WELCOME ADDRESSES

BORUT PAHOR

Distinguished participants of the conference, Distinguished Professor Toplak, Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

I am glad to have the opportunity to address you again this year at your jubilee international scientific conference.

I sincerely welcome the efforts of the organizers, who have been creating an event year after year over the last ten years, where perspective, knowledge and skills meet, shape and connect. I have been supporting this traditional forum of yours, which calls for solutions based on science and innovation, for years. This year’s meeting comes at a time when much of the humanity is wondering if we really can’t resolve our differences in any other way than through violence or even war.

Was it an illusion to believe that with the development of science and technology, art and culture, we can progress to the point where we can arrange our relations in a peaceful way?

The ethical challenges of the digital transformation were one of the most important issues a month ago, but now it seems that the aforementioned issue has unfortunately become a priority. If you find the right answer to it, we will find it easier to deal with other questions. Digital technology is changing people's lives. Those who are not quick to respond and adapt, lag behind.

Finding the right balance between technological and social development in the digital transformation of individual areas of society is therefore crucial. Current changes need to be accepted, understood, and shaped for the benefit of the society and for the benefit of the community. Development must go hand in hand with solidarity and humanity to enable the humanisation of technology and prevent the dehumanisation of society.

I wish you much success in your work and a successful event. Thank you.

MINISTER MARK BORIS ANDRIJANIČ

Distinguished guests, dear ladies and gentlemen,

it is my great honor to open the 10th  annual conference of Europe's scientists and artsists, leaders and scholars.

This conference carries a simple yet profound title, it's about people. Allow me to add, it's about the Ukraine, and its freedom-loving people that are, at this very moment, fighting and dying for the very ideals that the European Union was founded upon. The brutal war, raging in the Ukraine, is a powerful reminder that modern technologies can be turned against humanity.

Embracing an ethically driven digital transformation is therefore more important than ever before. We need to strengthen our defenses against propaganda misinformation and disinformation. These tools are right now being used by Putin’s criminal regime to create chaos, spread confusion and stifle our democracies.

I'm proud that the recent Slovenian EU presidency reached an agreement on Digital Services Act, which paves the way towards a safer and more transparent internet. At the same time, we need to expand our cyber defenses by creating a unified European cyber shield. This shield should be powered by a joint European cyber security unit, which would protect public institutions, businesses, and citizens, all across the EU.

Dear friends, with great power comes great responsibility. Digital transformation has been a force for good in a number of areas, from medicine and education to communication. We should never doubt its limitless potential to save and improve human lives around the world. But we need clear rules and effective protection to safeguard the very ideas, we hold so dear. Let us therefore work together to defend the world that is free, democratic, and founded upon human dignity. This is the world that the Ukraine represents and fights for today.

I wish you all a productive and inspiring conference. Long live Academia, long live Ukraine.

PROF. DR. FELIX UNGER

Dear ladies and gentlemen,

It is an honour to greet you on behalf of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts and Alma Mater Europaea.

This conference, already the 10^th annual conference of Alma Mater Europaea is a wonderful event with a very carefully selected topic. A topic, that is very challenging one, too. I am glad to see that there are over 500 active participants. My congratulations therefore go to Professor Ludvik Toplak and his team, for organizing such a wonderful event.

You are addressing important challenges of our society at this time, especially the topic of ageing. This is an important issue for all of us. I am therefore glad to see many representatives from the European Commission and politics participating in debates.

I wish the conference and the participants a lot of success. Please receive my sincere congratulations. And I once again congratulate prof. Toplak for a wonderful organisation of this event.

Thank you, Ludvik.

PROF. DR. IVO ŠLAUS

Today I again have the honor to welcome the conference participants, especially their Excellencies the Vice-Presidents of the European Commission Maroš Šefčovič and Dubravka Šuica, and all the esteemed participants. And of course hello my dear friend, Professor dr. Ludvik Toplak.

I am very impressed with the annual titles of these conferences, this year in particular, since the title emphasizes digitalisation and has a focus on people. People are our primary goal. Well-being is, of course, pragmatically linked to education. Well-being creates a long, safe, and creative life and there is nothing better than education for that. And that in itself is already a great message.

Alma Mater Europaea has been leading this project for years, placing great emphasis on man and humanity. This is why Alma Mater Europaea is well positioned in the field of higher education and enjoys a good reputation among universities.

I am confident that this conference will be as successful as the previous ones. I congratuolate you for having such a large audience. Unfortunately, we are still online this year, but this also shows the importance of modern digital technology, which is advancing from year to year.

I wish everyone a lot of success at this conference. Thank you.