South Tyrol's future: Reform talks in Salzburg for Health and Education!

South Tyrol's future: Reform talks in Salzburg for Health and Education!

Salzburg, Österreich - On July 19, 2025, a busy exchange took place in Salzburg between the governors of Austria and South Tyrol. This event was dedicated to urgent topics such as health, education, transport and finance. Among the participants were Governor Arno Kompatscher from South Tyrol, Governor Karoline Edtstadler from Salzburg, Markus Wallner from Vorarlberg, Anton Mattle from Tyrol and Thomas Stelzer from Upper Austria. The aim was to actively promote the reform partnership between the federal government, the states and the municipalities. The impulse for this partnership, which is seen as a central pillar of reforms, came from Salzburg and focuses on topics such as health, education, energy as well as constitutional and administrative reforms, such as [South Tyrol News] (https://www.suedtirolnews.it/politik/suedtirol-als-gast-beim reformal talk) reported.

The discussion was particularly about the challenges that South Tyrol faces in the areas of health, transport and tourism. Compatscher brought up the close historical connections to the Austrian federal states and emphasized the need for innovative solutions, such as a slot system to reduce transit load. This could not only relieve traffic in the region, but also increase the tourist attractiveness of South Tyrol.

Health reforms in focus

The health area is under pressure in many regions. In addition to the regional challenges in Tyrol and Vorarlberg, Thomas Stelzer also talked about the necessities in the health sector. In view of demographic change and the high demands on the health system, there can be bottlenecks in many places. Similar questions are also asked in the German health system, where a comprehensive need for reform is made on the subject. This is not just about financing questions and efficiency increases, but also about digitization and bureaucracy, as in an article of the Wirtschaftsdienst is explained in detail.

On Monday, a working group will meet for the reform partnership in Vienna to discuss concrete steps and possible measures. The considerations about legislative initiatives such as the digitization law and reforms for emergency care are of great importance. It is pointed out that such reforms must aim not only on the improvement of the quality, but also to the costs of health care.

Finally, it can be said that the exchange in Salzburg is an important step in the right direction. It is clear that the challenges that affect both South Tyrol and the other federal states will only be managed together. Continuous dialogue and the development of innovative concepts are the key to keeping the quality of life in the region high.