Welcome & Panel “Conditionality, the Reform Agenda, and the Future of the EU in the Western Balkans”
Channel: Aspen Institute Germany
Date: 2021-07-08

Welcoming Remarks and Panel Discussion I at the Civil Society & Think Tank Forum II, 2021

Welcoming Remarks:
Valeska Esch, Deputy Executive Director, Program Director Europe, Aspen Institute Germany
Manuel Sarrazin, Member of the German Bundestag, President of the Southeast Europe Association
Video Message by Angela Merkel, German Federal Chancellor

Panel I: “Conditionality, the Reform Agenda, and the Future of the EU in the Western Balkans”

Strengthening the rule of law, enhancing media freedom, and conducting democratization reforms are a substantial part of the EU reform agenda. The panelists scrutinize the performance of regional governments in these areas, discuss the role of civil society actors, and assess the EU’s ability to support reform processes through conditionality mechanisms in light of growing geopolitical competition across the region.

Speaker: 
Nikola Burazer, Programme Director, Center for Contemporary Politics

Misha Popovikj, Good Governance Program Coordinator, Institute for Democracy Societas Civilis Skopje – IDSCS

Arberesha Loxha, Executive Director, Group for Legal and Political Studies, Representative of the Think for Europe Network (TEN)

Kalinka Gaber, State Secretary for European Affairs

Maciej Popowski, Acting Director-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, DG NEAR, European Commission

Moderation: 
Vessela Tcherneva, Deputy Director, European Council on Foreign Relations, Head of Sofia Office

For the Policy Recommendations from the Civil Society & Think Tank Forum 2021 please follow this link:
https://www.aspeninstitute.de/wp-content/uploads/Final-Recommendations-CSF2021.pdf