Programme

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12 May 

19:00   Welcome reception offered by the Reginal Cooperation Council (RCC)

13 May - First day        

08:30   Registration of participants and connection testing

09:30–11:15     Opening session: accelerating EU accession for the Western Balkans: Montenegro paving the way

Moderator: Hana Sokolović

  • Nik Gjeloshaj, Deputy prime minister 
  • Marta Kos, Commissioner for Enlargement, European Commission (video message)
  • Oliver Röpke, President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
  • Amer Kapetanović, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council
  • Andi Dobrushi, Regional Director of the Open Society Foundations -  Western Balkans
  • H.E. Johann Sattler, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro 
  • Gordana Đurović, President of the Montenegrin Pan-European Union and Co-chair of the EU-Montenegro Civil Society Joint Consultative Committee

DISCUSSION

11:15–11:45     Coffee break and press conference 

11:45–13:00        First session: the role of organised civil society in the accession negotiations and the growth plan and facility for the Western Balkans – focus on fundamentals

Chair: Neža Repanšek, Member of the Western Balkans Follow-up Committee

  • Anja Bosilkova-Antovska, Head of Policy and Advocacy, Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN)
  • Anna Vezyroglou, Deputy Head of Unit for Regional Stategy & Investments for the Western Balkans, Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST), European Commission
  • Krisela Hackaj, Executive Director, Cooperation & Development Institute (CDI)
  • Milena Mihajlović Denić, Programme Director, European Policy Centre (CEP)
  • Boško Savković, Secretary-General of the Serbian Association of Employers and Co-chair of the EU-Serbia Civil Society Joint Consultative Committee

DISCUSSION 

13:00–14:30     Lunch hosted by the EESC

14:30–16:00     First session continued: contribution of social partners and civil society organisations to implementing the growth plan and facility for the Western Balkans – single market, trade and the Clean Industrial Deal

Chair: Andrej Zorko, President of the Western Balkans Follow-up Committee

  • Zoran Nechev, Senior Researcher at Think Europe, project "Monitoring and Supporting Western Balkan Convergence with the EU"
  • Olivera Ceni Bardiqi, Trade Facilitation Expert, Central European Free Trade Association (CEFTA) secretariat
  • Matej Zakonjšek, Director, Transport Community secretariat
  • Valbona Mazreku, Executive Director of Milieukontakt Albania

DISCUSSION

16:00–16:15     Coffee break

16:15–17:30     First session continued: contribution of social partners and civil society organisations to implementing the growth plan and facility for the Western Balkans – Common Regional Market (CRM), enabling business environment, social justice and digital transformation

Chair: Decebal-Ștefăniță Padure, EESC Member and Co-chair of the EU-Montenegro JCC

  • Pranvera Kastrati, Acting Head of Programme Department, Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)
  • Hendrik Bosshammer, Economist/Project Manager, South East Europe Division, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
  • Ranka Mišić, President of Confederation of Trade Unions of RS, BiH, and Chair of Trade Union Council ‘Solidarnost’
  • Zsolt Dudas, Labour Inspection/Occupational Health and Safety Specialist, International Labour Organization (ILO) Office for Central and Eastern Europe

DISCUSSION

17:30   Cocktail reception offered by the Open Society Foundations - Western Balkans (OSF-WB)

14 May - Second day
European Pillar of Social Rights in the Western Balkans

09:00–10:15     Second session: contribution of social partners and civil society organisations to implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights in the Western Balkans – more and better jobs and skills development

Chair: Dragica Martinović, Vice-President of the Western Balkans Follow-up Committee

Keynote speech:

  • Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, European Commission (video message)
  • Naida Nišić, Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Dialogue of Montenegro
  • Oliver Röpke, President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
  • Pilvi Torsti, Director of the European Training Foundation
  • Željko Jovanović, President, Roma Foundation for Europe (online)

DISCUSSION

10:15–10:30     Coffee break   

10:30–11:45     Third session continued: contribution of social partners and civil society organisations to implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights in the Western Balkans – social protection, equality and inclusion

Chair: Lidija Pavić-Rogošić, EESC Member

  • Tania Ivanova, President of REACTOR - Research in Action and coordinator of the Coalition for Gender Equality in the EU Accession Process (EQUAPRO)
  • Marina Vujačić, Association of Youth with Disabilities of Montenegro
  • Darko Pandurević, Sarajevo Open Center
  • Srđan Simović, Chief Labour Inspector of Montenegro, Western Balkans’ Network for Tackling Undeclared Work
  • Valerie Morrica, Senior Social Development Specialist, World Bank

DISCUSSION

         

12:00–12:30     Discussion and adoption of the final Forum declaration

Chair: Andrej Zorko, President of the EESC’s Western Balkans Follow-up Committee

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