Conference outline
After a prolonged break, euro area enlargement in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe has regained momentum. Croatia adopted the euro in 2023, followed by Bulgaria this year, and the new Hungarian govern-ment has identified euro adoption as a key policy priority. While all CESEE EU members are obliged to intro-duce the single currency, the process is neither an end in itself nor a straightforward undertaking. Meeting the Maastricht criteria has become increasingly challenging in the wake of successive crises and increased eco-nomic volatility in recent years: addressing rising geopolitical tensions has contributed to higher fiscal deficits, while global supply shocks have fueled elevated inflation. Hence, the role of exchange rates as a provider of insurance against external shocks has regained attention. While a flexible exchange rate can act as a shock absorber, joining the euro area offers access to backstops.
The workshop will offer a forum for discussing these timely questions: What are the main arguments for and against euro adoption in the CESEE region in today’s volatile world? Which countries are the most likely can-didates to join next? What effects could an enlarged euro area have for European convergence and Europe’s position in the world?
The joint workshop of the Oesterreichische Nationalbank and Magyar Nemzeti Bank aims to explore these questions through a keynote presentation, as well as an academic and a policy panel discussion.
Date
Friday, 6 November 2026 | 10:00-13:45 CET
Venue
Oesterreichische Nationalbank, Veranstaltungssaal
Otto-Wagner-Platz 3, 1090 Vienna
By invitation only.
Chatham House Rules apply.
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