Čadež and Dlouhý: What Kind of Future Is Europe Leaving for Its Children?

One of Europe's leading political and business figures, Vladimir Dlouhý, president of Eurochambres, stated that if Europe were imagined as a company today, he would not invest in it—because such a "company" would be bankrupt.

Dlouhý made this remark in the show Čadež Talk, hosted by Marko Čadež, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS), which aired on Euronews Serbia. He was responding to a metaphorical question posed by Čadež, who asked him to describe the state of Europe's economy based on his experience in business and politics, and whether he would invest his own money in "Company Europe" today.

In the program, Dlouhý analyzed the current economic situation in Europe and globally, emphasizing the importance of integrating the Western Balkans into Europe's economic structure. He stressed that this process is not just about EU membership but also about regional cooperation, meeting candidate obligations, political decisions, and Europe's security.

The political veteran clarified that his sharp assessment of "Company Europe" should be taken with caution, as "one cannot compare running a country with running a company or corporation."

"Many people now feel that traditional politicians have failed to meet their expectations and increasingly believe that individuals like Elon Musk could make administration more efficient. I am very reserved about that. Politics cannot be reduced to signing contracts, while corporate business is based on concluding agreements, generating profit, and competition. A good politician must have a long-term strategy that sometimes contradicts short-term deals," explained the president of Eurochambres, an organization representing the interests of chambers of commerce from 38 countries, including Serbia.

Dlouhý added that if the same metaphorical framework were applied to the U.S., China, and Europe, the first two "companies" are performing better than Europe. However, he pointed out that other regions, such as India, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, also play significant roles in the global economy.

He attributed Europe's sluggish productivity and lack of competitiveness to decisions made decades ago and to flawed strategies, particularly the "overregulation of its business environment."

Responding to Čadež's observation that Europe is currently lagging in innovation and investment and that decision-makers are not addressing reality in the best way, Dlouhý agreed but noted that Europe is redefining its fundamental principles, a process that many countries have yet to fully grasp:

"Due to our insistence on a post-war welfare model and social structure, combined with the Green Deal and ESG regulations, we have overburdened our entrepreneurs and hindered rapid development. Europe must become much less restrictive when it comes to regulation, but the big question is—how?"

Dlouhý further noted that there is a "disconnect" between decision-makers and the business sector, calling it a structural issue. He emphasized the need to reassess the goals and implementation speed of the Green Deal, as well as the relationship between the European Commission and national governments.

"We need to rethink the entire decision-making process among the 27 EU member states. This will take a decade or two, but we must start now, or we will lose our connection with the more developed parts of the world."

Discussing the economies of the Western Balkans, Dlouhý firmly stated that the region must find a way to integrate into Europe's economic framework. This is not merely a question of membership, he said, but a process that requires time for candidate countries to fulfill their accession obligations and for the region to enhance internal cooperation.

"The best way for institutions like Eurochambres and its president to contribute to mitigating these risks and facilitating the integration of Western Balkan countries—if not directly into the EU, then at least into the single market—is by helping to establish deeper business ties," Dlouhý explained. He acknowledged that political issues must be resolved, but noted that these are not within his authority to comment on.

When asked by Čadež what kind of Europe he would like his grandchildren to inherit in 20 years, the president of Eurochambres said he hopes Europe will be different by then, with some of the necessary processes he mentioned—those requiring one or two decades—already completed:

"I hope for a Europe with fewer regulatory burdens, where cooperation in key areas, such as the capital market, is strengthened and freed from unnecessary rules and governance models that have hindered productivity and competitiveness in the past."

Above all, he emphasized that he wishes for his younger, one-year-old grandson to live in a Europe and a world at peace. "People may not realize it because there are no active battles on European soil, but Europe is, in essence, at war," he concluded.