A decade ago, the Eurozone crisis resulted in comprehensive reforms of the EMU. In December 2020, leaders of the European Union reached an unprecedented political agreement to counter the effects of the COVID-19 crisis. Their decision led to the EU borrowing on the international financial markets to finance a recovery instrument: the Next Generation EU. While, on one hand, Next Generation EU is a one-time only budgetary facility, it opens the door for the further integration of the EMU. On the other hand, Member States have different views on the way forward in the economic integration.

During the panel discussion organised by the Antall József Knowledge Centre in partnership with the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies, experts will present the findings of the preliminary research paper, focusing on the complex question of a Eurozone enlargement and EMU governance, and analyse in detail the different aspects and perspectives of economic and financial integration.

Has the pandemic changed cohesion between the Member States? What are the challenges of further EMU integration? How attractive is the Eurozone for non-euro Members States? What is the role of intergovernmental decision-making in EMU governance?

PROGRAMME

3pm – 3:05pm Opening Remarks

• Balázs Hamar, Head of Brussels Office, Antall József Knowledge Centre

3:05pm – 3:20pm Presentation of the main results of the research project
 
3:20pm – 4pm Panel Discussion

• Konrad Popławski, Head of the Central European Department, OSW - Centre for Eastern Studies
• Friedrich Heinemann, Head of Corporate Taxation and Public Finance Research Department, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research
• Norbert Szijártó, Junior Research Fellow, Centre for Economic and Regional Studies Institute of World Economics (Hungarian Academy of Sciences) and Adjunct Professor, Corvinus University of Budapest

Moderator: Eoin Drea, Senior Research Officer, Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies

The conference will be held in English.

This event receives financial support from the European Parliament. Sole liability rests with the organisers, the European Parliament is not responsible for the activity. The Antall József Knowledge Centre and the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies reserve the right to change the programme.

REGISTRATION IS CLOSED FOR THE EVENT