INVITATION: Responsible leadership – How can the V4 countries contribute to a stronger Europe on the global scale

We would like to invite you to the event organized by the Think Visegrad platform, which brings together 8 think-tanks from Central Europe. The debate will take place on Thursday 29 October from 5:30 PM online on Facebook.

Speakers:

• Vladimír Bartovic, Director, EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy
• Márton Ugrósdy, Director, Külügyi és Külgazdasági Intézet / Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade (IFAT)
• Lukasz Ogrodnik, Analyst, Central Europe Programme, Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych - PISM

The discussion will be moderated by Jana Juzová, Research Fellow, EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy.

Schedule:
17:30–17:35 Welcome words, Žiga Faktor, Head of Brussels Office, EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy

17:35–17:50 Keynote speech (TBC)

17:50–19:00 Panel discussion

Europe is at a crossroads. Fraying transatlantic relations has accentuated the need for Europe to defend multilateralism. The climate crisis obliges Europe to lead the green transition and the economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic provides an opportunity for the EU to emerge as a global leader in digital transition as well. With the growing assertiveness of other global powers, namely China, Russia, and Turkey, the EU has to project its power towards its neighbourhoods more effectively to secure its position as a leader. Simultaneously, these shifts and transitions present an opportunity for the V4 to emerge as an influential and constructive player contributing to the solidification of the EU’s leadership.

How can the EU potentially leverage a leadership position in these respects globally? How can the V4 engage in the strengthening of the EU’s role as a global leader? What specific advantages does the V4 have to offer in this regard?

The event will be streamed on Facebook, the audience will be able to ask questions via comments under the live video.

Jana Juzová
Senior Research Fellow

Expertise: regionalism, Visegrad cooperation, democratization and European integration of the Western Balkan countries, EU enlargement

Žiga Faktor
Deputy Director & Head of Brussels Office

Expertise: European integration of Western Balkans, EU enlargement, Slovenian Politics and EU-Turkey relations

Vladimír Bartovic
President

Expertise: EU institutional issues, Economic and Monetary Union, € and European budget, Brexit, EU foreign policy, EU enlargement with the focus on Western Balkans, Slovak foreign and domestic policy and economic issues