Prague European Summit 2024

Registration, Coffee, and Refreshments

Words of Welcome

Opening Keynote

Plenary Panel Discussion: The EU as a Pillar of Support to Ukraine. Or Is It Really So?

"With no apparent end to the ongoing war in Ukraine in sight, the country needs continuous help and support from its allies. The European Union, having approved macro-financial assistance to Kyiv for the next four years to help secure the stability of the country, seems almost unshakable in its support. Along with supplies from the freed-up US financial support, Europe continues to deliver arms to Ukraine, and thanks to the Czech ammunition initiative, the Union will be able to fulfil at least part of its promise of ammunition deliveries. However, allies are struggling to do more, especially when it comes to advanced offensive technologies that the Ukrainian army needs. Furthermore, uncertainty grows with the EU and US election and recent political shifts in several Member States. Regardless of the results, can Ukraine count on the firm support from its European allies in the coming years? How will the June elections to the European Parliament affect the Union's approach?"

Coffee Break

Vision for Europe Award Ceremony

Keynote Speech

Introductory Remarks

European Chat: From Reaction to Action - The EU's New Strategy towards Russia

"Ever since the Kremlin’s full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, the Five principles guiding the EU's policy towards Russia are dead. The West is trying to isolate Moscow whenever possible and has imposed sanctions of unprecedented scale on it. The EU, however, never formally replaced its outdated strategy with a new one. Meanwhile one thing remains clear: there cannot be a return to normalcy until Moscow withdraws from Ukraine and stops violating international law. Can the EU develop a clear and proactive strategy towards Russia despite its internal divisions? How can the EU contribute to constraining Russia's imperial ambitions?"

Lunch

European Chat: The Future of Global Trade - Global. Regional, or Allied?

"Protectionism and the aggressive trade policies of some rising global actors are intensifying in international trade, with China at the forefront. Yet, despite the tendencies to revert to deglobalisation, protectionism, and regionalism over the past few years, free trade remains one of the greatest assets of the European Union and a driver of economic growth for European businesses. How can the EU resist protectionism amid growing dependencies, balance competitiveness with adherence to the rules-based order, identify reliable trading partners, and use trade to advance priorities like combating climate change?"

Parallel Discussion: (De)russianization of Belarus: Will 2025 Bring a New Momentum

"Four years have passed since Alyaksandr Lukashenka used sham elections to consolidate his grip on power in Belarus. The authoritarian leader is now planning new elections next year while his opponents are either imprisoned or exiled, and independent media are silenced. Some renowned thinkers argue that the growing appetite of Vladimir Putin to recreate the Russian sphere of influence is closely linked to the weak EU’s reaction to the 2020 election fraud in Belarus. Since that time, the Kremlin has deepened its links to Minsk, and the Russian army has been using the Belarussian territory to attack Ukraine. Given the new security reality in Europe, how should the EU better prepare for the forthcoming so-called elections in Belarus and counter the Kremlin’s ambitions, and what else can be done to support the Belorussian democratic opposition?"

High-level Discussion: Under PRESSure - Addressing Backsliding with New Tools

"Press freedom and independent media are facing increasing constraints. We are seeing authoritarian regimes around the world encroaching on press freedom, emboldened by the Putin regime’s war in Ukraine and its crackdown on independent media in Russia. State actors are investing billions of dollars in their propaganda machines, exerting malign influence and spreading disinformation. We are also witnessing a rapid proliferation of new legal frameworks to censor free expression, and the emergence of foreign agent laws and so-called disinformation bills. Moreover, physical and online harassment of journalists is on the rise and media financing is being squeezed. On the other hand, the European Union has recently passed several legislative acts aimed to support and defend the freedom of media and journalists, but are those enough or is the struggle of many journalists still an unfair fight? And how can we support independent journalism in authoritarian and undemocratic regimes?"

Plenary Panel Discussion: Energy Security First - Pragmatic. Decisions Affecting Climate Ambitions

"The Russian aggression in Ukraine exposed Europe’s vulnerability regarding energy dependencies and shattered the liberal-driven belief in the so-called Wandel durch Handel. With the tune now set to security first, the EU recently witnessed an unprecedented shake-up in hydrocarbon imports, a reinvigorated emphasis on renewables, and a renaissance of nuclear power as a reliable, although in some member states still controversial, source of energy, and a sector in which the EU is entirely self-sufficient. However, heightened global power rivalries continue to pose extra challenges to a sector that is already undergoing an unprecedented transition. The EU now must avoid creating new potentially dangerous future dependencies and mitigate the risks during the transition. What are the most urgent tasks for the next Commission? Are the disputes around nuclear energy over or only shelved? And will the EU be forced to rethink its green transition strategy in the new geopolitical reality?"

Closed Roundtable Discussion: Power of the Rules or the Firepower Rules? The Future of the EU's State Aid and Competition Policy

"With the unprecedented hit of the Covid-19 pandemic, the EU’s state aid policy was temporarily relaxed to allow for more direct support from member states to affected sectors. In the meantime, the US responded to the economic slump and high inflation through tax breaks and exemptions with massive support for its companies and citizens to accelerate the shift towards green technologies. However, the foreign competition and exceedingly favourable market conditions in the Inflation Reduction Act started to threaten European producers. The next Commission now must solve an enigma: Should it return to a strict enforcement of the EU´s competition rules and preserve the cohesion of the Single Market or will it allow more fiscal leeway to those governments that have enough firepower to use it? Or is there a third and better option that will ensure proper balance?"

Coffee Break

Plenary Panel Discussion: Competing to be Competitive - The European Economy back in the Spotlight

"Competitiveness became one of the buzzwords in the campaign before the European Parliament elections, highlighting a shift from a focus on the twin transformations to the economic strength of the EU members and businesses. Discussions on how to improve European competitiveness are complicated, and the decision-makers have a number of solutions at hand. However, there is no quick fix. The recently published Letta report highlighted the need to look again at the Single Market and existing significant barriers and deficiencies that curb the full economic potential of European businesses, with better enforcement as one the most crucial challenges ahead of the next Commission. With the growing complexity of regulation, are we able to actually cut the red tape and ensure a level playing field at the same time? And is it not too late for Europe's ambitions?"

European Chat: Rebuilding a Country in War - Using Best Practices for Ukraine's Recovery

"The Russian aggression in Ukraine has caused unprecedented damages to the country’s infrastructure, requiring immediate and continuous support for an effective recovery. It is crucial that a multitude of stakeholders are involved - from international donors and financial institutions to governmental and local entities. Keeping in mind that no recovery can be fully effective without an end to the conflict, what are the main strategies that the rebuilding efforts should follow? What are the lessons learned from the process so far? And how do we ensure that the efforts are directed mainly toward those regions that need them the most?"

Reception

Movie Screening and Debate: 20 Days in Mariupol

Registration, Coffee, and Refreshments

Opening and Welcome Notes

Plenary Panel Discussion: Speed up the Marathon - Revivng the EU's Enlargement Policy

"The Russian aggression awakened the sleeping beauty of the EU’s enlargement policy. The list of candidates for membership now consists of nine countries, including Ukraine, and EU officials are pushing for the formal negotiations with Kyiv to commence already in June, before Hungary takes over the helm in the Council. In the meantime, countries like Montenegro or North Macedonia have been waiting in the Union’s foyer for a number of years without getting much closer to actually entering. Some argue that the time is up to get our own house in order before making any new promises. What should we do to prepare ourselves for the next “Big Bang” growth of the club? And what should the EU do to reinvent the narrative around enlargement, while also taking into account public perceptions?"

Coffee break

Plenary Panel Discussion: A General without an Army? Putting the EU's Deffence and Security in the Political Spotlight

"With the unprecedented decision to fund arms deliveries to Ukraine from the European Peace Facility, the EU emerged as a geopolitical player in the region. Ursula von der Leyen as the main candidate for the job of the next Commission President wants to do more. She plans to create the position of the Commissioner for Defence, who would oversee investments in the defence industry and bringing about a better coordination of the highly fragmented defence capabilities in the member states. Would putting defence policy in the EU’s political spotlight bring a better balance inside NATO? What are the main obstacles that need to be addressed? And will member states like Czechia, France or Poland take the lead?"

Closed Rountable: (Re)uniting Europe - Addressing Cost of EU Enlargment and Non-Enlargment

"The perspective of the next enlargement raises concerns related to the future functioning of the EU - including questions about the Union’s budget, upholding democracy and the rule of law in a broader EU, as well as the governability of the bloc. At the same time, previous enlargement rounds of 2004 and 2007 are sometimes pointed to as lessons to learn from. What are the potential costs of enlargement on one hand and a failed enlargement process on the other for the Union and the candidates? Did the EU accession process in the past ultimately succeed in preparing the candidate countries? Are the discussed changes to the accession process, such as gradual integration or staged accession model, suitable to kick-start the reform momentum in the candidate countries?"

Closed Discussion: Who's Next After Slovakia? The Decline in Support for Ukraine in European Societies

"After last autumn´s parliamentary elections, Slovakia’s stance on the war in Ukraine experienced a sharp turnaround. From a once-firm supporter, the country now turned into a critic of the continuing arms deliveries, and after the recent shooting of the PM Robert Fico, the country plunged into a political crisis. Though there is a broad support for the EU's response to the Russian aggression across Europe, the backing of specific actions of the EU has decreased over the last two years. In November, public support for military help to Ukraine dropped below 50 % for the first time. Furthermore, we see the rise of populistic, nationalistic and far-right parties across Europe. What will this political uncertainty mean for Ukraine? Why is the public support subsiding and can we turn the trend around?"

Chat with Representatives of the Furture European Leaders Forum

Closing Remarks

Glass of Wine