EU Meets the Balkans Forum 2024

About the event

The EU Meets the Balkan Forum is an annual conference that seeks to explore strategies and policies that can support the EU integration efforts, especially in times of heightened regional sensitivities and war on the European continent. The forum aims to continue providing a platform for constructive dialogue between EU and Balkan countries.

Programme

Sunday April 7, 2024  

14:00 – 18:00 Arrival of participants 

18:00 – 22:00 Welcoming dinner 

Monday April 8, 2024  

09:30 – 10:00 Registration and coffee  

10:00 – 10:15 Opening session 

Masters of ceremony: Daniel Mihaylov, Journalist; Nafisa Latic, Journalist, TRT World 

Speakers:

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, MEP, Co-President of ALDE Party  

Dr. Solomon Passy, President, Atlantic Club of Bulgaria 

Alva Finn, Executive Director, European Liberal Forum  

10:15 – 10:50 Keynote speech 

Mariya Gabriel, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Bulgaria 

Roberta Metsola, President, European Parliament (online) 

Olivér Várhelyi, EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement 

10:50 – 11:10 Fireside Chat 

Miroslav Lajčák, EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issue 

Nafisa Latic, Journalist, TRT World 

11:10 – 12:40 Panel Discussion – Accelerated Integration: Investment In European Security 

Moderator: Federica Mogherini, Rector of the College of Europe, High Representative / Vice-President of the European Commission (2014-2019) 

Speakers:

Igli Hasani, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania# 
Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo  
Maida Gorčević, Minister of European Affairs of Montenegro  
Bujar Osmani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia 
Daniela Gitman, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Romania 
Tanja Miščević, Minister of European Integration of the Republic of Serbia  
Mehmet Kemal Bozay, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye 

12:40 – 13:00 Fireside Chat 

Ivan Krastev, Chairman of the Centre for Liberal Strategies in Sofia  
Shada Islam, Editor of EUobserver Magazine