Committees, presidential meetings, international appointments, Camillo Prize, Parliament on tour in Bregenz
Vienna (PK) – Next week, the government’s bill with stricter penalties for depictions of child abuse will be launched in the Justice Committee. Several other specialized committees also come together for meetings. The Presidential Conference sets the agenda for the October plenary. The traveling exhibition Parliament on Tour stops in Bregenz. The Parliamentary Archive begins a new series of events. Also this year, the Camillo Prize for outstanding paramedics will be presented in Parliament.
Monday, October 9, 2023
A delegation from the Austria-South Korea Bilateral Parliamentary Group, Southeast Asia, is on an official visit to South Korea.
5pm: As part of the Parliamentary Archives’ new event series “Parliament and Democracy – Yesterday and Today”, the Parliamentary Directorate, in cooperation with the Vienna City and State Archives, invites you to a round table on the occasion of the 175th anniversary of the revolutions of 1848 and the creation of the first democratic and parliamentary structures in the Habsburg Monarchy. The welcome comes from Parliamentary Director Harald Dossi, the introductory words are given by Karin Schneider from the Parliamentary Archives and Christoph Sonnlechner from the Vienna City and State Archives. The focus of the round table with historians and political scientists Birgitta Bader-Zaar (University of Vienna), Franz Leander Fillafer (Austrian Academy of Sciences), Clemens Jobst (University of Vienna) and Fabio Wolkenstein (University of Vienna) is on problems, which were publicly negotiated in 1848 – often for the first time – and which make the events and ideas of that year the reference point for democratic and social political debates to this day. (Parliament, Elise Richter Local 2)
Media representatives must register in advance for the event at [email protected].
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka is visiting Bulgaria. There he will meet with People’s Assembly Chairman Rosen Zhelyazkov, Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov and President Rumen Radev for talks.
10 a.m.: Given the uncertainties surrounding the supply of natural gas from Russia, the Committee on Economic Affairs, Energy and Industry is discussing a coalition proposal for an expansion of natural gas storage obligations. For the first time, the commission also wants to address referenda on maintaining daylight saving time, the supply chain law, the implementation of food origin labeling and food waste. In addition to the opposition’s demands, the current activity report of Energie-Control Austria and a report on Corona aid are also on the agenda (Parliament, Erwin Schrödinger Local 1)
2pm: The Human Rights Committee begins with a current debate with the Minister of Justice, Alma Zadić. A cross-party motion addresses the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. The SPÖ calls for a “right to housing” in the state constitution, the Freedom Party is in favor of statistics on child marriages and the NEOS demands a solution that complies with fundamental rights for the planned EU regulation on chat control. (Parliament, Lise Meitner Local 6)
15:00.: The Environment Committee is dealing with reports on Corona aid, as well as a brief study on the possibilities of constitutionally enshrining a fundamental right to climate protection. “Climate protection without paternalism”, the presentation of a new climate protection law and a legal basis for the removal of pollution caused by driftwood and logs are the concerns of the opposition factions being discussed. (Parliament, Ludwig Wittgenstein Local 5)
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
11am: On the agenda of the Committee on Labor and Social Affairs is a bill from the ÖVP and the Greens that aims to adapt the ASVG to the new implementation of measures. In a joint legislative initiative, the opposition calls for the expansion of the powers of disabled lawyers. Other opposition demands concern the pension system, a 4-day week and the “stop of immigration into the Austrian welfare state”. Deputies will also discuss reports on Corona aid, the work of labor inspection and community service. (Parliament, Erwin Schrödinger Local 1)
12:15 p.m.: Representatives of the Austria – Sub-Saharan Africa Bilateral Parliamentary Group meet with a delegation of representatives and senators from the Nigerian Parliament for a debate. (Theophil Hansen Local 3)
15:00.: In addition to the “anti-gender referendum”, a series of demands on the federal government are on the agenda of the Committee for Equal Treatment. This involves, for example, an information campaign on violence against women, the presentation of a national action plan against violence, the implementation of an obscure field study on violence against women and a survey on offers of protection against violence. (Parliament, Lise Meitner Local 6)
3:30 p.m.: The Transport Committee wants to launch the government’s proposal to introduce the one-day vignette. Furthermore, the toll portion will be increased to finance environmental measures and photovoltaic systems will be included in the Federal Highway Law. (Parliament, Ludwig Wittgenstein Local 5)
4 pm.: The Minister of Defense, Klaudia Tanner, answers questions from parliamentarians in a current debate at the State Defense Committee. Furthermore, the “Austrian NAUTRALITY YES” referendum is on the agenda. (Parliament, Bertha von Suttner Local 4)
18:00: The President of the National Council, Wolfgang Sobotka, and the contemporary political archives platform invite you to the presentation of the book “The Crises of Democracy” in the House of Representatives. The publication is dedicated to the crises of democracy in the interwar period, examining fascism with a focus on southern and eastern Europe and with a special emphasis on Austrian developments, using 12 studies. It is presented by one of the editors, managing director of the Association for the History of the Labor Movement, Michaela Maier. The opening words come from the President of the National Council, Wolfgang Sobotka.
Media representatives must register in advance for the book presentation at [email protected].
Thursday, October 12, 2023
10 a.m.: The Court of Auditors Committee begins with a discussion with Austria’s representative at the European Court of Auditors, Helga Berger. MPs are also closely analyzing a Court of Auditors report on COVID-19 measures for artists and the current earnings report. (Parliament, Erwin Schrödinger Local 1)
10:30 am: Nigeria’s Parliament delegation, led by Senate Minority Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, meets Federal Council President Claudia Arpa for talks. (Epstein’s Palace)
10:30 am: The Presidential Conference defines the agendas for the next plenary sessions. You can find more information in the parliamentary correspondence newsletter “TOP in the National Council”. (Parliament, Presidential Office)
13:00.: A symposium on the reform of the paramedics law is taking place in parliament, at the invitation of the President of the National Council, Wolfgang Sobotka, and the Federal Emergency Services Association. Together with experts, decision-makers and interest groups from the health system, challenges and problems are identified in three thematic blocks and approaches and strategies to make the rescue service fit for the future are discussed. The president of the Federal Council, Claudia Arpa, will give the opening words. The President of the National Council, Wolfgang Sobotka, and the Federal Minister for Social Affairs, Health, Welfare and Consumer Protection, Johannes Rauch, also have their say. The symposium ends with a panel discussion with MPs Josef Smolle (ÖVP), Mario Lindner (SPÖ), Gerhard Kaniak (FPÖ), Ralph Schallmeiner (Greens) and Fiona Fiedler (NEOS). The detailed program of the symposium can be consulted on the Parliament’s web portal. (Parliament, Elise Richter Local 2)
Media representatives must register in advance for the symposium at [email protected].
13:00.: The government’s proposal with stricter penalties for depictions of child abuse is on the Justice Committee’s agenda. In addition to ten reports on the COVID-19 crisis management fund, deputies are discussing, among other things, other government proposals. This involves increasing the remuneration of bailiffs, the implementation of an EU directive on motor third-party liability insurance legislation, and the accession of Tunisia and the Philippines to the civil convention on child abduction. (Parliament, Ludwig Wittgenstein Local 5)
2pm: The Agriculture and Forestry Committee has not yet finalized its program.
6:30 pm: The Camillo Prize for outstanding paramedics will also be presented in Parliament this year. After opening words by the President of the National Council Wolfgang Sobotka and an opening conversation with the Vice President of the Federal Association of Emergency Services (BVRD.at) and initiator of the award Clemens Kaltenberger as well as the President of the BVRD.at, Erwin Feichtelbauer, Johannes Strobel, an emergency doctor from Hamburg, will give a speech on quality in emergency services. The highlight of the night is the presentation of the Camillo Awards in seven categories. (Parliament, National Council Hall)
Media representatives must register in advance for the Camillo Prize at [email protected].
Friday, October 13, 2023
12:00: The Parliament on Tour traveling exhibition will be in Bregenz until October 31, 2023 and will be welcomed by the President of the National Council, Wolfgang Sobotka, and the Vice-President of the Vorarlberg State Parliament, Sandra Schoch. (Bregenz, corner of Kornmarktstraße/Nepomukgasse)
(final) barrel/lan
NOTE: Current dates can be consulted on Parliament’s online calendar. Media workers must register in advance for filming and photography at [email protected].
National Council and Federal Council meetings can also be followed via live streaming and are available as video on demand in the Parliament’s media library. Follow the Austrian Parliament on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or sign up for a free email subscription to Parliamentary Correspondence.
Questions and contact:
Press service of the Parliamentary Directorate
Parliamentary correspondence
Tel. +43 1 40110/2272
[email protected]
http://www.parlament.gv.at
www.facebook.com/OeParl
www.twitter.com/oeparl