The Russian-Ukrainian war has been a major blow to the global economy. Beyond the suffering and humanitarian crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the entire global economy will feel its effects, with the European economy being particularly susceptible due to its proximity to the conflict. Although the economic impact has already been significant, there will also be long-term consequences for the EU’s geo-economics.
Has the Russian-Ukrainian war and Lithuanian conflict with China pushed the EU towards a decisive geo-economic power?
Is the EU capable of using its geoeconomics as a double-edged sword, by simultaneously utilizing it as both a defensive anti-coercion tool and also as an offensive instrument to influence other actors through sanctions in the global economy?
How does this change the EU´s identity as a globalist and free trade promoter? What are the benefits, costs, and limits of such tools?
In cooperation with the EIT Urban Mobility
Objective of this session is to give overall information about different European financial instrument in the field of urban mobility and facilitate access to finance for innovative businesses, cities, and other related entities in Europe. EU, EIB, EIT and other entities provide finance to support research and innovation in cities, small tech start-ups, big business and research facilities through different programmes that will be introduced. Participants can learn how to find and apply for suitable EU funding and tender opportunities. At the end of the event participants will have a great opportunity to network.
Fit for 55 is the cardinal legislative package on climate change leading up to 2030. Yet despite defining the conditions for future generations on the path to decarbonisation, the package has been contentious regarding a series of issues, such as carbon pricing, ensuring fairness without losing competitiveness, and maintaining the necessary ambition amidst pushback from stakeholders with a vested interest in minimising its aspirations.
How can the EU leverage the full potential of carbon pricing and revenue recycling to achieve its climate targets?
How can digitalization be leveraged in the EU’s transition to carbon neutrality?
What parameters should the Social Climate Fund have to contribute to a fair and effective green transformation?
How can the EU avoid further polarisation and division caused by socioeconomic tensions of the twin transformation?
Over the past two decades, the EU single market has evolved into the world’s most integrated transnational market, making it the key machinery through which all other EU policies can be successful. Despite its successes, however, the Single Market is increasingly affected by a global rise in protectionism and distorted competition. The EU single market thus faces many new challenges, which, if disregarded, could lead to greater market fragmentation and put member states in a weaker position to respond to global competition.
How to make the EU’s single market more resilient vis-a-vis the coronavirus pandemic and the Russian aggression against Ukraine?
Should a more integrated EU economic policy with the single market at its core be established?
How to better enforce single market rules and consumer protection? Should there be a permanent EU unemployment benefit and (re-)insurance scheme or a common EU public procurement agency?
The two interlinked challenges of green and digital transformations will shape the world for generations to come. Against the backdrop of the climate crisis, Europe’s ability to spearhead these transformations will determine the future of the EU as well.
How can the EU become a global leader in the twin transformations?
How can green and digital transformations work in tandem to aid in the EU's recovery?
How can the EU leverage the single market to inspire a worldwide green and digital transformation?
Can the EU successfully motivate other states globally to reduce their emissions through instruments such as CBAM?
The EU has recently been paying a high price for its heavy dependence on fossil fuels from Russia and other hostile states. Although its green transition might reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, it will inevitably lead to new resource dependencies.
How will the EU replace its dependence on fossil fuels from Russia and other hostile states, while securing enough resources for its own green transition?
Are tighter and transformative economic relations with the neighbouring resource-rich regions in Africa and Eastern Europe such as Ukraine and the Western Balkans a viable strategy?
What will such a strategy need to include so that it is not perceived by these states as only a Western neo-colonial attempt for resource exploitation without any added value?
In cooperation with the EIT Urban MobilityAlthough the path for greening the transport sector has been drafted by the European Commission, regional disparities might represent a major obstacle to the decarbonization pathway. While Central and eastern European economies face several challenges, large EU-level funds, such as The National Recovery and Resilience Facility, are available for this transition.
How can e-mobility adoption be encouraged across CEE countries, where households have lower purchasing power, and where the second-hand automobile market plays a key role?
Are the EU countries on the right path to building a widely accessible charging infrastructure to keep up with the increasing number of newly sold electric vehicles? Has the chicken & egg problem been resolved?
How can the CEE countries support the transformation of the automotive industry at the dawn of the new automotive order?
Are European funds efficiently allocated to incentivize both production and consumption in the field of clean mobility?
The Russian war in Ukraine caused an immense shock across the European continent, fundamentally changed the context in which political decisions are being made and Europe is only gradually adapting to the challenges stemming from the new reality. The tragic event, however, also mobilized an unprecedently swift and united action by the EU Member States and led to the rethinking of the EU’s approach to its neighbourhood.
How has the Russian aggression changed the dynamics of relations in Central and Eastern Europe?
What impact does the war have on global alliances and on the role of the EU on the global scene?
Will Ukraine manage to use the rebuilding process to accelerate its integration into the EU and the green and digital transition?
11:40 AM - 12:40 AM
Buffet Lunch
12:40 AM - 01:20 PM
PES-FELF Chat: Youth Perspectives on the Future of the EU
The start of the Russian war against Ukraine is proving to be a turning point in the European, and very likely also World history. Our societies are under unprecedented stress caused by a close proximity of a major armed conflict as well as economic implications such as high inflation, skyrocketing energy prices, and influx of Ukrainian refugees. Without a doubt, these factors will influence the European political stability in years to come.
In this sense, the Czech Republic proves to be a good case study of how Russian war against Ukraine might influence Euroscepticism. Czechs has been known for at least a decade as a nation with lowest support to the EU integration, and always balanced at the verge of leaving.
Based on our newest sociological data, we will answer the most pressing question regarding Russian aggression and Czech population – Is the energy crisis and skyrocketing inflation a case to worry? To what extent the war influences Czech support to the EU membership? What do Czechs expect the EU to do? And how the war might impact EU flag-policies such as green transition?
The digital share of the economy is growing rapidly across the globe; data is termed the new oil, and digital adaptation is swiftly becoming one of the cardinal determinants for economic prosperity. However, the rate of digital transformation varies across the EU, raising the potential dilemma of a multi-speed Europe.
How can the EU leverage the strengths of the (digital) single market in the digital age?
How can the EU attain leadership in the digital market compared to other geopolitical competitors?
How can the emergence of a new multi-speed EU with regard to digitalization and the digital economy be avoided?
How is the outlook on Belarussian democracy and liberty now that Russia is both using it as one of its staging points for the war in Ukraine, essentially making it a Russian vassal state?
How is the opposition, which was slowly acquiring influence before the invasion, faring under this new reality?
Have the various sanctions by the EU towards Belarus had an effect in your view?
Over the past decade, the Czech Republic has continuously been one of the member-states with the lowest level of trust in the EU. This study examined how the EU’s management of the coronavirus pandemic has affected public perceptions in the Czech Republic of the European Union. The study has shown that while Euroskepticism persists in Czech society, it has not increased as a result of the crisis. Furthermore, although Czechs exhibit low levels of trust in the EU, they equally distrust their national government, indicating there is no duality between the two. Finally, Czech Euroskepticism does not equal an anti-EU attitude, as the majority of respondents expressed an appreciation of the EU’s contribution to managing the pandemic and continue to believe the Czech Republic is better off as part of the EU.
The new geopolitical and energy reality necessitates a drastically accelerated transition towards clean energy and the adoption of renewable energy solutions, both of which must be accompanied by a corresponding focus on developing energy resilience and efficiency.
What is the potential of renewable energy in terms of cutting dependency on foreign fossil fuel imports?
What is the potential of energy efficiency and how can it be tapped?
What do the V4 countries need to do to more fully unlock the potential of renewables after years of stalling?
How will RePowerEU impact the EU’s endeavours towards strategic autonomy and resilience?
The New Industrial Strategy for Europe is the cornerstone strategy aimed at strengthening industrial competitiveness amidst the twin transformations. However, the path to resilience remains mired in apprehension as industries weigh the consequences of first-mover disadvantages against the eventual benefits of positioning themselves towards the markets of tomorrow.
How can the industrial transition be accelerated while ensuring competitiveness in the global markets?
How can the EU uphold a global level playing field while decarbonizing?
How can practices on industrial decarbonisation best be shared across the EU?
How can the EU provide certainty for and inspire industry stakeholders to become more active in green and digital transformations?
(Sněmovní 7, Malá strana, Prague)In the past several years, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz as well as leaders of other member states proposed their visions for the future of European integration as well as the wider European region. Some speak of creating a European political community as a framework for EU members and democratic, non-members of the EU to discuss shared interests. The first meeting of the European Political Community is set to take place in Prague in early October. Other arguments concern more efficient policymaking in the EU foreign and security policy via the introduction of majority voting or allowing the group of EU member states to act on behalf of others in this field.
Should the EU, with a view of possible prospective enlargements, go in the way of promoting multi-speed integration?
Should majority voting be gradually introduced in the fields currently decided by unanimity?
Can forms of flexible integration, such as lead groups in which several member states act on behalf of the EU in foreign policy, enable a European response in the context of urgent challenges and thus drive the EU into common action? Or does multi-speed Europe spur fragmentation and lead to disintegration?