Committees, Federal Council, Presidential Conference, Parliamentary Research Day, AI Forum, Arena Analysis
Vienna (PK) – Parliament is facing an intense committee week. The Federal Council deals with the most recent resolutions of the National Council. The Presidential Conference discusses the agendas of the last regular meetings of the National Council of the 2022/23 conference. The Parliamentary Board invites you to the first day of parliamentary research.
Monday, June 26, 2023
09:00: For the first time this year, the Legal, Legislative and Scientific Service (RLW) of the Parliamentary Directorate invites you to an exchange between science and politics within the framework of the first day of parliamentary research. On Parliamentary Research Day, the person whose project was selected for the first year of research in Parliament will also be introduced.
After opening remarks by Parliamentary Director Harald Dossi, political scientist Marc Geddes (University of Edinburgh, currently at the Parliamentary Research Institute in Berlin) and jurist Iris Eisenberger (University of Vienna) will deliver keynote speeches. In various panel discussions and poster presentations, scientists from different disciplines will showcase their research. Finally, representatives of science and parliamentary practice discuss possible answers to the question: “Science-policy interface and parliaments: how to design a continuous exchange?”. On the podium are members of the National Council a. D. Ruperta Lichtenecker, currently Head of Department at the “Climate and Health Competence Center” at Gesundheit Österreich GmbH, Michael Nentwich, Director of the Institute for Technology Assessment at the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Johannes Pollak, Rector of Webster Vienna Private University Vienna and Teresa Weber, Institute of Law and Governance, Vienna University of Economics and Business.
The event will be held primarily in English. The panel discussion will be held in German and simultaneously translated into English. You can find more information about Parliamentary Research Day on the Parliament website. (Parliament, Elise Richter Local 2)
Media representatives must register in advance at [email protected].
10:30 am: Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly gaining importance. How much can AI support democracy? A parliamentary forum on 26 June 2023 will address this issue, among other things. Representatives from policy, education and practice will discuss possible ways to regulate and apply AI and how it fits into our value and legal system.
After the opening words of the President of the National Council, Wolfgang Sobotka, the first lecture on the topic “What is AI?” by Günter Klambauer. He is an AI researcher at Johannes Kepler University Linz. This is followed by a talk by Michael Hirschbrich, co-founder and CEO of software developer apollo.ai, on AI in Austria’s economy. After another lecture on the EU legal framework by Iris Eisenberger, Professor of Innovation and Public Law at the University of Vienna, Meinhard Lukas, Rector of the Johannes Kepler Linz University, makes a call for a democratic digital policy. In the second part of the event, Sarah Spiekermann-Hoff, director of the Institute for Information Systems and Society at the Vienna University of Economics and Business, addresses the topic of AI ethics. Julian Nida-Rümelin, professor emeritus of philosophy and political theory at Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich, discusses the general social effects of artificial intelligence. Finally, National Council members Eva-Maria Himmelbauer (ÖVP), Katharina Kucharowits (SPÖ), Gerhard Deimek (FPÖ), Süleyman Zorba (Greens) and Katharina Werner (NEOS) discuss on a panel. The final words will be given by the Secretary of State for Digitization, Florian Tursky. ORF Head of Science Günther Mayr will moderate the event. (Parliament, Chamber of National Councils)
Media representatives must register in advance at [email protected].
Tuesday, June 27, 2023
National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka is traveling to Albania for an official visit. There, together with the president of the Albanian parliament, Lindita Nikolla, he opens the democracy workshop based on the Austrian model.
09:00: The Commission for Research, Innovation and Digitization deals with a debate on generative artificial intelligence such as “ChatGPT”. A quadripartite initiative of the ÖVP, SPÖ, Greens and NEOS is in favor of strengthening Austria’s digital sovereignty. (Parliament, Erwin Schrödinger Local 1)
10:00 am: The Defense Committee uses reports to address the activities of the Parliamentary Committee of the Federal Armed Forces in 2021 and the female military services. In addition to a current discussion with Minister Klaudia Tanner, the current national defense report is also under discussion. (Parliament, Ludwig Wittgenstein Local 5)
10:00 am: The Finance Committee begins with a discussion with the Financial Market Authority (FMA). The committee also has a number of bills before it. The 2023 Tax Amendment Law aims to bring tax exemptions and administrative simplifications. The implementation of the Central System of Electronic Payments CESOP and improvements in the registration of effective beneficiaries is also planned. (Houses of parliament)
13:30: The Scientific Committee holds a current debate with Minister Martin Polaschek. With a partisan bill, the five parliamentary groups demand a change in sub-auspiciis promotion. Opposition concerns revolve around the reintroduction of funding for student accommodation, the end of mandatory membership of the ÖH and improvements to the grace period for university admission. (Parliament, Ludwig Wittgenstein Local 5)
2 pm: The Minister of the Interior, Gerhard Karner, is available to members of the Human Rights Committee for a debate on the subject. The remainder of the agenda is not finalized yet. (Houses of parliament)
2 pm: The environment commission only discusses the demands of the opposition. These are CO2 pricing, introducing a climate protection law or climate transparency, environmentally friendly freight transport, sewage sludge, food waste, and waterproofing surfaces. (Parliament, Bundesratsaal)
15:00.: A delegation from the Health Committee of the Czech Senate meets with the Health Committee of the Federal Council for an exchange of views. (Parliament, Local Fellerer/Wörle Meeting 6)
4 pm.: The second President of the National Council Doris Bures, together with Kovar & Partners, invites you to present the study of the current Arena Analysis in Parliament. The present is characterized by multiple crises that pose challenges to politics and society. The Arena Analysis study is therefore dedicated in 2023 to the theme “Chances in sight” and provides information on the background information and future analysis of more than 50 experts, how and where new ways of living together and working to improve society, even in times of crisis can lead. Arena analysis is a project of Kovar & Partners, the weekly newspaper DIE ZEIT and the daily newspaper DER STANDARD.
The opening words are from the second President of the National Council, Doris Bures. Arena Analysis 2023 will be hosted by Kovar & Partners Managing Partner Walter Osztovics. The next panel will include DIE ZEIT Viennese Office Head Florian Gasser, Cultural Scientist at the Institute for Social Policy at the Vienna University of Economics and Business, Judith Kohlenberger, University Professor at the Department of Economics at the Vienna University of Economics and Business and economist at the Austrian Institute for Economic Research (WIFO) Harald Oberhofer, and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of DER STANDARD Petra Stuiber. (Parliament, Elise Richter Local 2)
The event will be broadcast live from Parliament’s media library. Media representatives must register in advance at [email protected].
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
The Austria-Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus Bilateral Parliamentary Group travels to Moldova and Ukraine until 2 July.
10:00 am: The EU Committee of the Bundesrat is dealing with a Commission proposal for a directive on driving licenses and two proposed regulations. This involves ensuring a safe and sustainable supply of critical raw materials and promoting ammunition production. (Parliament, Bertha von Suttner Local 4)
12:00: Several legislative initiatives are on the agenda of the Labor and Social Affairs Commission. These include a new Federal Government Affordability Act, an amendment to the Health and Nursing Act as a further step in care reform, an amendment to the Volunteer Act, and a new regulation for parental leave. The current Advocate for Equal Opportunities for People with Disabilities annual report is also up for debate. (Parliament, Ludwig Wittgenstein Local 5)
1pm: The Judiciary Committee’s agenda includes a government bill extending the criminal law on corruption, amending the civil procedure to permanently allow video connections, and tightening the Juvenile Court Act. MEPs will also discuss the current data protection report and hold a debate with Justice Minister Alma Zadić. (Parliament, Bertha von Suttner Local 4)
2 pm: The Agriculture Committee starts with an actual debate with Minister Norbert Totschnig. The deputies will also discuss, among other things, an amendment to the Wine Law, which aims to strengthen the protection of the origin of local wines. (Parliament, Lise Meitner Local 6)
2:30 pm: Before the European Council meeting on 29-30 June, the EU Main Committee will meet. On the agenda of EU Heads of State and Government are Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the Union’s economy, security and defence, migration and external relations, in particular with China. Chancellor Karl Nehammer and EU and Constitutional Minister Karoline Edtstadler will be available to the committee. (Parliament, Erwin Schrödinger Local 1)
Thursday, June 29, 2023
09:00: The Federal Council deals with the most recent resolutions of the National Council, such as the package against child poverty and the 2023 climate bonus. At the beginning of the meeting, the president of the Federal Council, Günter Kovacs, makes his farewell speech, as mayor of states will switch from Burgenland to Carinthia on July 1st. There is also a current hour with Federal Minister of Education, Science and Research Martin Polaschek. (Parliament, Bundesratsaal)
National Council and Federal Council meetings are broadcast live on Parliament’s media library and are available as video on demand.
09:30 am: The Transport Committee meets once. Another part of the so-called speeder package with the possibility of confiscating the vehicle in extreme cases of speeding is on the agenda. (Houses of parliament)
10:00 am: The EU subcommittee of the National Council deals with the Commission’s proposed regulations and directives on financial matters. For example, these are the requirements for the
Member States’ fiscal frameworks to speed up and clarify the excessive deficit procedure and effective coordination of economic policies and multilateral fiscal surveillance. A communication on the new action plan “A union of capital markets for people and companies” is also on the agenda. (Parliament, Lise Meitner Local 6)
10:30 am: The Presidential Conference sets the agendas for the last regular plenary sessions of the 2022-23 session. More information can be found in the “TOP on the National Council” broadcast of parliamentary correspondence. (Parliament, Presidential Room)
11:30 am: This time, hearings on selected petitions and citizens’ initiatives will take place in the Committee on Petitions, invited by experts. (Parliament, Ludwig Wittgenstein Local 5)
2:15 pm: The President of the National Council, Wolfgang Sobotka, receives the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for an exchange of ideas in Parliament. (parliament, reception hall)
15:00.: Members of the Citizens’ Initiatives and Petitions Committees of the National Council and the German Bundestag meet for a debate. (Parliament, Elise Richter Local 2)
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NOTE: Current dates can be found on Parliament’s online calendar. Media workers must register for filming and photo shoots in advance at [email protected].
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