Programme

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    Draft programme

    08:30    Registration of participants

    09:00    Opening session - European path for the Western Balkans: The EU and the Western Balkans

    Moderator: Dimitris Dimitriadis, President of the External Relations Section, EESC

    • Christa Schweng, President of the EESC
    • Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement (video message)
    • Jaroslav Miller, Deputy Minister of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic
    • Martin Dvořák, Deputy Minister for Government Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic
    • Tanja Miščević, Deputy Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council
    • Jana Soukupová, Director of the Cabinet Department of the Minister for Science, Research and Innovation of the Czech Republic, founder of Youth, Speak Up! and national representative of the European Democracy Youth Network (EDYN)

    10:30    Coffee break and press conference

    11:00    European path for the Western Balkans: Roadmap towards clear accession perspective and the role of young people

    Moderator:  Ionuţ Sibian, President of the EESC's Western Balkans Follow-up Committee

    • Strahinja Subotić, Programme Manager for the Our Europe programme area, European Policy Centre, Belgrade, Serbia
    • Biljana Spasovska, Executive Director, Balkan Civil Society Development Network
    • Albert Hani, Secretary General, Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO)
    • Ognjen Marković, Team Leader, Western Balkans Youth Lab Project, Regional Cooperation Council
    • Ivan Iliev, Strategic Analysis Researcher, European Democracy Youth Network (EDYN)

    DISCUSSION

    13:00    Lunch

    14:30    Break-out sessions

    Contribution of civil society to youth policy in the Western Balkans: challenges and opportunities in building a better future for the Western Balkans and amplifying the voice of young people from the Western Balkans

    14:30    Session I: Human capital development in the Western Balkans

    • state of play and challenges
    • ways to possible solutions and opportunities

    Moderator: Pierre Jean Coulon, EESC Member

    • Jacob Kornbeck, Policy Officer - Youth Policy and Programmes, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC), European Commission (virtually)
    • Manuela Prina, Head of Skills Identification and Development Unit, European Training Foundation (ETF)
    • Boško Savković, Secretary General of the Serbian Association of Employers
    • Divna Zmejkovska, President of Women`s Trade Union Organization and Vice President of the Union of Independent Autonomous Trade Unions of North  Macedonia
    • Marsela Delija, Youth Coordinator, Child Rights Centre Albania (CRCA), and President, Albanian National Youth Network (ANYN)

    EN, FR, CS, BS-HR-MN-SR, MK, SQ

    14:30    Session II: Youth employment challenges in the Western Balkans

    • state of play and challenges
    • ways to possible solutions and opportunities

    Moderator: Ognjen Marković, Team Leader, Western Balkans Youth Lab Project, Regional Cooperation Council

    • Amira Ramhorst, Team Leader, Employment and Social Affairs Platform (ESAP 2), Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)
    • Violeta Stanković, Manager of Education, Center for Youth Work
    • Marko Stojanović, Development Director at Western Balkans Institute (WEBIN), Balkans Youth: Linking Education, Abilities and Partnership Potential in Regional Employment Practice (BY LEAP)
    • Mladen Perazić, Chamber of Economy of Montenegro

    EN

    14:30    Session III: Young people in the Western Balkans as an important force in regional cooperation and promoting European integration

    • state of play and challenges
    • ways to possible solutions and opportunities

    Moderator: Dragica Martinović Džamonja, EESC Member

    • Filip Kulakov, Project Manager at the National Youth Council of North Macedonia, Connecting Youth Platform
    • Dafina Peci, Director of "Tirana European Youth Capital 2022", implemented by National Youth Congress in cooperation with Tirana Municipality
    • Pavel Trantina, Vice-Chair of the EU Committee of the Governmental Council for NGOs, Czech Republic
    • Marko Mandić, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, National Coordinator for Western Balkans 6 Chamber Investment Forum (WB6 CIF)

    EN

    16:00    Coffee break

    16:30    Contribution of civil society to youth policy in the Western Balkans:

    Conclusions of the break-out sessions / summary by the three break-out sessions moderators

    DISCUSSION

    17:30    Summary of main messages and closing speeches

    Chair: Ionuţ Sibian, President of the EESC's Western Balkans Follow-up Committee

    Interpretation: EN/FR/CS/BS-HR-MN-SR/MK/SQ into EN/CS/BS-HR-MN-SR/MK/SQ 

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