1st SOUTHEAST EUROPEAN MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE Assessing the EU’s Enlargement in the Western Balkans: Progress and Challenges
14 February 2013 - Europe House, 32 Smith Square, London Agenda and Briefing Note
EU current members Candidate countries Potential candidate countries
The conference is supported by: Embassy of Austria
Embassy of Albania
Embassy of Kosovo
Embassy of Slovenia
Vino Nostro Ltd (www.vinonostro.com)
Koha Restaurant-Bar (www.cafekoha.com)
Wyn River Limited is a niche advisory firm of independent associates focused on improving business performance in Central and South East Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States. We advise business owners about debt and equity funding solutions as well as cash flow, profit improvement strategies and project management. We also advise stakeholders on new investment, project finance and restructuring issues in the region. www.wynriver.com
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BACKGROUND:
At a moment of pan-European economic and political stasis there is a compelling need for an Action Plan picking up on the positive developments in the Western Balkans as well as key remaining challenges in the region and the EU so that the overall momentum in South East Europe is not lost and that EU "enlargement fatigue" as argued by some experts and politicians (despite Croatian accession) is counteracted. The integration of the Western Balkans into the EU framework is a vital component of EU’s Foreign Policy as well as a key to sustainable growth and stability, the overarching need and goal of the Balkans. As all Western Balkan countries aspire to full EU membership, the domestic challenges they face and the membership criteria they are expected to fulfil make the pursuance of political reforms as well as sound economic policies essential to ensure the region’s progress. The European Union supports governments in addressing these challenges through the Stabilization and Association Process. It offers key instruments for political stabilisation, transition to a market economy and regional cooperation, and thus represents a prime motivational force for reform in the region. However, the EU also faces challenges of its own with regard to future enlargement, not least the onset of an “enlargement fatigue” among existing member states. The magnitude and complexity of these challenges requires greater cooperation and consistent constructive dialogue among all stakeholders within a civil forum. Forum aims: •
To provide constructive informed input to political and economic reforms in the region key to the regions accession process including the criteria all candidate countries will need to fulfil, and the EU’s own internal challenges to adapt to and accommodate further enlargement, using academic, business, civil society and diplomatic expertise;
•
To evaluate the EU’s Enlargement Policy in the Western Balkans;
•
To encourage and assist the Western Balkans to provide suitable conditions for more successful cross-border cooperation.
•
To liaise more closely with all stakeholders in the EU and the Balkans in order to enhance the outcome of relevant EU policies towards the region;
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To discuss the key challenges for the EU and the accession countries in the coming years.
•
To provide the gateway for prospective investors interested in the region to explore the FDI climate and opportunities in Southeast Europe with the added bonus of direct contact with regional policymakers and businesspeople.
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AGENDA
13:00
Registration
13:45
Welcome and introduction Rudi Guraziu, CEO, International Business and Diplomatic Exchange - IBDE Othon Anastasakis, Director, SEESOX, St Antony’s College, University of Oxford
14:00–15:30
Session 1: Political reform and regional cooperation: progress and challenges HE Majlinda Bregu, Minister of European Integration of Albania HE Alexandar Pejovic, State Secretary for European Integration & Chief Negotiator for Negotiations of Accession of Montenegro to the EU Owen Jenkins, Director for Western Balkans and Enlargement, Foreign & Commonwealth Office Othon Anastasakis, SEESOX, St Antony’s College, University of Oxford Oleg Levitin, Senior Political Counsellor, EBRD Chair: Jonathan Scheele, St Antony’s College, University of Oxford Question & Answers Session
15:30 - 16:00
Coffee Break
16:00 - 17:30
Session 2: Challenges in addressing economic reform HE Mimoza Kusari-Lila, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade & Industry of Kosovo HE Alain Brian Bergant, Secretary General, Bled Strategic Forum Max Watson, Visiting Fellow, St Antony’s College, University of Oxford Jonathan Scheele, Senior Member, SEESOX, St Antony’s College, University of Oxford Chair: Rudi Guraziu, IBDE Question & Answers Session
17:30 - 19:00
Southeast Europe Wine Tasting Reception and Canapés (all delegates invited)
19:30
Dinner (by invitation only) Hosted by the Austrian Ambassador to the UK, HE Emil Brix Keynote: HE Edita Tahiri, Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo
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THE ORGANISERS International Business and Diplomatic Exchange - IBDE IBDE is a London based non-profit organisation, committed to facilitating both dialogue and resourcesharing between the global business, policy-making and diplomatic communities - with a particular goal of giving a voice to emerging economies as drivers of the next stage of global development as well as promoting multinational businesses worldwide. IBDE promotes international trade and investment flows to create new business opportunities and to support wealth creation. IBDE promotes: sound investment practice, responsible banking and finance, good governance and corporate social responsibility, project finance & public private partnerships as well as the integration of developing countries into the global market. Through selected events such as investments forums, round-tables, workshops and networking opportunities, IBDE aims to support international businesses in identifying key investment opportunities and strategies within the economic and political context. IBDE provides an independent, accessible platform for debate on the international business and political issues impacting global markets. IBDE runs and EU-Balkans Discussion Group which is specifically designed to support and promote regional cooperation and the socio-economic development of Southeast Europe through the development of an integrated regional investment strategy and by providing constructive input on political and economic reforms in the region. For more information on IBDE and how to become a member please visit www.ibde.org
South East European Studies at Oxford (SEESOX), St Antony’s College, University of Oxford SEESOX is part of the European Studies Centre at the University of Oxford. It focuses on the interdisciplinary study of the relationship between European integration and the politics, economics and societies of the Balkans, Greece, Turkey and Cyprus. Drawing on the academic excellence of the University and an international network of associates, it conducts policy relevant research on the multifaceted transformations of the region in the 21st century. It follows closely conflict and postconflict situations and analyses the historical and intellectual influences which have shaped perceptions and actions in the region. In Oxford's best tradition, the SEESOX team is committed to understanding the present through the longue durée and reflecting on the future through high quality scholarship. SEESOX has the following objectives: • To support high-quality research on South East Europe. • To organise conferences, workshops and research seminars. • To promote multi-disciplinary study of the region's development within Oxford University (e.g. politics, international relations, law, sociology, economics) working in collaboration with other Centres and Programmes within the University, including student societies. • To spearhead intellectual exchanges and debate on these issues among networks of individuals and institutions beyond Oxford. • To foster cooperation between the academic and the policy-making community. www.sant.ox.ac.uk/seesox IBDE – Integrating World Markets
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DATES
NOTES
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