On the 1st of May 2019, the Czech Republic celebrated 15 years since its accession to the EU. On that occasion, the European Commission’s Representation in the Czech Republic brought together various stakeholders that were both preparing the entry of the country to the EU and that represent it today, as well as social partners and other important stakeholders. During the conference, the speakers discussed to what extent the Czech standard of living has approximated to those of other EU Member States, what was the influence of EU membership on business and investment in the Czech Republic, and how the financial resources from the EU budget helped Czech economy.
From left: Dana Kovaříková, Head of European Commission’s Representation in the Czech Republic, Milena Hrdinková, State Secretary for the EU Affairs, Office of the Government of the Czech Republic, Věra Jourová, Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, European Commission, H.E. Charles Sheehan, Ambassador of Ireland to the Czech Republic, Vladimír Špidla, former Commis- sioner and Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, and Zdeněk Čech, Economic Counsellor and Deputy Head of European Commission’s Representation in the Czech Republic
From left: Josef Středula, Chairman, Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions, Aleš Chmelař, Deputy Minister for EU Affaires, Ministry of Foreign Affaires CR, Vladimír Dlouhý, President, Czech Chamber of Commerce, and István Pal Szekely, Principal Advisor, DG ECFIN, European Commission
From left: Pavel Bouška, Owner and CEO of VAFO, Radek Špicar, Vice-President of the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic, Hana Fořtová, Founder of Frusack, and David Klimeš, Economia a.s.
From left: Jan Brůha, Director, Economic Research Division, Monetary Department, Czech National Bank, Hilmar Schneider, CEO, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Robert Stehrer, Scientific Director, The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, Septimiu Szabo, Economic Analyst–Czech Desk, DG ECFIN, European Commission, and Pavlína Žáková, Economic Advisor, European Commis- sion Representation in the Czech Republic