{"id":28686,"date":"2018-11-30T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-11-29T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aspeninstitutece.softmedia.cz\/news-article\/the-shape-of-central-europe-2018\/"},"modified":"2018-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2018-11-29T23:00:00","slug":"the-shape-of-central-europe-2018","status":"publish","type":"news-article","link":"https:\/\/www.aspeninstitutece.org\/cs\/news-article\/the-shape-of-central-europe-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"The Shape of Central Europe 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

This year’s Aspen Annual conference\u00a0The Shape of Central Europe<\/strong>, organized in cooperation with the Economia Media House, took place on 22 November at the Prague Crossroads.<\/em><\/p>\n

The aim of the conference was to thoroughly evaluate the political, economic and social development of the Czech Republic in the context of Central Europe. We have built upon the successful years of the past and focused once again on an analysis of five key areas: competitiveness, quality of governance,\u00a0education, defense and security and quality of life.<\/em><\/p>\n

Program<\/a><\/p>\n

The comprehensive study<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0of our expert groups has traditionally\u00a0highlighted the most serious problems in individual areas<\/strong>. The results of the research in the five panels were discussed by figures from politics, business or academia. At the end of the conference, as always, we prepared a summary of the most pressing issues in the given areas and a draft recommendation addressed to those who decide on the future of the Czech Republic.<\/p>\n

The video presentations<\/strong>\u00a0of the panels are available here:<\/p>\n

Competitiveness<\/a>\u00a0| \u00a0Quality of Governance<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Education<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Defense and Security<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Quality of Life<\/a><\/p>\n

The conference was opened by\u00a0Ivan Hod\u00e1\u010d<\/strong>\u00a0(Aspen Institute CE),\u00a0Zuzana \u0158ezn\u00ed\u010dkov\u00e1<\/strong>\u00a0(Economia Media House) and finally by\u00a0Dan Porterfield\u00a0<\/strong>(The Aspen Institute, US). Mr. Porterfield made reference to the life and work of Madeleine Albright and V\u00e1clav Havel. He emphasized the importance of the values that Aspen promotes world-wide, such as leadership and\u00a0democratic principles, and closed his speech with a message that dialogue must lead to action, and action must lead to impact, thus both words and deeds are needed.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/DanPorterfield\/status\/1067095791012073472<\/p>\n

I. Competitiveness<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This was followed by a keynote on digital opportunities by\u00a0Nicklas Lundblad<\/strong>\u00a0(Google), who\u00a0introduced the opportunities that digitalization can bring. He spoke about the new growth models that will be needed in Europe and the importance of a tighter interconnection of markets. Last but not least,\u00a0he highlighted areas in which technologies can not replace the human factor and declared that\u00a0„learning is the new fitness“<\/em>.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/nicklaslundblad\/status\/1065575878212624384<\/p>\n

The panel discussion led by\u00a0Michala Hergetov\u00e1<\/strong>\u00a0(Czech Television)\u00a0<\/strong>elaborated on the steps needed for the improvement of competitiveness. This discussion included topics such as the education system, public administration, digital transformation, the importance of technological innovations, the rigid labor market or the lack of cooperation between the public and private sectors. The initial presentation was prepared by\u00a0David V\u00e1vra<\/strong>\u00a0(OGResearch) and discussed by\u00a0Vladim\u00edr B\u00e4rtl<\/strong>\u00a0(Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry),\u00a0Tom\u00e1\u0161 Karakolev<\/strong>\u00a0(McKinsey),\u00a0\u00a0Ond\u0159ej Vl\u010dek<\/strong>\u00a0(Avast) and\u00a0Michal Sko\u0159epa\u00a0<\/strong>(Ceska sporitelna). Despite extremely low unemployment figures, there is still a great deal of room for improvement. The distinguished speakers addressed the issue of one million people being in debt. The panel agreed that it is essential to focus on disadvantaged groups rather than providing benefits for people, who simply refuse to work. The panel also covered more topics such as gender inequality, investment incentives or the flexibility of the existing workforce.<\/p>\n

II. Quality of Governance<\/h2>\n

The second panel consisting of the distinguished speakers\u00a0Vladim\u00edr Dzurilla<\/strong>\u00a0(PM’s ICT Advisor), P\u00e9ter Krek\u00f3<\/strong>\u00a0(Political Capital) and\u00a0Mat\u011bj Petr\u00e1sek<\/strong>\u00a0(DigiLion) began with a presentation by\u00a0Karel \u0160imka<\/strong>\u00a0(Supreme Administrative Court).\u00a0The discussion elaborated on digitalization and all the challenges which accompany it, such as corruption, data handling by state and private companies, or the imposed pressure on digital companies by states, concerning the struggle against fake news.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/AspenInstCE\/status\/1065556796218187776<\/p>\n

The speakers consequently expressed their convictions about the need for ongoing cooperation within the public administration in order to create quality digital services. It was stated that it is important to differ between necessary and unnecessary processes that should be digitalized. The process of digitalization from the United Kingdom was used as an example for the Czech Republic. Last but not least, the budget for digital technology development, as well as protection against cyber-attacks, etc, was a point of discussion.<\/p>\n

III. Education<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A discussion, based on a study by\u00a0Bohumil Kartous<\/strong>\u00a0(EDUin) which assessed education, was followed by a fruitful debate between Robert Plaga\u00a0<\/strong>(Minister of Education),\u00a0Zsuzsanna M\u00e1trai<\/strong>\u00a0(Microsoft),\u00a0Ji\u0159\u00ed Nantl\u00a0<\/strong>(CEITEC) and\u00a0Michal P\u011bchou\u010dek\u00a0<\/strong>(Czech Technical University). The most pressing issues identified were the under-financing of the education system, the gap in the quality of education between regions, the low attractiveness of the teaching profession or the lack of teachers. The debate expanded on the evident lack of engagement by parents in the education of their children. This passivity could have resulted in the government failing to prioritize the education system above other things and being satisfied with the average condition of the Czech education system.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

A lively debate emerged when the distinguished panelists discussed public and private schools, as well as the\u00a0insufficient openness of the system to people from the working world. Opening the education system up to professionals outside the education system can only be of great benefit. One of the quicker solutions might be targeting the positions of directors who should primarily be qualified pedagogical managers.<\/p>\n

IV. Defense and Security<\/h2>\n

The conference proceeded with a debate on the lack of consensus as to what threats governments should primarily focus on. The study on Defense and Security was organized by\u00a0Tom\u00e1\u0161 Pojar<\/strong>\u00a0(CEVRO) and discussed with the panelists\u00a0Jakub Landovsk\u00fd\u00a0<\/strong>(Deputy Minister of Defense), Gen. (ret.) Petr Pavel\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Jan Lipavsk\u00fd<\/strong>\u00a0(MP, Parliamentary Committee on Defense).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The speakers agreed that there is a persisting lack of money invested in national defenses and that systems of procurement are also extremely challenging.\u00a0A\u00a0debate on the threats that the Czech Republic faces at present came to the conclusion that the\u00a0non-military steps of the Russian Federation can have far more serious implications than open military conflict. The discussion further emphasized the importance of correctly identifying threats in order to efficiently distribute financial resources to certain areas, such as cyber security. The discussion continued with a debate on the project of a European army and that it is extremely irresponsible and irrelevant to discuss a future platform that might potentially become a competitor to NATO given the current circumstances.<\/p>\n

V. Quality of Life<\/h2>\n

The last panel was dedicated to Quality of Life in the Czech Republic.\u00a0Daniel Prokop\u00a0<\/strong>(Median) prepared with his team an analysis linking the different levels of quality of life with different modes of political behavior. The panel consisting of\u00a0Jana Mal\u00e1\u010dov\u00e1<\/strong>\u00a0(Minister of\u00a0Labor and Social Affairs),\u00a0V\u00edt Raku\u0161an<\/strong>\u00a0(Mayor of Kol\u00edn) and\u00a0Melinda Mikl\u00f3s<\/strong>\u00a0(We Are Open)\u00a0elaborated on the prospects of erasing the great inequalities in quality of life, both between and within regions and districts.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The panelists analyzed key issues that have significant impacts on regional inequality, placing an emphasis on equal opportunity, quality of education, infrastructure, investments into so-called soft skills or the importance of focusing on debt relief solutions. The need for an individual approach to each region was expressed by the speakers throughout the entire debate.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/AspenInstCE\/status\/1065626464597524482<\/p>\n

Assistance could be provided by defining the minimal standard. This panel then covered the topic of low fertility rates and an aging population, arguing that investments into retirement homes are indispensable in the foreseeable future. The panel also expressed concerns about the difficulty to combine family life with work life, this being the reason whey there is a need to focus on pre-school services and benefits for families.\u00a0Allowing for participation in city life, also beyond elections, could also be a remedy. Every inhabitant needs to feel that there is something happening in the community so as to build upon the desire to actively participate in the city.<\/p>\n

Final Recommendations<\/h2>\n

Zden\u011bk T\u016fma<\/strong>\u00a0(KPMG) and\u00a0Ivan\u00a0Hod\u00e1\u010d<\/strong>\u00a0(Aspen Institute CE)\u00a0summarized\u00a0the final recommendations and evaluated the outputs of the conference, during which almost all the panels made mention of distraints, obsolescence of education and the inflexible\u00a0state administration as the biggest problems for the development of the Czech Republic. They also\u00a0revealed\u00a0the results of the\u00a0sli.do poll<\/em>\u00a0in which the conference participants voted on what steps should be taken in the first place in the future. The most votes were received by „an increase in investment in the education system and an equal level of teachers‘ salaries with the salaries of other graduates“<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Gala Dinner<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A gala dinner was held at the end of the day at the\u00a0Trade Fair Palace<\/strong>.\u00a0At this ceremony, Aspen Institute CE announced\u00a0the Aspen Prague Award 2018\u00a0<\/strong>to\u00a0Senator John Sidney McCain III\u00a0in memoriam<\/strong>\u00a0for his understanding and support for the path towards democracy of the nations of Central and Eastern Europe, and for helping strengthen the region’s position in the world after the fall of the Iron Curtain. Cindy McCain subsequently expressed thanks for the award in a video greeting. The main guest of the evening was\u00a0Timothy Snyder<\/strong>, Professor of History at Yale University (Richard C. Levin) and the Institute of Humanities in Vienna with a speech entitled\u00a0„Central Europe: Memory or History?“<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Gala Dinner Video<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/VainioTanja\/status\/1065728905892499457<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Read the English summary of our 2018 Annual Conference!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":12276,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"news-tag":[577],"class_list":["post-28686","news-article","type-news-article","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-tag-vyrocni-konference"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aspeninstitutece.org\/cs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-article\/28686","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aspeninstitutece.org\/cs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aspeninstitutece.org\/cs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news-article"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aspeninstitutece.org\/cs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12276"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aspeninstitutece.org\/cs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28686"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"news-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aspeninstitutece.org\/cs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tag?post=28686"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}