• 1Heart of Europa
  • 1.1More Information
  • 1.2On the Map
• 2Institutions, Organisations, Projects
• 3Transport
  • 3.1Trans-European Transport Network
  • 3.2Motorways
  • 3.3Train Connections
  • 3.4History of Railway Network
• 4Culture
  • 4.1European Capitals of Culture
  • 4.2Theatrescu
  • 4.3European Cultural News
• 6United States, Aurel Popovici 1906
• 7Historical regions
• 8Imperium Romanum

Conference on the Future of Europe

The Conference on the Future of Europe is a unique and timely opportunity for European citizens to debate on Europe’s challenges and priorities. The European Parliament, the Council and the European Commission have committed to listen to Europeans and to follow up, within their sphere of competences, on the recommendations made. By spring 2022, the Conference is expected to reach conclusions and provide guidance on the future of Europe.
Who can take part?
European citizens, from all walks of life and corners of the Union. European, national, regional and local authorities, as well as civil society and other organisations who want to organise events and contribute ideas.

Conference on the Future of Europe

Did you know?

AEIOU

AEIOU (A.E.I.O.U.) is a historical motto of Frederick III (Holy Roman Emperor, 15th century)
Frederick started using his motto when he was Duke of Styria. It is not known what exactly was meant by it, most of the countless interpretations in Latin or German refer to "Austria". The five-letter abbreviation is still found today on various buildings (for example the Castle of Wiener Neustadt in the south of Vienna which houses the Military Academy)
Heart of Europa proposes a present-day interpretation:

All Europa Is One Unity

Josefstadt - Iosefin - Jószefváros

Josefstadt is a district in the city of Vienna, Austria (8. Bezirk). There is also a district Iosefin in the west-romanian town Timişoara, Romania and a district Jószefváros in Budapest, Hungary (VIII kerület). The names date back to emperor Joseph II. The three districts maintain a partnership.

In March 2019 Asociaţia Culturală Salvaţi Patrimoniul Timişoarei (Association for the Salvage of Cultural Heritage Temesvar) organised the photo exposition Iosefin - Die Josefstadt von Temesvar in cooperation with Österreichisch-Rumänische Gesellschaft (Austrian Romanian Society).

300 years brewing tradition in Temesvar, RO

In 2018, the local brewery in Temesvar, Romania (Fabrica de bere) celebrated its 300 years anniversary. In 1718, 2 years after Prince Eugene of Savoy, general of the Imperial Army, had conquered back the fortress of Timisoara from Ottoman occupation the brewery was established in connection with the improvment of infrastructure for water supply (hot water boilers). Today, the brewery is part of an international brewing empire.

Pannonia & Dacia

Pannonia and Dacia were provinces in the Roman Empire which existed from the 1st to 5th century and 2nd to 3rd century, respectively. Pannonia covered the western part of modern Hungary (west of river Danube), Dacia corresponds to the region of Transylvania, Romania, reaching southwards to the river Danube. The names of both provinces survived until today and are popular in tourism and they are also frequently used in other domains such as geography or transportation. There are the 'Pannonian basin' and 'Pannonian climate'. In general the name ist frequently used in tourism both in Hungary and in the Austrian province "Burgenland". Dacia is the name of an auto brand, the night train D347 from Vienna to Bucharest is called "Dacia Express" and in Romania it is a popular oppinion that the Romanian nation has its ancient roots in Dacia. The landmark Hotel Dacia in the town of Satu Mare, northwest Romania, was previously named Pannónia when the region belonged to Hungary.

Hotel Dacia, Satu Mare in 3/2019, desperately waiting for renovation

In the News

Mura-Drava-Danube 5-countries biosphere reserve

Mura-Drava-Danube 5-countries biosphere reserve

In September 2021 UNESCO declared the Mura-Drava-Danube river system as 5-countries biosphere reserve. The respective region is entirely situated in the Heart of Europa, it stretches from Austria via Slovenia, Croatia and Hungary to Serbia. 13 protected areas of various size and composition (national parks, reservations, Natura 2000 sites) form the biosphere network with a length of 700km and a total size of 930.000 hectares.

Danubian Limes becomes UNESCO World Heritage site

Danubian Limes in Austria and Slovakia

On July 30, 2021, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee decided to add the western part of the Danubian Limes to the list of World Heritage Sites. "Limes" is the modern term for the military frontier of the Roman Empire. The Danubian Limes, or "wet" limes, stretched from Bavaria to the Black Sea. The site was nominated by Austria, Germany and Slovakia. Originally, Hungary was also a partner in the nomination process but decided later to withdraw from the partnership. The Danubian Limes is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage project "Frontiers of the Roman Empire".

derstandard.at - Donaulimes mit Österreich-Abschnitt zum Weltkulturerbe erklärt

spectator.sme.sk - Another UNESCO world heritage site in Slovakia dates back to the Roman Empire

hang.hu - A magyar szakasz nélkül is világörökségi védettséget kap a dunai limes

"Vindobona" train returns to Franz Joseph Railway

31 March, 2021, Lower Austria. Between 1957 and 1992 this representative fast train connected the capitals Vienna, Prague and Berlin in the Heart of Europa, following the historic route of Franz Jospeh Railway. Starting in December 2022, there could be a revival of this direct, important connection. Technical and organisational requirements are under investigation.

Train Vindobona
© Büro LR Schleritzko/Wolfgang Andraschek

noen.at - "Vindobona" vor Rückkehr auf die Franz-Josefs-Bahn? (german)

Flavia Solva Discovery

8 March, 2021, Styria, Flavia Solva. Explorations in the area of the Roman city Flavia Solva in Styrian district Leibnitz have revealed new historical details. An almost 2 kilometer long moat once protected the settlement. Hence, Flavia Solva must have been larger than previously assumed and a flourishing Roman centre. For many decades archaeologists suspected the existance of such a moat, now these speculations were proven right.

meinbezirk.at - Sensationelle Neuentdeckung im Reich Flavia Solva (german)

C5 Foreign Ministers agree upon coordination at regular intervals

15 September, 2020. Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia intend to coordinate their activities in the fight against Corona virus at regular intervals. This was agreed upon by the Foreign Ministers of these C5 countries at their meeting in Brdo near Kranj, Slovenia.
"The centraleuropean economic space can move forward and act as a model, independently from discussions going on in Brussels", said Austrian foreign minister Schallenberg at a joint press conference after the meeting. The ministers proposed unified criteria for travel restrictions at EU level.
"In Europa, we are facing a second wave. Therefore, tight cooperation is essential", said Schallenberg, referring to this informal initiative of the five countries. "The common goal is to avoid getting into a situation like in March and April". The foreign ministers agreed upon regular contacts at the level of secretaries general, in order to coordinate national Corona virus measures.

orf.at - C5-Außenminister vereinbaren regelmäßige Koordinierung (german)
sta.si - Zunanji ministri C5 za redno usklajevanje ukrepov za zajezitev koronavirusa (slovenian)

30th Anniversary - Destruction of the Iron Curtain

On June 27, 1989 the so-called Iron Curtain which divided the Heart of Europa in two halves for several decades was opened by Hungarian and Austrian foreign ministers in a symbolic act (cutting of the fence) near the city of Sopron/Ödenburg. This historic event was commemorated by both foreign ministers of the two EU-memberstates and the Head of federal country Burgenland at the very same location which is marked today by a commemorative boundary stone.

Foreign ministers Schallenberg and Szijjártó and Governor Doskozil meeting at the "Grenzstein"
Source: Landesmedienservice Burgenland

Treffen am Grenzstein zum Fall des Eisernen Vorhangs, www.burgenland.at, 27.6.2019 (german)