The Vice-Governor of the Czech National Bank Jan Frait, member of the National Economic Council Petr Zahradník, Chief Economist of Creditas Bank Petr Dufek, and Director of the Slovak Debt and Liquidity Management Agency Daniel Bytčánek were the keynote speakers at the international scientific conference Economic and Societal Challenges of the European Economy. The event was held on May 20–21, 2025, and organized by the Department of Economics and Public Administration of the School of Business Administration in Karviná in cooperation with the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of St. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava.

Experts debated, for example, whether the common European currency – the euro – is beneficial for the economies of individual states as well as for Europe as a whole. The program also addressed current economic topics, such as how the European economy can cope with global competition or how to improve the efficiency of public administration. Issues related to social policy in the European context were also given attention.

Approximately sixty participants attended the conference held in the inspiring setting of Zámeček Petrovice – including representatives of universities from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland, as well as experts from the public sector and private companies. The event also featured roundtable discussions and networking sessions aimed at sharing experiences and exploring ways to modernize the teaching of economics subjects.

The conference also included a meeting of departments responsible for economics education from economically oriented universities in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The main topic of discussion among the representatives was the meaningful implementation of innovative elements in the teaching of economics subjects. This exchange brought many inspiring ideas for the future work of all participants.

The entire event was enhanced by a friendly atmosphere, thanks not only to the excellent cuisine of the Zámeček venue but also to the rich accompanying program, which provided space for networking and informal exchange of experiences.

We would like to thank all participants for their valuable contributions, and we look forward to the next edition of this inspiring conference – Economic and Societal Challenges of the European Economy!