On Monday, 12 May 2025, President Petr Pavel inaugurated the first edition of the Europe as a Task conference with an opening speech delivered in the Spanish Hall of Prague Castle. In his remarks, he emphasized the urgent need to strengthen the security, competitiveness, and capacity to act of the European Union in light of today’s rapidly shifting international landscape.

"After decades of relative peace and stability, Europe now faces a fundamental transformation of the international order. The security threat posed by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, pressure on our economy, and growing global competition are stark reminders that the European Union is not a finished project," President Pavel stated. He called for Czechia to take an active and constructive role in shaping new EU initiatives.

"Europe is a task. A task that demands determination and a constant effort to propose improvements," he concluded.

The conference's keynote guest was Sauli Niinistö, Special Adviser to the President of the European Commission and former President of Finland, who drew on his recently published report on EU crisis preparedness and security. The second keynote speaker, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Teresa Ribera, highlighted the close interconnection between security and competitiveness.

A high-level panel discussion followed, featuring leading European experts on EU policy, including European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela. The debate focused on the future direction of the Union, its global role, and Czechia’s place within European integration.

More than 500 Czech and foreign guests attended the opening of the conference, including representatives from government, civil society, the private sector, media, and academia, as well as students.

The newly established Europe as a Task conference, held under this year’s theme A Path to Prosperity in a Changing World, builds on last year’s celebrations marking 20 years of Czech membership in the EU. It is the largest Czech forum dedicated to European affairs. The first day of the two-day event took place at Prague Castle, with expert discussions continuing on the second day at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. The conference is organized by the Institute of International Relations, the Association for International Affairs, and EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy. More information is available on the official conference website.

The full text of President Pavel’s speech is available here.