ECB President Christine Lagarde Engages with Vilnius University Students at Lietuvos Bankas

In a landmark event hosted by Gediminas Šimkus, the chairman of the board of Lietuvos Bankas, Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank (ECB), met with a select group of students on Monday, December 16, 2024. The closed-door session provided a unique opportunity for 25 bright minds from the fields of economics and political science to engage directly with one of the world's most influential financial.

Lagarde participated in the Bank of Lithuania's annual economic conference on Monday, dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the euro introduction, where she delivered the keynote speech on eurozone monetary policy and took part in a discussion on European economic and political resilience amid global geopolitical changes.

Event Highlights

The event, moderated by Linas Tarasonis, Principal Economist at Lietuvos Bankas and Senior Research Fellow at Vilnius University, brought together students primarily from the prestigious Quantitative Economics undergraduate program. This initiative, launched in 2018 by Lietuvos Bankas researchers trained at the world’s leading universities, has become a cornerstone of economics education in Lithuania.

Students engaged Madame Lagarde with thought-provoking questions on a diverse array of topics. They delved into Eurozone integration, discussing fiscal policies and banking union to ensure long-term economic stability and cohesion. The conversation also touched on the ECB's approach to tackling climate issues and potential future policies. Students explored the ECB's tools for gathering economic data and making policy decisions. Additionally, they inquired about the potential impact of a digital Euro on Eurozone growth and financial innovation, with a particular focus on Lithuania. Finally, the session also included personal advice from Madame Lagarde on career development, leadership qualities, and daily habits contributing to success.

Impressions and Impact

Linas Tarasonis shared his thoughts on the event: „The meeting provided students with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore critical issues such as monetary policy decisions and the digital euro – not only through theoretical discussions but also through an engaging, interactive dialogue with one of the world's leading policymakers, Madame Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank (ECB). Equally valuable were the insights gained into the qualities and skills essential for future leaders. The whole experience was transformative for the students and profoundly enriching for their lecturers and all who took part.“

Madame Lagarde expressed that she was "very happy to engage with bright students in an inspiring discussion."

The event concluded with a group photograph, serving as a memento of this extraordinary encounter between the ECB President and the next generation of economists and policymakers.