CEU Center for EU Enlargement Studies (CENS), the Embassy of Italy in Hungary and CEU Department of International Relations and European Studies (IRES) hosted a public lecture on 28 November 2012 entitled “Italy and the economic crisis: the way out”. The lecture was delivered by Ambassador H.E. Ms Maria Assunta ACCILI to a distinguished group of diplomats, ambassadors, students and university professors.

Ambassador Accili centered her speech around three pillars which are important for leading Italy out of the economic crisis: social fairness, economic growth, and fiscal consolidation. She also emphasized that the current Italian government headed by its Prime Minister Mario Monti is on the right path, and outlined a number of actions that Italy needs to continue implementing: to maintain the momentum of the reforms; to secure fiscal sustainability of the system; to reduce regulations; to strengthen public sector; to boost innovation, education and training; and to reinforce social cohesion. H.E. Ms Maria Assunta Accili concluded that the only way for the EU to overcome the crisis it to return to growth and to increase European competitiveness. Only the united EU will be able to survive the current negative state of affairs.

The lecture was chaired by Péter Balázs, Director of CENS and former Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

For more information on the lecture, please see the two attachments below.