On 28 June 2009, the conference “Deepening Economic and Monetary Union: Necessary Measures and Reforms” was held at the House of Europe, Zagreb, organized by EDIC Slavonski Brod and the EC Representation in Croatia.

The conference is part of the Citizens’ Reflections on the Future of Europe – FuturEU project.

The reason for holding the conference on economic and monetary union is that one of Juncker’s ten political priorities for his term was to strengthen economic and monetary union as a means to more jobs, growth, investment, social justice and economic stability, economic convergence and financial stability for euro area members as well as for the EU as a whole.

Significant progress has recently been made in strengthening the euro area, the European economy has been growing for the seventh year in a row, employment is at a high level, and the European Economic and Monetary Union has achieved greater stability than before. A number of shortcomings identified during the economic, financial and social crisis in the post-2007 period have been removed. Nevertheless, much remains to be done.

The first panel of the conference discussed measures and reforms to be taken to deepen economic and monetary union, the introduction of the euro in Croatia, the future of the fiscal union, including the presentation of best practices relevant to the development of certain parts of the European Union. The experiences of some new EU member states on the political and economic aspects of joining the euro area were also presented.

These topics were discussed in the first part of the conference by panelists – Dr. Ante Bajo, PhD, Institute of Public Finance, Dr. Teodora Kaleyenska, PhD, EDC / Veliko Turnovo University, Višnja Samardžija, PhD, Institute for Development and International Relations and Frank Van Driessche, SRSS, European Commission.

The conference is moderated by Hrvoje Butković, PhD, from the Institute for Development and International Relations.

A discussion ensued during which participants were given answers to some of these questions: Why it is important for EU to have a single currency and to coordinate economic policy making? What are the important features of the euro / currency for market participants to use as an alternative to the US dollar? Which sectors are the main drivers of euro use? Is there room to further increase its use in some other sectors? Croatia and the introduction of the euro as a currency – advantages and disadvantages? What are the benefits of introducing the euro to governments, businesses and consumers? What are the main features of the EU budgetary instrument for convergence and competitiveness? What is a banking union? Introduction of a common deposit insurance scheme for the euro area? What does it seem like to reduce risk in the financial system? What is new in building a capital market union and strengthening the international role of the euro?

In the second panel of the international conference “Deepening the economic and monetary union: the necessary measures and reforms”, an interactive workshop for young people “Citizens’ Reflection on Future of the EU – Different Aspects” was held, led by Iva Sedlić from EDIC Slavonski Brod. Young people discussed in thematic groups the most important European political themes identified in the White Paper on the Future of Europe and other thematic documents, in particular those relating to the status and future of young people. The goals of the EU Youth Strategy for the period from 2019 to 2027, which are a product of the last cycle of structured dialogue, are analyzed; they are based on the views and opinions of more than 50,000 young people from the EU, complement the strategy and represent the vision of Europe that young people want.