About the Brussels Economic Forum
The Brussels Economic Forum is the European Union’s premier platform for debate on economic issues. It is an opportunity to meet decision-makers, opinion leaders and other key players from government authorities, international organisations, European institutions, financial institutions, social partners, academia and the media. In 2010, the Forum was attended by 1,000 people, including more than 140 journalists from 80 different media organisations.
Creative discussions about issues that matter
The Forum was set up in 2000 in the wake of the euro’s launch the year before. Now an annual event, it plays a crucial role in fostering dialogue and discussion about issues that matter to everyone in Europe.
Access to top-level decision makers and opinion leaders
The Forum gets the people who make headlines and other opinion leaders all into the same room. It provides an open arena where a wider audience can follow and participate in the debates shaping Europe and the world.
Previous speakers at the Forum have included:
- Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council
- Sharon Bowles, MEP, Chair of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, European Parliament
- Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Managing Director, IMF and former Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry for France
- Jean-Claude Trichet, President, European Central Bank
- José Manuel Barroso, President, European Commission
- Jean-Claude Juncker, Prime Minister of Luxembourg and President of the Eurogroup
- Current and former European Commissioners like Joaquín Almunia, Connie Hedegaard, Danuta Hübner, Olli Rehn, and Mario Monti
- Current and former ministers of finance like Anders Borg (Sweden), Wouter Bos (The Netherlands), Didier Reynders (Belgium), Elena Salgado (Spain), and Peer Steinbrück (Germany)
- Current and former central bankers like Ewald Nowotny (Austria) and András Simor (Hungary)
- Highly reputable economists like Tony Atkinson, Richard Baldwin, Dieter Helm, Jean Pisani-Ferry, Jeremy Rifkin, André Sapir and John Zysman
Over the years, the topics under discussion have changed, too, always pointing towards the future challenges facing the EU, from the sustainability of public finances and the economic impact of ageing, to tackling global warming and exiting the financial and economic crisis.