The Central European Forum is an annual event organised since 2009 by Bratislava based organisation "Project Forum", beneficiary of an operating grant under the 'Europe for Citizens' programme. This Forum provides a rare opportunity to discuss issues vital to citizens and to democratic society in a non-partisan and intellectually stimulating manner.

Previous editions of this event focused on promotion of values of democracy, human rights, tolerance and solidarity. The goal of such an arena is to formulate innovative ideas that would catalyse public debate and contribute to a strong a civil society.

(c) Peter Zupnik

This year event has been dedicated to the issues of trust in public space and politics and the issues of memory. It was held on 17 November 2015 – a symbolic date of the beginning of democratic revolution in former Czechoslovakia in 1989 and thus an important date both in the Slovak and the Czech Republic and indeed in central Europe.

The speakers included intellectuals, writers, philosophers, civil society activists and politicians such as Eva Hoffman, Oksana Zabuzhko, Bernhard Schlink, Viktor Erofeyev, Pascal Bruckner, Gilles Kepel, Adam Michnik, G. M. Tamás, Sławomir Sierakowski, Olumide Popoola among others.

Here is a sample of stimulating debates that took place on this occasion. Other parts of the Forum are available here.