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27. 6. 2025

More about this event

Guests:

Karel Havlíček, Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic

Clément Beaune, High Commissioner for Planning and General Commissioner for Strategy, Office of the Prime Minister of France

Vojko Volk, State Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia

Richard Yonck, International Keynote Speaker and Bestselling Author

Jakub Landovský, Executive Director, Aspen Institute Central Europe

Europe faces another major strategic challenge in redefining its role and position on the international stage. Intensifying global rivalry is undermining the existing world order. Can the countries of the continent remain united while effectively promoting their interests? How deep are the divisions in national foreign policies? The debate focused on Europe’s ability to influence the global agenda through economic and security partnerships. Speakers emphasized the need for investment in defence measures, support for economic projects, and a strong focus on modern technologies.

Deputy Speaker Karel Havlíček made it clear at the outset that Europe needs a restart and should primarily focus on the economy. “We must create a predictable environment in terms of energy prices, the investment climate, the labour market, and also the tax system,” he explained, adding that Europe must prevent its companies from relocating overseas. Otherwise, it is almost certain that Europe will lose its competitiveness.

Havlíček: We need to stabilize the business environment, generate higher profits, and create a comfortable space for companies to thrive.

The economic problems of the European Union were also highlighted by Mario Draghi in his report on the state of the Union. The message of his analysis is that Europe is falling behind the United States and China, it’s lagging in technology, its economy is not growing fast enough, and productivity is also stagnating. Clément Beaune, the High Commissioner for Planning and General Commissioner for Strategy from the French Prime Minister’s Office, referred to the findings of Draghi’s report. “Europe is behind. And one of the key questions is why we are unable to move beyond this diagnosis and actually do something about it,” he said.

If we say there are three superpowers, there are really only two – the United States and China,” stated Vojko Volk, State Secretary in the Slovenian Prime Minister’s Office, “because Russia is becoming increasingly dependent on China by the day. So, if we intend to survive, I believe we must ourselves become a superpower.” According to him, Europe has a solid foundation: neither the United States nor Asian countries can match Europe in healthcare which is accessible to virtually everyone and its education system.

Volk: If we want to survive, we must become a superpower ourselves.

But according to Jakub Landovský, former Czech Ambassador to NATO and Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Central Europe, that alone won’t be enough. “No one will do anything for you unless you bring something to the table, and that’s new for us because we thought everyone liked us,” he explained. Today, Europe stands aside. Europe was not informed about Israel’s planned attack on Iran, and no European country is present at negotiations concerning a potential ceasefire in Ukraine.

Landovský: We are not respected as a superpower for two reasons. We cannot project our power, and we lack political unity.

In the discussion, Landovský called for Europe to recognize what it wants to be good at, and then to achieve that goal. He stressed that the EU-27 cannot save every company and every person, no matter how much it may want to. He also pointed out that Europe must focus on the development of artificial intelligence, which he sees as key. International keynote speaker and bestselling author Richard Yonck also emphasized the importance of technological development: “Technology must be part of how we are shaping and will continue to shape the future in Europe and beyond, and how we become a global player.” At first glance, this obviously means developing artificial intelligence, but in the future, we must also focus on quantum power, because “quantum technology will change everything.”

Investment in science, research, and artificial intelligence as tools for Europe’s future development was also emphasized by Karel Havlíček. Other countries, he said, should follow France’s example and allocate funds to these areas just as actively. However, this development is closely tied to markets – companies that can profit from the development of modern technologies and subsequently generate revenue.

Recommendations:

  1. Europe needs reform. The focus must be on the economy and investments in science and technology.
  2. Compared to other global powers, Europe has a unique advantage in human potential. However, it is essential that graduates stay on the continent. To achieve this, states must offer promising opportunities.
  3. Economic development is only possible in a predictable environment – both in terms of investment and taxation. Technological progress requires viable markets in the private sector.
  4. For Europe to sit at the table as an equal partner to the United States, it must understand what it wants, pursue it, and become a true global power.