Elisabeth Köstinger

Elisabeth Köstinger
Minister of Sustainability and Tourism
Assumed office
18 December 2017
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz
Preceded by Andrä Rupprechter
President of the National Council
In office
9 November 2017 – 18 December 2017
Preceded by Doris Bures
Succeeded by Wolfgang Sobotka
Member of the European Parliament
In office
14 July 2009 – 8 November 2017
Constituency Austria
Personal details
Born (1978-11-22) 22 November 1978
Wolfsberg, Carinthia
Political party People's Party

Elisabeth Köstinger (born 22 November 1978) is an Austrian politician and since December 2017 Minister for Sustainability and Tourism. From 9 November 2017 to 18 December 2017, she was President of Austria's National Council. She was a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Austria between 2009 and 2017. She is a member of the Austrian People's Party, part of the European People's Party. Furthermore Köstinger is vice-president of the Austrian Farmers Association, vice-chair of the Political Academy of the Austrian People's Party, president of “wald.zeit Österreich – Plattform für Waldkommunikation”, a platform for forest communication as well as vice-president of “Ökosoziales Forum” Austria and president of “Ökosoziales Forum” Europe. Since May 2017 she is secretary general of the Austrian People's Party.

Education and career

  • Freelance professional - communication sector (2003-2009)
  • Assisted at the Kärnten District Health Insurance Fund (1999-2003)
  • Studied journalism, communication and applied cultural studies at the University of Klagenfurt (2003) - Köstinger did not finish her studies due to her commitments as MEP
  • HBLA (College for Occupation in Service Industries Management) in Wolfsberg, Carinthia (1994-1998)
  • Secondary School in St. Paul, Carinthia (1990-1994)
  • Primary School in Granitztal (1986-1990)
  • Completed the AufZaQ course of the Austrian Rural Youth Organisation
  • Completed the EDUCA course of the Austrian Young Farmers' Organisation

Political career

Member of the European Parliament

Köstinger has been a Member of the European Parliament since the 2009 European elections, she has been re-elected at the European Parliamet election of 2014. Since 2011 Köstinger is vice-chair and general manager of the Austrian People’s Party Delegation in the European Parliament.)She sits on the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) and the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM). Köstinger is also a substitute and vice spokeswoman of the European People's Party (EPP) of the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI). In addition, she is vice-chair of the Delegation to the EU-Armenia, EU-Azerbaijan and EU-Georgia Parliamentary Cooperation Committees, a member of the Delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly and also a substitute of the Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.

Role in national politics

At national level Köstinger is a member of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP).

  • Head, Granitztal local group of the Rural Youth Organisation (1995-1997)
  • District head, Wolfsberg section of the Rural Youth Organisation (1997-2001)
  • Regional head, Kärnten section of the Rural Youth Organisation (2001-2002)
  • Federal head, Austrian Rural Youth Organisation (2002-2006)
  • Delegate of the Austrian Rural Youth Organisation to the European Council of Young Farmers – CEJA (2003-2005)
  • Federal head, Austrian Young Farmers' Association (2007-2012)
  • Vice-chair of the Austrian Farmers' Federation (since 2009)
  • President of ‘wald.zeit Österreich’ (since 2012) [1]
  • President of the Ecosocial Forum Europe (since 2014)[2]
  • Vice-chair of the Political Academy of the Austrian People's Party (since 2015) [3]
  • Secretary general of the Austrian People’s Party (since May 2017)

Recognition

On 18 March 2014, Köstinger was awarded with the MEP Award in the category of Agriculture and Rural Development.[4] She has been nominated for her “very professional manner” during the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which she “mastered” as shadow rapporteur.

Personal life

Köstinger is unmarried and lives in St. Paul, Carinthia.In July 2018 she gave birth to a son.

References

  1. ↑ | Elisabeth Köstinger becomes President of Wald.Zeit Austria (Article in German) | Österreichischer Agrarverlag| 13 June 2012 |
  2. ↑ | Elisabeth Köstinger becomes President of the Ecosocial Forum Europe (Article in German) | Austria Press Agency| 29 October 2014 |
  3. ↑ | Mitterlehner questioning 'Mindestsicherung' (Article in German) | Der Standard| 06 July 2015
  4. ↑ | MEP Award Winner (Article in German) | Austria Press Agency| 19 March 2014 |
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