EU MEETS THE BALKANS 4.0 

Reforming for a European Future 

About the event

The EU Meets the Balkans Forum is a high-level platform aimed at fostering dialogue between EU and Balkan leaders, foreign ministers, policy-makers, think-tanks, entrepreneurs, media, and youth representatives to debate pressing challenges and chart a shared path for enhanced regional cooperation and accelerated EU integration. At a time of unprecedented geopolitical shifts and complex global challenges, the need for resilient partnerships and reinforced commitments to deepening cooperation on foreign policy, security, and economic growth is vital for our shared future of security and prosperity. 

Programme  

09:30 – 10:00 Registrations and Coffee 

10:00 – 10:15 Welcoming speeches 

Speakers:

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, MEP, Chair of the Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI) 
Salomon Passy, President, Atlantic Club of Bulgaria 
Jan-Christoph Oetjen, President, European Liberal Forum 
Ailbhe Finn, Executive Director, European Liberal Forum 

10:15 – 10:30 Opening Statement  

Speaker:

Rumen Radev, President, Republic of Bulgaria (TBC) 

10:39 – 10:50 Keynote Speech 

Speakers:

Marta Kos, EU Commissioner for Enlargement 
Roberta Metsola, President, European Parliament (TBC) 

10:50 – 12:00 PANEL I – Taking stock for growth: Charting a future together  

Moderator: Federica Mogherini, Rector of The College Of Europe, Hr/Vp Of The European Union For Foreign Affairs And Security Policy (2014-2019) 

Speakers:

Igli Hasani, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Albania (TBC)  
Elmedin Konaković, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bosnia and Herzegovina (TBC) 
Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Kosovo (TBC) 
Timcho Mucunski, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, North Macedonia (TBC) 
Marko Djuric, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Serbia (TBC) 
Maida Gorčević, Minister of European Affairs, Montenegro (TBC) 
Georg Georgiev, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bulgaria (TBC) 
Gordan Grlić-Radman, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Croatia (TBC) 
Giorgos Gerapetritis, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Greece (TBC) 
Emil Hurezanu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Romania (TBC) 
Tanja Fajon, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Slovenia (TBC) 
Karen Pierce, UK’s Special Envoy to The Western Balkans (TBC) 
Peter Sorensen, EU Special Representative for The Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue (TBC) 
Amer Kapetanovic, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (TBC) 
Tanja Mishevic, Minister of European Integration of the Republic of Serbia (TBC) 

12:00 – 12:30 Fireside Chat 

Speakers:

Ivan Krustev, Chairman of the Centre for Liberal Strategies in Sofia 
Boyko Vasilev, Journalist and executive producer of the program “Panorama” 

12:30 – 13:15 PANEL II – Twenty Years Accession Treaty signature of Bulgaria and Romania 

Moderator: Valentin Tonchev, Valentin Tonchev, Member of Parliament, Bulgaria (TBC) Speakers: Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission (1999 to 2004) (TBC) 

Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Prime Minister of Bulgaria (2001 to 2005) (TBC) 
Dan Barna MEP, Vice-President of the ALDE Party 
Solomon Passy, Foreign Minister of Bulgaria (2001 to 2005) 
Filiz Hyusmenova, Observer and Member of the European Parliament (2005-2019) (TBC) 

13:15 – 13:30 Award Ceremony