Szeged hosted the annual national meeting of the Hungarian Europe Direct and the European Documentation Centres held on March 9-10, 2022. The event was organised by the European Commission Representation in Hungary (the body responsible for coordinating the networks) and the Europe Direct Szeged office operating at the University of Szeged.

One of the goals of the event was to familiarise the forty EU communication experts coming from different parts of Hungary with Csongrád-Csanád County, the EU developments that have already been successfully implemented and the future development plans.

The opening presentation of the event was held by Dr. Eörs Polner, Vice-President of the Csongrád-Csanád County Assembly. The audience received detailed information about the tasks of the county government, its tendering activities and the TOP and TOP PLUS tenders.

Dr. Eörs Polner

Prof. Dr. Zoltán Kónya

Then, Prof. Dr. Zoltán Kónya, Vice-Rector for Science and Innovation of the University of Szeged held a lecture entitled “The University of Szeged as the Innovation Centre of the region”, in the framework of which the audience received comprehensive information about the university.

Dr. Anita Pelle, Associate Professor of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of the University of Szeged analysed the challenges faced by the European Union from an economic perspective. In her lecture she examined how economic governance can be implemented in today’s turbulent times (Covid pandemic, war in the Ukraine).

Ildikó Szekeres, Head of Office of Europe Direct Szeged introduced the main activities and results of the information office hosted by the University of Szeged. She informed participants about the ongoing reconstruction works of the Faculty of Law and the most outstanding events of ED Szeged implemented during the past 15 years. The Szeged information office started their operation at the university in March 2007, the anniversary was celebrated by the participants.

Andrea Lővei, Gábor Zupkó, Ildikó Szekeres, Richard Kuehnel

The guests closed the programme of 9 March at the ELI-ALPS Research Centre, accompanied by Mr. Gábor Zupkó, Head of the European Commission Representation in Hungary, Mr. Richard Kuehnel, Director of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Communication and Ms. Andrea Lövei, Head of the European Parliament’s Liaison Office in Hungary. In the ELI, the delegation was received by the President, Prof. Dr. Gábor Szabó. The group heard a lecture about the most outstanding EU-funded R&D project of the region, and then they discovered parts of the building open for visitors.

Ildikó Szekeres