The 10th European Congress of Local Government

I spoke at the Mikolajki Economic Forum in Poland on 3 and 4 March in my capacity as Director of the Jean Monnet Association.

The European Congress of Local Government, as it is known, is Europe's largest platform for dialogue, cooperation, the exchange of good governance practice and meetings for local government leaders and all the stakeholders involved in local life.

Representatives from all levels of local government and foreign guests from dozens of countries attended the event, with over 2,000 participants. Non-governmental organisations, members of foreign governments, representatives from the worlds of science and industry, as well as representatives from the worlds of culture and business, were all well represented. This 10th edition of the European Congress of Local Government was a unique venue, where the ideas of tomorrow were forged today.

My panel was moderated by Piotr Małecki, Chairman of the Board of Defence24. We discussed the current geopolitical situation and the prospects for the end of the war in Ukraine. We addressed issues related to international relations, including the role of the United States, the European Union, Russia and China. We also reflected on the future of Poland and other countries in this part of Europe in the context of the ongoing conflict.

Among the speakers with me were MP Andrzej Grzyb, Chairman of the National Defence Committee of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, General Waldemar Skrzypczak, former Commander of the Polish Land Forces, Viacheslav Rubliov, MP of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada and Martina Heranová, Head of the Security Studies Department of the Czech Institute CEVO.

We have all agreed on the need for a rapid rearmament of the European Union.

Olivier Védrine