Salzburg Trilogue

A photo of Liz Mohn and Austrian Chancellor Dr. Wolfgang Schüssel

Hosting the Salzburg Trilogue: Liz Mohn (left), vice-chair of the Bertelsmann Stiftung Executive Board, and Austrian Chancellor Dr. Wolfgang Schüssel

The Bertelsmann Stiftung promotes intercultural understanding by organizing high-level dialogue forums both within and beyond Europe. Held annually in conjunction with the Salzburg Festival, the Salzburg Trilogue facilitates international cultural dialogue by bringing together recognized public figures to consider matters of current importance. The event's roundtable discussion is designed to give participants from the political, business and cultural arenas the opportunity to reflect on pressing sociopolitical issues impacting life in Europe.

Originally launched by Dr. Wolfgang Schüssel, member of the Bertelsmann Stiftung Executive Board and former Austrian chancellor, the Salzburg Trilogue has been organized since 2007 in cooperation with the Austrian Ministry of European and International Affairs. Its goal is to offer a forum for discussing Europe's values in a manner that allows an open exchange of opinions, attitudes and beliefs as they relate to pressing societal issues. An interdisciplinary event that unites the usually separate and often conflicting areas of politics, business and culture, the Salzburg Trilogue brings together high-level personalities and policymakers to address the current and future challenges facing Europe and the world. Each gathering is moderated by Dr. Schüssel, with a discussion paper prepared and distributed by the Bertelsmann Stiftung in advance. Past topics include "A forward-looking mutual understanding of tolerance for Europe" (2004), "Global responsibility -- What's Europe's message?" (2005), "Asia ascendant, Europe eclipsed -- Repercussions of the Asian Century?" (2006), "Paths and pitfalls of interreligious understanding" (2007) and "Global visions -- Are we speaking a common language?" (2008). The 2009 Salzburg Trilogue is dedicated to the topic "Voices for the future -- Global crises and the human potential."