✨ The second edition of #TaskEurope 2026 officially opened last week at the Spanish Hall of Prague Castle — and we are very happy that AMO (together with EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy and Institute of International Relations, Prague) could once again be part of bringing this important European conversation to Prague.
Over the course of the opening day, participants, speakers, experts, and policymakers came together to discuss some of the most pressing questions facing Europe today: security, resilience, competitiveness, and Europe’s role in an increasingly uncertain world.
🎤 The conference was opened by keynote speeches from H. E. Petr Pavel, President of Czechia, and H. E. Alexander Stubb, President of Finland, moderated by Jan Bumba.
President Pavel reflected on the foundations of the European project and stressed that Europe must take greater responsibility for its own security, strengthen its economic and technological base, and act with greater unity:
“Europe will not be strong on its own. It will be as strong as we make it together. Europe is a task we make every day.”
President Stubb described Europe as a project built on peace, prosperity, security and stability. He called for deeper European integration, continued enlargement, and greater European responsibility in security and defence:
“We need to both deepen and widen the EU. Deepen integration and widen Europe. We actually need more Europe, not less Europe.”
The keynote speeches were followed by a high-level discussion between the two presidents moderated by Rob Cameron and an expert panel on Europe’s geopolitical and economic resilience moderated by Aneta Zachová. Speakers highlighted the importance of investment, innovation, economic security, and stronger European competitiveness:
🔹 David Müller stressed the need for governments to create the right conditions for business.
🔹 Maria Demertzis focused on Europe’s investment gap and the need to bring capital back into the European economy.
🔹 Violeta Luca highlighted the importance of the single market, predictable regulation, and investment-friendly conditions.
🔹 Radek Špicar argued that Europe must invest more boldly if it wants to remain globally competitive.
💙 What stood out throughout the day was not only the importance of the topics discussed, but also the atmosphere of openness, exchange, and shared responsibility for Europe’s future. It was encouraging to see so many different perspectives come together in one place — from public institutions and business to academia and civil society.
✨ Thank you to all speakers, moderators, partners, and participants for helping create such an engaging start to #TaskEurope 2026.
📸 Martin Hladik