reform brings more security to the citizens“, said Schüssel.
Minister of the Interior Prokop promised Austria “the optimal police force for optimal security“. ■

On 29 June 2005, the governing coalition and the Social Democrats (SPÖ) reached an agreement on a new Asylum Act ensuring quicker aid to people persecuted on political, religious and ethnic grounds, but also more severe punishment for asylum abuse.
A key element of the new Asylum Act is to speed up procedures with a maximum duration of one year, or six months in the case of criminal offenders (previously five to ten years). The detention of asylum seekers is limited to ten months within two years. Criminal offenders are detained until completion of the asylum procedure. Forcible feeding is permitted if refugees go on hunger strike before expulsion. For the time being the Independent Federal Asylum Senate will continue to serve as the court of appeals. Its staffing level will be increased by 20 to 30 officers. Clandestine immigration networks, fictitious marriages and adoptions are to be punished more severely. ■

Head of the Office for International Law in the Ministry of the Exterior Hans Winkler (60) has been appointed Secretary of State. This was announced by Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik on 3 July 2005. Winkler will support the Foreign Minister in preparing and realising the forthcoming Austrian EU Presidency. ■

On 25 June 2005 Austria’s Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik travelled to Israel and the Palestinian regions for a three-day official visit. Her talks with top representatives of both governments focused on recent developments in the Middle East and the Austrian EU Presidency in the first six months of 2006.
In Jerusalem Ursula Plassnik met with Israel’s President Moshe Katzav, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom. With regard to Austria’s EU Presidency in 2006, Plassnik emphasised the great significance of the Israeli pullout from the Gaza strip planned for mid-August of this year. “The Middle East is a priority of every EU Council Presidency“, said the Foreign Minister. Austria would also have to face this challenge. Her Israeli counterpart Shalom called for stronger EU support in the peace process.
Both sides stressed the “excellent” bilateral relations between Israel and Austria. Plassnik concluded her trip to Israel with a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial.
The second destination of her Middle East trip was Ramallah (West Bank), where the Foreign Minister held talks inter alia with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei.
Plassnik assured her hosts that Austria would provide additional support to the Palestinians amounting to 1 million euro after a successful and non-violent Gaza pullout by the Israelis. The funds should be used for establishing state structures governed by the rule of law, which was a prerequisite for stability and economic development, explained Plassnik. Austria had granted 23 million euro between 1994 and 2004.
The Foreign Minister emphasised Austria’s long-term commitment to the Middle East region. In unison with the EU, Austria supported all efforts to initiate a dialogue and mutual understanding between the Palestinians and Israelis. Finally, Minister Plassnik visited a centre for the treatment of chronically ill patients financed by Austria and met with Palestinian women. Plassnik laid a wreath on the grave of former Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. ■

If the European Union failed to arrive at an agreement on the budget 2007 to 2013 this would be “extremely detrimental” to Hungary, explained Hungary’s head of government Ferenc Gyurcsany after a meeting with Federal Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel in Vienna on 24 June 2005. The reason for his visit to Vienna was a meeting of the Parliamentary Group of Socialists, Social Democratic and Labour Parties in the European Parliament (PSE).
As the chairman of the Visegrad Group (Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia), Gyurcsany called for a greater involvement of Austria and Slovenia in the Group. ■

President of Montenegro Filip Vujanovic arrived in Vienna on 27 June 2005 for a two-day visit. Items on his agenda were talks with Federal President Heinz Fischer, Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, President of Nationalrat (first chamber of Parliament) Andreas Khol as well as representatives of the Austrian business community. Austria is becoming the leading foreign investor in Serbia and Montenegro.
Besides bilateral issues, the current situation in Montenegro (or rather the Federation of Serbia and Montenegro) and the progressive approximation of the western Balkan States to the EU was discussed. Plassnik stressed Austria’s support of the pre-accession efforts of the Balkan States. The prospects of European integration were an important sign especially now and had previously proven to be a driving force behind democratic reform processes, stated Plassnik. In Podgorica Austria and Hungary had recently inaugurated a common representation. ■

Syrian Cabinet Minister Buthaina Shaaban was received in Vienna on 29 June by Federal President Heinz Fischer. Both sides called for a stabilisation of the situation in the Middle East. Another topic discussed was the situation in Lebanon after the pullout of Syrian troops. ■

At their 6th ASEM meeting in Tanjin (China) on 26 June 2005, the European and Asian ministers of finance discussed development policy and intensified cooperation between Asia and the EU. Austria was represented by Minister of Finance Karl-Heinz Grasser. On this occasion, he extended invitations to the attendees for the next meeting, which will take place in Vienna in April 2006 under the Austrian EU Presi¬dency.
“The EU is one of the most important donor countries in the area of development aid and it will increase the funds earmarked for it“, said Grasser referring to recent resolutions adopted by the European Union based on which development aid is doubled between 2004 and 2010. The declared aim is to increase EU expenditure on development aid cooperation to 0.56% of the Gross Domestic Product. ■

At the meeting of the Council of Ministers on 21 June 2005 the EU ministers of agriculture agreed on a flexible implementation of the Regulation on Rural Development. Thus Austria’s farmers achieved a stage victory since the EU-wide distribution formula for the areas eligible for rural aid, i.e. environment and hill farming, will currently not be changed as requested by the Austrians. In Austria this area corresponded to 80%, and in 2003 the expenditure had totalled almost 460 million euro, explained Minister of Agriculture Josef Pröll, who referred to a “clear signal of reliability“.
Payments from the budget 2007 to 2013 have not been fixed and will eventually depend on the future contributions of the EU net payers. Chancellor Schüssel did not rule out that the contribution could slightly exceed the previously announced level of 1% of the GDP. ■

On 24 June 2005 the EU ministers of the environment confirmed national bans on genetic maize in Austria, Germany and Luxembourg, rejecting the request of the European Commission to lift the prohibition concerning the genetic maize varieties T25, Mon810 and Bt176, which are resistant against weed killers and antibiotics and produce their own insecticides. ■

German economist Carl Christian von Weizsäcker considers the level of electricity prices, which is relatively low in Austria by international comparison, an indicator that competition on the domestic electricity market is intensive. The Austrian Electricity Solution (ÖSL) has strengthened the competitiveness of the Austrian electricity industry. Prices in Austria were about 30% lower than in Germany or Italy, said Weizsäcker. ■

The Veterinary Authority confirmed the second BSE case in Austria on 21 June 2005. The cow came from Kleinwalser Valley (Vorarlberg). The tests performed on other slaughtered cattle of the respective farm were negative, as Minister of Agriculture Josef Pröll informed. Representatives of the farmers, meat processing plants and trade expected hardly any effects in Austria and abroad thanks to better information of the population and stricter quality controls. ■

On 13 December 2005 Brigitte Ederer (49) will succeed Albert Hochleitner as Director General of Siemens-Österreich.
The Social Democratic politician was Secretary of State for Europe and Financial City Councillor in Vienna. In the recent past she has been a member on the Siemens managing board. ■

The petrol and gas group OMV and its core shareholder International Petroleum Investment Comp. (IPIC) fully take over Borealis, Europe’s second biggest plastics producer. According to OMV Vice Chief Gerhard Roiss, the stock market flotation of Borealis has been fixed. ■

Until 17 July 2005 Graz (Styria) celebrates the 100th birthday anniversary of Nobel Prize Winner in Literature Elias Canetti (1905-1994) at its House of Literature and other institutions. Born in Bulgaria, Canetti lived in Vienna from 1924 to the annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938. Among his acquaintances in Vienna were Karl Kraus, Alban Berg, Robert Musil, Franz Werfel and Fritz Wotruba. Wotruba’s work on Canetti – prints and small sculptures are exhibited at the New Gallery of the Provincial Museum Joanneum. The writer died aged 89 in Switzerland. In 1959 – one year after the publication of his philosophical-anthropological chief work “Crowds and Power” he wrote: “Now I tell myself that I succeeded in taking this century by the throat“. This is also the title of an exhibition by Strauhof Zurich presented at the House of Literature. Based on unknown material – from his estate in Zurich – it gives insight into the writer’s life and oeuvre. Manuscripts, photos, films and sound documents illustrate Canetti’s biography, which he himself developed between 1977 and 1985: “The Tongue Set Free”, “The Torch in the Ear” and “The Play of the Eyes”. The exhibition at the House of Literature ends on 14 July, with Libgart Schwarz reading from Canetti’s epoch-making novel “Auto da Fé”, which was presented in a stage adaptation at Schauspielhaus in March. In fact, Graz is the place where everything started in the 1960s with a reception of Canetti having global repercussions. At that time the support of Alfred Holzinger, the head of the Literature Department of the Styrian seat of the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF) and the literature expert of “Forum Stadtpark“, had been decisive. He had also interviewed Canetti when he was awarded the (first) Nabl Prize by the City of Graz. Canetti praised the work of Franz Nabl (1883-1874) before he was re-discovered by eminent representatives of the young literary scene “from Graz” (Bauer, Handke, Kolleritsch, Roth). ■

Recently the 8th meeting of the Mixed Austrian-Finnish Cultural Commission was held in Vienna following an invitation of the Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs. This Commission had been set up in 1978, when the agreement on cultural cooperation had been concluded between the Republic of Austria and the Republic of Finland. Since then it has met for deliberations at intervals of several years. The latest working programme had been adopted in 2000 and ended in late June 2005. The new working programme developed by Austria (Foreign Ministry together with representatives of the Federal Chancellery/Department for Arts and the Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Culture) and Finland for the period 2005 to 2009 provides for cooperation in the fields of science and universities, the general educational and vocational school systems, adult education and advanced training for teachers, language courses (German and Finnish), literature, library and archives, visual arts, preservation of monuments, theatre, music, dance, popular culture and film. Cooperation in the sphere of youth and sport is being envisaged. The working programme focuses on opportunities for cooperation in the framework of the EU, e.g. the educational programmes SOKRATES (ERASMUS) and LEONARDO DA VINCI. Exchange of experience under the Bologna Declaration concerning university reforms is to be intensified. Cooperation regarding educational statistics, e.g. in the framework of the OECD project INES and PISA, continues. The adoption of the working programme illustrates the great interest of EU partners in further developing bilateral cultural relations and in intensifying cooperation within EU institutions. ■

As Austria’s Secretary of State for Arts Franz Morak announced, cultural theorist and exhibition-maker Angelika Fitz (born in 1967) will curate this year’s contribution of Austria to the Sao Paulo Architecture Biennial, for which she had been responsible also in 2003. Fitz has already made her selection. The architects’ studio Splitterwerk from Graz (founded in 1988) will represent Austria in Brazil. The programme will be presented very soon. This year the San Paulo Architecture Biennial will take place from 8 October to 11 December 2005. Revolving around the theme “Living in the City. Reality – Architecture – Utopia“, it will explore questions of contemporary housing and living, notably in large cities. ■

The German author Thomas Lang was awarded the Ingeborg Bachmann Prize 2005 for his narrative “Am Seil“, a father-son story, on 26 June 2005 by an independent jury chaired by German literary critic Iris Radisch. The main prize of the 29th “Festival of German-speaking Literature” is offered by the Carinthian capital in commemoration of the writer born in Klagenfurt (1926-1973). A total of 17 authors presented unpublished texts. The Bachmann Prize is famed for being one of the most renowned literary awards in the German-speaking area. The Prize of the Jury sponsored by Telekom Austria went to Julia Schoch, a German author living in Potsdam, for her story about a disoriented woman, “Der Ritt durch den Feind“. The 3sat Prize was given to the writer Anne Weber (born in Offenbach and living in France) for an excerpt from her novel. The Ernst Willner Prize sponsored by different German publishing houses went to the German author Natalie Balkow for her story “Oben, wo nichts mehr ist“. Sasa Stanisic, who was born in Bosnia and lives in Germany, was selected by Internet voting as the winner of the Kelag Prize of the Audience. His story describes the occupation of his native town Visegrad from a child’s perspective. ■

Pianist and composer Hans Kann died at the age of 78 in his native city Vienna on 24 June 2005. Since 1946 Kann had given concerts all over the world. With his great repertoire from Bach to the contemporary, including numerous works of unknown composers, he was “the opposite of a specialist”. As a soloist he cooperated with conductors like Karajan, Ozawa, Moralt, Swarowsky, Hindemith and Rosbaud. In 1966 he toured Latin America and the Soviet Union, in 1983 and 1985 he gave concerts in Japan and China. Together with Gerhard Rühm, he created the “geräuschsymphonie“. From 1977 to 1995 he taught the concert class at the then University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. The great musician was granted numerous awards, such as the Golden Cross of Honour for Science and Art of the 1st Class and even a medal of the Japanese imperial family. ■

On 28 June 2005 Austrian Federal President Heinz Fischer received the prize winners of an essay competition on the subject “Austria and the Czech Republic – good neighbours in a European future” of the Austrian school in Prague for a personal meeting in the President’s Office in Vienna. At the same time the winners of a competition of the Vienna-based Komensky School were received by Czech President Vaclav Klaus in the Prague Castle. The essay competition had been initiated by the two presidents. Its objective is to “underline that the two presidents attach great significance to young people in the context of intensifying the good neighbourly relations between the two countries and of bilateral cooperation as partners on an equal footing in the centre of Europe“. Fischer was deeply impressed by the knowledge of the prize winners about the history of the Czech Republic and Austria as well as about the tolerance reflected in the contributions and their European attitude. ■

Until 21 July 2005 the Aedes East gallery in Berlin presents the exhibition “AustriArchitektur – seven debuts from Austria“. As curator Lilli Hollein said, the aim of the show was to illustrate the stages of individual processes of establishing identities. The design is by the group heri&salli (Heribert Wolfmayr and Josef Saller). raumhochrosen (Heike Schlauch and Robert Fabach) predominantly work in Vorarlberg in the sphere of “building –communication – reflection“. Having committed himself to interventions in public space, Lorenz Potocnik is active on the borderline of art. synn (Michael Neumann, Bettina Krauk and Barbara Urban) are interested in designs and building regulations, while SPAN (Matias del Campo and Sandra Maninger) focus on the analysis of global tendencies and their consequences for architecture. touzimsky herold architects (Rolf Touzimsky and Daniela Herold) are mainly active in town construction and urban planning. They developed a concept for the restructuring of the former freight station in Linz. ■

Until 29 January 2006 the Essl Collection in Klosterneuburg (Lower Austria) presents a fascinating exhibition of 90 works by Antoni Tàpies (born in Barcelona in 1923) and Arnulf Rainer (born in Baden near Vienna in 1929). The exhibits from the inventory of the Collection are juxtaposed to give the effect of a thrilling dialogue, for which curator and writer Jean Frémon is also responsible naming the show “Porteurs de Secret“ (“Bearers of Secrets“). The Austrian artist strongly influenced by Surrealism, sometimes showing close connections to Viennese Actionism (e.g. body painting) and the sociocritical Catalan, who – in the style of a bricklayer – treats canvasses with sand and earth and engraves graffiti, have something in common: their spirituality and their differentiated approach to the cross as a symbol, which both artists display in a radical but not clumsy-officious way. Both artists – who are also linked by friendship – seek to explore the spiritual quality in things of every-day life. ■

On 30 June 2005 Federal President Heinz Fischer conferred the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art on the painter and graphic artist Maria Lassnig, who is one of the most important representatives of the Austrian art scene. With her outstanding artistic achievements, she earned an excellent reputation in Austria and internationally. Lassnig was born in Kappel (Carinthia) in 1919. In 1941 she was admitted to the master class of Wilhelm Dachauer at Vienna’s Academy of Visual Arts but had to leave it in 1943 because her paintings were classified as “degenerate“. She concluded her studies with Ferdinand Andri and Herbert Boeckl. In 1951 she moved to Vienna. Together with Rainer, Mikl, Hollegha and Prachensky, she belonged to the artists’ circle around Monsignore Otto Mauer, the art-loving clergyman and founder of “Galerie nächst St. Stephan”, a gallery in Vienna’s first district. In 1968 she went to New York, where she dedicated herself inter alia to cartoon films. After returning to Vienna in 1980, she became the first woman painter in the German-speaking area to hold a professor’s chair – at the University of Applied Arts. In the same year she represented Austria together with Valie Export at the Venice Biennial. She was invited twice to documenta in Kassel. With her autobiographic animation film “Kantate“ she participated on behalf of Austria in the Berlin Film Festival in 1993. As the first visual woman artist, Lassnig received the Great Austrian State Prize in 1988. Later she was awarded the Oskar Kokoschka and Max Beckmann Prizes. ■

Franz Liszt was born in Raiding in central Burgenland in 1811. A concert hall is now being built in the large garden of the house where he was born. It is to become the international centre for preserving the heritage of Franz Liszt and the venue of an internationally leading Liszt festival. The architecture of the building – an airy triad of white walls, glass and wood – is by the Rotterdam-based studio Kempe Thill. An outstanding sound experience is guaranteed by the European “Pope of acoustics” Karlheinz Müller from Munich. The official opening has been planned to take place around the 195th birthday anniversary of Liszt, in early October 2006. ■

A hot summer evening in Vienna, good food, cool wine and the open-air film festival “Kino unter Sternen” (Cinema under the Stars) in Augarten park – could you image something nicer? Classics of cinema and works of European and Asian filmmakers are offered, among them rarely shown films and eight premiers. A major part of the films is shown in the original language version with German subtitles. A 200m2 screen as well as a dolby stereo equipment guarantee top cinema quality to the audience on the stands with about one thousand seats. ■

Secretary of State Schweitzer and Chairman of the Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) Strickler went on a fact-finding mission to get more insider information for the European Football Championship “EURO 2008”. At a press conference with his Portuguese counterpart Laurentino Dias, Schweitzer stressed: "In Portugal football is actively lived. We have to make the EURO 2008 a national concern of Austria." The splendid arenas in Lisbon, Porto and Braga are not only used for football games but also for music shows, business lounges, as health centres and fitness facilities. The secret of success of the EURO 2004 was determined by a concept jointly put into practice. The financing plan (associations, sponsors and federal government), the great performance of the national team, the outstanding hospitality of the population and the peaceful enthusiasm throughout Portugal were the secret of the success of the undoubtedly best European Football Championship of all times. ■

Representatives of the federal government, the government of Carinthia, the Municipality of Völkermarkt and the Austrian Rowing Association met in Klagenfurt to sign the political declaration on the establishment of an all-Austrian competence centre for rowing in Völkermarkt. “I am pleased that we have jointly succeeded in creating the necessary prerequisites for realising the project. I am convinced that an excellent training centre for our world-class rowers will be established, which will also provide a stimulus to domestic tourism“, underlined Schweitzer. The total financing volume is 1.2 million euro. The building will be completed in 2006. ■

The companies Eurotours in Kitzbühel and Blizzard have given prominence to occupational health prevention programmes since June. Together with sport organisations (ASVÖ Tirol for Eurotours as well as Sportunion Salzburg for Blizzard), Secretary of State Schweitzer offers the enterprises a standardised concept to promote physical exercise and reduce sick leave. With his campaign he wants “to bring about an overdue re-orientation and motivate people to assume more responsibility for themselves and their bodies“. Ten “guiding“ enterprises across Austria receive a 50% subsidy from the Secretariat of State for Sports to implement health-oriented training programmes and preventive measures. Schweitzer is fully committed to this objective. With “Fit4Business“, he wants to initiate a nationwide campaign promoting physical exercise and sports in Austrian enterprises. The procedures and examinations are based on the standardised concept of Dr. Fritsch. The beginning and end of the project is marked by fitness check-ups to determine the state of health of the staff. All participants are examined on the basis of standard sport-medical parameters like stamina, strength, agility and body composition. A graph illustrates the strengths and weaknesses of the test subjects, each individual is explained his/her personally profile and receives recommendations for selecting suitable preventive programmes. A total of 24 activity units (once a week) over a six-month period cover stamina, strength as well as relaxation. The results are evaluated and documented. It is vital to initiate a re-orientation process and the introduction of a bonus system is taken into consideration. “The Fit4Business programme will reduce sick leave, give people a sense of well-being, enhance the personal achievement potential, improve plant communication and also promote the image of every enterprise“, emphasised Schweitzer. ■