The general assembly of the NEOS Lab elected a new board for the pink party academy on August 19, 2024. EU MP Helmut Brandstätter takes over the NEOS Lab presidency from the Lower Austrian NEOS state spokeswoman and parliamentary group leader Indra Collini.
Helmut Brandstätter, as the new NEOS MEP, also wants to use the handover to “bring Europe to Austria”. The central pillars of the lab, academy and think tank, are to be strengthened: “The NEOS Lab does not see itself as a closed, introverted cadre factory, but has been actively established by Indra Collini over the past five years as an open laboratory for all citizens , which is dedicated to exchange, lifelong learning and improving discourse. I will continue this great work. A liberal democracy thrives on open dialogue – at all levels. Especially now, when our democracy is under pressure from within from nationalists like Le Pen and Orbán and from outside by despots like Putin, it is our task to clearly stand up for a common Europe and liberal democracy. We want to convey to the people in Austria what concrete advantages the EU offers them.”
As a party academy and think tank, the NEOS Lab has the mission of political education work in order to better convey to all Austrian citizens through training and publications how the political system – from the local council to the European Commission – works and how everyone can get involved . The pink think tank also publishes policy briefs and papers, particularly in the areas of economics, education, Europe and the rule of law. Its educational mission in the spirit of a strong liberal democracy also includes the “Speech to Freedom” event series, which has become a trademark of the NEOS Lab at least since the appearance of the liberal Estonian politician and new EU foreign policy representative Kaja Kallas.
The newly elected NEOS Lab board consists of:
- Helmut Brandstätter (NEOS Lab President)
- Beate Meinl-Reisinger (President Deputy)
- Andreas Köb (cashier)
- Claudia Gamon (Secretary)
- Christoph Wiederkehr (another board member)
- Martina Künsberg Sarre (another board member)
- Friedhelm Frischenschlager (another board member)
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