02.04.2019 - DIFF GOV City Talk in Banská Bystrica

The year 2019 is crucial for Europe’s future. The EU will not only see a departure from one of its member states but also will be held in May 2019 European Parliament election in which the stakes are unusually high. It is, among other things, due to rising support for the anti-European parties. Simultaneously, to carry on the EU has to work on indispensable eurozone reform that will lead to the creation of an architecture that’s aligned with its respective economies and capable of better protecting the European economy.

In order to encourage more interest among the general public in understanding the processes taking place in Brussels, GLOBSEC with the support of the European Commission Jean Monnet Activities of the EU Programme Erasmus+ will organize a public debate in Banská Bystrica. This event forms a part of a bigger international project DIFF GOV: European Governance: Potential of Differentiated Cooperation.

This activity will have two legs:

#1 HOPES and DREAMS: What to expect from the European Parliament elections?

The European Parliament elections in May will be the most important in the legislative body’s history. The opinion polls suggest that the anti-European parties are poised to win more than a third of the assembly’s seats. What does it mean for the EU institutions? Will the European project be strengthened or weakened? Is it possible that fragmentation of the European political parties more the strong voice of the MEP with anti-European sentiment will make the EU dysfunctional? and therefore the Member States will decide to favour sovereigntist approach or increase to do the minimum or create inner circles of integration? What impact will it have on the European governance, and unfinished reforms of the eurozone? Will the eurozone’ institutional flaws be fixed in the new Parliament term to ensure the euro’s long-term viability?

The debate will be held in English and is also part of the subject “Aktuálne otázky” at the Faculty of Political Science and International Relations, Matej Bel University. Upon invitation only.

#2 Slovakia & the Euro – More LOVE than HATE. Reflections on the 10th anniversary of the euro in Slovakia, the 20th birthday of the single currency, and the future of the eurozone

While some Europeans regard the euro as a success story that has contributed to the creation of a single European identity, others view it as “the cause of all evils” including austerity, stagnation and unemployment. In recent years, Eurosceptics have blamed the single currency for increasing the price of a baguette, lowering export capabilities, and causing the most severe financial crisis since 1929. But the findings show that the Slovaks do not necessarily view the currency as an economically flawed initiative. An 80% of Slovaks are in favour of single currency according to Parlemeter 2018 survey. And with good reason, that euro adoption gave further impetus to institutional convergence and allowed Slovakia to anchor its macroeconomic institutions in a stronger European framework. What are the lessons learnt for Slovakia as regards the adoption of the single currency? How to keep a momentum of the good image of the euro in Slovakia? How can Slovakia contribute to fixing the eurozone’ institutional flaws and thus ensuring the euro’s long-term viability?

The debate will be held in Slovak and is part of the subject “Aktuálne otázky” at the Faculty of Political Science and International Relations, Matej Bel University. For the general public. Please visit the Facebook page of the FACEBOOK EVENT.