FIR Annual Conference 2024: 20 Years of the Czech Republic in the European Union: Reflections and Perspectives

About the Conference

Date: 7 October 2024
Venue: Academic Club, Prague University of Economics and Business
Time: 14:00–19:45

The conference is organised in cooperation with the Institute for European Policy EUROPEUM.

In 2024, the Czech Republic marks the 20th anniversary of its accession to the European Union. EU membership has brought significant economic and political changes to the country, while also opening new questions about the future of both the Union and Czech society.

The conference will focus on whether the expectations linked to EU accession have been fulfilled, how the Czech economy has managed the process of convergence, and what challenges future enlargements may bring. Discussions will feature leading experts from academia, politics, and practice, as well as the perspective of the young generation.

The main conference language is Czech; only the first panel will be held in English.

Programme

14:00 – Opening Remarks
Martina Jiránková, Dean, Faculty of International Relations, VŠE

14:15 – “Big Bang” enlargement as a milestone of European integration: What did the EU learn? (panel in English)

• Matteo Bonomi (Istituto Affari Internazionali, Rome)

• Othon Anastasakis (University of Oxford)

• Jana Juzová (EUROPEUM)

• Harry Tzimitras (Peace Research Institute Oslo – PRIO Cyprus Centre)
  Moderator: Asya Metodieva, Institute of International Relations

15:20 – Coffee Break

15:30 – Czech “Return to Europe”: 20 Years since the EU’s Big Enlargement
Student project presentations and panel discussion

• Monika MacDonagh-Pajerová (Anglo-American University in Prague)

• Petr Mareš (International Visegrad Fund)

• Tereza Masopustová (STEM)
  Moderator: Kateřina Šafaříková, Seznam Zprávy

16:45 – Convergence by Numbers
Presentation of a convergence model

• Kareem Abdalláh (FMV VŠE)

17:00 – Reflections: 20 Years of Convergence – Achievements and Drivers

• Jakub Jedlinský (VŠE)

• Jan Kubíček (Czech National Bank)

• Pavlína Žáková (Deputy Minister for EU Affairs)

• Zuzana Zavarská (Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies)
  Moderator: Jarolím Antal, Centre for European Studies, VŠE

18:15 – Coffee Break

18:30 – The Future of Growth and Convergence

• Helena Horská (Chief Economist, Raiffeisenbank)

• Aleš Chmelař (Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the OECD)

• Jakub Mazur (DG ECFIN, European Commission)

• Stanislav Šaroch (Professor, FMV VŠE)
  Moderator: Pavel Hnát, Vice-Rector for Education, VŠE

19:45 – Closing & Reception

You can watch the whole conference in the video below.