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The Western Balkans and the EU enlargement: In search of a new paradigm

8 December 2011
"Zielna" Conference Centre
Zielna str. no. 37, Warsaw

on 8 December demosEUROPA - Centre for European Strategy together with European Commission Representation in Poland, Austrian Embassy in Warsaw and Austrian Cultural Forum (Austriackie Forum Kultury) jointly invite you to a public debate on "The Western Balkans and the EU enlargement: In search of a new paradigm"."

In December 2011, the EU will be considering a range of important enlargement related decisions concerning the Western Balkans, such as the signing of the accession treaty with Croatia, the response to Albania and Serbia’s membership applications, possible commence of the accession negotiations with Montenegro and Macedonia and launch of visa dialogue with Kosovo. The reform performance of the region is mixed. Certain developments have marked a substantial progress on the road to the EU. On the other hand, significant challenges still remain and unfortunately some negative trends have been noticed. This ambivalent picture derives from the vicious circle created by the enlargement fatigue in the EU, on one side and insufficient reform determination and administrative capacities in the region, on the other.

We would like during the public debate to provide answers to key questions:

- What do the countries of the Western Balkans and the EU need to do in order to resolve the main common challenges (e.g. organized crime, corruption, unemployment, economic vulnerability, ethnic cleavages, shortcomings of democratic systems) affecting the speed of the European integration?
- What are tangible solutions to the key regional problems (Bosnia and Hezegovina’s internal structure, Kosovo’s status, Macedonian name dispute)?
- Does the EU enlargement in the Western Balkans need a new strategy? And if yes, what should be its content?

REGISTRATION
click above to register or go to:
www.demoseuropa.eu


Programme:

14:45 - 15:15 Registration and coffee

15.15 - 15.40 Welcome and introduction

Herbert Krauss, Ambassador of Austria
Ewelina Jelenkowska-Luca, Deputy Head of European Commission Representation in Poland
Paweł Świeboda, President, demosEUROPA - Centre for European Strategy

15.40 - 16.00 Opening speech

Erhard Busek, Coordinator of the South-Eastern Cooperative Initiative (SECI)

16.00 - 18.00 Public debate

Remzi Lani, Executive Director, Albanian Media Institute, Albania
Antonio Milošoski, Chairman, Foreign Policy Committee, Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia
Milan Pajević, Chairman, ISAC, Serbia
Senad Pećanin, Editor of Program, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Miodrag Perović, President, Monitor, Montenegro
Veton Surroi, Chairman, Foreign Policy Club, Kosovo
Profesor Boris Vujčić, Deputy Governor, Croatian National Bank, Croatia

Moderator: Paweł Świeboda, President, demosEUROPA - Centre for European Strategy

18.00 Concluding remarks


The event would be conducted in Polish and English (we provide simultaneous translation).
Participation in the event is free of charge.
The number of seats is limited.

demosEUROPA - Centre for European Strategy
w: www.demoseuropa.eu
a: 00-442 Warsaw, ul. Idźkowskiego 4/6
e: demoseuropa@demoseuropa.eu
t: +48 22 401 70 26
f: +48 22 401 70 29









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