In early April 2025, another regular meeting of Czech and Slovak parliamentary assistants took place in Brno. The two-day program focused on current challenges in political communication, legislation, the protection of democracy, and energy policy.
The first day began with a lecture and discussion led by Otto Eibl, Head of the Department of Political Science at the Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University. He introduced participants to current trends in political communication and how to work effectively with voters in a rapidly changing media and social environment.
The afternoon session featured a joint discussion among Czech and Slovak parliamentary assistants. The conversation centered on recent legislative developments in both countries and their impact on the functioning of NGOs, media freedom, and the overall state of democracy. The exchange allowed for sharing experiences and comparing the political and legal contexts in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Next came an interactive workshop on non-violent communication, led by Petr Holík from the project Fakta o klimatu (Facts on Climate). Participants had the opportunity to practice how to conduct constructive, conflict-free dialogue on sensitive topics.
The second day began with a visit to the Supreme Administrative Court, where the assistants took part in a closed discussion with Judge JUDr. PhDr. Štěpán Výborný, Ph.D. The discussion focused on the role of administrative justice in protecting the rule of law and democratic institutions.
Later in the morning, Mgr. Martin Jirušek, Ph.D. from Masaryk University gave a lecture on energy security in uncertain times. He analyzed the position of Europe and the Czech Republic in the context of global change, energy market dependencies, and possible paths toward greater resilience.
The program concluded with a brief presentation of the activities of Europe Direct Brno, which offered an overview of opportunities for cooperation and education within European institutions.
The Brno meeting once again offered a program focused on pressing political and societal issues—from effective public communication and legislative challenges to energy security. Participants gained new insights, practical skills, and valuable reflections on parliamentary work in both countries. The event also provided space for sharing experiences and building professional connections that form the basis of ongoing cooperation between Czech and Slovak assistants.
The study visit to Brno was organized by the Center for an Informed Society with the support of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and Europe Direct Brno.
