On June 2018, Schladming will host a big event for its Council presidency with sending a loud and strong pro-European message to the world.“Servus” is a traditional Austrian greeting, and also an invitation to talk.
Austria will take over the presidency from Bulgaria. The next 6 months will be for Austria, in terms of European developments, a very intensive period, which will be marked, also by the negotiations on Brexit and the EU budget. The Council presidency constitutes a particular European task for Austria, both concerning the organization as well as the political programme.
Approximately 300 events will take place in Austria during its presidency; these range from informal ministerial meetings and technical conferences to expert meetings and cultural events. Austria expects some 48 000 delegates in the 6 months of their presidency.
Under the motto ‘A Europe that protects’, the main focus will also be on securing prosperity and competitiveness through digitalization, stability in the European neighborhood and security. The principle of subsidiarity is the approach that Austria will take during its presidency: the EU should concentrate on major challenges and take a step back on smaller issues where the member states are in a better position to take decisions themselves.
The city has successfully hosted many international sporting events in the past, and this time will treat the visitors with a full-day programme for free.
 Austria will take over the presidency of the Council of European Union.On June 2018, Schladming will host a huge kick-off event for its Council presidency with sending a loud and strong pro-European message to the world.“Servus”is a traditional austrian greeting, and also an invitation to talk.){kind=link}