On Monday, November 21st, The European Institute will host a special discussion with The Honorable Tomáš Prouza, State Secretary for European Affairs of the Czech Republic and Ambassador Martin Povejšil, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the European Union on “What Next for Europe & Transatlantic Relations?”
As the new U.S. Administration prepares to assume office, one of the key items on its agenda will be strengthening relations across the Atlantic. The European Union is currently facing complex challenges that strike at the heart of the European project including devolutionary forces, exemplified by Brexit; the political, humanitarian and economic pressures of a historic migration of peoples not seen since World War II; external security threats such as those posed by an increasingly assertive Russia and growing internal security concerns spurred by increased terrorist activity by foreign fighters, many of them citizens of the EU.
Secretary Prouza and Ambassador Povejšil will offer their perspectives on the Central European approach to these challenges, including the strengthening of European Security and Defense, and the core elements necessary for both Europe and the United States to solidify and sustain their unique relationship.
Prior to his appointment as State Secretary for European Affairs in 2014, Mr. Prouza served as a Senior Specialist at the World Bank, and as Deputy Minister of Finance from 2004 to 2007. Ambassador Povejšil has served as the Czech Permanent Representative to the EU since September 2012, and prior to that served as the Czech Ambassador to NATO for three years.