Twenty years ago, on 1 May 2004, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia joined the European Union.
These eight CEE nations returned to their European home after decades of divisions—and it changed the Union, as well as newly joined member states. CEE-EU countries gained an opportunity to build strong foundations for their growth story by continuing structural political and economic reforms, integrating into a European single market, opening up to the global economy and facilitating investment.
Read more
The Next 20 years, Jiri Rusnok
CEE EU20 Javorcik 2
“We may say that the last thirty years were the time of easy growth, because it was about catching up, about bringing capital and importing knowledge. Now the hard part starts. We need to grow based on our own innovation, based on our own sources of productivity improvements.”
Beata Javorcik
“Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vivamus sit amet sapien sed nisl accumsan condimentum non elementum lorem. Cras suscipit dolor sapien, euismod accumsan augue ultricies sed.”
Jiří Rusnok
CEE EU20 Rusnok
CEE EU20 Josar
“What’s CEE in 20 years time? How we manage assets is going to rely heavily on artificial intelligence. And sustainable investment will become a norm—before 20 years, hopefully. And the businesses will transform themselves really radically. And how? Only time will tell.”
Benjamin Jošar
“To be able to manage the pace of development with the rest of Europe and the world—so we have to be able to innovate our industry, innovate the sources of our well-being. Generally speaking, to keep functioning all the necessary rules for society, staying on the open principle for democratic societies.”
Jiří Rusnok
CEE EU20 Disruption
Marta video
“PwC was a trusted advisor throughout the process, and they’re still at it. They helped us determine the right business model for the new company (and had the data to back it up) and then helped us to identify and work through the issues. They really functioned as an integral part of our team.”
David Eisenberg,Chief Strategy Officer, LiveRamp“The EU is about partnership. CEE has contributed a great deal to European growth and we need to remember that. EU membership has helped to create a business environment in CEE that has allowed businesses from the EU to invest and benefit from our markets.”
Agnieszka Gajewska
