20 years of transition

The EBRD and the Centre for European Reform held a conference to mark 20 years of transition on 2 November 2009 at the Bank's London headquarters.

The event combined a historic review of the developments in eastern Europe since the eventful days of autumn 1989 with an outlook on the region's economic performance in the current challenging circumstances.

The EBRD's Chief Economist Dr Erik Berglof started the day with a presentation of the Bank's latest Transition Report, which details the impact of the global economic crisis on the countries of central Europe, south eastern Europe, Russia, the Caucasus, central Asia and Turkey. Dr Berglof presented the findings of the report and responded to questions.

This was followed by a panel discussion on the events of 1989 and the region's current state and future outlook. The participants were

Aleksander Kwasniewski, President of the Republic of Poland, 1995-2005
Jan Carnogursky, Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, 1991-1992
Timothy Garton Ash, Professor of European Studies, University of Oxford
Thomas Mirow, EBRD President

The discussion was moderated by Katinka Barysch, Deputy Director of the Centre for European Reform, London.

event invitation