Day 1
8.30 a.m. Registration of participants and connection testing
9.30 – 9.40 a.m. Welcome address
- Zoran Zaev, Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia
9.40 – 11.15 a.m. Inaugural session: Roadmap towards a clear EU accession perspective for the Western Balkans
Moderator: Corina Stratulat, Senior Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre (EPC)
- Christa Schweng, President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
- Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, European Commission (virtually)
- Gašper Dovžan, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia
- Tanja Miščević, Deputy Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (virtually)
- Biljana Spasovska, Executive Director, Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN)
- Jasna Jelišić, Head of the Western Balkans Task Force, European External Action Service (EEAS)
DISCUSSION
11.15 – 11.45 a.m. Coffee break and press conference
11.45 a.m. – 1 p.m. Second session: Post COVID-19 recovery – challenges and opportunities of the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans and the Common Regional Market
Chair: Dimitris Dimitriadis, President of the EESC's External Relations (REX) Section
- Maciej Popowski, Acting Director-General, Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR), European Commission (virtually)
- Andi Aranitasi, Head of EBRD's Office for North Macedonia
- Branimir Jovanovic, Economist, The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw) (virtually)
- Brikena Xhomaqi, co-chair of the EESC's Liaison Group with European CSOs and networks, Lifelong Learning Platform - European Civil Society for Education (virtually)
- Tatjana Shterjova Dushkovski, Secretary General, WB6 Chamber Investment Forum (virtually)
- Srđa Keković, Secretary General, Union of Free Trade Unions of Montenegro (UFTUM), and representative of the Regional Trade Union Council Solidarnost
DISCUSSION
1 – 2.30 p.m. Lunch hosted by the EESC
2.30 – 4.30 p.m. Third session: Contribution of civil society to the Green Agenda and sustainable development of the Western Balkans as part of the EU accession process
Chair: Andrej Zorko, member of the EESC
- Dragica Martinović Džamonja, member of the EESC and rapporteur for opinion REX/528
- Janez Kopač, Director, Energy Community Secretariat (virtually)
- Ljupka Siljanoska, Deputy Director, Transport Community Secretariat
- Viktor Berishaj, Southeast Europe Climate and Energy Policy Coordinator, CAN Europe
- Aleksandra Tomanić, Executive director, European Fund for the Balkans (virtually)
- Darko Dimovski, President of the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia, North Macedonia
- Lidija Pavić Rogošić, member of the EESC (virtually)
DISCUSSION
5 p.m. Cocktail reception hosted by the Regional Cooperation Council and supported by EU TACSO 3
Day 2 : Fourth session: The situation of civil society in the Western Balkans
9.30 – 11.15 a.m. Parallel panels
Panel I: The state of social dialogue in the Western Balkans
Chair: Ana Milićević Pezelj, member of the EESC
- Emil Krstanovski, ILO National Coordinator for North Macedonia
- David Foden, Advisor on Industrial Relations, European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, Eurofound (virtually)
- Selvedin Šatorović, president, Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Boško Savković, Secretary General, Serbian Association of Employers – SAE, and co-chair of the EU-Serbia Civil Society Joint Consultative Committee (JCC)
- Edison Hoxha, Executive Director, Centre for Labour Relations, Albania
- Amira Vejzagic Ramhorst, Team Leader, Employment and Social Affairs Platform for the Western Balkans (ESAP), Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) (virtually)
DISCUSSION
Panel II: Achieving an enabling civic space in the Western Balkans
Chair: Ionut Sibian, President of the EESC's Western Balkans Follow-up Committee
- Aleksandar Kržalovski, Director, Macedonian Center for International Cooperation (MCIC), North Macedonia
- Maja Stojanović, Executive Director, Civic Initiatives, Serbia
- Daliborka Uljarević, Executive Director, Centre for Civic Education, Montenegro
- Gjergji Vurmo, Programme Director, Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM), Albania (virtually)
- Aida Daguda, Director, Centre for Promotion of Civil Society, Bosnia and Herzegovina (virtually)
- Dren Puka, Director for Research and Advocacy, Kosovar Civil Society Foundation (KCSF)
DISCUSSION
11.15 a.m. – 11.30 a.m. Coffee break
11.30 a.m. – 12.15 p.m. Discussion and adoption of the Forum conclusions
Chair: Ionuț Sibian, President of the EESC's Western Balkans Follow-up Committee
With participation of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU