7 DECEMBER 2016, BRUSSELS

EUROPEAN POLICY SUMMIT

BALKANS: BOOSTING CONNECTIONS ON THE ROAD TO THE EU

In association with

With the support of

Cover image credits: CC / Flickr—NASA Johnson; Flickr—La Veu del País Valencià; artjazz/Bigstock.com; pinkypills/Bigstock.com; Antartis/Bigstock.com

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Welcome coffee and registration of participants 09.30 - 10.00

PROGRAMME

European Union leaders have pledged to continue membership negotiations with

countries in the Western Balkans despite Brexit, saying their commitment to EU

expansion remains as strong as ever. Speaking at the Balkans conference held in Paris

in July, Federica Mogherini, the EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy,

insisted the EU would continue to nourish “Euro-enthusiasm” in the region and said EU

integration of the Balkans was important for peace and stability both in the region and

in the EU. Meanwhile, Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood

Policy & Enlargement Negotiations, has warned that one of the biggest challenges in

preparing the Western Balkans for EU membership is restructuring the economic model

to ensure that all countries are functioning market economies driven by export and

investments rather than import and consumption.

• Given the hard work that lies ahead on Brexit and waning public appetite for

further EU enlargement, are European leaders being overly optimistic in promising

that membership negotiations with the Western Balkan states will remain on

track?

• What are the key sectors where progress has been made and which questions

pose the biggest challenge in the EU membership negotiations?

• To what extent are other actors establishing themselves next to the EU’s presence

in the region?

EU MEMBERSHIP: THE LONG ROAD FROM VISION TO REALITY

SESSION I

10.00 - 11.15

Speakers:

Ditmir Bushati, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Albania

Gordon Duguid, Senior Adviser for South Central Europe, U.S. State Department

Stefan Füle, Special Envoy for the OSCE and Western Balkans at the Czech Ministry of

Foreign Affairs; European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy

(2010-2014) and Trustee of Friends of Europe

Tanja Miščevič, Chief Negotiator for Serbia’s Accession to the European Union

Helga Schmid, Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS)

Goran Svilanović, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)

Moderator:

Shada Islam, Director of Europe and Geopolitics at Friends of Europe

11.15 - 11.45 Coffee break

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Increased connectivity, especially in the transport and energy sectors, will help the

Western Balkans to attract more investments, thereby boosting the region’s economic

growth and capacity to create jobs. Better connectivity can also help forge good

neighbourly relations among countries in the region and ensure stronger connections

with the EU. The EU has set aside up to €1 billion for connectivity investment projects

and technical assistance for the 2014-2020 period, with special attention given to

transport networks, regional energy efficiency and green growth. Chinese, Turkish and

other foreign investors are also putting their money on connectivity projects. Boosting

connections is not just about hard infrastructure, however. It also requires “soft” reform

measures to open markets, create a transparent regulatory framework that builds

investor confidence, and the removal of barriers.

• While the focus is very much on hard connectivity, are countries in the region

implementing the “soft” reform and improved economic governance measures

required to create real intra-regional connections in the region and is digital

connectivity getting enough attention?

• What progress is being made to reduce income and labour market inequalities

across the region and how does the inequality challenge impact on investment

plans?

• Are countries moving fast enough to ensure respect for the rule of law and in

Lghting organised crime and corruption?

ATTRACTING BUSINESS AND INVESTMENTS BY BOOSTING REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY

SESSION II

11.45 - 13.00

Speakers:

Marta Arsovska Tomovska, Minister of Information Society and Administration,

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Tanja Fajon, Member of the European Parliament Delegation for relations with Bosnia

and Herzegovina, with Kosovo1 and Trustee of Friends of Europe

Damian Gjiknuri, Minister of Energy and Industry, Albania

Ismir Jusko, Minister of Communication and Transport at the Council of Ministers,

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Zana Tabaku, Chief Executive Officer of Appdec, an application development center

Moderator:

Shada Islam, Director of Europe and Geopolitics at Friends of Europe

1This designation is without prejudice to position on status, and is in line with UN Security Council Resolution

1244/99 and the International Court of Justice Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence. For the

UNDP, the references to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of the Security Council resolution

1244 (1999).

13.00 - 14.00 Lunch

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SEVDAH CONCERT BY DAMIR IMAMOVIC TRADITIONAL GENRE OF FOLK MUSIC FROM BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

14.00 - 14.15

As Grandson of Zaim Imamović, one of the most influencial sevdah singers of the

Westen Balkans, Damir Imamović, also a musician, started developing his own

repertoire while performing in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as across Europe.

In 2006 he put together the «Damir Imamović Trio» (DI3) with Vanja Radoja on violin and

Edvin Hadžić on double bass, with whom he recorded «DI3 Plays Standards». After a

series of successful performances in Bosnia and the region, as well as in Germany,

Switzerland, Turkey, and Italy, DI3 recorded their first live CD at Youth Cultural Center

«Abraševic» in Mostar (BiH) in 2007. This album soon became one of the most listened

to CDs of the «new sevdah» movement in former Yugoslavia.

The solo CD « Dvojka », released in 2010, received excellent international reviews and

crowned a successful series of solo performances, suggesting Damir's new step

towards the oldest of all the sevdah forms – solo performance.

Damir Imamović's sevdah is based on a passionate research of traditional music of

Bosnia and Herzegovina. While meeting sevdah masters, musicians, singers and

authors of this art form, he constantly expands his repertoire and creates a special style

of contemporary sevdah. Director Marina Andree made a documentary «Sevdah»,

inspired by an emotional part of this process, which received the Audience Award at

the Sarajevo Film Festival in 2009.

Damir has been cited as the « king of sevdah music » by the Huffington Post and «a true

revolutionary of the genre » by Sevdalinkas.com.

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MIGRATION, YOUTH, JOBS AND THE PERILS OF RADICALISATION

SESSION III

Speakers:

Đorđe Bojović, Head of Programme Department at European Grassroots Antiracist

Movement

Valon Murtezaj, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kosovo1

Doris Pack, President of the Robert Schuman Institute (RSI), Budapest; Chair of the

European Parliament Committee on Culture and Education (2009-2014)

Alida Vračić, Executive Director of the Think tank Populari, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Rastislav Vrbensky, Manager of the Istanbul Regional Hub for Europe and the CSI of

the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Moderator:

Shada Islam, Director of Europe and Geopolitics at Friends of Europe

1This designation is without prejudice to position on status, and is in line with UN Security Council Resolution

1244/99 and the International Court of Justice Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence. For the

UNDP, the references to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of the Security Council resolution

The flow of refugees and migrants through the so-called “Balkans route” may have

eased in recent months but the crisis has been a vivid reminder of the crucial role

played by the Western Balkans in tackling immigration and human trafficking. The

region has also seen a rise in radicalisation of young people and a high number of

fighters going to join the so-called Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. Meanwhile, prime

ministers of the Western Balkans have signed up to establishing a Regional Youth

Cooperation Office to fund projects that enhance youth cooperation, diversity, regional

mobility and reconciliation as well as promoting opportunities for professional

qualifications. The focus on young people is important for a region where a lack of

opportunities has resulted in youth unemployment figures of over 50 per cent in many

countries and also prompted a heavy brain-drain across the region.

• Now that the crisis has eased on the so-called “Balkans route”, what is the state

of cooperation between the EU and the Western Balkans on questions related to

immigration and refugees?

• What is being done to counter the rise in radicalisation by implementing better

policies in areas such as education and job-creation and just how can the EU help

the Western Balkans in this struggle?

• What the main priorities of the new Regional Youth Cooperation OfLce and how

will it operate in practice?

End of conference 15.30

14.15 - 15.30

JOHANNES HAHN European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood policy and

Enlargement Negotiations

Moderator:

Giles Merritt, Founder and Chairman of Friends of Europe

CONVERSATION WITH

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BIOGRAPHIES OF SPEAKERS AND MODERATORS

MARTA ARSOVSKA-TOMOVSKA · @MIOAmk Minister of Information Society and Administration, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

As Minister, Marta Arsovska-Tomovska is a at the forefront of the Macedonian government’s digital

transformation and public administration reform, dedicated to building Lrst class public service and a

successful and smart nation. She is a frequent speaker at national and international ICT conferences,

rewarded for achievements and extraordinary contribution to the development and promotion of ICT.

Arsovska-Tomovska is also currently a member of the World Summit Award (WSA) Grand Jury and a

non-Executive Member of the WSA Board.

ÐORÐE BOJOVIĆ · @EGAMofLcial Head of the Programme Department at the European Grassroots Antiracist Movement, France

A graduate in International Law and an alumni of the American University Post-Conflict Transformation and

Development Programme in Kosovo, Ðorde Bojović became an activist for Human Rights through the Youth

Group of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights, Belgrade. He previously worked for the Youth Initiative

for Human Rights (YIHR), where he focused on developing activist networks, the programme of transitional

justice and regional cooperation. Bojović currently works for the European Grassroots Antiracist Movement

(EGAM), a network of organisations combating racism, extremism and radicalisation.

DITMIR BUSHATI · @ditmirbushati Minister of Foreign Affairs, Albania

Formerly the Chair of the Parliamentary Committee for European Integration, Ditmir Bushati helped negotiate

the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union. Prior to his political career, Bushati

was a civil society leader and a founding director of the European Movement Albania (EMA). He has lectured

and published numerous articles on international law and European enlargement in Albania and Kosovo, and

served as an analyst for Freedom House.

GORDON DUGUID · @GordonKDuguid Senior Adviser for South Central Europe, U.S State Department

Prior to working in the U.S. State Department, Gordon Duguid served as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the

U.S. Embassy in Serbia from 2013 to 2016. From 2010 to 2013, Duguid was seconded to the Organization of

American States as the Executive Secretary for the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism. He also

previously served at NATO, and the U.S. Embassies to India, Burundi, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic

of Congo. In Washington he was Deputy Spokesman, Director of Foreign Press Centers and Director of Press

Relations.

TANJA FAJON · @tfajon Member of the European Parliament Delegation for relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, with Kosovo and

Trustee of Friends of Europe

Tanja Fajon is a politician and journalist, currently serving as Member of the European Parliament. A

passionate advocate of freedom of movement and its economic beneLts, Fajon was previously the European

Parliament rapporteur on the visa liberalisation process for the Western Balkans. In this position, she was

instrumental in helping Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina win the right to visa-free travel to Europe.

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STEFAN FÜLE · @StefanFuleEU Special Envoy for the OSCE and Western Balkans at the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs; European

Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy (2010-2014) and Trustee of Friends of Europe

As a Czech diplomat who started his professional career at the Czechoslovakian Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

Stefan Füle has since then held many important positions at the Ministry, Czech embassies abroad as well as

within international organizations such as UN and NATO. Füle served as the European Commissioner for

Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy from 2010 to 2014, where he placed high importance on

consolidating peace, democracy and prosperity in Europe on the Commission’s agenda.

DAMIAN GJIKNURI · @DGjiknuri Minister of Energy and Industry, Albania

Prior to focusing on energy and industry, Damian Gjiknuri has held several positions within the Albanian

Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Interior, with a speciLc interest in the Lght against terrorism and

international legal affairs. As Vice-secretary for legal affairs of the Albanian Socialist Party (SPA), he was one

of the authors of new Electoral Code of Albania in 2008. Gjiknuri now uses his high legal expertise to help

improve Albania’s regulatory environment so as to increase investments in hydropower and renewables as

well decentralising the Albanian energy markets.

JOHANNES HAHN · @JHahnEU European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement negotiations

Since 2014, Johannes Hahn serves as the Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and

Enlargement Negotiations. In his new portfolio, Hahn has launched, together with the High Representative

Federica Mogherini, a comprehensive reform of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). During his term

as EU Commissioner for Regional Policy and among other impressive achievements, Hahn implemented the

most ambitious reform of Regional Policy, transforming the Cohesion Policy to become a strategic

investment tool, helping deliver Europe’s 2020 Goals. Prior to working for the European Commission, Hahn

served as the Austrian Minister for Science and Research.

SHADA ISLAM · @shada_islam Director of Europe and Geopolitics at Friends of Europe

Shada Islam works on issues related to the future of Europe, minority and integration challenges as well as

on Europe’s relations with emerging nations. She set up the Asia Programme for Friends of Europe in 2011

and also leads its work on development issues. She is the former Europe correspondent for the Far Eastern

Economic Review and continues to write for leading international publications.

ISMIR JUSKO · @Vijeceministara Minister of Communication and Transport at the Council of Ministers, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH)

Ismir Jusko’s career includes various functions and Lelds of expertise, such as Cantonal Minister of Interior

Affairs, Head of Counter-Terrorism Department at US Embassy in Sarajevo, Vice-President at Sector Security

Company and Head of Cabinet and Adviser at BiH Ministry of Security. In addition to his rich professional

experience, Jusko has completed various international trainings on Lghting terrorism and handling crisis

situations, for which he was awarded ten times by the U.S. State Department.

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GILES MERRITT · @GilesMerritt Founder and Chairman of Friends of Europe

Giles Merritt reported for the Financial Times as a foreign correspondent for Lfteen years, Lve of them from

Brussels, and subsequently was an International Herald Tribune Op-Ed columnist on EU affairs for twenty

years. He is the founder and chairman of the Friends of Europe think tank and author of the recently

published book ‘Slippery Slope: Europe’s Troubled Future’ (Oxford University Press).

TANJA MIŠČEVIĆ · @ SRBDiplomacy

Chief Negotiator for Serbia’s Accession to the European Union

Tanja Miščević plays a key role in the growing relationship between Belgrade and Brussels. Prior to her ap-

pointment as Chief Negotiator, Miščević served as State Secretary for Defense Policy at the Serbian Ministry

of Defence, Vice President of the Anticorruption Agency, and Director of Serbia’s European Integration OfLce.

She was also Special Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister responsible for foreign trade and UNDP Senior

Adviser for Security Projects in the South Eastern Europe region. On top of her political career, Miščević is

VALON MURTEZAJ · @ValonMurtezaj Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kosovo and permanent Professor at the IESEG School of Management,

Paris

Prior to serving as Deputy Minister, Valon Murtezaj was the Principal Adviser for Foreign Affairs and Deputy

Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa. For over a decade, Murtezaj has worked as a

senior expert within several international organisations including UNICEF, UNDP, the OfLce of the United

Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and Doctors Without Borders. His passion for

Human Rights and Youth encouraged Murtezaj to teach at the prestigious IESEG School of Management in

Paris, where he currently shares his knowledge on international negotiation and diplomacy.

DORIS PACK· @pack_doris President of the Robert Schuman Institute and former Chair of the European Parliament Committee on Cul-

ture and Education (2009-2014)

Starting her career as member of the German Bundestag, Doris Pack moved on to the European Parliament,

specialising herself in the Western Balkans and cultural and educational issues. In her proliLc 25 years as a

Member of the European Parliament, Pack served as the chair of the Committee on Culture and Education,

as well as of the Delegation for Relations with South-East Europe (1994-2009). Among other achievements,

she played a signiLcant role in the European Parliament report for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and

advocated for the improvement of the country’s political landscape.

HELGA SCHMID · @HelgaSchmid_EU Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS)

Helga Schmid is the Secretary General of the External Action Service (EEAS). Previously she was the Director

of the Policy and Early Warning Unit of the Council General Secretariat of the European Union and was one

of the closest advisers to the EU-High Representative for the Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana. Prior

to her European career, Schmid held several positions within the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was

a senior adviser to German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

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GORAN SVILANOVIĆ · @rccint Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)

Goran Svilanović plays a leading role in the promotion and enhancement of regional cooperation in the

region. A Serbian diplomat and politician, he previously held the positions of Coordinator of the Organisation

for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Economic and Environmental Activities and Minister of

Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

ZANA TABAKU · @zanatabaku Chief Executive OfLcer of Appdec

Among the few women who considered a career in ICT, Zana Tabaku is the founder of Appdec, a company

developping custom made software, purchased by the government but also by other larger organizations.

Previously she worked as a Software Engineer in Appdec and Software Developer in Cacttus. During this

period she was also a Board Member in Kosovo ICT Association (STIKK) and continues to be Admission

Committee Member in Innovation Centre Kosovo (ICK) since 2012.

ALIDA VRAČIĆ · @TTPopulari Executive Director of the Think tank Populari, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Alida Vračić is the executive director and co-founder of Populari, a Sarajevo based independant think tank,

operating throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina through desk and Leld research. Previously, Vračić worked

with the European Stability Initiative, a Berlin-based Think Tank, on projects related to judicial and economic

issues. She has also led several Balkan-wide projects at the Human Rights Centre at Sarajevo University and

at the Spanish Institutional Programme initiative for institutional co-operation of judicial nature with the

ombudsmen, bar associations and associations of judges in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region.

RASTISLAV VRBENSKY · @rastovrbensky Manager of the Istanbul Regional Hub for Europe and the CSI of the United Nations Development

Programme (UNDP)

In his current position, Rastislav Vrbensky provides support to more than 20 countries and 18 UNDP ofLces

in the region. He has extensive experience of the UN development action in the Balkans, having served as

UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Montenegro, and UNDP Deputy Resident

Representative in Serbia. Prio to joining UNDP, Vrbensky worked for the Government of Slovakia and the

Regional Environmental Centre for Central and Eastern Europe, an international NGO.

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