General Terms and Conditions


Of Business of the European Forum Alpbach Non-Profit Association

  • General Remarks

Established in 1945, the European Forum Alpbach is an interdisciplinary platform, which brings together the most innovative minds from politics, business, civil society, culture, science and the younger generation to engage and contribute to our mission of shaping a stronger Europe for the good of all.

We stand for a forward-looking, democratic society and our events provide inspiration for the further development of the European integration project.

The European Forum Alpbach has undertaken to help implement the UN Sustainable Development Goals and intends to enhance its audience’s awareness of them. It also maintains close partnerships with organisations that act to promote sustainability.

  • Scope/Event

We host a number of events at various locations, particularly in Vienna and in Alpbach, Tyrol. Furthermore, the EFA hosts online events. We provide our services exclusively on the basis of the following General Terms and Conditions of Business (GTCs). These apply to all legal relationships between the European Forum Alpbach and the participants, even if no explicit reference is made to them, and are equally valid for events for which the European Forum Alpbach charges a fee and those for which we do not.

We do not accept the validity of any of our event participants’ terms and conditions of business, even where we are aware of them, except in individual cases in which there is an explicit, written agreement to the contrary. We hereby expressly reject in advance any such terms and conditions of business of the participants in our events.

If individual provisions of these GTCs should become ineffective, this shall not affect the binding nature of the remaining provisions and of the agreements made on their basis. An ineffective provision must be replaced by an effective one that as closely as possible reflects its meaning and purpose.

The binding version is always the one that was valid on the date the contract was concluded.

  • General Provisions

The following applies in general to the main event European Forum Alpbach in Alpbach, Tyrol, to online events of the European Forum Alpbach as well as other events of the European Forum Alpbach non-profit association. The additional provisions for the respective event format (e.g. online or on site) have to be considered. These provisions can be found in section “European Forum Alpbach on site”.

  • Registration

All registrations for any offered events of the European Forum Alpbach are processed via an online registration platform. After successful registration and completion of the payment process on the EFA website, the participant can get access to the event app and matchmaking platform for further engagement.

The operator of the platform for the event app is www.swapcard.com. EFA points out that on the website of the platform provider further personal data is collected, processed and used. Furthermore, only the terms and conditions and the privacy policy of the platform provider apply. Any other written or personal registration by participants (also by phone) is not possible.

In order to ensure that the Swapcard Terms of Use and the Privacy Policy stay up to date, please find direct links to the website of Swapcard below.

General Terms & Conditions | Swapcard

Privacy Policy | Swapcard

For registration purposes, we need the participants’ names and contact details (postal address, telephone number, email address), unless stated to the contrary. A registration for an event is made in the name of a specific person. It is not possible to substitute another person for that person. In certain circumstances there is, however, a right to substitution if expressly arranged by the European Forum Alpbach, for example for cooperating partners or sponsors.

A participant’s registration is binding. As soon as the EFA has received and processed the participant’s registration, he/she will receive an electronic confirmation. Registrations are considered in the order in which they are received.

The European Forum Alpbach reserves the right to set special admission criteria for certain events. There is no legal entitlement to participate in an event.

  • Conditions of Participation

If attendance at an event is subject to particular admission requirements, the European Forum Alpbach will provide a separate notice of these requirements, which the participants must fulfil.

The right to attend an event cannot be transferred to third parties.

  • Fees of Participation

Participation in the events of the European Forum Alpbach is only possible by registering in advance and by paying the participation fee in advance (for paid events). Participation fees for on site and online events do not include costs for refreshments or accommodation, unless explicity agreed to the contrary.

  • Payment Partner

EFA uses a payment service provider to process the payment transactions between participants and EFA to enable electronic payment methods (such as credit card payment).

If the participants use the service of Stripe for payment processing, they will be redirected to the corresponding website. EFA points out that on the payment service provider's website further personal data is collected, processed and used. Furthermore, only the terms and conditions and the privacy policy of the selected payment service provider apply.

In order to ensure that these regulations stay up to date, please find a direct link to the website of Stripe below.

The Privacy Policy of Stripe can be found here:

https://stripe.com/en-at/privacy

  • Payment Terms and Conditions

Payment for paid events is made at the online registration process. Payment can be made with credit card, SEPA Direct Debit or voucher links. Participation fees for events of the European Forum Alpbach non-profit association do not include VAT, because as a non-profit association, the EFA is exempted this requirement.

  • Right of Recovation for Long-Distance Transactions

With regard to the purchase of tickets for online events of the European Forum Alpbach, please note that the participant has no legal right of revocation (§ 18 Abs 1 Z 10 FAGG). Furthermore, please note that the EFA cannot offer correction of invoices nor a transfer of the purchased online ticket to another participant.

Regarding the right of revocation of the event European Forum Alpbach in Alpbach, Tyrol and other on site events, you have the right to revoke the contract about the provision of services through EFA within 14 days without stating a reason. The revocation deadline is 14 days after the date that the contract is concluded. To exercise your right of revocation you must inform us in the form of a clear statement (e.g. a letter sent by post or an email) of your decision to revoke this contract, to the following contact details: European Forum Alpbach non-profit association, Franz-Josefs-Kai 13/10, 1010 Vienna, Austria, telephone: +43 (1) 718 17 11, email: forum@alpbach.org. You can electronically complete and send the template revocation form. If you choose this option, we will send you (e.g. via email) a confirmation that we have received the revocation. All you need to do to secure your revocation right is to send the message about your exercise of the right before the deadline.

Consequences of Revocation:

If you revoke this contract, we must return to you all the payments we have received from you, without delay and no later than 14 days after the date on which we received the message about your revocation of this contract. We will use the same payment method that you used for the original transaction, unless an alternative has been expressly agreed with you; we will not under any circumstances charge you a fee for the repayment. If you requested that the services should begin before the revocation deadline, you must pay us an appropriate amount that corresponds to the ratio of, on the one hand, the services already provided as of the date that you informed us of your exercise of the revocation right as per this contract to, on the other, the complete scope of the services planned in the contract.

  • Time Shifts/Programme Changes

Short-term postponements of the event contents do not entitle the participant to return the ticket. It is the participant's responsibility to inform himself/herself about any changes to the beginning of the event.

EFA reserves the right to replace speakers if circumstances require and to make any necessary changes to the programme, while preserving the overall character of the event.

  • Code of Conduct & Nettiquette

The terms of the Code of Conduct of the European Forum Alpbach form an integral part of these Terms and Conditions for all our activities. The Code of Conduct includes a Netiquette for online platform activities.

  • Copyright (Photography, Video and Audio Recordings)

The event brochures, websites, newsletters and working documents used during our events are copyright and must not be duplicated or commercially used, including in excerpted form, without our consent or that of the relevant speaker.

It is, without exception, prohibited to take photographs or make videos or audio recordings of events (including live streamings and other online content) or of persons during the events for purposes of commercial use unless you have explicit prior authorisation.

  • Right of Use

By attending the event the participant acknowledges and agrees that the event (or any part of it) may be photographed or recorded by the European Forum Alpbach or its partners. The participant agrees to permit the European Forum Alpbach, or any third party licensed by the European Forum Alpbach, to use, distribute, broadcast, or otherwise globally disseminate your likeness, name, voice and words in perpetuity in television, radio, film, newspapers, magazines, on its websites and other media now available and hereafter developed, both before, during and any time after the event, and in any form, without any further approval from the participant or any payment to the participant. This grant includes, but is not limited to, the right to edit the media, the right to use the media (alone or together with other information), and the right to allow others to use or distribute the media.

  • Data Protection

The protection of your personal data is very important to us. Therefore, we process your data exclusively on the basis of the Austrian Data Protection Act (Datenschutzgesetz - DSG) and the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Please find more information on our data protection policy here.

  • Liability

The European Forum Alpbach does not accept liability for loss of or damage to items brought by those attending events. We therefore ask you not to leave valuable items or important materials in the event rooms during breaks. Claims for damages against the event organiser are – insofar as is legally permissible – excluded unless we have acted with wilful intent or gross negligence. If so, the claimant must provide proof of this. Compensation for indirect damages and consequential damages, including lost profit, is excluded under any circumstances. Furthermore, insofar as is legally permissible, no liability is accepted for personal injuries sustained in the event areas, break rooms and corridor areas and in rooms adjacent to the event.

Despite careful checking of documents and other publications used during events, the European Forum Alpbach does not guarantee their accuracy, completeness or validity; nor does it accept liability for the accuracy of the views, standpoints, legal opinions etc. expressed by the speakers.

  • Jurisdiction

It is agreed that, for any disputes resulting from the contractual relationship, the sole responsible court is the one with authority for the 1010 postal district of Vienna. The European Forum Alpbach is, however, also entitled to institute an action at the location of the participant’s registered office. The (pre-)contractual legal relationship is subject to Austrian law to the exclusion of the conflict-of-law rules of international private law and the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. The place of fulfilment is Vienna.


European Forum Alpbach On Site

The following applies, in addition to the preceding general provisions, to the event European Forum Alpbach in Alpbach, Tyrol, as well as other on site events of the European Forum Alpbach non-profit association.

  • Admission Requirements On Site

All events require registration prior to admission. Registration to and participation in the European Forum Alpbach on site is exclusively possible for those who have been expressly invited or whose registration has been confirmed by the EFA. When registering for any events, participants will be provided with a badge that entitles them to access these events.

  • Covid-19 Safety Measures On Site

In order to comply with governmental regulations to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, increased safety regulations (e.g. including hygiene guidelines such as wearing of mouth-nose protection mask, or distance regulations) may apply on site in Alpbach for the implementation and production of the European Forum Alpbach. By participating in the event, participants confirm that they are aware of and comply with these safety measures, which is communicated to participants prior to the event, as well as directly on site.

Persons with symptoms of the disease, and persons who have knowingly been in close contact with others carrying the disease, must not enter the event area of the European Forum Alpbach.

Participants must be aware that participation is at one’s own risk.

  • Cancellation Terms and Conditions

Cancellations of booked tickets are only possible for the event European Forum Alpbach in Alpbach, Tyrol and other on site events, not for online events. Please note that your cancellation can only be accepted if sent by mail to accounting@alpbach.org. The cancellation becomes effective on the date that it is received at the European Forum Alpbach. The cancellation periods stated at the respective event apply. We will return to you the payments we have received from you minus the respective cancellation fees, 30 days after the date on which we received the message about your cancellation of this contract.

The following cancellation terms and conditions apply for the event “European Forum Alpbach 2023”:

- Cancellation ealier 30 June, 2023: processing fee of 70.00 EUR

- Cancellation from 1 July, 2023, to 31 July, 2023: 50% of the relevant participation fees

- Cancellation from 1 August, 2023, onwards: 100% of the particption fees

  • Epidemic/Pandemic Clause

In the event of disease outbreaks or any legal or other sovereign epidemic or pandemic measures that make it impossible to hold events, the European Forum Alpbach reserves the right to suspend the contract. Any costs incurred (hotel, travel etc.) must be borne by the participant. In this event, the European Forum Alpbach will inform participants in good time, provided that contact details have been made available.

  • Travel

Participants are requested to take into account any applicable visa requirements for travelling to Austria. Visas can only be issued by Austrian representative authorities or accredited representations abroad. The European Forum Alpbach cannot influence the visa process. The event organiser does not provide travel insurance. Costs for travel is not included in the participation fee.

  • Accommodation

Participants have the option to book accommodation via the Alpbach Tourismus GmbH (ATG). The Alpbach Tourismus GmbH (ATG) terms and conditions of business apply.