Sheraton Bratislava
Pribinova 12
81109 Bratislava, Slovakia
Motivation
Small and medium-sized European economies face unique challenges in financing productivity, innovation, and the green transition, often within tight fiscal constraints and bank-dominated financial systems. To explore solutions, ECMI, NBS, CEPS, and SUERF are co-hosting a two-day conference in Bratislava on 1–2 October 2025, focused on the question: How can we finance productivity, growth and transition in small and medium-sized economies? The program combines new research with high-level policy dialogue across five themes: Financial deepening in CEE, Banking and financial inclusion, Geopolitics and finance, Firms’ financing needs, and Green financial policy.
We look forward to welcoming you to Bratislava on 1–2 October 2025 to explore the latest research and shape the agenda for Europe’s smaller economies.
Scientific Committee
Ernest Gnan, SUERF; Florian Horky, NBS; Jan Klacso, NBS; Karel Lannoo, CEPS; Jochen Mankart, NBS; Reiner Martin, NBS & SUERF; Apostolos Thomadakis, CEPS & ECMI
Securities Losses, Interbank Markets, and Monetary Policy Transmission: Evidence from the Eurozone
Mariassunta Giannetti, Professor of Finance · Stockholm School of Economics presentationSystemic Implications of Financial Inclusion
Farah Mugrabi, Central Bank of Ireland presentationCo-author(s): Sami Ben Naceur, Bertrand Candelon
Discussant: Michael Sigmund, Oesterreichische Nationalbank (presentation)
The changing geography of banking in CESEE: Branch openings and closures
Jette Leonie Weinel, Oesterreichische NationalbankCo-author(s): Elisabeth Beckmann, Katharina Allinger
Discussant: Martin Götz, Deutsche Bundesbank (presentation)
Bank Specialization and the Transmission of Euro Area Monetary Policy
Konrad Kuhmann, Latvijas Banka presentationDiscussant: Mary Everett, Central Bank of Ireland (presentation)
Geopolitical Risk, Cost of Equity, and Lending: Evidence From the Ukrainian War
Emiel Sanders, Universiteit Gent presentationCo-author(s): Rudi Vander Vennet
Discussant: Ursula Vogel, Deutsche Bundesbank
A Geopolitical Shock to Bank Assets and Monetary Policy Transmission
Falko Fecht, Deutsche Bundesbank presentationCo-author(s): Bjoern Imbierowicz, Stefan Greppmair
Discussant: Miguel Boucinha, European Central Bank (presentation)
From Financial Stability to Real Investment: The Confidence Channel of Macroprudential Policy
Stelios Giannoulakis, Hellenic Parliamentary Budget Office presentationCo-author(s): Dimitris Anastasiou
Discussant: Maria Siranova, Slovak Academy of Science, Commenius University Bratislava (presentation)
Bank Loan Application and Access to Finance by European SMEs
Florian Horky, National Bank of Slovakia & Zeppelin Universität presentationCo-author(s): Jan Klasco, Reiner Martin, Jarko Fidrmuc
Discussant: Annalisa Ferrando, European Central Bank (presentation)
Into the Shadows: Banks and Transparency
Steven Ongena, Professor of banking · University of Zurich (UZH) presentationUpgrading housing: the potential and limits of borrower-based measures
Jan Klasco, National Bank of Slovakia presentationCo-author(s): Pierre Monin, Adam Banai, Kristina Bojare, Reiner Martin, Janos Szakacs
Discussant: Alessandro Chiari, Česká národní banka (presentation)
Financial Deepening and Carbon Emissions Intensity: Evidence from a Global Sample of Countries
Boris Fisera, Slovak Academy of Science presentationCo-author(s): Martin Melecky, Dorothe Singer
Discussant: Vladimir Otrachshenko, National Bank of Slovakia
