From studying geodesy at the Czech Technical University to leading diplomatic missions across the globe, Mr. Bärtl shared his unique path to diplomacy, as well as behind-the-scenes stories from his current post of representing the Czech Republic in COREPER.

The discussion touched on the EU’s relations with the USA, support for Ukraine, and challenges like competitiveness and the new EU budget — all with an open Q&A and an informal atmosphere.

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Debate with Ambassador Vladimír Bärtl

The debate addressed the impact of the "America First" era on transatlantic relations and global trade, the EU's challenges, including geopolitical shifts and the green/digital transition, and the question of its future competitiveness amidst rising protectionism. 
The debate explored also Central Europe's potential contribution to these dynamics.
 
Speakers:
 
H. E. Agnieszka Bartol, Permanent Representative of Poland to the EU 
H. E. Vladimír Bärtl, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the EU
Markus Beyrer, Director General, BussinessEurope 
Dita Charanzová, Former Vice President of the European Parliament
 
moderator: 
Ivan Hodáč, Founder and President of the Aspen Institute CE.



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Debate: New Transatlantic Relations - Trade and Competitiveness

Debate: New Transatlantic Relations 

The author, Viktor Daněk, who met Jourová as a Brussels correspondent for Czech Radio, deals with the life of Věra Jourová from her childhood through her work in domestic and European politics to the present. The title refers to the film Larks on a Thread. The gods in the book's title represent the owners of large social networks, while the milkmen are ordinary people.

The book contains Jourová's answers to questions about politics and her private struggle with injustice. "It's a chance to indulge in such a confession in other words, because when you are in high politics, you have to value your words very much," says Jourová about the reason why she decided to publish the book.

A sincere and open confession of a strong and courageous woman about her journey from the very bottom to the highest peak. When she was led away in handcuffs and ended up behind bars, no one would have bet that in a few years she would sit in the government and then become one of the most powerful women in Europe. Time magazine ranked her among the 100 most influential people in the world. No Czech has ever managed to do that.

Věra Jourová tells the story of incredible life twists and turns. How did she manage to overcome the moments when she was at her worst and thought she could go no further? Why did she get together with Andrej Babiš and how did their paths diverge again? How does it work in Brussels and what is it like to live alone there? In the book, she unravels the behind-the-scenes of high politics and the intricacies of the European Union, describes her meetings with the most famous people in the world. She also showed fearlessness and strength when she was not afraid to stand up to the world's most powerful businessman, Elon Musk, and warned of the dangers that social networks and technological corporations pose to humanity.

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Věra Jourová and Viktor Daněk - Book presentation

MOW QUARTET
Silvia Bažantová - violin
Ekaterina Philippovich - violin
Cristina Flueras - viola
Elisabeth Sturtewagen - violoncello
Prague House,

The Mow Quartet isn’t your typical string quartet. Trained in Belgium’s Royal conservatories, this all-female ensemble has the technical mastery to perform the great works of the classical repertoire — but it’s in their bold, genre-blending creativity that they truly stand out. Their originality shines through in how they compose and reinterpret pop and folk songs, crafting
finely detailed arrangements that carry their unmistakable signature.

Singing is central to their artistic identity. With four voices and four string instruments, they create a rich and unique sonic world that moves effortlessly between chamber music, folk, instrumental rock, and urban influences. Their repertoire includes original compositions, daring reinterpretations of familiar pieces, and lyrics that are both poetic and socially conscious.
What sets them apart? A deep musical connection on stage, a genuine rapport with the audience, improvisation and a fearless desire to break down boundaries between styles. The Mow Quartet is a rich, sensitive, and thoroughly contemporary project — Brussels-born, and best experienced live.

programme
1/ Ekla - Original composition
2/ The House of the rising Sun - Traditional / Mow arr.
3/ Testimony - Charlton Singleton
4/ Joia - Silvia Bazantova
5/ Irish Jig - Irish Traditional
6/ Het waren twee koningskinderen - Middle age Flemish song / MOW arr.
7/ Sonderho Bridal Trilogy - Danish folk song by DSQ
8/ Ribbers 5 - Danish folk song by DSQ
9/ Polska from Dorothea - Danish folk song by DSQ
10/ Nane Cocha - Old Roma song - MOW Arrangement
11/ Sulkhan Tsintsadze Miniatures - Indi Mindi, Shepherd’s Dance, Gandagan
12/ Skylife - David Balakrishnan
13/ All the World is Green - Tom Waits / MOW arr.
14/ Nuevo Aire - Silvia Bazantova / MOW arr.
15/ Papa Ruda - Romanian folk song / MOW arr.

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PH Concert Series: MOW Quartet

Mow Quartet

In the field of WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) in Ukraine, the need to restore access remains critical, and the gap between available and required funding continues to widen. According to RDNA4, approximately US$ 0.7 billion in damages occurred between December 2023 and December 2024, bringing the total to US$ 6.4 billion since February 2022. This underscores the urgent need for increased attention and stronger support to the WASH sector, as well as the importance of upholding the fundamental human right to safe water and the provision of relevant critical services. These needs in water, sanitation, and district heating are caused by the constant damage inflicted on critical infrastructure by widespread Russian attacks and active combat operations in the east and south, as well as ongoing infrastructure degradation; combined with the limited capacities of local authorities and actors to rehabilitate WASH stations and infrastructure. An estimated 8.5 million people are in urgent need of WASH assistance, particularly access to safe water and relevant services.

The widespread damage to Ukraine's energy infrastructure in the first half of 2024 resulted in the loss of 30-49% of the country’s total energy generation capacity. This includes Combined Heat and Power (CHP) stations, which caused significant losses in both electricity and district
heating for affected communities. These heating and electricity shortages disrupted the functionality of vital social institutions, such as hospitals, schools, IDP collective/transitional centers, elderly care facilities, as well as public infrastructure like water and sewage stations, interfering with access to public services. Additionally, the impact severely affected the residential conditions of the affected populations, potentially leading to further displacement, as it is impossible for households to survive without both services during harsh winter conditions.

This event focused on two interrelated topics regarding WASH services:
- Renewable energy as a backup and sustainable solution for ensuring the continuity of life-saving WASH services in emergency settings.
- District heating as an essential WASH service at both the communal and institutional levels.

Through this Round Table which was conducted around the 4th European Humanitarian Forum (Brussels, 19-20 May 2025) People in Need (PIN) aimed at following up on the events dedicated to ensuring proper and sustainable WASH services in Ukraine in the context of the armed conflict, conducted in Kyiv on 29 January 2024 and in Brussels on 17 April 2024 under the Project ACCESS funded by the European Union; to facilitate the identification and prioritisation of the needs and challenges in ensuring access to sustainable WASH services in Ukraine; to discuss and commit to concrete steps in overcoming these challenges; in addition to promote collective advocacy for more consorted and focused efforts aimed at ensuring the fundamental right to safe water in the war-affected people in Ukraine.

Organizers:
People in Need (PIN)
WASH Cluster in Ukraine


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Roundtable: Renewable Energy and District Heating

The President of the Republic's work program kicked off with a debate with Czech MEPs on Tuesday, followed by talks with the President of the European Council António Costa, the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola and the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

"In the three main institutions of the Union, we discussed in particular strengthening defense, ensuring long-term competitiveness, and accelerating and simplifying decision-making processes. I also handed over several names of Czech candidates for positions in European structures to the Presidents of the Parliament and the Commission. The quality of the experts we send to various levels of the European Union is increasing, as is their number. This is right, because if we are to protect and defend our interests, it is important to have the right people in the right places. This is working well and I think that these talks are also helping to do so," said President Pavel.

On the second working morning, the Head of State held talks at the Supreme Allied Command Europe in Mons with Commander Christopher Cavoli. The topic was, among other things, the effectiveness of the Czech ammunition initiative, which was appreciated not only by him, but also by the President of the European Commission and the NATO Secretary General, whom Petr Pavel met after returning to Brussels. At NATO headquarters, President Pavel met not only with Mark Rutte, but also with the Chairman of the Military Committee Giuseppe Cave Dragon. Together, among other things, they agreed on the priority of strengthening European defense capabilities and ensuring support for Ukraine.

In addition to bilateral meetings, President Pavel also spoke at the European Policy Centre, where he discussed the future of European defense, met with Czechs working in EU and NATO structures, and opened an exhibition with Secretary General Rutte on the 25th anniversary of NATO Days in Ostrava.

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The Prague House welcomed President Petr Pavel

The delegation also discussed with representatives of DG ENER the preparation of the Social Climate Fund and the so-called Energy Package for Citizens, which are intended to help households reduce energy costs and support a just transition in the regions. The fund will be financed from the new ETS 2 emission allowance trading and the Czech Republic should receive an allocation of EUR 1.6 billion. The discussion highlighted the need to include not only low-income groups in the support and at the same time better link the new instruments with cohesion policy.

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Czech National Delegation to the European Committee of the Regions

Magdalena Jetelová is a Czech/German artist known for her land and environmental installation works.

Sculpture being her initial discipline outside of the gallery environment, she began to deal with relations between objects and space. She was one or the first artists from the post-Communist countries to start applying new technologies and laser light and made use of coded language of GPS coordinates as well as of modern robotic systems. In the continuously improving technology of new media she has found an opportunity for a revival of communication and for mediation of uncommon emotional experience. She is flexible in her response to places, she extracts it from the common context and alters its structure, with the aim of perceiving different interlayers or time and space. She deconstructs the present form of architecture by a new visuality, destabilizes its space by intentional reversal or repetition of elements, and by a general shift in time she uncovers remote or excluded contexts. She never forgets social aspects either, such as human rights issues and concerns for the environment.

As early as 1983 she was invited to exhibit in the New Art at the Tate Gallery in London as the only representative of the Eastern Block countries, and from this point gradually entered the international artistic scene.

She has taught at the State Art Academy in Düsseldorf and the Academy in Munich. She was also a consultant to President Vactav Havel in the Prague Castle.

Her exhibition history includes MACBA, Museum of Contemporary Art, Barcelona, Tate Gallery in London, Museum of Modern Art, New York, Chicago Art Center, Serpentine Gallery, and Martin-Grophius-Bau Berlin, She has also taken part in international fairs such as Documenta, Sydney Biennale, Gwangju Biennale in South Korea, and The Venice Biennale.

Her work is found in international collections including Centre Pompidou, Museum der Stadt Darmstadt, The Henry Moore Institute Leeds, The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington D.C., and the National Gallery in Prague.

The event was accompanied by live performance of @Amelie Siba, a young, charming singer-songwriter from Prague, who is one of the most prominent faces of the current Czech independent music scene.

The exhibition will run until June 26, 2025. Book your visit at praguehouse@praha.eu

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The festive opening of th Exhibition:  "Essential is Visible" by Magdalena Jetelová

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"Essential is Visible" by Magdalena Jetelová

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We would like to introduce the Prague House, the residence of the City of Prague’s Representation to the EU. This place is an integral part of Prague’s City hall, and all its activities are targeted towards promoting the interest of the City.

Welcome to the Prague House!

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