INVITATION
for an Interactive Roundtable discussion:
Western Balkans Region Beyond 10 Years From Now
[#WesternBalkans10yearschallenge]
with Chevening Alumni from the Western Balkans Region
22 March 2019 @3pm-5:30pm
Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, Conference Hall – the Mirror Hall
The Bulgarian Chevening Association together with fellow Chevening Alumni from Western Blanks countries and in cooperation with the University of Sofia, Department of International Law and International Relations, would like to invite you to a roundtable discussion on Western Balkans Region Beyond 10 YearsFrom Now.
Chevening Alumni are working for a secured, stable and economically competitive Western Balkans region [WB region]. By hosting this discussion we not only want to contribute to the overall process but also would like to look at what should be done and tackle the main challenges for the WB region integration into EU. We would like to trigger our vision how the WB region might look like after 10 years on its EU perspective route through the the lens of stability, cooperation and economic competitiveness.
For registration:please click here https://goo.gl/forms/2uo8v0imtiJ4CAei1
or email to chevening.bg.events@gmail.com . The event is free of charge upon invitation and requires registration. Registration is open until 20.03.2019.
For any further inquiries regarding the event, please contact Ms. Roumiana Atanassova at chevening.bg@gmail.com.
The event is part of the work program of the Bulgarian Chevening Association and is supported by the Embassy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the Republic of Bulgaria, and the Department of International Law and International Relationsof the Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski.
More information at:
https://cheveningbg.org/or https://www.facebook.com/chevening.bg/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/chevening.bg/
AGENDA
Western Balkans Region Beyond 10 Years From Now
15-17:30 pm, 22.03.2019, SU St. Kl. Ohridski
3pm- Opening– Ivailo Kalfin, Fm. Dpt PM Bulgaria & Director, Economy International Relations Institute, Special advisor to EU Commissioner Günther H. Oettinger
3pm – 4pm Regional security and stability
A few introductory words on the issue of the Western Balkans– Prof. Plamen Pantev, SU St. Kl. Ohridski, Department of International Law and International Relations
The Western Balkans at the end of the 2030s – beyond the security dilemma? – Dr. Mira Kaneva. SU St. Kl. Ohridski, Department of International Law and International Relations
Western Balkans as a region of strategic importance to NATO – Dr. Ivo Tsekov, PhD, SU St. Kl. Ohridski, Department of International Law and International Relations
Moderator: Dr. Ivo Tsekov, PhD, Department of International Law and International Relations
4pm – 5pm Economic competitiveness and identity
On its sustainable development and integration path, what the region interconnectivity, economic competitiveness and innovation potential and environment will look like? Will the region be able to build a competitive economic and business environment that retains its human capital, encouraging entrepreneurship, start-ups and innovations, promoting sustainable development including inter-connectivity, clean environment and green energy, quality education and youth employment?
What would be role of EU and the challenges on EU path? How it will position itself?
Western Balkans in the EU: will the When be reduced to an If? – Lyubomir Kyuchukov, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, a member of the Council on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration to the President of Bulgaria
Other participants under Chatham House Rule – Mr. Rоussi Ivanov, European Affairs Director General,Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria, Chevening Alumni and FCO representatives, etc.
Moderator: Ivailo Kalfin, Fm. Dpt PM Bulgaria & Director, Economy International Relations Institute, Special advisor to EU Commissioner Günther H. Oettinger
5pm-5:30pm Regional co-operation
What will be the one-word only you like our region to be associated after 10 years from now (top-of the mind awareness or with what “most remembered” to express your vision?
5:30pm – Conclusions and Closing remarks – Roumiana Atanassova, Chairwoman of BCA