30 June 2023 9:00 am CEST 20 years after Thessaloniki: Can The EU rediscover the Western Balkans? Study presentation and panel discussion wiiw and Bertelsmann Stiftung Venue Oesterreichische Kontrollbank (OeKB), Strauchgasse 3, 1010 Vienna Registration https://wiiw.ac.at/20-years-after-thessaloniki-can-the-eu-rediscover-the-wes... Description The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw) and Bertelsmann Stiftung will provide an insight into the EU’s economic ties with the Western Balkans by presenting a new study and discuss, together with a distinguished panel of diplomats and experts, a new EU approach towards the region. Agenda 09:00–09:30 Welcome and Introduction by Mario Holzer, Director, wiiw, and Stefani Weiss, Senior Expert, Bertelsmann Stiftung followed by Opening Speech “The European Perspective: Keeping the Western Balkans on the Agenda” by H.E. Alexander Schallenberg, Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs 09:30-10:30 Presentation of Study “Keeping friends closer: Why the EU should address new geoeconomic realities and get its neighbours back in the fold https://www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/de/publikationen/publikation/did/keeping-friends-closer-why-the-eu-should-address-new-geoeconomic-realities-and-get-its-neighbours-back-in-the-fold-all” with special focus on the EU´s interconnectivity with the Western Balkans by Branimir Jovanovic, wiiw Moderated by Stefani Weiss 10:30 Coffee Break 11:00-12:30 Panel Discussion “Thessaloniki revisited 20 years on: Time for a radically new EU approach to the Western Balkans?” with * Kadir Bahcecik, Head of Unit for Enlargement Countries, European Investment Bank, Luxembourg * Odeta Barbullushi, Advisor to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania and National Coordinator for Regional Economic Area * Simonida Kacarska, Director of the European Policy Institute, Skopje * Velina Tchakarova, Founder, FACE for a Conscious Experience e.U * Romana Vlahutin, Ambassador, Distinguished Fellow for Geostrategy, German Marshall Fund, Berlin Moderated by Hannes Swoboda, President, wiiw We are looking forward to seeing you there! Related Publication * Keeping friends closer: Why the EU should address new geoeconomic realities and get its neighbours back in the fold https://wiiw.ac.at/keeping-friends-closer-why-the-eu-should-address-new-geoe...