
New podcast episode
#30 Café Evropa - How to support Czech startups?
Just like other EU countries, the Czech Republic is experiencing a technological brain drain. The startup support system, both at the Czech and EU levels, is significantly weaker compared to competing environments. Strengthening European competitiveness is therefore a priority for the EU executive.
So what is the vision for Czech and European startups? In the latest episode of the Café Evropa podcast, Martin Jiránek, founder and chairman of the Czech Startup Association, discusses this topic. What steps should the Czech government and the European Union take to improve the situation? Where are the main obstacles? Is it possible to reverse the trends mentioned above?
Live Podcast Recording – How Is Europe Doing 80 Years After the End of World War II?
World War II was a pivotal event in the development of Europe and its current form. But are we still aware of its impact today? How does the younger generation perceive a conflict that will mark 80 years since its end this year? And is it still necessary to remember it? Join us for a live recording of the Café Evropa podcast and take part in the discussion with our guests. The Café Evropa podcast recording will last approximately 45 minutes, followed by a Q&A and open discussion with the guests. We look forward to seeing you there!
EuroLens Journal #1: Europe’s Security at Stake
And it's out! EUROPEUM’s journal EuroLens, which will be published biannualy from now on, is our new magazine full of interviews with experts, commentaries, and articles on both political and non-political topics. You will also find an overview of planned events, conferences, and of course much more. We hope it will be an interesting and inspiring source of information and helpful in your work!
About the EUROPEUM Institute
EUROPEUM is an independent think-tank focused on the European integration process. We conduct original research and organise public activities. We also formulate new ideas and recommendations to improve domestic and European policy.
Events
We organize regular seminars, debates, conferences, workshops and round tables focused on current European topics.
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Projects
Our long-term projects help to raise awareness of the European Union and strengthen international cooperation.
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Articles
Our research team publishes articles responding to topics related to European integration and more.
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Events
We organize regular seminars, debates, conferences, workshops and round tables focused on current European topics.
More information
Projects
Our long-term projects help to raise awareness of the European Union and strengthen international cooperation.
More information
Articles
Our research team publishes articles responding to topics related to European integration and more.
More information
Upcoming events
Past events

24. April 2025
Come join our Scout Community on the last Thursday of the month for an open discussion following Monika Ladman's presentation on “The current crisis is an opportunity to strengthen Europe”. Monika Ladmanová is the Head of the European Commission Representation in the Czech Republic and has also worked for the Czech Helsinki Committee and the Open Society Fund. She worked with European Commissioner Věra Jourová on the Directive on reconciliation of private and professional life of people caring for a close person.

9. May 2025
Public podcast - How is Europe 80 years on from the end of World War II?
The Second World War was a fundamental event in the development of Europe and its current shape. But are we still aware of this today? How does the younger generation feel about the conflict, which is 80 years away this year? And do we still need to remember it?

16. April 2025
Seminar on opportunities and jobs within the EU institutions
Considering a traineeship in the European Union institutions? Come to a practical seminar where you will learn what types of internships are offered by the European Commission, the Council of the EU, the European Parliament and individual MEPs, how to apply and what the preparation involves.

7. April 2025
What's new in the European Parliament? Reflection on the plenary session
We would like to invite you to the next in a series of debates that provide an up-to-date perspective on key topics discussed in the plenary sessions of the European Parliament. The aim of the debates is to offer a clear overview of the decisions taken and their wider impact on the European Union and the Czech Republic. Each debate will provide a space for reflection on major legislative and political steps taken by the European Parliament, direct discussion with MEPs and experts, and an open dialogue with the professional and general public.

20. March 2025
Café Evropa debate: What changes with the climate?
DATE AND PLACE: Thursday, March 20, 5:00 pm, Březnice Municipal Library (V Koleji 1, Březnice) GUESTS: Moderator: Veronika Rajmanová The discussion will be an opportunity for an interesting debate. We look forward to hearing your views! The event is organised in cooperation with the Representation of the European Commission in the Czech Republic. For more […]

17. March 2025
Report | European Defence at a Crossroads: Can the EU Build a Stronger Defence Industry?
On March 17th, the Brussels Office of EUROPEUM representing the Think Visegrad Platform co-organised with IRSEM Europe (The Institute for Strategic Research at the Military School) a public event entitled ‘European Defence at a Crossroads: Can the EU Build a Stronger Defence Industry?’ The event took place at IRSEM-Europe Offices, 73 Rue de Namur, with a participation of thirtyseven leading experts, policymakers, and civil society actors. The aim of the discussion was to examine the fundamental transformation in Europe’s security architecture, and to consider the challenges and opportunities in developing a more independent European defence and security framework.

17. March 2025
European Defence at a Crossroads – Can the EU Build a Stronger Defence Industry?
The Brussels Office of EUROPEUM, representing the Think Visegrad Platform, in collaboration with IRSEM EUROPE – The Institute for Strategic Research at the Military School, invites you to an expert discussion on the future of the European defence industry.

13. March 2025
What's new in the European Parliament? Reflection on the plenary session
We would like to invite you to the first in a series of debates that provide an up-to-date perspective on key topics discussed in the plenary sessions of the European Parliament. The aim of the debates is to offer a clear overview of the decisions taken and their wider impact on the European Union and the Czech Republic. Each debate will provide a space for reflection on major legislative and political steps taken by the European Parliament, direct discussion with MEPs and experts, and an open dialogue with the professional and general public.
In the Media
Projects
Publications

13. April 2025
Ekonomický deník | EU unifies data sharing on public charging stations
On major transport routes across Europe, public charging and refuelling stations will be required to share information on their location and availability in a uniform and automated way. New rules to simplify access to this data for users and operators were approved by the European Commission in early April. Filip Křenek, an analyst at the Europeum Institute, commented for Ekonomický deník.

11. April 2025
CNN Prima News | Europe has given Trump another chance. It offered him a carrot, but also threatens with a stick, explains the expert
Martin Vokálek, Executive Director of the Institute for European Policy EUROPEUM, comments on the situation regarding tariffs and the carrot-and-stick approach.

10. April 2025
ČT24 | The impacts of U.S. tariffs
The topic of the impact of U.S. tariffs on the European Union was discussed in a commentary by Martin Vokálek, Director of the EUROPEUM Institute.

10. April 2025
ČT24 | The impacts of U.S. tariffs
The topic of the impact of U.S. tariffs on the European Union was analyzed in a commentary by Martin Vokálek, Director of the EUROPEUM Institute.

10. April 2025
TREND.sk | We need to prepare for a flood of Chinese goods. The EU is searching for a solution, but for now, it’s grasping at straws
Harsh tariff measures could escalate a trade war with China. Europe should seek a balance between protecting its market and maintaining open trade, said Martin Vokálek, Executive Director of the EUROPEUM Institute, in a statement for the Trend.sk news portal.

10. April 2025
Hospodářské noviny | We have several advantages over Trump. What will Europe ultimately do with them?
Donald Trump’s trade policy has once again unsettled global markets and transatlantic relations. But the greatest damage isn’t being done at the borders — it’s to trust, which will take years to rebuild. Read more in the commentary by Viktor Daněk, Deputy Director of the EUROPEUM Institute, in the Ředitelé Evropy newsletter for Hospodářské noviny.

1. June 2026
JustGreen
JustGreen project aims to engage the V4 citizens in debates and other forms of public engagement around decarbonization in three areas that are intimately linked to their everyday lives: housing, transport, and the job market. The public engagement activities, along with the ancillary research, shall pinpoint specific obstacles citizens and communities encounter when implementing climate-friendly steps or adapting to the EU decarbonization policies.

31. December 2025
Assisting Independent Media and CSOs in Enhancing the Access to Reliable Information on the European Union and EU Enlargement on Social Media in Armenia
The aim of the project is to provide access to reliable information about the European Union and its enlargement process in the Armenian social media environment.

31. December 2025
Celebrating 25 Years of Czech Republic’s NATO Accession
This project aims to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Czech Republic’s NATO accession, which occurred on March 12, 1999. Anchored in the historic context of NATO’s formation on April 4, 1949, the primary goals of the campaign are to celebrate this significant milestone, effectively communicate the tangible benefits of Czech NATO membership to the public and cultivate a deeper understanding of NATO and U.S.’s pivotal role in safeguarding the nations and Central and Eastern European security. Additionally, the project’s goal is to underscore the strength and benefits of the U.S.-Czech partnership.

2. December 2025
Low-emission materials for the Czech automotive industry
The Low Emission Materials for the Czech Automotive Industry project is the fifth EUROPEUM project aimed at decarbonising the Czech automotive industry. The aim of the project for 2024/2025 is to improve understanding of material flows and regulatory barriers in the automotive sector; to transfer best practices from the international context to the Czech environment; and to identify key areas of Czech and European policies that need to be improved to enable the automotive industry to meet the challenges of decarbonisation and remain competitive.

31. October 2025
Platform Revolution: shaping the future of work in the EU and Western Balkans
The Project centres around the fast development of platform work in the Western Balkans and the EU. This new phenomenon has witnessed fast growth since the pandemic, particularly with digital platforms like “Upwork”.

31. October 2025
REWEU
The project (Re)uniting the East and West: Reflections on the 2004 EU enlargement (REWEU) is focused on the commemoration of the 2004 “big bang” EU enlargement at the occasion of its 20th anniversary in May 2024. This event had numerous positive effects on shaping Europe as we know it today, boosting its security, economic potential, and spreading democracy, good governance and European values across the European continent.

31. March 2025
Policy paper | Tackling Transport Poverty in the Czech Republic
While transport poverty does not affect the majority of the population, available data shows that it impacts a significant and growing portion of Czech society, making it a serious issue that cannot be overlooked or expected to resolve itself over time. This policy paper by research fellow Rebeka Hengalová and head of Green Europe programme Jana Abíková details the experiences of transport-poor citizens, outlines good practice of measures from abroad and explains the potential utilisation of the Social Climate Fund in alleviating transport poverty.

28. March 2025
Background paper | The Czech Republic and the priorities of the new Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034
The Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) is the EU's key instrument for determining the expenditure and revenue components of the common European budget. The negotiations on the long-term budget are among the most important and lengthy at European level. It decides on overall spending in traditional areas such as agriculture and cohesion, but also on new priorities such as defence and competitiveness. The European Commission is expected to present its proposal for the 2028-2034 financial framework by mid-2025, but informal discussions on the shape of the proposal are already taking place at both working and political level - the new European Commissioner for Budgets is now touring Member States and the Commission has launched a public consultation on the subject.
The Commission has already presented the broad outlines of the next MFF, including a greater focus on efficiency, added value and simplification. It has also stressed the need for more flexibility to make the budget more responsive to crises. The number of (old) new priorities, including defence, climate and competitiveness, also raises the question of the size of the next European budget and new own resources. The current debate on the Czech priorities for the next MFF is therefore more than appropriate and the Czech Republic should actively enter into negotiations at the European level.
The background paper for the round table of the National Convention on the EU was prepared by Josef Bič (FSV VŠE) and Filip Křenek (EUROPEUM).

27. March 2025
Policy Brief | The Role of the European Union's Raw Materials Diplomacy in the Green Transition
In 2019, the green agenda became the flagship of the European Commission’s politics in the face of the European Green Deal. Five years later, the re-elected Ursula von der Leyen would like to keep this agenda as the number one priority for the next political cycle, expressing this goal also in her political guidelines. Meanwhile, major geopolitical events during the last couple of years have led to an unprecedented interest in the security of energy and raw material supplies. These topics started to gain significant attention during the Covid-19 pandemic, then surged further in the following energy crises, and finally peaked after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war. Even though the question of energy and supply security has global implications and is being discussed globally, Europe was particularly affected by these aforementioned events, writes Gábor Papp, a Research Fellow at the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs, in his policy brief.

20. March 2025
Policy Brief | A Paper Tiger or a Game-Changing Project: European Defence Industrial Strategy and Views from Central Europe
The first-ever European Defence Industrial Strategy (EDIS) was introduced by the European Commission and the High Representative/Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR/VP) in March 2024, addressing key challenges in the European defence industry. The strategy aims to increase European defence industrial readiness, encourage Member States to invest in the European defence industry, and reinforce joint European defence procurement and ownership. EU Member States from Central Europe have played a crucial role in supporting Ukraine after the start of the Russian unprovoked and illegal full-scale invasion in February 2022. They also stressed the need to focus the EU's efforts on new initiatives in the field of defence and the defence industry, such as the Act in Support of Ammunition Production or enhancing the European Defence Fund. Writes Timotej Kováčik, Junior Researcher/Analyst focusing on security and defense issues, the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy, and energy security at the Slovak Foreign Policy Association.

20. March 2025
Policy Brief | Elevating EU-NATO Synergy for Enhanced European Defence
For over two decades, there have been numerous attempts to define and frame the relations between the EU and NATO. Three joint declarations and significant steps ahead have been taken and yet, there is no clear vision of how these two organisations should work together more efficiently. The commonly accepted idea of cooperation sees “NATO pulling the strings and the EU pushing the funds” in accordance with their respective nature and scope. Is this unbalanced relation the most suitable strategy to counter current geopolitical threats? No. But can this cooperation be upgraded? Possibly, yet this appears to be easier said than done. Providing the EU with a coherent defence policy and a strong industrial base can be a great additional value for NATO and not just in the extreme case of a possible disengagement of the US. Writes Federica Mangiameli, Programme Manager and Policy Fellow for Defence and Security at GLOBSEC, in her Policy Paper.

20. March 2025
Policy Brief | How to make the EU ready for Enlargement: Member States’ perspective
Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine in February 2022 has brought EU enlargement back as a priority of the EU policy towards the neighbourhood and as a geopolitical tool to ensure peace, stability and prosperity on the entire continent. That resulted in the EU recognising the aspiration of the Associated Trio countries to join the EU and granting membership candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova in 2022 and to Georgia in 2023. In record time, the former two countries also started the EU accession process in June 2024. The accession process of the candidates from the Western Balkans also accelerated. Bosnia and Hercegovina was granted the candidacy status and accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia started in 2022. However, despite the general consensus that enlargement is a geopolitical necessity, the question posed by French President Emmanuel Macron in Bratislava in 2023 – How should we do it? – still remains unanswered. Writes Marta Szpala, a Senior Fellow in the Central European Department at the Center for Eastern Studies.
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EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy
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