‘Nationalism in Banking is Simply Stupid’: Can Central Europe Lead Europe’s Next Boom?

In this episode of the Visegrad Insight Podcast, Tomasz Kasprowicz speaks with Andreas Treichl, chair of Erste Foundation and former chief executive of Erste Group Bank, about the future of banking, capital markets and pensions in Central and Eastern Europe.Learn more about Europe Future Forum: https://europefuture.forum/⁠📌 What is inside this episode:Why Central and Eastern Europe was unfairly branded the 'wild East' after the financial crisisHow unfinished banking union, weak capital markets and poor pension design hold the EU backWhy funded second-pillar pensions are key to Europe’s green transition and ageing societiesWhat better financial literacy, housing policy and cross-border cooperation could do for the region

Finland’s Under-Secretary of State for International Trade, Jarno Syrjälä, joins Tomasz Kasprowicz, Vice-President of the Res Publica Foundation, to unpack how smaller European states navigate a harsher economic security environment. We discuss European Union trade unity under stress, the US–China rivalry, China’s rare earth leverage and why dialogue and flexible processes still matter. We also cover Finland’s shift after joining NATO in 2023, economic security, resilient supply chains and the balance between openness and strategic foresight. Watch on YouTube:⁠⁠⁠ https://youtu.be/4ts8BzOjNuY

Economic security alert. Wolfgang Münchau, co-founder and director of Eurointelligence, and author of ‘Kaput: The End of the German Miracle’ book, pulls no punches in an exclusive interview with Wojciech Przybylski – Germany’s mercantilist miracle is over, China now out-competes on quality, and Europe’s economic security hangs by fragile threads. From rare-earth chokeholds to failing diversification, Münchau and Przybylski expose why grand EU programmes mask a deeper inability to secure critical supply chains and strategic autonomy – Brussels and Berlin still opt for slogans over strategy. So what Central Europe must do to escape the fallout? --Watch on YouTube:⁠⁠⁠ https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL52PCgrDNDoQqela9O-ZadsD35-GjRvXQ&si=qhYQFSHAHuJKZ10m⁠⁠⁠Listen on Apple Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/visegrad-insight-podcast/id1515725435⁠⁠⁠Listen on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/7aA9iqd8rUxFMYMemjikuw?si=68781dd9de824b6b

What do 94% of Poles dream about in 2025 – and how are their fears shaping the future?Next to the weekly democratic and economic security outlook, in this episode of the Visegrad Insight Podcast, recorded live at the Freedom Games in Łódź, Maia Mazurkiewicz – CEO of the PZU Foundation, part of the biggest Polish insurance company – unveils the first-ever comprehensive report on the dreams of Poles: “Czy Polacy potrafią marzyć?” (Do Poles Know How to Dream?), commissioned by her organisation.Despite war on the border, economic pressure, and global uncertainty, 93.5% of Poles still dream – and this groundbreaking study reveals what they dream about, why, and how dreams build resilience in turbulent times.Key Insights from the Report:Top dreams: Health, close relationships, financial stability, and a 'simple good life'Generational divide: Gen Z (18–24): Dream of love, connection, and meaningful relationships – scarred by pandemic loneliness and AI-driven isolationSeniors: Seek peace, travel, and a comfortable homeBiggest fears: Loneliness, dehumanisation from AI, political crisis – but not war as the dominant fearIs it surprising? Poles dream realistically – 87.5% focus on achievable goals, not Nobel Prizes or grandeurCommunity is king: Across all ages and regions, Poles crave belonging – a counterforce to polarisationWhy This Matters for Central Europe & Beyond:While fear-based narratives dominate strategic communication (especially from Russia), this report flips the script. Dreams = hope = motivation = resilience. As Maia says:'We need positive emotions. Dreams give people a sense of life.'Host Wojciech Przybylski explores:Can political leaders win with hope-based strategies instead of fear?Is Poland’s economic success creating a tension between money and free time so unique?What do we dream when thinking about AI? English Version Coming November 2025 – Download the Polish report now:👉 https://fundacja.pzu.pl/czy-polacy-po...Follow us and subscribe on https://visegradinsight.eu for the English launch and regional comparisons.Timestamps:00:00 – Intro: Why Study Dreams in a Time of Fear?02:30 – 94% of Poles Dream 05:00 – What “Simple Good Life” Really Means08:15 – Gen Z: Lonely in a Hyper-Connected World12:00 – Seniors, Travel, and Calmness as Resilience15:30 – Fears: AI, Loneliness & Dehumanisation19:00 – Can Politicians Lead with Hope?24:00 – Geopolitics of Emotion: Past vs. Future30:00 – Call to Action: Keep DreamingWatch on YouTube:⁠⁠⁠ https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL52PCgrDNDoQqela9O-ZadsD35-GjRvXQ&si=qhYQFSHAHuJKZ10m⁠⁠⁠Listen on Apple Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/visegrad-insight-podcast/id1515725435⁠⁠⁠Listen on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/7aA9iqd8rUxFMYMemjikuw?si=68781dd9de824b6b

On 16 October 2025, Budapest was announced as a centrepiece of global diplomacy when the US President declared that his Russian counterpart had called to discuss peace in Ukraine, apparently triggered by Tomahawk diplomacy. But what are the real motivations behind Vladimir Putin's and Donald Trump's visits to Hungary, a key EU and NATO member state, just months before Hungary's elections? And what are Viktor Orbán's hopes and fears regarding this plan? Can the war end their way – without participation of Zelenskyy or other European leaders?Wojciech Przybylski hosts Botond Feledy from Red Snow Consultancy who unpacks a multi-level strategic interests of the three actors and offer hypotheses on why Budapest is a focal point for their activities at this time. Watch on YouTube:⁠⁠ https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL52PCgrDNDoQqela9O-ZadsD35-GjRvXQ&si=qhYQFSHAHuJKZ10m⁠⁠Listen on Apple Podcast: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/visegrad-insight-podcast/id1515725435⁠⁠Listen on Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/7aA9iqd8rUxFMYMemjikuw?si=68781dd9de824b6b

A quick overview of weekly developments and a special guest speaker of the Europe Future Forum. Tune in for an insightful conversation with Piotr Matczuk, CEO of the Polish Development Fund (PFR), as he discusses PFR’s pivotal role as Poland’s 'investment traffic manager.' Learn how PFR facilitates capital flows, supports Polish businesses in their international expansion, and attracts global investors to strategic projects in Poland and beyond, including initiatives like Team Poland for Ukraine. Matczuk shares how PFR drives economic resilience, fosters green transitions, and bolsters Poland’s position among the world’s top economies, all while coordinating investment opportunities with a focus on commercial viability and developmental impact. Watch on YouTube:⁠ https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL52PCgrDNDoQqela9O-ZadsD35-GjRvXQ&si=qhYQFSHAHuJKZ10m⁠Listen on Apple Podcast: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/visegrad-insight-podcast/id1515725435⁠Listen on Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/7aA9iqd8rUxFMYMemjikuw?si=68781dd9de824b6b

Readings:A New Gaza Rage Machine – with Polish Origins by Iván László Nagy https://visegradinsight.eu/a-new-gaza-rage-machine-with-polish-origins/This Polish-German Border Community Still Believes In The European Miracle – LONG READ by Staś Kaleta: https://visegradinsight.eu/this-polish-german-border-community-still-believes-in-the-european-miracle-long-read/Explore the global impact of Polish far-right media in this episode of the Visegrad Insight podcast. Host Wojciech Przybylski, with investigative journalists Ivan L. Nagy and Staś Kaleta, uncovers the origins and influence of Visegrad 24, a controversial “news aggregator” turned digital powerhouse, now expanding with Middle East 24. Learn how these platforms fuel nationalist narratives, from Central Europe to the U.S., and shape perceptions in Polish-German border communities. Recorded on 5 October 2025, post-Czech elections, this episode delves into Andrej Babiš’ political comeback, far-right propaganda, and the transatlantic spread of divisive media. Perfect for those interested in populism, disinformation, and global politics. Subscribe for more insights on Central and Eastern European trends!Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL52PCgrDNDoQqela9O-ZadsD35-GjRvXQ&si=qhYQFSHAHuJKZ10mListen on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/visegrad-insight-podcast/id1515725435Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7aA9iqd8rUxFMYMemjikuw?si=68781dd9de824b6b

In this episode, Raluca Csernatoni shares her vision for the future of defence – what power and security mean in a world of new technologies and big tech. We also give our overview of regional events, including an informal defence summit in Copenhagen, and elections in Moldova and Czechia.Raluca is a Research Fellow working on the nexus between European defence and emerging disruptive technologies like AI at Carnegie Europe. Staś Kaleta conducted the interview on the sidelines of our Europe Future Forum: https://europefuture.forum/.

In this episode, listen to what Constanze Stelzenmüller has to say about the biggest threats to European security. Constanze is the Director of the Center on the US and Europe and Fritz Stern Chair at The Brookings Institution. She was also a speaker at our Europe Future Forum 2025: https://europefuture.forum/We also have our regular overview of regional dynamics, including upcoming elections, further Russian airspace incursions – and the Polish President and Deputy PM travelling to New York together, but on separate planes.

This week, Staś Kaleta is joined by Noah Barkin to discuss the EU's strategy for China – after Donald Trump’s NATO ultimatum demanding China tariffs, as well as Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Poland. Barkin is a Senior Advisor in Rhodium Group’s China practice and a Visiting Senior Fellow in the Indo-Pacific Programme at the German Marshall Fund.This podcast was recorded in Warsaw on the sidelines of our Europe Future Forum, a platform to explore the Polish perspective on key European issues. It invites the participation of 200+ policymakers, directors of public policies and other influential stakeholders: https://europefuture.forum/