1 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:44,040 [Music] 2 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:28,830 [Music] 3 00:07:28,830 --> 00:07:30,840 [Applause] 4 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:37,318 [Music] 5 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:44,080 uh 6 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:46,000 welcome everybody good afternoon we 7 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:48,319 continue with the sessions at the globe 8 00:07:48,319 --> 00:07:51,120 sac 2021 british lava forum and for this 9 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:52,319 next session 10 00:07:52,319 --> 00:07:53,759 we're going to be discussing the eu 11 00:07:53,759 --> 00:07:56,240 economic reboot on track towards 12 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:59,840 resilient economies 13 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:02,160 please keep using the globe sac app with 14 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:03,599 the questions we're here ready to 15 00:08:03,599 --> 00:08:05,360 receive them and hopefully to answer all 16 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:07,360 of them of course during the session 17 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:08,879 we're gonna also get some questions from 18 00:08:08,879 --> 00:08:10,400 you here in the audience those who are 19 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:11,360 physically with us 20 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:13,360 in the room and i have to remind you 21 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:14,639 that 22 00:08:14,639 --> 00:08:16,240 this session is of course streamed 23 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:18,639 online at it will be broadcast 24 00:08:18,639 --> 00:08:21,759 so if you are in the room uh 25 00:08:21,759 --> 00:08:24,000 try to check if there are cameras around 26 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:25,680 you so that you know the stream goes 27 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:26,000 well 28 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:27,520 and we can be joined by as many people 29 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:29,759 as possible the session will last one 30 00:08:29,759 --> 00:08:30,240 hour 31 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:31,840 we will get questions towards the end of 32 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:33,919 it and 33 00:08:33,919 --> 00:08:36,958 without further ado 34 00:08:37,519 --> 00:08:39,519 the policy response to the pandemic has 35 00:08:39,519 --> 00:08:41,599 been hardly debated across all the 36 00:08:41,599 --> 00:08:42,719 european union and 37 00:08:42,719 --> 00:08:44,560 in the european capital since spring 38 00:08:44,560 --> 00:08:46,720 last year a shared solution materialized 39 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:48,399 into a rescue package 40 00:08:48,399 --> 00:08:51,040 five times larger than the marshall plan 41 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:52,880 with the aim of providing relief 42 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:56,080 and increasing eu economies resilience 43 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:57,760 how will it work how are we going to get 44 00:08:57,760 --> 00:08:59,519 there and how we are going to 45 00:08:59,519 --> 00:09:01,600 jump start the economies of the eu 46 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:04,000 member states and consequently 47 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:05,760 the economy of the bloc this is what 48 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:07,200 we're going to discuss with our speakers 49 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:09,200 today i'm very pleased to be joined here 50 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:10,160 on stage 51 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:12,880 by carl halvicek deputy prime minister 52 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:14,720 minister of industry and trade minister 53 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:15,440 of transport 54 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:22,880 czech republic 55 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:24,560 edward hagger prime minister of the 56 00:09:24,560 --> 00:09:27,518 slovak republic 57 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:31,760 and sebastian kurtz chancellor of the 58 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:37,839 republic of austria 59 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:41,360 thank you so much for being here it's a 60 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:43,040 great pleasure to have you all here for 61 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:44,560 this session as we are discussing of 62 00:09:44,560 --> 00:09:45,920 course some of the most important 63 00:09:45,920 --> 00:09:47,440 economic issues when we're looking at 64 00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:49,200 the future of the european union and of 65 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:49,760 the member 66 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:52,320 states and let me start with the asking 67 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:52,959 you 68 00:09:52,959 --> 00:09:56,640 on the recovery and resilience facility 69 00:09:56,640 --> 00:09:58,399 of course there's been so much debate 70 00:09:58,399 --> 00:10:00,080 over it and do you think 71 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:01,360 chancellor let's start with you do you 72 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:03,839 think it will be enough to jump start 73 00:10:03,839 --> 00:10:06,959 this recovery and the economies 74 00:10:06,959 --> 00:10:08,480 well first of all thank you very much 75 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:10,959 for inviting me to the globsec 76 00:10:10,959 --> 00:10:12,160 conference 77 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:15,120 um and to answer your question yes i i 78 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:17,200 think that it will be enough 79 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:20,560 and i would also say it has to be enough 80 00:10:20,560 --> 00:10:21,920 you know that 81 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:24,320 austria and some other countries in the 82 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:25,440 european union 83 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:27,839 the so-called frugal countries were 84 00:10:27,839 --> 00:10:29,600 quite skeptical at the 85 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:33,279 about the recovery fund at the beginning 86 00:10:33,279 --> 00:10:35,279 we agreed in the end because we think 87 00:10:35,279 --> 00:10:37,120 that the package is good 88 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:39,279 um we think that this decision was good 89 00:10:39,279 --> 00:10:41,680 and we think that it was necessary 90 00:10:41,680 --> 00:10:44,320 um to invest a lot of money to to kick 91 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:46,160 start the economy but 92 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:49,600 we would have not agreed to a permanent 93 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:50,000 debt 94 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:53,839 union and we do not 95 00:10:53,839 --> 00:10:56,959 want to repeat it several times we 96 00:10:56,959 --> 00:11:00,079 think that it was a tool necessary 97 00:11:00,079 --> 00:11:03,120 at this time but nothing we should 98 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:04,079 repeat 99 00:11:04,079 --> 00:11:07,360 um quite often and so 100 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:10,560 i think it is not only enough it has to 101 00:11:10,560 --> 00:11:11,680 be enough 102 00:11:11,680 --> 00:11:14,560 and i think it should also it would also 103 00:11:14,560 --> 00:11:15,839 be good to remember 104 00:11:15,839 --> 00:11:18,880 ourselves why we are talking about the 105 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:21,279 need to kick-start our economy 106 00:11:21,279 --> 00:11:25,360 the reason for the um economic 107 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:29,279 um um uh or for the negative 108 00:11:29,279 --> 00:11:32,720 development of our economies we had is 109 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:35,440 uh the pandemic and most people here are 110 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:36,720 still wearing masks 111 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:39,279 we still have some rules necessary rules 112 00:11:39,279 --> 00:11:40,560 at the moment 113 00:11:40,560 --> 00:11:42,240 but in austria for example we have more 114 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:44,480 than 50 percent of our people vaccinated 115 00:11:44,480 --> 00:11:45,279 so far 116 00:11:45,279 --> 00:11:47,360 um at the beginning of summer we will 117 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:48,800 have more than 50 118 00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:51,600 vaccinated in all eu member states by 119 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:51,920 the 120 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:54,160 end of summer we will have two thirds or 121 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:56,480 70 or 75 percent 122 00:11:56,480 --> 00:11:58,560 vaccinated in most european member 123 00:11:58,560 --> 00:12:00,000 states so i think 124 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:03,279 there's a good chance that we win 125 00:12:03,279 --> 00:12:04,639 against the pandemic 126 00:12:04,639 --> 00:12:07,760 and that we can go back to a normal 127 00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:10,399 situation and this is the best support 128 00:12:10,399 --> 00:12:11,760 for our economy 129 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:14,240 and so my answer would be yes i think it 130 00:12:14,240 --> 00:12:15,839 is more than enough 131 00:12:15,839 --> 00:12:17,760 it's okay that we did it but it is more 132 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:19,440 than enough and now we should not 133 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:20,320 discuss 134 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:23,440 if we need more we should focus more on 135 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:24,320 the debate 136 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:26,320 where to invest because i think it's not 137 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:28,639 only important how much we invest 138 00:12:28,639 --> 00:12:31,120 it's even more important where we 139 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:31,760 invested 140 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:33,120 now you just mentioned some of that 141 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:34,959 skepticism that the frugal countries had 142 00:12:34,959 --> 00:12:36,480 in the beginning with the conversations 143 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:38,000 and some really heated debates 144 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:39,279 would you say that now there is less 145 00:12:39,279 --> 00:12:42,160 skepticism yes there is less 146 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:46,240 skepticism because we agreed on numbers 147 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:50,079 we agreed on a wider package including 148 00:12:50,079 --> 00:12:53,200 rule of law and other criterias 149 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:56,079 um we agreed that there should be a main 150 00:12:56,079 --> 00:12:57,200 focus 151 00:12:57,200 --> 00:13:00,320 on investment in digitalization and 152 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:03,680 also um in in in green 153 00:13:03,680 --> 00:13:06,959 uh economy which makes our economies 154 00:13:06,959 --> 00:13:09,279 more resilient and 155 00:13:09,279 --> 00:13:12,000 also more powerful uh and last but not 156 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:12,720 least 157 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:15,920 we also agreed that it is a single tool 158 00:13:15,920 --> 00:13:19,120 uh and that it is not a permanent debt 159 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:21,279 union which was for us the most 160 00:13:21,279 --> 00:13:22,480 important point 161 00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:24,240 thank you so much uh prime minister 162 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:25,519 hagar what's your take on that would 163 00:13:25,519 --> 00:13:26,000 that be 164 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:28,320 enough and what are some of the 165 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:30,480 cornerstones of national strategies in 166 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:32,000 your case 167 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:34,320 well first of all i think it's uh 168 00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:35,360 important to 169 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:38,320 look at the time when it was agreed it 170 00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:39,040 wasn't 171 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:42,560 easy that this proposal uh was born 172 00:13:42,560 --> 00:13:44,639 uh because of the discussion we had and 173 00:13:44,639 --> 00:13:46,480 there was a lot of question marks on the 174 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:47,040 risks 175 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:50,480 of this uh whole action but yes we are 176 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:51,040 here 177 00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:53,839 it's been uh decided it's been agreed 178 00:13:53,839 --> 00:13:55,120 that's important 179 00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:58,399 but i think we have to think of a strong 180 00:13:58,399 --> 00:14:01,199 element of this whole package and the 181 00:14:01,199 --> 00:14:02,639 the element is the 182 00:14:02,639 --> 00:14:06,320 uh focus on reforms because that was 183 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:09,440 the condition of the uh responsible 184 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:10,800 countries as i would say 185 00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:13,600 we said okay if we want to uh invest a 186 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:14,480 lot of money 187 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:16,320 out of the government pockets and 188 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:17,839 increase the debt 189 00:14:17,839 --> 00:14:21,040 we have to have the investments into 190 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:24,079 or linked with the reforms so because we 191 00:14:24,079 --> 00:14:25,760 know the reforms are the ones that bring 192 00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:27,360 the healthy public 193 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:30,480 finances so that must be going hand in 194 00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:32,240 hand in order to prevent 195 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:35,360 a further growth of the debt rather uh 196 00:14:35,360 --> 00:14:37,680 having instruments where the debt could 197 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:38,399 later on 198 00:14:38,399 --> 00:14:41,839 be decreased by uh helping the economies 199 00:14:41,839 --> 00:14:42,880 to grow 200 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:45,519 so and therefore the pension reform tax 201 00:14:45,519 --> 00:14:46,320 reform 202 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:48,800 uh education reforms and it depends from 203 00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:50,079 country to country 204 00:14:50,079 --> 00:14:52,160 but the element of reforms must be 205 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:54,160 discussed i think every time we speak 206 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:56,000 about this package of the money because 207 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:58,639 if we don't conduct the reforms 208 00:14:58,639 --> 00:15:00,880 we invest the money but it won't have 209 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:02,240 such uh 210 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:05,040 such impact as it should be and as i 211 00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:05,760 said 212 00:15:05,760 --> 00:15:08,160 uh the milestones in the recovery plans 213 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:10,240 are based on the fact that in the first 214 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:11,279 couple years 215 00:15:11,279 --> 00:15:14,399 should be developed or conducted the 216 00:15:14,399 --> 00:15:15,199 reforms 217 00:15:15,199 --> 00:15:17,279 and we know that the investments take a 218 00:15:17,279 --> 00:15:18,240 longer time 219 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:20,160 when we speak on the investments i fully 220 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:22,880 agree it's very important to 221 00:15:22,880 --> 00:15:26,959 speak where to invest this is one time 222 00:15:26,959 --> 00:15:29,839 great activity first time in the history 223 00:15:29,839 --> 00:15:31,759 of eu where we take such a debt where we 224 00:15:31,759 --> 00:15:32,240 take 225 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:35,360 actually that together uh in in this way 226 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:38,720 so we have to be very wise but it's 227 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:40,880 only a kind of the beginning because we 228 00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:43,120 know also from the part of slovakia 229 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:45,519 that our recovery plan doesn't include 230 00:15:45,519 --> 00:15:46,399 everything 231 00:15:46,399 --> 00:15:49,440 and we have to do a lot of uh 232 00:15:49,440 --> 00:15:53,199 changes in in the regulations 233 00:15:53,199 --> 00:15:55,360 and allow the business environment to 234 00:15:55,360 --> 00:15:56,320 grow 235 00:15:56,320 --> 00:15:59,040 and what's important what happened also 236 00:15:59,040 --> 00:16:00,320 during this year 237 00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:02,240 there was a and last year there was a 238 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:03,600 massive help 239 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:06,240 of the economies that's not really part 240 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:07,680 of the recovery plan 241 00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:09,600 where we invested a lot of money and 242 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:11,519 increased the depth of our countries 243 00:16:11,519 --> 00:16:14,320 to to help the the environment business 244 00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:15,920 environment to survive 245 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:18,000 and that was very important so this goes 246 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:18,959 hand in hand 247 00:16:18,959 --> 00:16:20,320 and we have to see it as the whole 248 00:16:20,320 --> 00:16:23,360 package thank you deputy prime minister 249 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:26,480 well first of all thank you very much uh 250 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:28,639 it's very pleasure for me to me that you 251 00:16:28,639 --> 00:16:31,120 is an honor for me and congratulations 252 00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:32,720 to the football team of austria and 253 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:35,040 slovakia and czech republic because all 254 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:37,630 of these teams they won as you know 255 00:16:37,630 --> 00:16:41,279 [Applause] 256 00:16:41,279 --> 00:16:42,880 well but from the point of view of 257 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:44,480 recovery and resilience 258 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:47,279 facility so from the point of view of 259 00:16:47,279 --> 00:16:48,560 the czech republic 260 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:51,680 it will not be the only instrument 261 00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:55,120 but it could be the key instrument 262 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:58,079 definitely what are the priorities or or 263 00:16:58,079 --> 00:16:58,800 let's say the 264 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:01,279 main vehicles in the czech republic the 265 00:17:01,279 --> 00:17:03,199 fresh this is a 266 00:17:03,199 --> 00:17:06,480 industry efficiency we are medium-sized 267 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:07,199 country 268 00:17:07,199 --> 00:17:09,439 and it's not about amount it's not about 269 00:17:09,439 --> 00:17:11,359 revenues about turnover because i came 270 00:17:11,359 --> 00:17:13,280 from business from small and medium 271 00:17:13,280 --> 00:17:15,119 sized business i i know that 272 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:17,039 medium-sized business it's 273 00:17:17,039 --> 00:17:19,679 based on efficiency not on the turnover 274 00:17:19,679 --> 00:17:20,959 on the revenues 275 00:17:20,959 --> 00:17:23,760 and to achieve the uh for efficiency 276 00:17:23,760 --> 00:17:25,679 that means that we have to invest and to 277 00:17:25,679 --> 00:17:26,480 do innovation 278 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:28,640 into the research to the development 279 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:30,640 into the science and you can expect a 280 00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:31,600 few 281 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:34,080 years uh we can expect that we will be 282 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:34,640 aided 283 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:37,120 value uh oriented economy this is the 284 00:17:37,120 --> 00:17:37,679 first 285 00:17:37,679 --> 00:17:40,080 sms activity as a small and medium 286 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:41,440 enterprises 287 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:43,760 we are the smes country and as i know 288 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:45,280 your countries they are also based on 289 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:47,360 the small and medium enterprises 290 00:17:47,360 --> 00:17:50,000 and 99 percent of all the companies they 291 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:52,160 are active as a small and medium 292 00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:54,160 companies it's extremely important from 293 00:17:54,160 --> 00:17:56,320 the point of view of regional activities 294 00:17:56,320 --> 00:17:57,520 services and 295 00:17:57,520 --> 00:17:59,520 let's say the niche marketing is a very 296 00:17:59,520 --> 00:18:00,559 flexible 297 00:18:00,559 --> 00:18:02,080 environment which you have to prepare 298 00:18:02,080 --> 00:18:04,480 for small small companies 299 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:07,919 startup and spin-offs for creativity 300 00:18:07,919 --> 00:18:09,919 we need young people they are starting 301 00:18:09,919 --> 00:18:11,039 their business 302 00:18:11,039 --> 00:18:15,120 we need of new technologies we need 303 00:18:15,120 --> 00:18:17,760 for let's say the new companies uh they 304 00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:18,400 are 305 00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:21,039 starting uh the business at the regional 306 00:18:21,039 --> 00:18:21,919 regional 307 00:18:21,919 --> 00:18:24,440 uh levels and of course we need uh 308 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:26,000 unbureaucratic uh 309 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:28,960 public sectors and it's important to say 310 00:18:28,960 --> 00:18:29,679 that even 311 00:18:29,679 --> 00:18:31,600 before the crisis the czech republic we 312 00:18:31,600 --> 00:18:32,720 defined 313 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:34,960 uh the new priorities we completely 314 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:36,480 changed the priorities at the level of 315 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:38,320 czech republic and we start 316 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:40,960 to invest into the research development 317 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:42,160 and we have 318 00:18:42,160 --> 00:18:44,240 introduced the so-called innovation 319 00:18:44,240 --> 00:18:46,000 strategy which is called the czech 320 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:48,320 republic country for the future 321 00:18:48,320 --> 00:18:51,760 and that's from our point of view 322 00:18:51,760 --> 00:18:55,120 the key step because 323 00:18:55,120 --> 00:18:58,480 it includes the new system of financing 324 00:18:58,480 --> 00:18:58,960 and 325 00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:00,400 evaluation of the research and 326 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:02,320 development new system of the 327 00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:04,000 digitization of 328 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:06,880 the czech republic 329 00:19:07,039 --> 00:19:09,520 we are creating the environment for 330 00:19:09,520 --> 00:19:11,120 startups and and 331 00:19:11,120 --> 00:19:14,240 pin-offs uh starting to uh to 332 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:17,440 support smart investments 333 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:21,679 and so on and also we are promoting 334 00:19:21,679 --> 00:19:23,679 the new brand of the czech republic no 335 00:19:23,679 --> 00:19:26,160 more length of stories but 336 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:27,600 as a country for the future we would 337 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:28,960 like to present the czech republic and 338 00:19:28,960 --> 00:19:30,960 promote the czech republic 339 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:33,120 no more as a country of the chi beer as 340 00:19:33,120 --> 00:19:34,160 a beautiful 341 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:36,000 country site and the charles bridge that 342 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:37,600 is a country of the knowledge is 343 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:41,120 innovation uh science and university and 344 00:19:41,120 --> 00:19:43,840 uh for recovery and tourism resilience 345 00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:44,400 plan 346 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:47,039 uh is based on this innovation strategy 347 00:19:47,039 --> 00:19:48,640 and the question if it's enough 348 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:50,640 from our point of view the amount it's 349 00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:53,200 enough so there's also a moment to 350 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:54,720 to change and innovate and to come up 351 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:56,480 with the new ideas now after this year 352 00:19:56,480 --> 00:19:57,200 of course 353 00:19:57,200 --> 00:19:58,400 now all the three countries have 354 00:19:58,400 --> 00:19:59,919 submitted their plans and all of them 355 00:19:59,919 --> 00:20:01,520 are based on the eu guidance of course 356 00:20:01,520 --> 00:20:03,200 when it comes to green ambitions when it 357 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:05,679 comes to digitalization 358 00:20:05,679 --> 00:20:07,280 but at the same time when it comes to 359 00:20:07,280 --> 00:20:08,799 the eu funds they're of course 360 00:20:08,799 --> 00:20:11,760 tied to the issue of conditionality and 361 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:13,520 some structural reforms 362 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:15,520 for many many people in europe once you 363 00:20:15,520 --> 00:20:18,000 hear structural reforms 364 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:20,559 you think of some very strict control at 365 00:20:20,559 --> 00:20:21,919 the same time that's of course some 366 00:20:21,919 --> 00:20:23,360 memories that we have from the financial 367 00:20:23,360 --> 00:20:24,960 crisis now where is this balance in 368 00:20:24,960 --> 00:20:26,480 terms of how to 369 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:28,400 uh try to make sure that the funds are 370 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:29,919 of course used with the 371 00:20:29,919 --> 00:20:32,000 respect to the eu guidance with the 372 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:34,080 national strategies respecting the needs 373 00:20:34,080 --> 00:20:36,159 of every eu member but also 374 00:20:36,159 --> 00:20:39,440 not to overdo this control over 375 00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:41,760 structural reforms not to bring back 376 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:43,919 something that would even slightly 377 00:20:43,919 --> 00:20:45,440 remind anybody of 378 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:49,840 the troika strategy 379 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:53,520 well if you allowed yes me to start i 380 00:20:53,520 --> 00:20:56,799 i would say a bit more control 381 00:20:56,799 --> 00:21:00,159 would not be wrong so 382 00:21:00,159 --> 00:21:03,360 i don't i don't think that uh uh we 383 00:21:03,360 --> 00:21:04,480 should fear too much 384 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:07,840 control uh and uh i think uh 385 00:21:07,840 --> 00:21:10,960 the troika was not uh only negative at 386 00:21:10,960 --> 00:21:13,520 all because without structural reforms 387 00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:14,159 um 388 00:21:14,159 --> 00:21:17,360 all these uh new money will 389 00:21:17,360 --> 00:21:20,400 will not um will not fly so i 390 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:23,120 i i think uh and this was also one of 391 00:21:23,120 --> 00:21:24,720 the points we criticized as 392 00:21:24,720 --> 00:21:27,280 the frugal countries was that we 393 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:29,760 discussed 394 00:21:29,760 --> 00:21:32,880 far too long um about the numbers 395 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:35,039 uh and how much to invest and we 396 00:21:35,039 --> 00:21:35,919 discussed 397 00:21:35,919 --> 00:21:38,880 too little how to invest where to invest 398 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:39,200 and 399 00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:41,280 how to control it so from our point of 400 00:21:41,280 --> 00:21:42,400 view um 401 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:45,840 control is not bad uh it's necessary uh 402 00:21:45,840 --> 00:21:49,280 um if you invest 700 billion euros 403 00:21:49,280 --> 00:21:51,280 uh in a very short period of time i 404 00:21:51,280 --> 00:21:52,720 think it's important 405 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:56,000 to decide where and to control that 406 00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:57,760 i think the the goal from the european 407 00:21:57,760 --> 00:22:00,720 union that at least one third should be 408 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:02,799 invested in uh green transition and at 409 00:22:02,799 --> 00:22:04,159 least 20 410 00:22:04,159 --> 00:22:07,280 in innovation uh and digitalization 411 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:09,919 is not that high for example in austria 412 00:22:09,919 --> 00:22:12,159 um if you combine these two uh 413 00:22:12,159 --> 00:22:14,720 areas we have more than 90 percent or 414 00:22:14,720 --> 00:22:16,240 about 90 percent 415 00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:19,360 invested uh in in green transition and 416 00:22:19,360 --> 00:22:20,000 in 417 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:23,120 digitalization so it is doable and i 418 00:22:23,120 --> 00:22:23,679 think that 419 00:22:23,679 --> 00:22:26,240 on the long run the countries will 420 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:26,880 profit 421 00:22:26,880 --> 00:22:30,240 if they do it and last point because the 422 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:31,760 prime minister mentioned it 423 00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:34,799 i think structural reforms are the basis 424 00:22:34,799 --> 00:22:37,760 if you look at the unemployment rate for 425 00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:38,559 example 426 00:22:38,559 --> 00:22:40,720 in the different member states it's 427 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:41,919 extremely low 428 00:22:41,919 --> 00:22:45,120 in czech republic and it's much higher 429 00:22:45,120 --> 00:22:47,840 uh in in countries like portugal spain 430 00:22:47,840 --> 00:22:48,720 and others so 431 00:22:48,720 --> 00:22:52,080 uh i think um 432 00:22:52,159 --> 00:22:54,480 if if if we don't focus on these 433 00:22:54,480 --> 00:22:56,400 structural problems as well 434 00:22:56,400 --> 00:22:58,720 um we will lose competitiveness within 435 00:22:58,720 --> 00:22:59,520 the eu and 436 00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:01,840 competitiveness is the basis for 437 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:02,559 economic 438 00:23:02,559 --> 00:23:05,840 um uh recovery uh and 439 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:07,520 positive development of the european 440 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:09,840 union and for the recovery and then 441 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:11,520 afterwards for the growth stage for the 442 00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:13,520 economy prime minister what's your take 443 00:23:13,520 --> 00:23:14,960 on when it on the on the issue of 444 00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:16,720 conditionality and structural reforms 445 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:18,400 and control over those yeah of course 446 00:23:18,400 --> 00:23:19,919 it's very needed and that's why the 447 00:23:19,919 --> 00:23:21,520 whole plan was 448 00:23:21,520 --> 00:23:23,039 called it's good plan it's not a 449 00:23:23,039 --> 00:23:25,120 strategy actually all the countries had 450 00:23:25,120 --> 00:23:26,400 to develop a 451 00:23:26,400 --> 00:23:28,640 very detailed plan we never experienced 452 00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:30,480 this with the structural funds 453 00:23:30,480 --> 00:23:32,080 it was a new exercise for all the 454 00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:33,679 countries and i think it was very good 455 00:23:33,679 --> 00:23:35,039 exercise 456 00:23:35,039 --> 00:23:36,320 even though we didn't have that much 457 00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:38,720 time but i think the countries knew 458 00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:40,559 their own problems and they saw what 459 00:23:40,559 --> 00:23:41,200 came with the 460 00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:44,400 with the panda me but uh if you lay down 461 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:45,039 a plan 462 00:23:45,039 --> 00:23:46,720 and you know what you want to do the 463 00:23:46,720 --> 00:23:49,120 next six years five six years 464 00:23:49,120 --> 00:23:50,960 where you want to invest because that's 465 00:23:50,960 --> 00:23:52,720 what you needed to submit by the end of 466 00:23:52,720 --> 00:23:53,679 april 467 00:23:53,679 --> 00:23:56,320 so uh and and the european commission 468 00:23:56,320 --> 00:23:57,440 said very clearly 469 00:23:57,440 --> 00:23:59,279 you need to have milestones and we'll 470 00:23:59,279 --> 00:24:01,360 see whether you meet the milestones and 471 00:24:01,360 --> 00:24:03,679 based on meeting the milestones we will 472 00:24:03,679 --> 00:24:05,200 release the money 473 00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:08,000 beautiful that's a motivation it has uh 474 00:24:08,000 --> 00:24:08,240 it 475 00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:11,440 uh it's the journey so i think for 476 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:12,799 for countries who didn't have this 477 00:24:12,799 --> 00:24:15,279 experience uh it was a great exercise 478 00:24:15,279 --> 00:24:16,000 for them 479 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:19,200 to prepare and therefore uh i fully 480 00:24:19,200 --> 00:24:19,679 agree 481 00:24:19,679 --> 00:24:21,840 the control is needed because otherwise 482 00:24:21,840 --> 00:24:23,440 the money will be just spent 483 00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:25,039 and there will be a disaster such a 484 00:24:25,039 --> 00:24:26,400 money you don't want to just spend you 485 00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:27,760 want to invest them 486 00:24:27,760 --> 00:24:30,640 because the debt grew in the eu by 487 00:24:30,640 --> 00:24:32,320 average up to 100 488 00:24:32,320 --> 00:24:35,679 of gdp and and that's not a low number 489 00:24:35,679 --> 00:24:37,919 so uh and if we don't want to be a 490 00:24:37,919 --> 00:24:38,880 continent where 491 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:41,600 we don't uh we have to i think we have 492 00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:43,039 to be responsible toward the depth 493 00:24:43,039 --> 00:24:43,600 always 494 00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:45,679 because we have different economies etc 495 00:24:45,679 --> 00:24:48,080 so so that therefore you need to 496 00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:50,880 have very wise investments and i know 497 00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:52,640 that the commission did a very good job 498 00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:53,279 on 499 00:24:53,279 --> 00:24:57,520 communicating with all the countries uh 500 00:24:57,520 --> 00:25:00,720 about explaining where the investment go 501 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:03,360 whether these investments are really the 502 00:25:03,360 --> 00:25:03,760 good 503 00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:07,360 good mate and uh therefore i have a 504 00:25:07,360 --> 00:25:11,360 strong uh or strong hope that this is 505 00:25:11,360 --> 00:25:12,080 gonna bring 506 00:25:12,080 --> 00:25:14,559 good results if it's going to conduct it 507 00:25:14,559 --> 00:25:16,559 and by having the milestones 508 00:25:16,559 --> 00:25:18,960 there in the plan and the condition of 509 00:25:18,960 --> 00:25:20,559 releasing the money only by achieving 510 00:25:20,559 --> 00:25:21,760 the milestones i think it's going to be 511 00:25:21,760 --> 00:25:22,880 a successful 512 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:25,360 exercise and it's going to move europe 513 00:25:25,360 --> 00:25:25,919 uh 514 00:25:25,919 --> 00:25:28,720 stronger and that's what we need this 515 00:25:28,720 --> 00:25:30,400 continent needs to be very strong 516 00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:32,080 continent needs to be competitive 517 00:25:32,080 --> 00:25:35,279 with the world uh and and we know that 518 00:25:35,279 --> 00:25:35,840 europe 519 00:25:35,840 --> 00:25:37,840 is a rather difficult continent because 520 00:25:37,840 --> 00:25:39,279 there's so many countries 521 00:25:39,279 --> 00:25:41,679 so many strong countries that getting an 522 00:25:41,679 --> 00:25:42,320 agreement 523 00:25:42,320 --> 00:25:44,880 on so many countries is not always easy 524 00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:46,080 i as the prime minister of 525 00:25:46,080 --> 00:25:47,360 foreign coalition know what i speak 526 00:25:47,360 --> 00:25:49,840 about so 527 00:25:49,840 --> 00:25:52,159 so that's why uh but i'm glad it worked 528 00:25:52,159 --> 00:25:53,039 well so far 529 00:25:53,039 --> 00:25:55,360 yeah thank you uh carl hublich what's 530 00:25:55,360 --> 00:25:56,799 your take on that when it comes to the 531 00:25:56,799 --> 00:25:58,320 issue of conditionality 532 00:25:58,320 --> 00:25:59,840 and the funds being tied up to 533 00:25:59,840 --> 00:26:02,000 structural reforms well the recovery and 534 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:03,520 resilience plan is covering 535 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:05,120 the czech republic and many of the 536 00:26:05,120 --> 00:26:07,120 strategies as i mentioned 537 00:26:07,120 --> 00:26:10,240 innovation strategy investment plan uh 538 00:26:10,240 --> 00:26:11,279 let's say 539 00:26:11,279 --> 00:26:14,480 transport strategy and so on and the 540 00:26:14,480 --> 00:26:16,159 government is a specific government we 541 00:26:16,159 --> 00:26:17,760 came many of the members of the 542 00:26:17,760 --> 00:26:19,600 government came from business 543 00:26:19,600 --> 00:26:22,039 and uh let's say we are a little bit 544 00:26:22,039 --> 00:26:23,279 results-oriented 545 00:26:23,279 --> 00:26:26,320 government and business about management 546 00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:29,039 the vision mission long-term growth and 547 00:26:29,039 --> 00:26:30,480 short-term goals and so on 548 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:32,400 and it's about controlling about your 549 00:26:32,400 --> 00:26:34,159 risk management i would like to 550 00:26:34,159 --> 00:26:36,240 implement the controlling into 551 00:26:36,240 --> 00:26:39,440 this mechanism to do this activities 552 00:26:39,440 --> 00:26:40,240 especially 553 00:26:40,240 --> 00:26:42,240 at the innovation level special adult 554 00:26:42,240 --> 00:26:44,240 research and development level 555 00:26:44,240 --> 00:26:47,440 uh as you remember i present that or 556 00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:50,320 introduced that we completely changed 557 00:26:50,320 --> 00:26:52,080 the priorities of the czech republic for 558 00:26:52,080 --> 00:26:52,960 example 559 00:26:52,960 --> 00:26:55,840 in a field in area of research and 560 00:26:55,840 --> 00:26:57,440 development it's not easy 561 00:26:57,440 --> 00:27:01,200 to for control results 562 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:03,840 in a science let's say it's the 563 00:27:03,840 --> 00:27:06,080 universities activities and so on 564 00:27:06,080 --> 00:27:09,360 but it's extremely important for example 565 00:27:09,360 --> 00:27:12,559 now my long-term long-term 566 00:27:12,559 --> 00:27:15,840 objective in this field is to achieve 567 00:27:15,840 --> 00:27:20,000 in a 20-25 2.5 persons 568 00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:23,360 uh so-called gert indicator 569 00:27:23,360 --> 00:27:27,279 that's a total expense to r and d 570 00:27:27,279 --> 00:27:30,320 to gdp 2020 571 00:27:30,320 --> 00:27:33,760 uh the level it's uh two cent we achieve 572 00:27:33,760 --> 00:27:34,080 it 573 00:27:34,080 --> 00:27:38,159 in 2020 uh the next goal is 20 25 2.5 574 00:27:38,159 --> 00:27:41,440 percent and 20 30 to achieve the three 575 00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:43,200 percent as a girth indicator three 576 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:45,200 percent is extremely high that mean 577 00:27:45,200 --> 00:27:47,919 that then we have a chance to be in the 578 00:27:47,919 --> 00:27:49,279 top five top seven 579 00:27:49,279 --> 00:27:52,799 most innovative countries uh in a in 580 00:27:52,799 --> 00:27:55,120 europe and that's all strategy that's 581 00:27:55,120 --> 00:27:56,320 mean to manage 582 00:27:56,320 --> 00:27:58,640 vision mission but on the other hand to 583 00:27:58,640 --> 00:27:59,360 control 584 00:27:59,360 --> 00:28:01,919 and also uh to balance it at the level 585 00:28:01,919 --> 00:28:02,720 of risk 586 00:28:02,720 --> 00:28:04,960 management because it's a lot of lots of 587 00:28:04,960 --> 00:28:06,320 money 588 00:28:06,320 --> 00:28:08,159 we have received a few questions and i 589 00:28:08,159 --> 00:28:10,080 would like to bring uh the first 590 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:12,640 of uh the first of those questions to 591 00:28:12,640 --> 00:28:14,559 our speakers the question is coming from 592 00:28:14,559 --> 00:28:15,440 heidi 593 00:28:15,440 --> 00:28:20,480 mara if we can see it now on screen 594 00:28:20,480 --> 00:28:22,720 what are visions of our speakers and how 595 00:28:22,720 --> 00:28:24,960 political solidarity across european 596 00:28:24,960 --> 00:28:25,919 societies 597 00:28:25,919 --> 00:28:28,720 will accompany the economic reforms that 598 00:28:28,720 --> 00:28:29,440 already 599 00:28:29,440 --> 00:28:32,159 highlighted 600 00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:39,520 prime minister well uh what is the 601 00:28:39,520 --> 00:28:40,240 vision 602 00:28:40,240 --> 00:28:42,480 uh on the political solidarity across 603 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:44,320 europe i think uh well 604 00:28:44,320 --> 00:28:47,679 of course this is uh always uh important 605 00:28:47,679 --> 00:28:50,159 to have in mind and uh we discussed this 606 00:28:50,159 --> 00:28:51,760 on on the summit as well 607 00:28:51,760 --> 00:28:54,640 we have we cannot forget about the fact 608 00:28:54,640 --> 00:28:56,799 that the european union 609 00:28:56,799 --> 00:28:59,360 is one of the best place to live uh in 610 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:00,399 the world 611 00:29:00,399 --> 00:29:03,120 and i think it's important for us as a 612 00:29:03,120 --> 00:29:04,480 politicians 613 00:29:04,480 --> 00:29:07,440 uh to be sensitive on that uh on the in 614 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:08,960 the political debate or in this 615 00:29:08,960 --> 00:29:12,640 social debate on the national levels 616 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:15,279 uh because of course even now after the 617 00:29:15,279 --> 00:29:16,720 pandemic we feel 618 00:29:16,720 --> 00:29:19,919 that uh the people are tired out of wha 619 00:29:19,919 --> 00:29:21,360 they've been locked down they've been 620 00:29:21,360 --> 00:29:23,760 going through a crisis 621 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:26,960 we had to help as the governments but we 622 00:29:26,960 --> 00:29:29,120 cannot forget in in the in the general 623 00:29:29,120 --> 00:29:30,000 debate 624 00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:31,840 that uh there are other places in the 625 00:29:31,840 --> 00:29:33,440 world where uh 626 00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:35,760 we we have to help and i think the 627 00:29:35,760 --> 00:29:37,520 solidarity in general 628 00:29:37,520 --> 00:29:39,919 it's a word that we need to explain much 629 00:29:39,919 --> 00:29:40,720 more 630 00:29:40,720 --> 00:29:43,200 in general even in the local local 631 00:29:43,200 --> 00:29:44,799 politics 632 00:29:44,799 --> 00:29:49,200 what i see in the past or over the past 633 00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:52,799 months or years and i think it came with 634 00:29:52,799 --> 00:29:55,120 when we heard first time uh united 635 00:29:55,120 --> 00:29:56,480 states first 636 00:29:56,480 --> 00:29:59,600 uh is this i would say 637 00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:01,840 selfishness and i think it's very very 638 00:30:01,840 --> 00:30:02,880 dangerous for 639 00:30:02,880 --> 00:30:05,840 for the uh developed world to to become 640 00:30:05,840 --> 00:30:06,720 selfish 641 00:30:06,720 --> 00:30:09,120 because we want to allow also other 642 00:30:09,120 --> 00:30:09,840 countries 643 00:30:09,840 --> 00:30:11,840 to have a good life in the in the world 644 00:30:11,840 --> 00:30:13,919 and there is other topics in the foreign 645 00:30:13,919 --> 00:30:16,080 policy where we speak of other countries 646 00:30:16,080 --> 00:30:18,960 they will become part of eu etc etc 647 00:30:18,960 --> 00:30:20,880 so yes solidarity is definitely an 648 00:30:20,880 --> 00:30:24,240 important part of our politics 649 00:30:24,240 --> 00:30:27,200 i i i totally share the the vision of of 650 00:30:27,200 --> 00:30:29,120 solidarity in the european union and i 651 00:30:29,120 --> 00:30:29,440 think 652 00:30:29,440 --> 00:30:32,320 all member states can agree on that um i 653 00:30:32,320 --> 00:30:34,080 think where we should become 654 00:30:34,080 --> 00:30:36,159 better is also to have the vision of 655 00:30:36,159 --> 00:30:37,600 being successful 656 00:30:37,600 --> 00:30:39,840 uh because what we sometimes forget 657 00:30:39,840 --> 00:30:40,799 within the eu 658 00:30:40,799 --> 00:30:43,279 is that we compete with other parts of 659 00:30:43,279 --> 00:30:45,679 the world with china with the us 660 00:30:45,679 --> 00:30:48,399 um and and many other countries and if 661 00:30:48,399 --> 00:30:50,640 you look at the economic growth rates 662 00:30:50,640 --> 00:30:54,159 um we have to avoid that we become 663 00:30:54,159 --> 00:30:56,720 a museum with a high standard of living 664 00:30:56,720 --> 00:30:59,039 and i think we always have to repeat 665 00:30:59,039 --> 00:31:02,640 and remind ourselves that the basis 666 00:31:02,640 --> 00:31:06,320 for solidarity the basis for 667 00:31:06,320 --> 00:31:09,519 public investments the basis for 668 00:31:09,519 --> 00:31:11,919 higher social standards is 669 00:31:11,919 --> 00:31:13,200 competitiveness 670 00:31:13,200 --> 00:31:15,440 and economic growth and if we look for 671 00:31:15,440 --> 00:31:17,519 example at uk 672 00:31:17,519 --> 00:31:19,600 of course they had a very negative 673 00:31:19,600 --> 00:31:21,840 development last year but this year 674 00:31:21,840 --> 00:31:24,559 they will have an economic growth rate 675 00:31:24,559 --> 00:31:26,399 of seven percent for example 676 00:31:26,399 --> 00:31:28,399 um if you look at china at the moment 677 00:31:28,399 --> 00:31:31,200 there's enormous economic growth so i 678 00:31:31,200 --> 00:31:32,000 think 679 00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:35,039 what we should focus on is solidarity 680 00:31:35,039 --> 00:31:38,080 definitely but we always have to remind 681 00:31:38,080 --> 00:31:41,120 ourselves that solidarity is possible 682 00:31:41,120 --> 00:31:45,200 if we are all all 27 27 member states 683 00:31:45,200 --> 00:31:48,880 on their own and all united successful 684 00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:50,559 but how to find that balance how to be 685 00:31:50,559 --> 00:31:52,799 successful and as much as possible 686 00:31:52,799 --> 00:31:54,480 competitive when it comes to the global 687 00:31:54,480 --> 00:31:55,840 stage but also 688 00:31:55,840 --> 00:31:57,760 not scale back that much on solidarity 689 00:31:57,760 --> 00:32:00,240 when it comes to the eu block 690 00:32:00,240 --> 00:32:03,679 well i i think that it is 691 00:32:03,679 --> 00:32:07,679 even easier to show solidarity if we are 692 00:32:07,679 --> 00:32:09,279 all together successful 693 00:32:09,279 --> 00:32:12,000 i think uh it's a question of focus and 694 00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:13,679 what we really want and if we look at 695 00:32:13,679 --> 00:32:14,559 our debates 696 00:32:14,559 --> 00:32:16,240 for example in the european council of 697 00:32:16,240 --> 00:32:17,679 the prime minister level 698 00:32:17,679 --> 00:32:19,840 there are many debates about the green 699 00:32:19,840 --> 00:32:20,720 transformation 700 00:32:20,720 --> 00:32:23,360 which is important there are many 701 00:32:23,360 --> 00:32:25,120 debates about social standards 702 00:32:25,120 --> 00:32:26,480 which is important there are many 703 00:32:26,480 --> 00:32:28,480 debates about foreign affairs which is 704 00:32:28,480 --> 00:32:30,000 important as well 705 00:32:30,000 --> 00:32:32,640 but i think a strong focus on 706 00:32:32,640 --> 00:32:34,080 competitiveness 707 00:32:34,080 --> 00:32:37,279 um would also be important and i think 708 00:32:37,279 --> 00:32:38,640 we have it more 709 00:32:38,640 --> 00:32:41,039 in the political debate in the eastern 710 00:32:41,039 --> 00:32:42,320 european countries 711 00:32:42,320 --> 00:32:44,799 and we have it a little less in the 712 00:32:44,799 --> 00:32:47,279 western european countries and in 713 00:32:47,279 --> 00:32:49,360 some probably central european countries 714 00:32:49,360 --> 00:32:50,640 like austria so i think 715 00:32:50,640 --> 00:32:52,970 more focus on these issues 716 00:32:52,970 --> 00:32:54,720 [Music] 717 00:32:54,720 --> 00:32:57,279 is good for all of us thank you thank 718 00:32:57,279 --> 00:32:58,000 you 719 00:32:58,000 --> 00:32:59,760 it works together you're going to do a 720 00:32:59,760 --> 00:33:01,039 great business and 721 00:33:01,039 --> 00:33:02,640 you can also support your social 722 00:33:02,640 --> 00:33:04,880 responsibility why it's the same so 723 00:33:04,880 --> 00:33:06,880 you have to to balance it just from the 724 00:33:06,880 --> 00:33:08,399 point of view of the sustainable 725 00:33:08,399 --> 00:33:10,000 environment from the point of view i 726 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:10,640 don't know 727 00:33:10,640 --> 00:33:13,279 green environment or to smart 728 00:33:13,279 --> 00:33:14,559 intelligent growth and 729 00:33:14,559 --> 00:33:16,880 and so on and you have to support let's 730 00:33:16,880 --> 00:33:19,039 say circular economy you have to support 731 00:33:19,039 --> 00:33:20,960 the process of the carbonization 732 00:33:20,960 --> 00:33:23,600 at the same time if you can to implement 733 00:33:23,600 --> 00:33:25,360 the smart solutions 734 00:33:25,360 --> 00:33:26,799 let's say the smart solution in the 735 00:33:26,799 --> 00:33:29,200 industrial segment in agriculture 736 00:33:29,200 --> 00:33:31,679 smart solutions i don't know from you 737 00:33:31,679 --> 00:33:32,240 know 738 00:33:32,240 --> 00:33:35,279 energy sector of of course and uh 739 00:33:35,279 --> 00:33:37,519 from my point of view it's really great 740 00:33:37,519 --> 00:33:39,200 potential great potential 741 00:33:39,200 --> 00:33:41,519 uh for in the cooperation between the 742 00:33:41,519 --> 00:33:43,360 member members member states 743 00:33:43,360 --> 00:33:46,080 but we have to involve also all of the 744 00:33:46,080 --> 00:33:47,600 involved presence while there's a 745 00:33:47,600 --> 00:33:49,200 non-profit institutions 746 00:33:49,200 --> 00:33:53,039 universities let's say the platforms 747 00:33:53,039 --> 00:33:55,679 chamber of commerce confederations trade 748 00:33:55,679 --> 00:33:58,399 unions and so on 749 00:33:58,399 --> 00:34:01,360 i have another question from the from 750 00:34:01,360 --> 00:34:02,240 the audience from 751 00:34:02,240 --> 00:34:06,880 jamie prentice at least 37 752 00:34:06,880 --> 00:34:08,879 of total spending must be allocated 753 00:34:08,879 --> 00:34:11,040 towards the green transition 754 00:34:11,040 --> 00:34:14,560 jamie is asking should this figure be 755 00:34:14,560 --> 00:34:17,280 higher than that and i'm gonna add to 756 00:34:17,280 --> 00:34:17,679 that 757 00:34:17,679 --> 00:34:21,199 to jamie's question with such a strict 758 00:34:21,199 --> 00:34:23,040 guidance how to make sure that the whole 759 00:34:23,040 --> 00:34:24,719 process 760 00:34:24,719 --> 00:34:26,480 doesn't become just a box ticking 761 00:34:26,480 --> 00:34:28,719 exercise in some cases about 762 00:34:28,719 --> 00:34:30,320 making sure that it's enough when it 763 00:34:30,320 --> 00:34:32,879 comes to the green transition 764 00:34:32,879 --> 00:34:34,639 well you know actually i will add it 765 00:34:34,639 --> 00:34:36,159 because it's not just green transition 766 00:34:36,159 --> 00:34:38,320 it became over the time a climate 767 00:34:38,320 --> 00:34:41,199 change and uh do no significant harm 768 00:34:41,199 --> 00:34:42,960 came to it etc so 769 00:34:42,960 --> 00:34:45,280 uh i must say for a country like 770 00:34:45,280 --> 00:34:48,239 slovakia it wasn't an easy exercise 771 00:34:48,239 --> 00:34:50,960 but on the other hand in general on the 772 00:34:50,960 --> 00:34:52,079 eu level 773 00:34:52,079 --> 00:34:54,159 uh the investments go this direction 774 00:34:54,159 --> 00:34:56,239 anyway so it's not like 775 00:34:56,239 --> 00:34:58,560 that we pushing something that we are 776 00:34:58,560 --> 00:35:00,560 trying to invent and i don't think it's 777 00:35:00,560 --> 00:35:02,480 a ticking box so uh 778 00:35:02,480 --> 00:35:05,119 there's a lot of talk on on feed 455 779 00:35:05,119 --> 00:35:07,280 etcetera so it goes hand-in-hand in this 780 00:35:07,280 --> 00:35:08,400 and that that's why it was 781 00:35:08,400 --> 00:35:12,400 uh invented uh this this figure 782 00:35:12,400 --> 00:35:15,760 uh it's just important again on what do 783 00:35:15,760 --> 00:35:16,079 we 784 00:35:16,079 --> 00:35:19,520 invest into within this framework 785 00:35:19,520 --> 00:35:22,000 and we really have to encourage also the 786 00:35:22,000 --> 00:35:22,960 companies 787 00:35:22,960 --> 00:35:26,560 to uh bring uh bring ideas bring 788 00:35:26,560 --> 00:35:27,599 projects 789 00:35:27,599 --> 00:35:30,000 where they bring the higher highest 790 00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:30,960 added value 791 00:35:30,960 --> 00:35:33,040 in some countries it is very developed 792 00:35:33,040 --> 00:35:34,480 so it's going to be easy 793 00:35:34,480 --> 00:35:36,480 to spend uh this percentage and actually 794 00:35:36,480 --> 00:35:37,520 some of them will be 795 00:35:37,520 --> 00:35:40,000 will have even higher uh in country like 796 00:35:40,000 --> 00:35:42,720 slovakia where in certain parts i said 797 00:35:42,720 --> 00:35:45,119 of slovakia we still kind of got stuck 798 00:35:45,119 --> 00:35:47,599 in in time and we weren't able to 799 00:35:47,599 --> 00:35:50,560 invest enough into getting out of 20 800 00:35:50,560 --> 00:35:52,000 20th century 801 00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:55,280 into the 21st we had to really uh 802 00:35:55,280 --> 00:35:57,599 rethink uh what do we do and where do we 803 00:35:57,599 --> 00:35:58,480 spend it 804 00:35:58,480 --> 00:36:01,920 but we went the direction toward the 805 00:36:01,920 --> 00:36:04,720 the emissions decrease and we also went 806 00:36:04,720 --> 00:36:05,119 uh 807 00:36:05,119 --> 00:36:08,880 into schemes for uh houses 808 00:36:08,880 --> 00:36:11,040 where we know that a lot of uh families 809 00:36:11,040 --> 00:36:12,000 has a 810 00:36:12,000 --> 00:36:14,720 has a bad condition houses with the bad 811 00:36:14,720 --> 00:36:15,280 uh 812 00:36:15,280 --> 00:36:18,560 energy uh energy consumptions so that's 813 00:36:18,560 --> 00:36:20,160 where we put a lot of 814 00:36:20,160 --> 00:36:21,920 of this money into these schemes because 815 00:36:21,920 --> 00:36:23,359 it decreases the 816 00:36:23,359 --> 00:36:26,720 emissions it also helps the energy usage 817 00:36:26,720 --> 00:36:30,400 so so yeah i think uh i i don't see this 818 00:36:30,400 --> 00:36:31,680 as a ticking box 819 00:36:31,680 --> 00:36:33,440 i'm gonna bring here uh the recent few 820 00:36:33,440 --> 00:36:34,960 months ago the european parliament had a 821 00:36:34,960 --> 00:36:36,400 survey showing 822 00:36:36,400 --> 00:36:39,040 europeans want the eu to spend and 823 00:36:39,040 --> 00:36:40,000 invest more in health 824 00:36:40,000 --> 00:36:41,680 of course this is something we all 825 00:36:41,680 --> 00:36:43,119 understand having been through the 826 00:36:43,119 --> 00:36:44,640 pandemic 827 00:36:44,640 --> 00:36:47,119 when asked this question given the 828 00:36:47,119 --> 00:36:48,720 current context on which of the 829 00:36:48,720 --> 00:36:49,440 following 830 00:36:49,440 --> 00:36:53,680 would you like the eu money to be spent 831 00:36:53,680 --> 00:36:55,280 they're very interesting results when it 832 00:36:55,280 --> 00:36:57,440 comes to austria most of the people 833 00:36:57,440 --> 00:36:59,280 said climate change and environmental 834 00:36:59,280 --> 00:37:01,359 protection when it comes to the czech 835 00:37:01,359 --> 00:37:03,119 republic economic recovery and new 836 00:37:03,119 --> 00:37:04,720 opportunities on businesses 837 00:37:04,720 --> 00:37:07,040 when it comes to slovakia employment and 838 00:37:07,040 --> 00:37:08,880 social affairs 839 00:37:08,880 --> 00:37:10,400 this is the results of this area from 840 00:37:10,400 --> 00:37:13,200 just a few months ago 841 00:37:13,200 --> 00:37:15,119 how well when it comes to austria the 842 00:37:15,119 --> 00:37:16,400 people replied that their 843 00:37:16,400 --> 00:37:17,680 that they would like the money to be 844 00:37:17,680 --> 00:37:19,200 spent on climate change environmental 845 00:37:19,200 --> 00:37:20,960 protection and this is what is reflected 846 00:37:20,960 --> 00:37:25,119 in the plan that you have submitted well 847 00:37:25,119 --> 00:37:28,480 i i didn't know uh that but but 848 00:37:28,480 --> 00:37:31,520 sounds good because it's what we what we 849 00:37:31,520 --> 00:37:31,839 do 850 00:37:31,839 --> 00:37:35,119 so uh i i'm happy if people are happy 851 00:37:35,119 --> 00:37:37,200 we we invest more than forty percent of 852 00:37:37,200 --> 00:37:38,160 it uh in 853 00:37:38,160 --> 00:37:41,440 in uh green transformation and about uh 854 00:37:41,440 --> 00:37:43,280 a bit more than forty percent in in in 855 00:37:43,280 --> 00:37:44,560 digitalization 856 00:37:44,560 --> 00:37:47,359 uh so that that that that sounds uh 857 00:37:47,359 --> 00:37:48,400 quite okay but 858 00:37:48,400 --> 00:37:51,359 um i think for for many people um this 859 00:37:51,359 --> 00:37:52,560 whole thing is still 860 00:37:52,560 --> 00:37:56,079 quite abstract uh and so probably 861 00:37:56,079 --> 00:37:58,320 um i'm not sure if if there's really 862 00:37:58,320 --> 00:38:00,160 such a big gap between the member states 863 00:38:00,160 --> 00:38:00,480 but 864 00:38:00,480 --> 00:38:02,400 i don't know the figures thank you would 865 00:38:02,400 --> 00:38:03,839 you comment on the results from your 866 00:38:03,839 --> 00:38:04,320 country 867 00:38:04,320 --> 00:38:06,320 yes so the czech republic uh recovery 868 00:38:06,320 --> 00:38:07,680 and resilience plan 869 00:38:07,680 --> 00:38:11,040 presents forty four zero percent of the 870 00:38:11,040 --> 00:38:14,240 uh let's say the green uh transition 871 00:38:14,240 --> 00:38:16,880 uh projects it's a little bit more than 872 00:38:16,880 --> 00:38:19,119 so it's it's uh i'm sorry 873 00:38:19,119 --> 00:38:21,520 and uh you know any czech republic it's 874 00:38:21,520 --> 00:38:22,560 uh 875 00:38:22,560 --> 00:38:26,079 quite uh let's say the specific uh 876 00:38:26,079 --> 00:38:28,560 economic environment uh economic 877 00:38:28,560 --> 00:38:29,520 structure 878 00:38:29,520 --> 00:38:30,960 because especially from the point of 879 00:38:30,960 --> 00:38:33,440 view of energy sector 60 880 00:38:33,440 --> 00:38:35,839 of the central heating systems are based 881 00:38:35,839 --> 00:38:36,880 on a co 882 00:38:36,880 --> 00:38:39,839 45 percent of the electricity is based 883 00:38:39,839 --> 00:38:40,800 on the coal 884 00:38:40,800 --> 00:38:42,560 it means that that means that we have 885 00:38:42,560 --> 00:38:44,320 now to transfer all of these 886 00:38:44,320 --> 00:38:47,440 sources to do low emission sources it's 887 00:38:47,440 --> 00:38:48,400 extremely 888 00:38:48,400 --> 00:38:51,440 uh difficult way we are starting now and 889 00:38:51,440 --> 00:38:53,839 of course the futures and renewables 890 00:38:53,839 --> 00:38:56,560 but also nuclear energy and at the same 891 00:38:56,560 --> 00:38:57,280 time we need 892 00:38:57,280 --> 00:39:00,320 support from the european union of the 893 00:39:00,320 --> 00:39:01,760 gas well in the next 894 00:39:01,760 --> 00:39:04,480 maybe let's say 10 15 15 years the same 895 00:39:04,480 --> 00:39:06,640 is it in the industrial segment well 896 00:39:06,640 --> 00:39:08,560 so we are uh one of the most 897 00:39:08,560 --> 00:39:10,079 industrialized 898 00:39:10,079 --> 00:39:12,400 country in the in in europe in the top 899 00:39:12,400 --> 00:39:13,520 three 900 00:39:13,520 --> 00:39:15,440 and that means that we have to 901 00:39:15,440 --> 00:39:17,040 completely change 902 00:39:17,040 --> 00:39:19,119 the industrial segment and industrial 903 00:39:19,119 --> 00:39:21,119 infrastructure infrastructure 904 00:39:21,119 --> 00:39:24,079 uh to the low emission low emission uh 905 00:39:24,079 --> 00:39:26,160 technology as well and the same is it in 906 00:39:26,160 --> 00:39:26,400 a 907 00:39:26,400 --> 00:39:28,880 transport whereas a 20 percent of the 908 00:39:28,880 --> 00:39:30,880 emission in czech republic are based on 909 00:39:30,880 --> 00:39:31,839 a 910 00:39:31,839 --> 00:39:34,400 segment of of of transport so there are 911 00:39:34,400 --> 00:39:35,839 huge challenges 912 00:39:35,839 --> 00:39:38,880 and uh we are let's say 913 00:39:38,880 --> 00:39:41,760 uh of uh conservative that's right but 914 00:39:41,760 --> 00:39:42,800 on the other hand 915 00:39:42,800 --> 00:39:45,440 uh the goals well they are i think 916 00:39:45,440 --> 00:39:46,240 extremely 917 00:39:46,240 --> 00:39:49,599 ambitious and uh that's the reason that 918 00:39:49,599 --> 00:39:52,720 40 percent it's the check number of the 919 00:39:52,720 --> 00:39:54,560 resilience plan from the point of view 920 00:39:54,560 --> 00:39:55,119 of the 921 00:39:55,119 --> 00:39:57,839 of the climate changes promised it was 922 00:39:57,839 --> 00:39:59,760 interesting to hear for slovakia 923 00:39:59,760 --> 00:40:01,920 a couple things i need to share here we 924 00:40:01,920 --> 00:40:03,839 know that the recovery plan 925 00:40:03,839 --> 00:40:07,119 cannot be used for uh recurring uh 926 00:40:07,119 --> 00:40:09,359 expenses that that's not allowed it's 927 00:40:09,359 --> 00:40:11,119 only for the investments 928 00:40:11,119 --> 00:40:14,319 but even in this era we're going toward 929 00:40:14,319 --> 00:40:16,319 the results of the survey even not 930 00:40:16,319 --> 00:40:19,280 knowing that it will be this result but 931 00:40:19,280 --> 00:40:21,359 uh that's why we have investments 932 00:40:21,359 --> 00:40:24,560 into uh hospitals into the uh 933 00:40:24,560 --> 00:40:26,319 healthcare because we know that there is 934 00:40:26,319 --> 00:40:28,160 a great gap and i think this is one of 935 00:40:28,160 --> 00:40:29,040 the reasons why 936 00:40:29,040 --> 00:40:31,680 the server came as as it came we also 937 00:40:31,680 --> 00:40:33,440 have a lot of investments into the 938 00:40:33,440 --> 00:40:34,400 education 939 00:40:34,400 --> 00:40:37,599 into the kindergarten uh broader 940 00:40:37,599 --> 00:40:39,920 infrastructure and again it's toward the 941 00:40:39,920 --> 00:40:41,119 people to weather 942 00:40:41,119 --> 00:40:44,560 uh their care and also digitalization of 943 00:40:44,560 --> 00:40:45,280 the schools 944 00:40:45,280 --> 00:40:48,319 etc but on the other hand we're thinking 945 00:40:48,319 --> 00:40:51,200 because this is kind of for the presence 946 00:40:51,200 --> 00:40:52,079 for the better 947 00:40:52,079 --> 00:40:55,200 well-being or for the quality of life on 948 00:40:55,200 --> 00:40:56,800 the other hand we had a second pillar 949 00:40:56,800 --> 00:40:58,800 that was thinking about the future 950 00:40:58,800 --> 00:41:01,440 investments for the future part of it is 951 00:41:01,440 --> 00:41:02,319 the 952 00:41:02,319 --> 00:41:04,880 education but that's a long term but 953 00:41:04,880 --> 00:41:05,440 also 954 00:41:05,440 --> 00:41:07,599 a big amount of the money goes toward 955 00:41:07,599 --> 00:41:08,800 innovation 956 00:41:08,800 --> 00:41:12,800 reform plus really over 600 million 957 00:41:12,800 --> 00:41:15,040 euros goes toward innovations 958 00:41:15,040 --> 00:41:17,119 because this is where we see the future 959 00:41:17,119 --> 00:41:19,200 we are very industrial country 960 00:41:19,200 --> 00:41:22,960 automotive as we know and uh we want to 961 00:41:22,960 --> 00:41:25,680 develop and build on this backbone of 962 00:41:25,680 --> 00:41:26,880 our economy 963 00:41:26,880 --> 00:41:29,920 uh into investments into innovations and 964 00:41:29,920 --> 00:41:31,599 as i see the the countries around as 965 00:41:31,599 --> 00:41:32,400 well so 966 00:41:32,400 --> 00:41:35,119 it's a it's a good foundation for future 967 00:41:35,119 --> 00:41:36,160 cooperation 968 00:41:36,160 --> 00:41:38,160 which i very much look forward and and 969 00:41:38,160 --> 00:41:39,680 these are our great neighbors and 970 00:41:39,680 --> 00:41:43,760 and friends uh as well so uh that's why 971 00:41:43,760 --> 00:41:47,280 uh even uh despite of this this survey 972 00:41:47,280 --> 00:41:49,280 we had to invest into the future which 973 00:41:49,280 --> 00:41:51,359 is very important for slovakia 974 00:41:51,359 --> 00:41:53,599 i've got another survey for you all 975 00:41:53,599 --> 00:41:55,280 right according to the recent euro 976 00:41:55,280 --> 00:41:56,480 barometer results 977 00:41:56,480 --> 00:42:00,000 uh 43 percent of europeans are satisfied 978 00:42:00,000 --> 00:42:01,760 with measures taking so far by 979 00:42:01,760 --> 00:42:03,440 national governments to fight the 980 00:42:03,440 --> 00:42:04,960 pandemic 43 981 00:42:04,960 --> 00:42:07,119 that sounds good could it be better of 982 00:42:07,119 --> 00:42:09,520 course it could be my question is how to 983 00:42:09,520 --> 00:42:11,200 make sure that these funds and how to 984 00:42:11,200 --> 00:42:12,720 use those funds to increase that 985 00:42:12,720 --> 00:42:14,480 confidence and increase the trust 986 00:42:14,480 --> 00:42:16,240 towards national governments 987 00:42:16,240 --> 00:42:18,000 from the citizens because of course we 988 00:42:18,000 --> 00:42:19,599 know that this pandemic 989 00:42:19,599 --> 00:42:22,079 has been much more than the healthcare 990 00:42:22,079 --> 00:42:24,240 crisis that was a massive economic and 991 00:42:24,240 --> 00:42:25,680 social crisis 992 00:42:25,680 --> 00:42:27,680 with so many people losing their jobs 993 00:42:27,680 --> 00:42:30,240 and you know their their lives changing 994 00:42:30,240 --> 00:42:31,920 how to use that investment and this 995 00:42:31,920 --> 00:42:33,839 money now to increase this confidence to 996 00:42:33,839 --> 00:42:35,440 help people and maybe what i mean 997 00:42:35,440 --> 00:42:37,040 going a bit more social and human 998 00:42:37,040 --> 00:42:39,359 oriented 999 00:42:39,359 --> 00:42:42,079 well i think that that we are in a quite 1000 00:42:42,079 --> 00:42:42,640 good 1001 00:42:42,640 --> 00:42:44,800 starting position now because the the 1002 00:42:44,800 --> 00:42:46,640 pandemic 1003 00:42:46,640 --> 00:42:50,480 was was difficult to for all of us um 1004 00:42:50,480 --> 00:42:53,680 and it took by far too long but now with 1005 00:42:53,680 --> 00:42:54,800 with the vaccination 1006 00:42:54,800 --> 00:42:58,720 uh campaign going quite well i think 1007 00:42:58,720 --> 00:43:00,880 life is already much better for all of 1008 00:43:00,880 --> 00:43:01,920 us 1009 00:43:01,920 --> 00:43:05,839 at the moment imagine how the situation 1010 00:43:05,839 --> 00:43:08,800 would be without the vaccination think 1011 00:43:08,800 --> 00:43:09,359 back 1012 00:43:09,359 --> 00:43:11,599 how the situation was a few months ago 1013 00:43:11,599 --> 00:43:13,760 it was impossible to meet 1014 00:43:13,760 --> 00:43:16,640 we had video conferences all day many 1015 00:43:16,640 --> 00:43:18,160 people lost their jobs so 1016 00:43:18,160 --> 00:43:20,160 we are already in a much better 1017 00:43:20,160 --> 00:43:21,280 situation now 1018 00:43:21,280 --> 00:43:25,359 and i think if we keep on vaccinating 1019 00:43:25,359 --> 00:43:28,079 um we will we will be able to overcome 1020 00:43:28,079 --> 00:43:29,280 uh 1021 00:43:29,280 --> 00:43:32,000 this this whole story of course um the 1022 00:43:32,000 --> 00:43:33,520 virus will not be gone 1023 00:43:33,520 --> 00:43:35,760 of course there will be another wave but 1024 00:43:35,760 --> 00:43:37,040 as long 1025 00:43:37,040 --> 00:43:39,599 as we are able to protect especially 1026 00:43:39,599 --> 00:43:41,040 older people 1027 00:43:41,040 --> 00:43:42,240 i think we are in a much better 1028 00:43:42,240 --> 00:43:44,480 situation and i can only speak for for 1029 00:43:44,480 --> 00:43:45,520 our country 1030 00:43:45,520 --> 00:43:48,160 but of course the pandemic hit us hard 1031 00:43:48,160 --> 00:43:48,720 of course 1032 00:43:48,720 --> 00:43:51,200 it was terrible to see how many people 1033 00:43:51,200 --> 00:43:53,200 lost their jobs 1034 00:43:53,200 --> 00:43:56,000 we have about 15 percent of our gdp 1035 00:43:56,000 --> 00:43:57,040 dependent from 1036 00:43:57,040 --> 00:44:00,240 tourism um this was terrible for for 1037 00:44:00,240 --> 00:44:03,200 many regions of austria and now even 1038 00:44:03,200 --> 00:44:04,960 these sectors are coming back 1039 00:44:04,960 --> 00:44:08,079 tourism is coming back uh people get uh 1040 00:44:08,079 --> 00:44:11,040 back into their jobs so i i think that 1041 00:44:11,040 --> 00:44:11,359 that 1042 00:44:11,359 --> 00:44:13,359 we will have a very positive development 1043 00:44:13,359 --> 00:44:15,440 in the next uh months and years 1044 00:44:15,440 --> 00:44:19,280 and the whole um recovery fund um 1045 00:44:19,280 --> 00:44:22,640 uh is is is is still uh 1046 00:44:22,640 --> 00:44:25,680 in in in the in the in the planning 1047 00:44:25,680 --> 00:44:26,720 status so 1048 00:44:26,720 --> 00:44:30,160 so um spending this money will help even 1049 00:44:30,160 --> 00:44:31,280 more 1050 00:44:31,280 --> 00:44:34,160 thank you prime minister well uh first 1051 00:44:34,160 --> 00:44:35,680 of all we have to admit that 1052 00:44:35,680 --> 00:44:39,200 the kovit 19 found us unprepared 1053 00:44:39,200 --> 00:44:41,200 we didn't expect something like this 1054 00:44:41,200 --> 00:44:44,160 happen and when we saw it in china we 1055 00:44:44,160 --> 00:44:44,960 still 1056 00:44:44,960 --> 00:44:46,319 didn't believe that it's going to come 1057 00:44:46,319 --> 00:44:48,319 in europe and it's going to come in such 1058 00:44:48,319 --> 00:44:49,119 a strong 1059 00:44:49,119 --> 00:44:51,440 strong wave so that's first thing on the 1060 00:44:51,440 --> 00:44:52,400 other hand uh 1061 00:44:52,400 --> 00:44:54,400 i think everybody was trying to be 1062 00:44:54,400 --> 00:44:56,240 flexible as much as possible 1063 00:44:56,240 --> 00:44:58,480 we haven't uh finished yet with the 1064 00:44:58,480 --> 00:44:59,280 pandemi 1065 00:44:59,280 --> 00:45:01,040 but we learned a lot and of course it 1066 00:45:01,040 --> 00:45:03,359 could be uh done better but 1067 00:45:03,359 --> 00:45:06,000 on the other hand i think we introduced 1068 00:45:06,000 --> 00:45:06,720 a lot of 1069 00:45:06,720 --> 00:45:09,280 instruments for example the the green 1070 00:45:09,280 --> 00:45:10,240 pass now 1071 00:45:10,240 --> 00:45:13,280 and and a lot of procedures uh a lot of 1072 00:45:13,280 --> 00:45:15,119 protocols been developed on 1073 00:45:15,119 --> 00:45:18,240 how to move around uh wearing masks how 1074 00:45:18,240 --> 00:45:19,839 many people can enter etc 1075 00:45:19,839 --> 00:45:21,839 this is already prepared and if 1076 00:45:21,839 --> 00:45:24,720 something similar comes we already know 1077 00:45:24,720 --> 00:45:26,720 how how to act much faster and we can 1078 00:45:26,720 --> 00:45:28,400 protect the people much better 1079 00:45:28,400 --> 00:45:32,079 we can prevent to go into such 1080 00:45:32,079 --> 00:45:35,599 a peak as it was so so we learn from 1081 00:45:35,599 --> 00:45:37,680 our own mistakes we'll learn from each 1082 00:45:37,680 --> 00:45:40,160 other i think that that's very important 1083 00:45:40,160 --> 00:45:43,599 43 is it good is it bad well that's what 1084 00:45:43,599 --> 00:45:44,400 it is 1085 00:45:44,400 --> 00:45:46,319 it should be better next about that 1086 00:45:46,319 --> 00:45:48,160 glass yes 1087 00:45:48,160 --> 00:45:51,440 exactly so uh the important thing is 1088 00:45:51,440 --> 00:45:52,800 that we don't stop 1089 00:45:52,800 --> 00:45:54,800 we didn't as i said we're not finished 1090 00:45:54,800 --> 00:45:56,880 we're still thinking on how to 1091 00:45:56,880 --> 00:46:00,000 uh live uh with the kovit for the for 1092 00:46:00,000 --> 00:46:03,200 the upcoming uh period vaccination is 1093 00:46:03,200 --> 00:46:04,640 very important we know that we'll have 1094 00:46:04,640 --> 00:46:05,680 to vaccine 1095 00:46:05,680 --> 00:46:07,200 the whole world if we don't want to if 1096 00:46:07,200 --> 00:46:08,960 we really want to get rid of 1097 00:46:08,960 --> 00:46:12,240 uh kovit uh but definitely the level 1098 00:46:12,240 --> 00:46:12,960 that we are 1099 00:46:12,960 --> 00:46:15,200 that we will be will be much better for 1100 00:46:15,200 --> 00:46:16,240 the quality of life 1101 00:46:16,240 --> 00:46:19,440 uh in in europe so 1102 00:46:19,440 --> 00:46:22,000 definitely move forward and and not to 1103 00:46:22,000 --> 00:46:22,560 give up 1104 00:46:22,560 --> 00:46:26,000 and not uh relax thank you uh carol 1105 00:46:26,000 --> 00:46:27,440 havelichik what's your take on that 1106 00:46:27,440 --> 00:46:30,400 and as just as before before you start 1107 00:46:30,400 --> 00:46:31,599 get ready with the questions because 1108 00:46:31,599 --> 00:46:32,720 we're going to go into the questions 1109 00:46:32,720 --> 00:46:34,000 from the audience and i would like you 1110 00:46:34,000 --> 00:46:35,280 afterwards to raise your hands to so 1111 00:46:35,280 --> 00:46:36,720 that i can see them please 1112 00:46:36,720 --> 00:46:39,119 well it was extremely difficult prayer 1113 00:46:39,119 --> 00:46:41,280 but now we have to look into the future 1114 00:46:41,280 --> 00:46:43,200 because everybody's expecting the act 1115 00:46:43,200 --> 00:46:44,880 for from our for 1116 00:46:44,880 --> 00:46:48,240 from us and we have to outline the 1117 00:46:48,240 --> 00:46:49,040 future 1118 00:46:49,040 --> 00:46:50,800 not only at the economic level about the 1119 00:46:50,800 --> 00:46:53,119 society level i don't want 1120 00:46:53,119 --> 00:46:56,319 uh to to call that we are let's say 1121 00:46:56,319 --> 00:46:58,400 restarting only the economy we are 1122 00:46:58,400 --> 00:46:59,359 starting the 1123 00:46:59,359 --> 00:47:02,800 society and the resilience and 1124 00:47:02,800 --> 00:47:04,880 recovery plan from our point of view 1125 00:47:04,880 --> 00:47:06,000 it's not a typical 1126 00:47:06,000 --> 00:47:08,880 economic plan it is a plan as an 1127 00:47:08,880 --> 00:47:11,200 infrastructure plan which is based on 1128 00:47:11,200 --> 00:47:13,839 economic activities research activities 1129 00:47:13,839 --> 00:47:14,800 but also 1130 00:47:14,800 --> 00:47:17,760 the health and resilience activities and 1131 00:47:17,760 --> 00:47:19,359 that's the reason that we are 1132 00:47:19,359 --> 00:47:22,960 investing from from this point of view 1133 00:47:22,960 --> 00:47:26,319 six percent uh to strengthening the 1134 00:47:26,319 --> 00:47:27,760 resilience in a 1135 00:47:27,760 --> 00:47:31,200 health uh care systems and free prince 1136 00:47:31,200 --> 00:47:34,400 persons to the research activities based 1137 00:47:34,400 --> 00:47:35,520 on a health 1138 00:47:35,520 --> 00:47:38,960 health area so so it's not only about 1139 00:47:38,960 --> 00:47:40,880 the economic restart well 1140 00:47:40,880 --> 00:47:45,040 thank you we gonna go into the questions 1141 00:47:45,040 --> 00:47:47,760 from the audience i'm gonna just ask you 1142 00:47:47,760 --> 00:47:50,000 to keep them rather brief because you 1143 00:47:50,000 --> 00:47:51,440 know you cannot hold the microphone due 1144 00:47:51,440 --> 00:47:52,800 to of course the coveted measures 1145 00:47:52,800 --> 00:47:55,359 we have a question there could you could 1146 00:47:55,359 --> 00:47:56,319 we please go for the 1147 00:47:56,319 --> 00:47:58,559 yes could you stand up q and please keep 1148 00:47:58,559 --> 00:48:00,160 it rather 1149 00:48:00,160 --> 00:48:04,000 brief there we go um i'm ayman 1150 00:48:04,000 --> 00:48:05,920 visiting a professor at the college of 1151 00:48:05,920 --> 00:48:08,319 europe my question is about 1152 00:48:08,319 --> 00:48:10,000 conditionalities are they only about 1153 00:48:10,000 --> 00:48:11,440 structural reforms 1154 00:48:11,440 --> 00:48:13,839 or there should be because the eu is a 1155 00:48:13,839 --> 00:48:15,760 normative force also in the world 1156 00:48:15,760 --> 00:48:17,520 conditionality is related to rule of law 1157 00:48:17,520 --> 00:48:19,359 when it comes to independent judiciary 1158 00:48:19,359 --> 00:48:22,160 free press non-discrimination lgbt 1159 00:48:22,160 --> 00:48:23,839 rights etc what's your take on this 1160 00:48:23,839 --> 00:48:26,079 thank you 1161 00:48:26,079 --> 00:48:29,440 well i i i share um 1162 00:48:29,440 --> 00:48:32,240 that it was a big debate and also one of 1163 00:48:32,240 --> 00:48:33,119 the 1164 00:48:33,119 --> 00:48:35,599 points we as frugal countries brought 1165 00:48:35,599 --> 00:48:36,640 into debate 1166 00:48:36,640 --> 00:48:40,640 that rule of law has to be a basis if 1167 00:48:40,640 --> 00:48:42,319 one member of the european union wants 1168 00:48:42,319 --> 00:48:46,839 to get a lot of money from other member 1169 00:48:46,839 --> 00:48:50,000 states which have to pay for that and 1170 00:48:50,000 --> 00:48:52,559 of course as always in the eu we had to 1171 00:48:52,559 --> 00:48:55,040 find a compromise so a bit more would 1172 00:48:55,040 --> 00:48:56,400 have been good 1173 00:48:56,400 --> 00:49:00,160 but at least we agreed to something on 1174 00:49:00,160 --> 00:49:02,240 rule of law here 1175 00:49:02,240 --> 00:49:04,240 on behalf of the action and the decision 1176 00:49:04,240 --> 00:49:06,000 process i think it was important that 1177 00:49:06,000 --> 00:49:08,800 this was recovery and resilience plan 1178 00:49:08,800 --> 00:49:11,359 in order to help the economies the 1179 00:49:11,359 --> 00:49:12,160 governments 1180 00:49:12,160 --> 00:49:13,839 that's why the structural reforms are 1181 00:49:13,839 --> 00:49:16,000 very important and it goes from country 1182 00:49:16,000 --> 00:49:19,359 to country which needed uh what reform 1183 00:49:19,359 --> 00:49:20,400 more 1184 00:49:20,400 --> 00:49:22,559 so therefore i don't really see a reason 1185 00:49:22,559 --> 00:49:23,760 for having such a 1186 00:49:23,760 --> 00:49:26,880 condition in the conditions on the other 1187 00:49:26,880 --> 00:49:27,680 hand 1188 00:49:27,680 --> 00:49:30,079 we are a european union as i said one of 1189 00:49:30,079 --> 00:49:30,960 the best place 1190 00:49:30,960 --> 00:49:33,760 to live it's a democratic environment 1191 00:49:33,760 --> 00:49:34,079 and 1192 00:49:34,079 --> 00:49:37,200 for us rule of law is is uh importance 1193 00:49:37,200 --> 00:49:40,079 number one because any democracy cannot 1194 00:49:40,079 --> 00:49:40,800 grow in 1195 00:49:40,800 --> 00:49:42,880 other environment other than in a state 1196 00:49:42,880 --> 00:49:44,480 of uh where the rule of law is 1197 00:49:44,480 --> 00:49:47,839 fully active so uh so therefore i think 1198 00:49:47,839 --> 00:49:48,400 this is 1199 00:49:48,400 --> 00:49:50,480 this is a ground field and if we see 1200 00:49:50,480 --> 00:49:51,440 that there are 1201 00:49:51,440 --> 00:49:53,359 uh some other views on it it's 1202 00:49:53,359 --> 00:49:55,359 definitely good to have a debate on it 1203 00:49:55,359 --> 00:49:57,440 and and try to understand what's what's 1204 00:49:57,440 --> 00:49:58,480 behind it 1205 00:49:58,480 --> 00:50:01,359 uh but we have to also understand that 1206 00:50:01,359 --> 00:50:02,640 uh european union 1207 00:50:02,640 --> 00:50:06,160 is a is a union of uh autonomic 1208 00:50:06,160 --> 00:50:07,440 countries with their with their 1209 00:50:07,440 --> 00:50:08,319 sovereignty 1210 00:50:08,319 --> 00:50:10,960 therefore i am a very much a great fan 1211 00:50:10,960 --> 00:50:11,359 of 1212 00:50:11,359 --> 00:50:13,760 communication of a discussion because 1213 00:50:13,760 --> 00:50:14,640 that's what 1214 00:50:14,640 --> 00:50:17,359 friends do and we shouldn't be uh be 1215 00:50:17,359 --> 00:50:18,160 afraid of 1216 00:50:18,160 --> 00:50:20,960 talking also about difficult topics but 1217 00:50:20,960 --> 00:50:22,559 it always starts with 1218 00:50:22,559 --> 00:50:24,880 listening and then it goes further on 1219 00:50:24,880 --> 00:50:26,559 but for slovakia as you see 1220 00:50:26,559 --> 00:50:29,040 the the current situation rule of law is 1221 00:50:29,040 --> 00:50:30,480 really something that we want to build 1222 00:50:30,480 --> 00:50:31,680 slovakia into 1223 00:50:31,680 --> 00:50:34,160 we want to make a slovakia a solid 1224 00:50:34,160 --> 00:50:35,680 democratic country 1225 00:50:35,680 --> 00:50:38,880 with uh strong roots of rule of law 1226 00:50:38,880 --> 00:50:40,640 so we have an opportunity a great 1227 00:50:40,640 --> 00:50:43,040 opportunity to manage the plan as a 1228 00:50:43,040 --> 00:50:45,119 european plan known only as a plan of 1229 00:50:45,119 --> 00:50:46,880 the particular country as well 1230 00:50:46,880 --> 00:50:49,680 and that's the power of of this uh 1231 00:50:49,680 --> 00:50:50,720 initiative of 1232 00:50:50,720 --> 00:50:53,680 of this plan and it's like any business 1233 00:50:53,680 --> 00:50:55,359 in a balance sheet as you know on the 1234 00:50:55,359 --> 00:50:57,280 left side there are the assets on the 1235 00:50:57,280 --> 00:51:00,160 right side and the other equity and 1236 00:51:00,160 --> 00:51:01,200 liabilities 1237 00:51:01,200 --> 00:51:03,440 assets that's right so infrastructure 1238 00:51:03,440 --> 00:51:04,800 and digitization 1239 00:51:04,800 --> 00:51:08,800 physical infrastructure and um 1240 00:51:09,040 --> 00:51:13,119 assets on the right side uh equity 1241 00:51:13,119 --> 00:51:15,280 social responsibility well and of course 1242 00:51:15,280 --> 00:51:16,720 the debts we have to 1243 00:51:16,720 --> 00:51:19,040 to pay to the 2d to the let's say 1244 00:51:19,040 --> 00:51:20,720 suppliers in this 1245 00:51:20,720 --> 00:51:22,800 from this point of view uh they are the 1246 00:51:22,800 --> 00:51:25,040 uh that uh they are closely connected 1247 00:51:25,040 --> 00:51:26,480 well because it's closer connected to 1248 00:51:26,480 --> 00:51:26,720 the 1249 00:51:26,720 --> 00:51:29,599 national uh financial budget so and all 1250 00:51:29,599 --> 00:51:30,800 of this must be 1251 00:51:30,800 --> 00:51:32,559 balanced and that's that's that's the 1252 00:51:32,559 --> 00:51:34,960 way how to tell me a little bit about 1253 00:51:34,960 --> 00:51:51,839 your plans to address this issue 1254 00:51:54,960 --> 00:51:56,640 thank you for the question prime 1255 00:51:56,640 --> 00:51:58,079 minister do you want to start 1256 00:51:58,079 --> 00:52:02,319 well uh yes the the question 1257 00:52:02,319 --> 00:52:06,880 of the winners and losers yeah 1258 00:52:16,839 --> 00:52:19,760 this 1259 00:52:19,760 --> 00:52:22,640 the whole pandemy was definitely very 1260 00:52:22,640 --> 00:52:23,760 asymmetric in this and 1261 00:52:23,760 --> 00:52:26,960 slovakia is a country of industry uh it 1262 00:52:26,960 --> 00:52:27,920 helped us a lot 1263 00:52:27,920 --> 00:52:30,640 to to really not have such a bad numbers 1264 00:52:30,640 --> 00:52:30,960 we 1265 00:52:30,960 --> 00:52:32,480 when at the beginning we expected that 1266 00:52:32,480 --> 00:52:34,559 we're going to have a decrease 1267 00:52:34,559 --> 00:52:37,359 in gdp or almost 10 percent and uh it 1268 00:52:37,359 --> 00:52:38,000 end up 1269 00:52:38,000 --> 00:52:41,599 not even 5. uh it was also 1270 00:52:41,599 --> 00:52:44,079 that we invested on uh the government 1271 00:52:44,079 --> 00:52:45,040 help toward the 1272 00:52:45,040 --> 00:52:47,839 employment this uh very famous court 1273 00:52:47,839 --> 00:52:48,720 serbiate 1274 00:52:48,720 --> 00:52:51,359 everybody knows it uh by now in slovakia 1275 00:52:51,359 --> 00:52:51,760 it'll 1276 00:52:51,760 --> 00:52:55,040 help very much to protect the the people 1277 00:52:55,040 --> 00:52:58,079 with their jobs etc so therefore i think 1278 00:52:58,079 --> 00:53:00,400 the countries responded depending uh as 1279 00:53:00,400 --> 00:53:02,559 they need it in their recovery plans and 1280 00:53:02,559 --> 00:53:03,680 i think it's good 1281 00:53:03,680 --> 00:53:05,280 but as i mentioned in the beginning it's 1282 00:53:05,280 --> 00:53:06,960 not only about with the recovery plan it 1283 00:53:06,960 --> 00:53:08,640 was also about what we did during the 1284 00:53:08,640 --> 00:53:10,400 pandemic how we were helping 1285 00:53:10,400 --> 00:53:13,280 uh to maximum possible uh and still 1286 00:53:13,280 --> 00:53:14,400 protecting the south 1287 00:53:14,400 --> 00:53:16,160 and the czech republic it's extremely 1288 00:53:16,160 --> 00:53:18,079 low i know well but uh 1289 00:53:18,079 --> 00:53:19,359 definitely in all of the central 1290 00:53:19,359 --> 00:53:20,960 european countries the rate of 1291 00:53:20,960 --> 00:53:23,440 unemployment is raw differential flow 1292 00:53:23,440 --> 00:53:25,680 uh and the losers of course the 1293 00:53:25,680 --> 00:53:26,640 retailers 1294 00:53:26,640 --> 00:53:28,720 small services well that's the reason 1295 00:53:28,720 --> 00:53:30,240 that we uh 1296 00:53:30,240 --> 00:53:32,800 supported these segments uh extremely a 1297 00:53:32,800 --> 00:53:33,920 lot of a lot of 1298 00:53:33,920 --> 00:53:37,359 sources 15 billions check 1299 00:53:37,359 --> 00:53:40,720 15 billion euros we uh 1300 00:53:40,720 --> 00:53:43,119 by 50 milli billion euros we supported 1301 00:53:43,119 --> 00:53:44,960 uh the segments of the small 1302 00:53:44,960 --> 00:53:47,119 and medium pattern prices especially in 1303 00:53:47,119 --> 00:53:48,559 a business field like 1304 00:53:48,559 --> 00:53:51,440 services restaurants and and small small 1305 00:53:51,440 --> 00:53:52,240 retailers 1306 00:53:52,240 --> 00:53:54,480 but we have to finish this support now 1307 00:53:54,480 --> 00:53:56,079 and to start a new 1308 00:53:56,079 --> 00:53:58,480 type of support based on investment 1309 00:53:58,480 --> 00:54:00,880 support based on innovation support 1310 00:54:00,880 --> 00:54:03,760 based on let's say the programs as a 1311 00:54:03,760 --> 00:54:04,720 guarantees 1312 00:54:04,720 --> 00:54:07,760 the loans and banking loans guarantees 1313 00:54:07,760 --> 00:54:08,800 and to stop 1314 00:54:08,800 --> 00:54:10,720 now uh the special program based on a 1315 00:54:10,720 --> 00:54:12,559 cool sub and so on because we have to 1316 00:54:12,559 --> 00:54:15,119 balance and manage also the labor market 1317 00:54:15,119 --> 00:54:16,319 well 1318 00:54:16,319 --> 00:54:17,760 thank you so much thanks to all of the 1319 00:54:17,760 --> 00:54:19,040 speakers for this session thanks for 1320 00:54:19,040 --> 00:54:20,800 everybody participating here i wish we 1321 00:54:20,800 --> 00:54:22,480 had more time for your questions and for 1322 00:54:22,480 --> 00:54:24,000 questions from the audience from 1323 00:54:24,000 --> 00:54:26,160 those participating online it's always 1324 00:54:26,160 --> 00:54:27,839 like that we next time hopefully we're 1325 00:54:27,839 --> 00:54:28,319 going to have 1326 00:54:28,319 --> 00:54:29,920 more time and we're going to have more 1327 00:54:29,920 --> 00:54:32,079 questions and more conversation here 1328 00:54:32,079 --> 00:54:39,839 thank you 1329 00:54:59,200 --> 00:55:01,279 you