Programme

09:00–09:05 | Opening remarks 

• by Andris GOBIŅŠ, president of the EESC's study group on Civil Society’s Role in Supporting Reform under the Growth Plans for the Western Balkans and Moldova, as well as in Ukraine’s Reform Path

09:05–10:35 | Presentation of the request for the exploratory opinion

by the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU and views from Brussels-based actors

• Νektaria KAKOUTSI, Permanent Representation of the Republic of Cyprus to the European Union

• Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST), European Commission

  -   Symela TSAKIRI (Western Balkans)

  -   Alexandra JANOVSKAIA (Moldova)

  -   Hanna ORAHEIMO (Ukraine)

• Johannes GREUBEL, Senior Policy Analyst, Head of Programme and ‘Connecting Europe’ Project Lead, European Policy Center (EPC)
• Elena CRASTA, Senior Adviser, European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)
• Sofia BOURNOU, Senior Adviser, BusinessEurope

           Debate

10:35–10:50 | Coffee Break

10:50–12:20 | Discussion with stakeholders from the countries concerned

• Stefan RISTOVSKI, Reform Monitor for EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans – TEN network (European Policy Institute – Skopje)
• Mariana RUFA, Executive Director, European Business Association Moldova
• Vasyl ANDREYEV, President, Building Workers' Union of Ukraine and Vice-president of the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine
• Bojana SELAKOVIĆ, Coordinator of the National Convention on the EU in Serbia (online)
• Biljana PAPOVIĆ, State Secretary, Ministry of European Affairs of Montenegro (online)

           Debate

12:20–12:35 | Conclusions 

• by Oleg ROIBU, rapporteur, and Andrej ZORKO, co-rapporteur

12:35–12:45 | Closing remarks 

• by Andris GOBIŅŠ, president of the EESC's study group on Civil Society’s Role in Supporting Reform under the Growth Plans for the Western Balkans and Moldova, as well as in Ukraine’s Reform Path