Elisabeth Köstinger

• 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

At the national level Köstinger is a member of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), where she held a number of positions early in her career:

• 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)

Köstinger was first elected a Member of the European Parliament since the 2009 European elections and was re-elected during the 2014 European Parliament election. From 2011 Köstinger served as vice-chair and general manager of the Austrian People’s Party Delegation in the European Parliament. She sat 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 to her committee assignments, Köstinger was 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 for the Delegation to the ACP–EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.

On 18 December Köstinger was appointed Federal Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, the Environment and Water Management by the current President of Austria Alexander Van der Bellen; with changes to areas of responsibility in several ministries that went into effect on 8 January 2018 she became the Federal Minister for Sustainability and Tourism. In this capacity, she also co-chaired the European People's Party's Environment Ministers Meeting.[http://www.epp.eu/about-us/structure/ Council of the EU and Ministerial meetings] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927131847/http://www.epp.eu/about-us/structure/ |date=2016-09-27 }} European People’s Party (EPP).

Köstinger's climate-protection policies have been criticized repeatedly for lacking ambition by the scientific community and environmental protection groups alike.{{cite web|title=Klimaforscher: "Die Klimastrategie ist zu diffus" - derStandard.at|url=https://derstandard.at/2000078493743/Klima-Forscher-Die-Klimastrategie-ist-zu-diffus}}{{cite web|title=Österreichs Klimaplan für 2030: Milliardenstrafe aus Brüssel droht|url=https://kurier.at/politik/inland/oesterreichs-klimaplan-fuer-2030-milliardenstrafe-aus-bruessel-droht/400346833|last=bernhard.gaul}}{{cite web|title=Experten: Österreichs Klimapläne leiden an Politblockaden|url=https://www.sn.at/panorama/oesterreich/experten-oesterreichs-klimaplaene-leiden-an-politblockaden-62157550}}

In May 2022, Köstinger announced her resignation from government, saying she intends to quit politics and go into the private sector.Eddy Wax (9 May 2022), [https://www.politico.eu/article/austrian-farm-chief-kostinger-resigns/ Austrian farm chief Köstinger resigns] Politico Europe.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-09 |title=Mit Köstinger verlässt das achte Mitglied das Regierungsteam |url=https://kurier.at/politik/inland/mit-koestinger-verlaesst-das-achte-mitglied-das-regierungsteam/402001305 |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=kurier.at |language=de-AT}}

In February 2025 the Austrian Court of Audit criticized the implementation of the "very large budget volume" forest fund launched under Köstinger in 2020.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2025-02-14 |title=Scharfe RH-Kritik am millionenschweren Waldfonds |url=https://www.orf.at//stories/3384877/ |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=news.ORF.at |language=de-AT}}Christian Neuwirth: [https://www.rechnungshof.gv.at/rh/home/home_1/fragen-medien/Presseinformation_Umsetzung_des_Waldfonds_14.02.2025.pdf Presseinformation], 20250214, in German.

• Federal head, Austrian Young Farmers' Association (2007-2012)
• Vice-chair of the Austrian Farmers' Federation (since 2009)
• President of ‘wald.zeit Österreich’ (since 2012) [http://www.bauernzeitung.at/?+Elisabeth+Koestinger+neue+Praesidentin+von+wald.zeit+OEsterreich+&id=2500%2C1005476%2C%2C%2Cc1F1PSUyMCZjdD0zMSZtb2RlPW5leHQmcGFnaW5nPXllc18xMF8zMCZyZWl0ZXI9MTEwJmJhY2s9MQ%3D%3D Elisabeth Köstinger becomes President of Wald.Zeit Austria] (Article in German) | Österreichischer Agrarverlag| 13 June 2012 |
• President of the Ecosocial Forum Europe (since 2014)[http://www.ots.at/presseaussendung/OTS_20141029_OTS0086/auer-gratuliert-koestinger-zur-praesidentin-oekosoziales-forum-europa-gewaehlt Elisabeth Köstinger becomes President of the Ecosocial Forum Europe] (Article in German) | Austria Press Agency| 29 October 2014 |
• Vice-chair of the Political Academy of the Austrian People's Party (since 2015) [http://derstandard.at/2000018656336/Mitterlehner-Co-hinterfragen-Mindestsicherung Mitterlehner questioning 'Mindestsicherung'] (Article in German) | Der Standard| 06 July 2015
• Secretary general of the Austrian People’s Party (since May 2017)

• Ryanair, Non-Executive Member of the Board of Directors (since 2023)[https://corporate.ryanair.com/news/ryanair-holdings-plc-announces-2-new-board-appointments-elisabeth-kostinger-aut-and-eamonn-brennan-ire-agree-to-join-board-from-1-april/ Ryanair Holdings Plc Announces 2 New Board Appointments Elisabeth Köstinger (AUT) And Eamonn Brennan (IRE) Agree To Join Board From 1 April] Ryanair, press release of 28 March 2023.

On 18 March 2014, Köstinger received the MEP Award in the category Agriculture and Rural Development.[http://www.ots.at/presseaussendung/OTS_20140319_OTS0048/koestinger-erhaelt-oscar-fuer-eu-abgeordnete MEP Award Winner] (Article in German) | Austria Press Agency| 19 March 2014 | The award recognizes the exemplary manner in which she conducted herself as shadow rapporteur during negotiations leading to the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

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

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://www.votewatch.eu/en/term8-elisabeth-kostinger-2.html Votewatch profile of Elisabeth Köstinger]
• [http://www.eppgroup.eu/mep/Elisabeth-K%C3%96STINGER Personal profile of Elisabeth Köstinger in the EPP's database of members] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007094212/http://www.eppgroup.eu/mep/Elisabeth-K%C3%96STINGER |date=2018-10-07 }}
• [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/96882/ELISABETH_KOSTINGER_home.html European Parliament Biography]
• https://www.bmnt.gv.at/english/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223150212/https://www.bmnt.gv.at/english/ |date=2019-12-23 }}

{{Cabinet Nehammer}}

{{Cabinet Schallenberg}}

{{Cabinet Kurz II}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kostinger, Elisabeth}}

Category:1978 births

Category:21st-century Austrian women politicians

Category:Austrian People's Party politicians

Category:Living people

Category:Members of the 26th National Council (Austria)

Category:Members of the 27th National Council (Austria)

Category:MEPs for Austria 2009–2014

Category:MEPs for Austria 2014–2019

Category:Presidents of the National Council (Austria)

Category:Women government ministers of Austria

Category:Women members of the National Council (Austria)