Conference “The European Union and the Western Balkans after Brexit”
Belgrade, Hotel Zira, January 18, 2016
Organisers: The Institute for European Studies, Belgrade
and Hanns Seidel Stiftung, Belgrade
The Institute for European Studies is a leading Institute in Serbia dedicated to the comprehensive study of political, economic and cultural processes in the EU and Europe.
Sponsor of the conference:
The main sponsor of the conference is Hanns Seidel Foundation, Belgrade.
The conference is realized in collaboration with the Negotiating Team for Accession of Serbia to the EU.
Background of the project:
The Institute for European Studies has for many years analyzed events and processes in the EU that could have important impact on Serbia and the countries of the Western Balkans regarding their EU integration. These included the Big Enlargement of 2004 and the crisis in the EU in 2010s. With that aim the Institute has published among other titles the following proceedings: How to accelerate Serbia’s EU accession (2004), The European Union and the Western Balkans after the Big Enlargement (2005), Serbia and Europe (2007) and The Crisis of the European Union: framework, results, trends (2013).
Brexit represents another possible challenge for the countries of the Western Balkans and their EU path. Coupled with well-known enlargement fatigue felt in some EU countries, Greek economic crisis, and the rise of populism in the EU, it poses a significant dilemma on the future dynamics of EU integration of WB countries.
The role of the EU in the region of the Western Balkans in terms of economic performances of the countries of the region, of regional economic and political co-operation, mutual reconciliation, political stabilisation and the development of democracy and the rule of law, has been of key significance since 2000. It is difficult to imagine an international actor that could replace the EU in these roles. For this reason future EU policies towards the Western Balkans are of key significance for the nations of the region and the direction of their development.
Aim of the conference
The main aim of the conference is therefore not only to analyse possible impact of Brexit on Serbia but rather its impact on the whole region of the Western Balkans.
In this sense possible modes of effects of Brexit on the region will be analysed and also possible regional answers will be discussed.
Another key issue of how Brexit could impact the EU itself will be discussed.
There is a lack of substantial and high quality debate on questions related to the European Union in the region and the aim of this conference and other activities of the Institute is to try to change this and to sensibilise media to relevant questions of EU integration.
Conference format
The conference would be held on Wednesday, January 18, 2017. It will have an opening session and three panels:
Opening session
- Dynamics of EU integration in the Western Balkans after Brexit
- Brexit and its Effects on the European Union
- Effects of SAA and EU Negotiations in the Western Balkans
Working languages of the conference are Serbo-Croat and English.
Time-table for January 18, 2016
9.30 – 10.15 Opening session
Paticipants:
Prof. Tanja Miscevic, Head the Negotiating Team for Accession of Serbia to the EU
- E. Denis Keefe, CMG, Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Serbia
- E. Axel Dittmann (tbc), Ambassador of the FR of Germany to Serbia
Dr. Misa Djurkovic, Director of the Institute for European Studies
10.30-12.00 Dynamics of EU integration in the Western Balkans after the British Referendum
Chairperson: Sonja Licht, Belgrade Fund for Political Excellenece
Panelists:
Aleksandar Pejovic, Minister of European Affairs and chief negotiatior of Montenegro for
the accession to the EU
Majlinda Bregu, MP, Head for the Committe of European Integration of the Albanian Parliament
Radmila Mihic, Deputy Finance Minister of the Republic of Srpska
Prof. Zhidas Daskalovski, University of St. Kliment of Ohrid
Prof. Slobodan G. Markovich, Institute for European Studies and the University of Belgrade
12.30 – 14.00 Brexit and its Effects on the European Union
chairperson: Ivana Miloradovic, Radio Television of Serbia
Panelists:
Sir John Randall, forrmer MP for the Conservative Party and former deputy chief whip
Sonja Licht, President of the Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence
Dr. Misa Djurkovic, Director of the Institute for Europen Studies
Amb. Dr. Dusko Lopandic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia
Prof. Ana Trbovich, Faculty of Economics, Finance and Administration, Belgrade
14.00 – 15.30 Lunch Break
15.30 – 17.00 Effects of SAA and EU Negotiations in the Western Balkans
chairperson: Slobodan G. Markovich, IES and the Univeristy of Belgrade
Panelists:
Dr. Goran Nikolic, Institute for European Studies
Ivan Knezevic, Deputy Seceretary General of the European Movement in Serbia
Prof. Slobodan Zecevic, Institute for European Studies
with participation of panelists from panel 1
Venue
The venue will be in the conference hall of Hotel Zira, 35 Ruzveltova St.
Foreign participants will be accommodated in Hotel Zira.
Project co-ordinator on behalf of the Institute is Prof. Slobodan G. Markovich, associate of the Institute.
Languages of the conference are Serbo-Croat and English.