The Hon. Reinhold Lopatka

Former Prime Minister of Slovenia; Member of the European ParliamentMember of the Austrian National Council

Biographie

  • Place and date of birth: Vorau, Austria, 27.1.1960
  • Citizenship: Austrian
  • Marital status: married, father of three sons

Reinhold Lopatka was born on 27 January, 1960, in the Styrian town of Vorau. He studied law and theology at Karl-Franzens-University in Graz, where he earned his PhD in 1982, passing with distinction in all subjects (magna cum laude).
After finishing military service,  he worked  from 1983  – 1989 as an assistant  professor (lecturer) at the Law Department of Karl-Franzens-University. He was chairman of  the Styrian branch of the youth wing of the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) from 1983 to 1991, and deputy chairman of the national branch of the youth wing of the ÖVP from 1984 to 1990.

In September 1986, Lopatka was elected as youngest member to the Styrian legislature assembly, and re-elected in 1991, 1995 and 2000. In November 2000, he was unanimously elected caucus chairman in Styria. From 2003 until 2007, he was a Member of Parliament and Secretary General of the Austrian People’s Party.

From 2007 to 2008, Reinhold Lopatka held the position of a State Secretary of Sport within the Federal Chancellery. He was chairman of the organising committee of the European Football Championship (EURO 2008), which took place in Austria and Switzerland. From 2008 to 2011, he was State Secretary within the Federal Ministry of Finance, where he was responsible for international financial institutions and customs matters. From 2012 to 2013 he was State Secretary in the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs. From December 2013 to November 2017 he was Chairman of the parliamentary group of the Austrian People’s Party. He is spokesman for European and Foreign Affairs. He served also as Vice-Chairman of the Austrian People´s Party from 2014 to 2017.

Reinhold Lopatka has three sons and is a passionate marathon runner (more than 95 full marathons). In addition to other positions, since 2004 he has been Vice-Chairman of the Styrian People´s Party and Vice-President of the Political Academy of the Austrian People's Party. Since 2010, he has also been President of the Austrian-Australian Society, President of the Institute for Environment – Peace – Development and Vice-President of the Austrian Sports Federation for the disabled, as well as auditor of the European People’s party (EPP).

www.lopatka.at

"The Austrian Social Partnership: a Role Model for Global Collaboration"

A Keynote Address by The Hon. Reinhold Lopatka (Member of the Austrian National Council; spokesman of the Austrian People´s Party for European & Foreign Affairs)
The Annual Conference on Cultural Diplomacy 2017
"Promoting Global Collaboration, Unity and Peace through Cultural Diplomacy"
(Berlin; December 19th - 22nd, 2017)