CESEE in a changing world: geoeconomics, technology and demographic shifts

Conference on European Economic Integration (CEEI) 2026

23-24 November 2026

Oesterreichische Nationalbank
Otto-Wagner-Platz 3
1090 Vienna

Conference Outline

The world is undergoing transformation at an unprecedented pace, driven by escalating geopolitical conflicts, rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, and profound demographic shifts. These forces are reshaping global dynamics and creating an era of heightened uncertainty. Like other regions, the economies of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe (CESEE) are exposed to these sweeping changes, which pose significant risks to economic growth in the coming years.
Despite these challenges it is important to recognize that CESEE economies have achieved remarkable success over recent decades, demonstrating a strong ability to adapt quickly to new realities. The CEEI 2026 will explore four key themes that are shaping the future of CESEE countries:

geopolitics and geoeconomics,
demographic shifts,
the transformative impact of technological innovation and AI and
the role of the state in a changing world

All of these topics carry both immediate and long-term consequences for CESEE and for the EU as a whole. The CEEI 2026 thus aims to address the critical question: How can CESEE countries prepare for and take advantage of these fundamental changes to ensure continued successful convergence and support a stronger and more resilient EU in the future?

Program

Monday, 23 November 2026

Zeit	Beschreibung
12:00 PM	Registration & light lunch
01:00 PM	Opening remarks Martin Kocher Governor Oesterreichische Nationalbank Paweł Szałamacha Member of the Management Board Narodowy Bank Polski
01:30 PM	Keynote Lecture 1 Beata Javorcik Chief Economist European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Moderator Piotr Żuk Deputy Director Narodowy Bank Polski
02:00 PM	Session 1: The world is changing: the role of geopolitics and geoeconomics How are geopolitics and geoeconomics reshaping CESEE? What is the role of central banks in adressing geopolitical risks? How can the CESEE region become more resilient in the current global environment? Simona Malovaná Executive Director Czech National Bank Cathrin Mohr Professor Kiel Institute Huw Pill Chief Economist and Executive Director Bank of England Gediminas Šimkus Chair of the Board Lietuvos bankas Moderator Marta Kightley Advisor to the Governor Narodowy Bank Polski
03:15 PM	Coffee Break
03:45 PM	Keynote Lecture 2: Inequality and Growth in the age of AI Simon Johnson Professor MIT Sloan School of Management Winner of the 2024 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel Moderator Martin Kocher Governor Oesterreichische Nationalbank
04:15 PM	Session 2: Europe’s answers to demographical change How can CESEE address labor shortages in key sectors? How can Europe balance the need for skilled labor with the risks of brain drain from CESEE, particularly from the Western Balkans? How can CESEE maintain price competitiveness in view of tight labor markets? Jacek Kotłowski Director Narodowy Bank Polski Aparnaa Somanathan Regional Practice Director for People, Europe and Central Asia World Bank Group Alida Vračić Director Think Tank Populari Moderator Sandra M. Leitner Economist The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies
05:15 PM	End of day 1

Tuesday, 24 November 2026

Zeit	Beschreibung
08:15 AM	Registration
08:45 AM	An economic take on AI, technological innovation and productivity growth Nauro Ferreira Campos Professor in Economics University College London Moderator Julia Wörz Head of the Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe Section Oesterreichische Nationalbank
09:15 AM	Session 3: Will AI and technological innovations accelerate productivity growth in CESEE? What is the potential of technological innovations to boost productivity in CESEE? How will labor markets react: will innovations such as AI lead to job displacement, help offset labor shortages or create new jobs? How widespread is AI adoption in CESEE compared to Western Europe or other regions? What are the main barriers to AI adoption? Paweł Gmyrek Senior Researcher International Labour Organization Jakub Growiec Economic Advisor Narodowy Bank Polski Branka Hadji Misheva Professor Bern University of Applied Sciences Ana Mitreska Deputy Governor National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia Moderator Julia Wörz Head of the Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe Section Oesterreichische Nationalbank
10:30 AM	Coffee Break
11:00 AM	An economic take on public spending effectiveness and efficiency in CESEE Markus Eller Senior Expert Oesterreichische Nationalbank Moderator Wolf Heinrich Reuter Director Oesterreichische Nationalbank
11:15 AM	Session 4: The role of the state in a changing world and the future of public spending How should governments reprioritise public spending amid rising geopolitical tensions and economic volatility? How can governments simultaneously address the legacy of multiple recent crises and support monetary policy objectives? Could EU-level financing solutions make a difference? Cinzia Alcidi Senior Research Fellow, Head of the Economic Policy and Jobs & Skills Units Centre for European Policy Studies José Cerveira Economist JP Morgan Moderator Wolf Heinrich Reuter Director Oesterreichische Nationalbank
12:00 PM	Special address Boris Vujčić Vice-President European Central Bank
12:15 PM	Central bankers’ chat: Resist the shocks – how to boost Europe’s resilience Marta Kightley Advisor to the Governor Narodowy Bank Polski Martin Kocher Governor Oesterreichische Nationalbank Boris Vujčić Vice-President European Central Bank
01:00 PM	Closing remarks Johannes Hahn President Oesterreichische Nationalbank
01:15 PM	End of conference and light lunch

Please find the full PDF agenda here.

Speakers

Cinzia Alcidi

Centre for European Policy Studies

Senior Research Fellow, Head of the Economic Policy and Jobs & Skills Units

Nauro Ferreira Campos

University College London

Professor of Economics

Jose Cerveira

J.P. Morgan

Economist

Markus Eller

Oesterreichische Nationalbank

Senior Expert

Paweł Gmyrek

International Labour Organization

Senior Researcher

Jakub Growiec

Narodowy Bank Polski

Economic Advisor

Branka Hadji Misheva

Bern University of Applied Sciences

Professor

Johannes Hahn

Oesterreichische Nationalbank

Präsident

Beata Javorcik

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

Chief Economist

Simon Johnson

MIT Sloan School of Management

Professor

Marta Kightley

Narodowy Bank Polski

First Deputy Governor

Martin Kocher

Oesterreichische Nationalbank

Governor

Jacek Kotlowski

Narodowy Bank Polski

Deputy Director of the Economic Analysis Department

Sandra Leitner

The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies

Economist

Simona Malovana

Ceská Národni Banka

Director of Financial Research Division

Ana Mitreska

National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia

Deputy Governor

Cathrin Mohr

Kiel Institute for the World Economy

Professor

Huw Pill

Bank of England

Executive Director for Monetary Analysis and Research

Wolf Heinrich Reuter

Oesterreichische Nationalbank

Director of the Economics and Research Department

Gediminas Šimkus

Lietuvos Bankas

Governor

Aparnaa Somanathan

World Bank Group

Regional Practice Director for People, Europe and Central Asia

Paweł Szałamacha

Narodowy Bank Polski

Member of the Management Board

Alida Vračić

Think Tank Populari

Director

Boris Vujčić

European Central Bank

Vice-President

Julia Wörz

Oesterreichische Nationalbank

Head of the Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe Section

Piotr Żuk

Narodowy Bank Polski

Deputy Director

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