On September 22 and 23, CELSI researcher Pavol Bors participated in the 31st Annual Conference on Alternative Economic Policy in Europe (EUROMEMO 2025), hosted by Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences in Athens.

This year’s EUROMEMO, held under the theme “Europe Quo Vadis: Militarisation or Socio-Ecological Transformation?”, explored how European policy is increasingly conditioned by global geopolitical pressures – including war in Ukraine and on the Middle East, US protectionist shifts, and competition with China – while questioning whether the EU can still prioritise social and ecological justice in the face of growing militarisation.

Pavol Bors presented his paper “Unlock the Transition: The Role of Public Policy and Sub-National Actors in the Just Transition of Slovakia and Hungary” in the workshop on Social-Ecological Transformation, Industrial Policy, and State Regulation.

His research shows how governance traditions, local capacities, and public policy frameworks in Central Europe shape the fairness and inclusiveness of just transition processes.

The analysis provides fresh insights into how municipalities, regions, and social actors can actively co-shape climate and industrial policies, beyond the scope of national governments.

The two-day event featured plenary debates on the militarisation of EU policy, the prospects of socio-ecological transformation, and the role of alternative economic forms and planning.

Key interventions came from prominent scholars and policymakers, including Euclid Tsakalotos (former Finance Minister of Greece), Engelbert Stockhammer (King’s College London), Maria Karamessini (Panteion University in Athens), and Hans-Juergen Bieling (University of Tübingen).

EUROMEMO 2025 provided a valuable platform for critical and progressive voices to exchange perspectives on Europe’s crossroads – between investing in militarisation or prioritising climate justice, social inclusion, and sustainable transformation.

The event represented an opportunity to bring Central European experiences into these broader European debates, underlining the importance of local governance and public policy in making the green -transition both just and democratic.

It was truly an inspiring and enriching experience!

🔗 Find the Pavol Bors’ paper at: https://euromemo.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Bors.-Pavol-Euromemo-2025-Athens-Conference-Final-Paper.pdf