Training Day serves as the inaugural day of the annual ECB Simulation Conference for university students, where distinguished representatives from institutions, businesses, and academia share their knowledge and experiences with the participants.
The Training Day for the 9th Conference took place at the Bank of Greece on November 21, 2024.
The key themes of the Conference were:
The 9th Conference was made possible thanks to the invaluable support of the Bank of Greece, the Hellenic Bank Association, Dialectica, Piraeus Bank, Bernitsas Law, and the Athens University of Economics and Business.
Here, we highlight the positions of the speakers during the welcoming speeches. We are greatly honoured to have speakers such as Ms. Ifigeneia Skotida, Deputy Director, Economic Analysis & Research Department, Bank of Greece, Mr. Nikos Magginas, Chief Economist, Head of Economic Analysis Department, National Bank of Greece, and Mr. Georgios Gatopoulos, Head of International Macroeconomics and Finance Unit, IOBE.
Continuing the speeches, Mr. Nikolaos Magginas highlighted the crucial role of the ECB and central banks in responding to the disruptions of the last decade. He argued that the ECB reacted fastest, using tools such as quantitative easing—an innovation that provided liquidity and stabilized markets, especially for Greece.
He explained that before the crisis, the global economy benefited from low production costs, stable energy prices, and restructured supply chains, creating a prolonged period of stability that allowed monetary policy to operate almost on “autopilot.” Recent crises, however, triggered supply shocks, supply-chain disruptions, and a shift from goods to services inflation, with uneven effects across income groups.
Today, he noted, keeping long-term inflation expectations anchored near 2% is essential for effective transmission, reinforcing the ECB’s credibility. He closed by highlighting emerging challenges: climate change, the green transition, artificial intelligence, and the increasing complexity of tracking productivity- and price-related variables.
Opening the second panel, Ms. Ifigeneia Skotida presented the ECB’s monetary policy strategy to maintain a symmetric medium-term inflation target of 2%. The medium-term approach allows the ECB to avoid overreacting to short-term inflation shocks while accounting for transmission lags.
The strategy relies on numerous and diverse available tools—policy rates, asset purchase programs, and forward guidance—adjusted to economic conditions. She emphasized the importance of transparency and communication to ensure public and market understanding of ECB decisions.
Following the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, the ECB raised interest rates by a total of 450 basis points to contain inflation without sharply constraining economic activity, aiming for a soft landing. The decline of inflation to 2.5% by mid-2024 confirms the effectiveness of the monetary policy, with forecasts indicating that inflation returns to target in the coming years. ECB lowered interest rates to less restrictive levels, where they remain to this day.
She concluded by noting that uncertainty persists due to geopolitical tensions, tariffs, and demographic challenges.
Closing the panel, Mr. Georgios Gatopoulos presented current trends in the international and Greek economy. He stressed that 2025 is marked by heightened uncertainty, a new wave of U.S. protectionism, and slowing growth in Europe. The global economy is shifting to a new equilibrium characterized by higher tariffs and increased public debt.
He noted that Europe lags in productivity, with the average European producing output roughly 30% lower than the average American. The continent also faces structural challenges: an aging population, defense needs, and an investment gap. Yet, the Eurozone periphery performs better than the core, with Greece steadily reducing public debt and expanding its export orientation.
For Greece, he emphasized that the economy is gradually converging with Europe, driven by export growth, though the investment ratio remains comparatively low. Greece must boost productivity, maintain openness, and safeguard macroeconomic stability.
Mr. Gatopoulos concluded by stating that Europe stands at a critical crossroads and must prioritize effectively while leveraging private capital through partnerships, as fragmented capital markets increase financing costs.
I am one of the co-founders of Get Involved with which I have participated in the planning and implementation of numerous initiatives that have impacted more than 3,000 university students and graduates. My role entails the coordination of the overall organization, the project management of our various and diverse initiatives, and the strategy formulation.
My work in Get Involved reflects my commitment to have an active role in empowering the youth, their “voices” and to strive to nurture a positive culture where young people can develop to their full potential.
I’m a Law student and since May 2025, I’ve been part of the Communications team at Get Involved. I’ve always been an outgoing person who enjoys working with others, so I immediately felt that this role suits me well. I’m really interested in sustainability, mainly because I feel like we’re the first generation truly experiencing the consequences of the environmental crisis. I believe that each of us can contribute to something better, in our own way. Through this team, I hope to learn, grow, and collaborate with people who share the same concerns and vision. I also hope to bring my own perspective and energy to everything we do.
My name is Konstantina Katsimicha, and I am an undergraduate student at the Department of Economics of the Athens University of Economics and Business.
In 2024, I participated in the 8th ECB Conference; an experience that significantly deepened my understanding of monetary policy, financial institutions, and the broader economic framework of the Εuro area.
In 2025, I joined Get Involved as a Junior Associate in both the Communications and Social Media Management teams. Through this role, I contribute to the promotion of our initiatives and help manage our online presence, while also developing valuable communication, organizational, and teamwork skills.
What inspired me to become part of Get Involved is the team’s vision and spirit to enhance economic literacy among young people and foster a space where ideas, knowledge, and skills can grow through collaboration. Being surrounded by passionate peers committed to impactful initiatives motivates me to learn, evolve, and contribute actively.
My name is Angelina Arfani, and I am an undergraduate student in the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the University of the Peloponnese. I have joined the Get Involved team as a Junior Associate in the Operations and Communications departments, where I contribute to the efficient coordination of initiatives and assist in enhancing the organization’s outreach and engagement.
I believe that Get Involved is an innovative initiative driven by individuals committed to creating meaningful change. Being part of this team has provided me with the opportunity to expand my knowledge, develop key skills, and showcase my abilities, all while collaborating with passionate individuals who share a common vision.
My name is Konstantina Triantafyllopoulou, and I am an undergraduate Political Science & Public Administration university student at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Also, I am currently enrolled in the American College of Greece, pursuing a minor in Human Resources Management.
I joined Get Involved in 2025 as a Junior Associate in the communications team, where I help by communicating with external partners and with the promotion of our initiatives. The key factors that motivated me to join were my ambition to engage within the community and broaden both my understanding and skills around finances, communication, entrepreneurship, and youth-led projects.
Being an active member of Get Involved highlights my keen enthusiasm for promoting financial literacy, actively engaging with the youth community, and embracing the core values of this team.
My name is Lila Kartali and I am an undergraduate student in the Department of International and European Studies at the University of Piraeus. I joined the team in February 2024, and since then I have happily been part of the Corporate Communications, Social Media, External Opportunities, and Scientific team. The diversity of the topics I deal with in each department, as well as the collaboration and interaction with ambitious people, are a pleasant challenge for me.
For me, Get Involved is an opportunity to develop various skills and strengthen my knowledge background on sustainability and monetary policy issues. Moreover, the fact that it is a youth initiative, by people from different scientific fields collaborating for a common goal, is the reason why I want to be part of it.
As an active member of Get Involved’s Associates, I am part of engaging and continuously evolving projects centered on strengthening financial literacy among young people in Greece and Europe. Moreover, by combining my studies in computer science, I am an integral part of Get Involved’s ongoing digital transformation journey.
My contributions to Get Involved reflect my commitment to supporting its ultimate goal of social contribution and raising awareness of financial literacy issues among youth.
My name is Maria Anastasopoulou and I am an undergraduate student at the Law School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. My participation in Get Involved started in 2023, whereas now I am an Associate and a member of the Legal Team, where I help handle the group’s legal issues, prepare legal educational materials and represent the group in the ECB Simulation Conference. Additionally, I participate in the stream for Student and Youth Organizations, where I develop my communication skills by interacting with external partners and other youth initiatives. I am also a member of the Scientific Team and contribute to the structuring of the group’s studies, such as the “ESG & Sustainability Youth Perspectives”, while simultaneously developing my research and writing skills.
The drive behind my involvement with the team is the exceptional academic and research level of my colleagues and the passion for the field. The shared values of mutual respect, the desire for progress and innovation, and continuous new’ goal setting, motivate me to contribute and join in a common evolutionary path.
I am particularly grateful for my participation in Get Involved, as it provides me the opportunity to significantly broaden my economic and legal knowledge, delve further into areas of interest and collaborate with some of the most active and accomplished young people, from whom I learn daily.
Apostolos Karasakalidis holds a bachelor’s degree in law (2023) from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, a master’s degree in European Business and Economic Law (2025) from the same university, and is currently pursuing an advanced master’s program in Intellectual Property and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Law at KU Leuven. He is a certified Data Protection Officer (DPO) and is registered with the Thessaloniki Bar Association as a lawyer.
He has been a Legal Associate at Get Involved since August 2022 and became Scientific Associate in April 2025. Apostolos participates in Get Involved because he believes in the added value of collaboration among young scholars from different academic backgrounds. Furthermore, he is interested in the green transition of the EU economy and supports the promotion of financial literacy among young people.
“Opportunities don’t just come to you – Υou create them.” – Chris Grosser
I joined Get Involved in 2019, I have progressed to the role of Senior Associate, and I currently am a member of the Legal Team. My participation in the team has provided me with valuable opportunities, and experiences, and it has given me the chance to work with numerous active youths. I have taken part in various initiatives, such as the ECB Simulation Conferences, and have had multiple responsibilities, including developing educational materials and participating in the communications team. I appreciate Get Involved’s commitment to fostering a collaborative environment that empowers young university students and professionals.
Antonis Ballis holds a Doctoral degree in Finance (2021) from Athens University of Economics and Business, a specialized Master’s degree in Applied Economics and Data Analysis (2016) from the University of Patras (2016), and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics (2014) from Athens University of Economics and Business. In 2018 he was awarded full funding for his doctoral research on cryptocurrencies, from the Greek State Scholarships Foundation (IKY). His main research areas are Cryptocurrency/DEFI Economics, Behavioral Finance, and Financial Technology (FinTech).
“Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” – Winston Churchill