2023-05-31 18:16:04
Top-class talk show with Edtstadler, Totschnig, Stelzer, Ludwig, Luger, Riedl, Schiller and Hubert von Goisern
Bad Ischl/Vienna (OTS/RK) – After the ceremonial opening by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, a top-class panel discussion took place with Constitutional Minister Karoline Edtstadler, Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig, Governor Thomas Stelzer, City Association President Michael Ludwig, City Association Vice President Klaus Luger (Linz), Municipal Association President Alfred Riedl, Mayoress Ines Schiller (Bad Ischl) and world musician Hubert von Goisern about the biggest challenges currently facing cities and communities – moderated by Günther Madlberger from the ORF regional studio in Upper Austria.
Demands on the fiscal equalization 2024: “more cash”
The Mayor of Linz and Vice President of the Association of Cities Klaus Luger referred to the current financial equalization negotiations: “We are massively confronted with urbanization and ecological conversion – we are also challenged by the education sector, digitization and the expansion of public transport. In all these areas we need investments and structurally improved financial equalization. Our tasks have increased, the pressure is higher. If you want us to solve the tasks, we simply need more cash!”
Association of Cities President Michael Ludwig emphasized: “We will exhaust all possibilities to relieve the pressure on people and to curb inflation. The federal government must also accommodate the cities and municipalities. That is why we are calling for a vertical distribution of funds.”
Cities and municipalities, regions and Europe
Minister of Agriculture Norbert Totschnig strategically focused on three priorities: on the one hand on services of general interest, on the other hand on strong regions that also create jobs and finally on sustainability and food production, keyword soil protection. He announced a dialogue platform and a new “Leader” funding track with additional impetus for cooperation, because “We know that if the regions are doing better, the cities are doing better too.”
Minister of Constitution Karoline Edtstadler spoke about the initiative of the EU local councilors: “Europe is not in Strasbourg and not in Brussels, Europe is where people have concerns. Therefore, it is also about networking and knowing how to collect funds. Because without money the community doesn’t work, and without the community the state doesn’t work.”
Capital of Culture 2024 as an opportunity
The mayor of Bad Ischl emphasized that collecting money is also essential in culture Ines Schiller: “Culture is encounter and we need it, we experienced that during the Corona pandemic. But we also need the necessary money for this. As the Capital of Culture 2024, we want to be a flagship project for the whole of Austria and take our chance.”
world musician Hubert von Goisern about the future Capital of Culture 2024: “It’s a big task, not just an opportunity. You have to want to be a capital of culture. Of course there is a headwind, but as a sailor I say: sailing upwind is much more exciting than downwind.”
women and child care
“Politics will be better if there are more women in politics,” encouraged the mayor Ines Schiller women to go into politics. minister Edtstadler agreed with her: “Both perspectives are needed, also in politics.” Schiller continued: “It’s not always easy for a woman in this office. To achieve this, 80 percent of women have to combine work and childcare.”
governor Thomas Stelzer emphasized on this subject: “Childcare is an area where we still need to improve, but it is also a personnel issue. In Upper Austria, we negotiated a package with the trade union to improve the general conditions, such as group sizes. The image is important: being a kindergarten teacher is a job for the future!”
Personnel issues are also Association of Municipalities President Alfred Riedl one concern: “In order to reduce the shortage of skilled workers and attract the best minds, cities and communities must create better framework conditions, make jobs more attractive and use structures better.”
The further program of the city day
On the second day of the 72nd Cities Day, on June 1st, the program will be continued in four working groups on “Building Culture”, “Climate and Budget”, “Rethinking Personnel” and “Municipal Crisis Management”.
On Friday June 2nd a prominent panel discussion under moderator Clarissa Stadler will explore the extent to which art and culture can be pull factors for a region.
On the podium: EU MP Hannes Heide, writer Edith Kneifl, actor Cornelius Obonya, cabaret artist and actor Robert Palfrader, singer-songwriter Ina Regen, Elisabeth Schweeger, artistic director of the European Capital of Culture Bad Ischl-Salzkammergut 2024, and Gregor Seberg, actor, cabaret artist and author.
For the video to watch, the live stream of the entire event and more information go to www.staedtetag.at
Ongoing current Photos ( of the Association of Towns/Markus Wache) for download at:
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(Forts.)
Questions & contact:
Elisabeth Hirt, Austrian Association of Cities
Tel.: 0676 8118 89990
elisabeth.hirt@staedtebund.gv.at
Katharina Kunz, Austrian Association of Cities
Tel.: 0676 8118 89983
katharina.kunz@staedtebund.gv.at
Florian Weis, Press and Information Service of the City of Vienna
Tel.: 0676 8118 81255
florian.weis@wien.gv.at
Teresa Stana, Bad Ischl Municipal Office – Office of the Mayoress
Tel.: +43 6132 301 1114
tstana@stadtamt-badischl.at
1685587918
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