Conference on European Economic Integration (CEEI) 2023

Geopolitical shifts and economic strategies: China’s role for CESEE and the euro area

The Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB) will host this year's Conference on European Economic Integration (CEEI) 2023 as a hybrid event in cooperation with the Bank of Finland Institute for Emerging Economies (BOFIT) on November 6 and 7, 2023 at the Museumsquartier in Vienna.

Conference Aspects

Europe’s economic model traditionally rests on open economies and a multilateral order. Yet, Europe is also dependent on a few suppliers of vital commodities and services, as driven home by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s war in Ukraine. When it comes to the green transition and public health, Europe, and in particular Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe (CESEE), also heavily depends on foreign inputs. Thus, while rebalancing is needed, it must not come at the cost of disrupting reliable trade relations and global cooperation. In the face of today’s challenges, Europe’s relations with China are particularly crucial, which is why the CEEI 2023 is zeroing in on a number of strategic questions:

• How will China’s economic growth impact global and European inflation dynamics and how should policymakers respond to that? Will China's falling producer prices add to the disinflationary effect of energy and commodity prices?
• How could Europe diversify its trade relations and strengthen its strategic autonomy? How should CESEE economies position themselves to reap the benefits of cooperation without becoming a political pawn between the East and the West?
• How much does Europe’s low-carbon transition depend on inputs from China? What options are there for mutually beneficial green technology transfers?
• What does the future hold for the Belt and Road Initiative? Can CESEE economies play a bridging role, given their geographic location and their position in global value chains? Will this initiative support necessary infrastructure investment in the region?

Date
November 6 and 7, 2023

Venue
Museumsquartier
Museumsplatz 1
1070 Vienna
or online via Webex