Black Sea Conference

About the event

Black Sea for Europe Conference is a two-day high-ranking event consisting of six panels discussing the political and security environment in the Black Sea region, considering its actuality and importance for the EU. It is accompanied by apreliminary mentorship program for young professionals in the related fields.

Programme

Thursday, 10.11.2022 

11:30 Welcome coffee & snack

12:00 Opening remarks 

Goran Neralic, Head of Projects, European Liberal Forum
Raimar Wagner, Project Director Romania and Republic of Moldova, Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) 
George Melashvili, President, Europe-Georgia Institute 

12:15 Panel 1. Black Sea in European Security Context 

Speakers:
Nicu Fălcoi, Member of the Romanian Parliament, Vice-President of the Defence and Security Committee, NATO Parliamentary Assembly
Yevgeniya Gaber, Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council, Ukraine 
Tamar Karosanidze, USAID-ACCESS, CoP, Former Deputy Minister of Defense
Prof. Dr. Sinem Açıkmeşe, Department of International Relations, Kadir Has University Turkey 
Moderator: Shamil Shugaev, Project coordinator FNF, Georgia

14:00 Panel 2. EU Enlargement – cases of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine 

Speakers:
Igor Munteanu, former MP and ambassador, Chairman of IDIS Viitorul, Republic of Moldova 
Ivane Chkhikvadze, Researcher at European Stability Initiative, Georgia 
Inna Sovsun, MP Holos Party, Ukraine, (online)
Ramona Iulia Chiriac, Head of EU Delegation to Romania (tbc) 
Moderator: Raimar Wagner, FNF, Director Romania and Republic of Moldova

16:00 Panel 3. Russian War: Liberal response 

Speakers:
Petras Austrevicius, MEP, ALDE Europe (tbc online)
Vlad Botos, MEP, ALDE Europe (online)
Dan Barna, former Vice Premier Minister, Union Save Romania (USR)
Francesco Cappelletti, Policy and Research Officer, European Liberal Forum
Moderator: Katrin Bannach, Project Director FNF South Caucasus

Friday, 11.11.2022 

10:00 Special Panel – Future of the Black Sea region: Youth perspective 

Moderator: Katrin Bannach, Project Director FNF South Caucasus

Fifteen Students from Georgia and from Romania

12:30 Panel 5. Future of the Black Sea region: European response/perspective 

Speakers:
Dan Aria Sucuri, president LYMEC (online)
Tamar Kekenadze, Former Head of Euro-Atlantic int Division at Ministry of Defence, Chairperson of Free Democrats (Georgia)
William Townsend, General Secretary Liberal International, United Kingdom
Anca Dragu, former Chairperson of Romanian Senat, USR, Romania
Moderator: George Melashvili, Europe Georgia Institute, Georgia 

14:00 Panel 6. Future of the Black Sea region: Energy Security 

Speakers:
Otilia Nutu, energy security expert, Expert Forum, Romania
Prof. Dr. Elizabeth Yoneva, University of National and World Economy, Bulgaria
Prof. Dr. Mitat Çelikpala, Department of International Relations, Kadir Has University Turkey
Moderator: Cristian David, former Minister of Interior, Institute for Freedom and Democracy, Romania

16:00 Panel 7. Future of the Black Sea region: Trade Routes

Speakers:
Hayk Toroyan, Project coordinator, Crisis Management Initiative, Armenia
Prof. Dr. Mitat Çelikpala, Department of International Relations, Kadir Has University TurkeyVladimir Ryhzhkov