The iconic portrait of Václav Havel taken by Miloš Fikejz
Text: M.Zisso; Photo: Archive
One of the key projects launched by the Czech Centres to mark the 2022 Czech EU Presidency was a series of international conferences entitled „The Václav Havel European Dialogues“. Together with the Václav Havel Library – who originated the project – the Czech Centres organised the conferences in a total of 10 European countries (Belgium, France, Netherlands, Germany, Spain, UK, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Poland), as well as the USA, Egypt and Georgia in 2022.
Prominent international personalities such as Timothy Snyder, Marci Shore, Adam Michnik and Jacques Rupnik, as well as civil society activists and young audience members addressed issues such as the future development and enlargement of the EU, the impact of the war in Ukraine on the future of Europe, disinformation, fake news and the role of the media, environmental protection and climate change, the crisis of contemporary society and its values. The reference point for all the themes and reflections was the legacy of the former Czech President Václav Havel.
The experiences and findings from all the events were shared by the participants and other guests in the concluding discussion which took place on 25 January 2023 at the Václav Havel Library. The guests were Mikuláš Bek, Minister for European Affairs, Ondřej Černý, Director General of the Czech Centres, Jiří Přibáň, lawyer and sociologist, Cardiff University, Jitka Pánek Jurková, Director of the Czech Centre Brussels and Jiří Hnilica, Director of the Czech Centre Paris. The event was hosted by Michael Žantovský, Executive Director of the Václav Havel Library.
„The motto of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU was Havel‘s ‚Europe as a Task‘. In this framework, together with the Czech Centres, we undertook to bring Václav Havel‘s legacy and its urgency for solving contemporary problems to young audiences in a wide range of both European and non-European cities. It was challenging – as all Havel tasks are – but the response we have received from the audiences at all our events proves that this is a much-needed activity in the midst of the most serious crisis Europe has faced since the end of the Cold War. If we overcome the crisis, we will overcome it as Europe. If we succumb, we will succumb individually,“ summed up Michael Žantovský.
The Czech Centres
The Czech Centres (CC), a contributory organisation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, are a key public diplomacy tool of the Czech Republic‘s foreign policy. As a cultural institute, they aim to develop cultural relations between countries. The CC are a member of the EUNIC network (EU National Institutes for Culture). They present the Czech Republic in a wide range of cultural and 6 social fields: from art and creative industries to the promotion of the achievements of Czech science and innovation. They provide Czech language courses abroad. The CC are involved in international projects and provide a platform for the development of international cultural dialogue. Currently, there are 26 Czech Centres across 4 continents. In addition to the Czech Centres’ network, they also manage the Czech House in Jerusalem and Bratislava.