Erhard Busek is a politician

Politician

A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...

 from the Christian

Christian

A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...

-conservative

Conservatism

Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...

 People's Party

Austrian People's Party

The Austrian People's Party is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Austria. A successor to the Christian Social Party of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it is similar to the Christian Democratic Union of Germany in terms of ideology...

 (ÖVP

OVP

OVP is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:*The Office of the Vice President of the United States*The Office of the Vice President of the Philippines*OVP , a light sub-machine gun developed in Italy...

). At present he is Coordinator of the South-Eastern Cooperative Initiative (SECI) and Chairman of the Institute for Danube Region and Central Europe among other things.

Busek was chief of the party and Vice-Chancellor of Austria in the coalition

Coalition

A coalition is a pact or treaty among individuals or groups, during which they cooperate in joint action, each in their own self-interest, joining forces together for a common cause. This alliance may be temporary or a matter of convenience. A coalition thus differs from a more formal covenant...

 of the Social Democratic Party of Austria

Social Democratic Party of Austria

The Social Democratic Party of Austria is one of the oldest political parties in Austria. The SPÖ is one of the two major parties in Austria, and has ties to trade unions and the Austrian Chamber of Labour. The SPÖ is among the few mainstream European social-democratic parties that have preserved...

 with the People's Party between 1991–1995 and was an important reformer of the Austrian Universities

University

A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...

. From January 2002 until June 2008 Busek served as Special Co-ordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe

Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe

The Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe was an institution aimed at strengthening peace, democracy, human rights and economy in the countries of South Eastern Europe from 1999-2008. It was replaced by the Regional Co-operation Council in February 2008...

, the final person to hold the position.

Career overview

Dr. Erhard Busek was born in Vienna, Austria, on 25 March 1941. He received his law degree from the University of Vienna

University of Vienna

The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...

 in 1963. During his studies, he also served as Chairman of the Austrian Youth Council. He is a Roman Catholic. He was a Boy Scout

Boy Scout

A Scout is a boy or a girl, usually 11 to 18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split this age group into a junior and a senior section...

 in his youth.

He began his professional career in 1964 as legal adviser to the association of the parliamentarians of the Austrian People’s Party. He then served as Secretary General of the Austrian Federation for Trade and Commerce (1968–1975). In 1975 he was appointed Secretary General of the Austrian People’s Party and was elected Member of Parliament later that year. Erhard Busek gained additional experience in administration between 1968-1976 while with a publishing firm in the economic field. In 1976 Busek entered municipal politics. He was City Councilor and was elected Deputy-Mayor of Vienna in 1978, a position he held until 1987. He was appointed Minister for Science and Research in April 1989. From 1994 until May 1995 Busek was Minister for Education. He was elected Chairman of the Austrian People’s Party in 1991 and served as Vice-Chancellor of Austria from 1991 to 1995. In early 2000 Busek was appointed as Special Representative of the Austrian Government on EU-Enlargement. He served in that position until December 2001.

Busek has delivered many lectures on domestic and foreign topics and has participated in many conferences in Austria and abroad. He is Dr. hc. of the Universities of Kraków, of Bratislava, of Brasov and Czernowitz, of Liberec and of Webster-St. Louis University Vienna. He is Rector of the University of Applied Sciences Salzburg, Visiting Professor at Duke University, NC, USA, and at the University of Agriculture in Vienna. He is also teaching at the University Innsbruck and the University of Vienna. In addition his lectures are planned to be involved in the teaching programme of the Vienna University of Technology (Technische Universität Wien) and the University of Belgrade

University of Belgrade

The University of Belgrade is the oldest and largest university of Serbia.Founded in 1808 as the Belgrade Higher School in revolutionary Serbia, by 1838 it merged with the Kragujevac-based departments into a single university...

, Serbia, too.

From January 2002 until June 2008 Busek served as Special Co-ordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe

Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe

The Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe was an institution aimed at strengthening peace, democracy, human rights and economy in the countries of South Eastern Europe from 1999-2008. It was replaced by the Regional Co-operation Council in February 2008...

. Furthermore he is the Coordinator of the Southeast European Cooperative Initiative

Southeast European Cooperative Initiative

The Southeast European Cooperative Initiative, or the SECI, has been an initiative that, under the auspices of men like Erhard Busek and Richard Schifter, has been successful in providing stability in an unstable region and has found support in international organizations and countries...

 (SECI); Chairman of the “Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe” and President of the European Forum Alpbach

European Forum Alpbach

The European Forum Alpbach is an annual event that takes place in August in the Tyrolean village of Alpbach, Austria. Similar to the World Economic Forum in Davos, politicians, academics, students, and decision makers from all areas come together to discuss and brainstorm new ideas and solutions to...

.

He also has received awards and decorations from Poland, Hungary, Italy, Bulgaria, Liechtenstein, Romania, the Czech Republic and Slovenia. He is Honourer Senator of the Medical University of Innsbruck and is laureate of the Corvinus-Price of the "Europa Institut Budapest".

Since 2008, Busek agreed to advise the Economic Initiative for Kosovo

Economic Initiative for Kosovo

ECIKS is a non-profit organization aiming to support a sustainable long-term economic development in Kosovo and the regional economic cooperation....

 in promoting foreign direct investment

Foreign direct investment

Foreign direct investment or foreign investment refers to the net inflows of investment to acquire a lasting management interest in an enterprise operating in an economy other than that of the investor.. It is the sum of equity capital,other long-term capital, and short-term capital as shown in...

s in Kosovo

Kosovo

Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...

.

He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy

Institute for Cultural Diplomacy

The Institute for Cultural Diplomacy is an international, not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation based in Berlin. Founded in 1999 by Mark Donfried, its activities focus on promoting and developing the field of cultural diplomacy by conducting research, initiatives and programs, holding...

.

Current positions

He is currently:

• Visiting Professor of the Practice of Public Policy Studies at Duke University
• Chairman of the Institute for the Danube and Central Europe
• Chairman of the European Forum Alpbach
  European Forum Alpbach
  The European Forum Alpbach is an annual event that takes place in August in the Tyrolean village of Alpbach, Austria. Similar to the World Economic Forum in Davos, politicians, academics, students, and decision makers from all areas come together to discuss and brainstorm new ideas and solutions to...
  
  
• Co-Chair of the Commission on Radio and Television Policy: Central and Eastern Europe
• Member of the European Council on Tolerance and Reconciliation
  European Council on Tolerance and Reconciliation
  The European Council on Tolerance and Reconciliation was established in Paris, France on October 7, 2008 to monitor tolerance in Europe...
  
  
• Member of the Committee on Education in the European Union
• Co-ordinator of the Southeast European Co-operative Initiative (SECI), a project created in 1996 to enhance stability in Southeastern Europe through the development of economic and environmental co-operation
• Rector of Salzburg University of Applied Sciences, Austria

Every year Busek and Oliver Vujovic

Oliver Vujovic

Oliver Vujovic or Oliver Vujović, , also in some sources written Oliver Vujović, is the Secretary General of the South East Europe Media Organisation - officially written South East Europe Media Organisation, and a former journalist.* 2000 - Present: Secretary General of the South East Europe...

, SEEMO Secretary General, award the annual Erhard Busek SEEMO Award for Better Understanding in South East Europe, in collaboration with the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) in Vienna.

Biography

2002 - 2008: Special Co-Coordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe

2000 - 2001: Special Representative of the Austrian Government for the Enlargement of the European Union

1996–Present: Coordinator - Southeast European Cooperative Initiative

Southeast European Cooperative Initiative

The Southeast European Cooperative Initiative, or the SECI, has been an initiative that, under the auspices of men like Erhard Busek and Richard Schifter, has been successful in providing stability in an unstable region and has found support in international organizations and countries...

(SECI)

1995–Present: Chairman - Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM)

1991-1995 Vice Chancellor - Republic of Austria
Chairman - Austrian People’s Party

1994-1995 Minister for Education

1989-1994 Minister for Science and Research

1978-1987 Deputy Mayor and City Councillor - City of Vienna

1976-1989 Chairman - Vienna’s People’s Party

1976-1978 Member of Parliament

1975-1976 General Secretary - Austrian People’s Party

1972-1976 General Secretary - Austrian Federal of Trade and Commerce

1964-1968 Secretary of the Parliament of the Austrian National Council

As of 1989 Collaboration with Transforming Economies

Before 1989 Engagement with Democratic and Dissident movements in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and the Former East Germany.

1959-1963 Doctor of Law, University of Vienna, Faculty of Law

1959 High School Degree, Vienna, Austria

Books

• "Die unvollende Republik", Vienna (1968)
• "Demokratiekritik - Demokratiereform" (1969), together with G. Wilflinger;
• "Urbanisierung" (1970), Busek et al.
• "Qualitative Marktwirtschaft" (1975), together with Ch. Festa and I. Görner
• "Wien - ein bürgerliches Credo", Vienna (1978);
• „Die kranken Riesen – Krise des Zentralismus“ Franz Deuticke Verlag (1981);
• "Mut zum aufrechten Gang", Vienna (1983)
• "Sprache und Phantasie - Ein Gespräch zwischen Wissenschaft und Politik", Editor E. Busek and M. Peterlik, Verlag für Geschichte und Politik, Vienna (1984)
• „Projekt Mitteleuropa“, together with E. Brix, C. Ueberreuter (Wien 1986);
• „Aufbruch nach Mitteleuropa“ together with G. Wilflinger, Edition Atelier (Wien 1986);
• „Wissenschaft, Ethik und Politik“ together with M. Peterlik, Verlag für Geschichte und Politik (Wien 1987);
• „Wissenschaft und Freiheit – Ideen zu Universität und Universalität“ together with W. Mantl und M. Peterlik, Verlag für Geschichte und Politik (1989);
• Editor of „Brücken in die Zukunft – Weltausstellung Wien-Budapest 1995“, Edition Atelier (1989);
• „Heimat – Politik mit Sitz im Leben“, Braintrust Verlag (1994);
• „Mensch im Wort“ Edition Atelier (1994);
• „Mitteleuropa – Eine Spurensicherung“, Verlag Kremayr & Scheriau (1997);
• „Politik am Gängelband der Medien“ Verlag Jugend & Volk (1998);
• „Österreich und der Balkan – Vom Umgang mit dem Pulverfaß Europas“, Verlag Molden (1999);
• „Die EU-Präsidentschaft Österreichs. Eine umfassende Analyse und Dokumentation des zweiten Halbjahres 1998. Ergebnisse - Bewertungen – Schlussfolgerungen“, Alexander Schallenberg und Christoph Thun-Hohenstein, Herausgeber der Schriftenreihe: Herbert Batliner und Erhard Busek, MANZ-Verlag Wien 1999.
• Editor with Carl Baudenbacher „Europa im Zeitalter der Globalisierung – Vorträge des 1. DDr. Herbert Batliner Symposiums“, Manz Verlag (2000);
• "Eine Reise ins Innere Europas - Protokoll eines Österreichers", Wieser Verlag (2001);
• Editor together with Baudenbacher „Europa und die Globalisierung – Referate des Zweiten Wiener Globalisierungssymposiums 10. und 11. Mai 2001 “ Verlag Österreich Wien 2002;
• „Drinnen oder draußen? Die öffentliche österreichische EU-Beitrittsdebatte vor der Volksabstimmung 1994“, Franz Heschl, Herausgeber der Schriftenreihe: Herbert Batliner und Erhard Busek, Böhlau-Verlag Wien 2002.
• „Paradigmenwechsel im Völkerrecht zur Jahrtausendwende. Beiträge zu aktuellen Völkerrechtsfragen“, Waldemar Hummer, Herausgeber der Schriftenreihe: Herbert Batliner und Erhard Busek, MANZ-Verlag Wien 2002.
• „Eine europäische Erregung. Die "Sanktionen" der Vierzehn gegen Österreich im Jahr 2000“, Hrsg. v. Erhard Busek und Martin Schauer, Böhlau-Verlag Wien 2003
• Editor with Carl Baudenbacher „Europa und die Globalisierung – Referate des Dritten Wiener Globalisierungssymposiums 16. und 17. Mai 2002 “ Verlag Österreich;
• „Offenes Tor nach Osten“, Molden Verlag (2003);
• „Die Europäische Union auf dem Weg nach Osten“ Erhard Busek together with Werner Mikulitsch, Wieser Verlag (2003),
• Editor with Abfalter „Kultur und Wirtschaft“, Studien Verlag (2003);
• „Europa und die Globalisierung IV. Referate des Vierten Wiener Globalisierungs-Symposiums“, Hrsg. v. Carl Baudenbacher und Erhard Busek, Verlag Österreich Wien 2004.
• Editor together with Hummer „Aspekte der Globalisierung – Terrorbekämpfung, Steuerwettbewerb, Gentechnik – Referate des Fünften Globalisierungs-Symposiums 13.-14. Mai 2004";
• „Etappen am Weg zu einer Europäischen Verfassung.“, Hrsg. v. Erhard Busek und Waldemar Hummer, Böhlau-Verlag Wien 2004.
• „Der Europäische Konvent und sein Ergebnis. Eine Europäische Verfassung“, Hrsg. v. Erhard Busek und Waldemar Hummer, Böhlau-Verlag Wien 2004.
• „Alpenquerender und inneralpiner Transitverkehr“, Hrsg. v. Erhard Busek und Waldemar Hummer, LIT-Verlag Wien 2005.
• „Tabubruch. Österreichs Entscheidung für die Europäische Union“, Von Manfred Scheich, Herausgeber der Schriftenreihe: Herbert Batliner und Erhard Busek, Böhlau-Verlag Wien 2005.
• „Aspekte der Globalisierung. Terrorbekämpfung, Steuerwettbewerb, Gentechnik. Referate des Fünften Wiener Globalisierungs-Symosiums“, Hrsg. v. Carl Baudenbacher und Erhard Busek, Verlag Österreich Wien 2005.
• „Der Kleinstaat als Akteur in den Internationalen Beziehungen“, Hrsg. v. Erhard Busek und Waldemar Hummer, Verlag der Liechtensteinischen Akademischen Gesellschaft 2005
• Editor together with Baudenbacher „Aspekte der Globalisierung - Beiträge des 6. Wiener Globalisierungssymposiums : Islam – Medien – Migration – Gentechnik * Referate des Sechsten Globalisierungssymposiums 2.-3. Juni 2005 “ Verlag Österreich Wien 2006;
• “10 Years Southeast European Cooperative Initiative. From Dayton to Brussels”, Hrsg. v. Erhard Busek, SpringerWienNewYork 2006.
• „Die Konstitutionalisierung der Verbandsgewalt in der (neuen) Europäischen Union. Rechtliche, politische und ökonommische Konsequenzen der neuen Verfassung der EU“, Hrsg. v. Erhard Busek und Waldemar Hummer, Böhlau Wien 2006.
• „Aspekte der Globalisierung. Beiträge des 6. Wiener Globalisierungssymposiums“. Hrsg. v. Carl Baudenbacher und Erhard Busek, Verlag Österreich Wien 2006.
• „Zu wenig, zu spät – Europa braucht ein besseres Krisenmanagement“, Edition Körber-Stiftung (2007)
• Editor together with Batliner „Zentraleuropäische Präsidententreffen. Mitteleuropa mit Klestil am Runden Tisch“, Tobias Gamper, Böhlau Wien 2007
• Editor together with Batliner „Der christlich-muslimische Dialog. Voraussetzungen - Erfahrungen – Probleme“, Heinrich Schneider, Böhlau Wien 2007