Federal Conference: Innovative Strategies for European Integration of the Western Balkans
East European Studies, in cooperation with the West European Studies program and the Southeast Europe project, present a federal conference on:
Innovative Strategies for European Integration of the Western Balkans
EU accession holds the best hope for overcoming stagnation on democracy-building, market reform and state consolidation in the Western Balkans. However, the traditional enlargement process is not well suited to the region and requires a coordinated strategy between the EU, the United States and other international actors if it is to succeed in the near future. This meeting will aim to discuss the EU enlargement process, the role of the US and other international actors to support this process, the unique obstacles to the success of the process in the Western Balkans and innovations that might be introduced for a new, coordinated policy toward the region.
PROVISIONAL AGENDA
Exact times are subject to change
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
9:00 Introduction: Martin Sletzinger
Panel I: External State Building Mechanisms
Chair: Samuel Wells
Wade Jacoby, Brigham Young University
Gulnur Aybet, University of Kent
Ioannis Tsorbatzoglou, SECIPRO and Current Southeast Europe Scholar
Othon Anastasakis, Oxford University
Discussion
Coffee Break
Panel II: Unique Challenges posed by the Countries of the Western Balkans
Chair: Martin Sletzinger
Gordon Bardos, Harriman Institute, Columbia University
Ivan Grdesic, University of Zagreb and current WWICS Public Policy Scholar
Islam Yusufi, Analytica Think Tank, Skopje, Macedonia
Milica Uvalic, University of Perugia and current WWICS Public Policy Scholar
Discussion
Lunch in the 6th floor dining room
Luncheon Keynote Address: Jason Hyland, Director of Balkan Affairs, Department of State
Panel III: Innovative Solutions for European Integration
Chair: Nida Gelazis
Elena Jileva, Center for Political and Constitutional Studies, Madrid
Sharon Fisher, IHS Global Insight
Bruce Hitchner, Tufts University
Discussion
Closing remarks
This event will take place in the 6th floor Flom Auditorium.
Event Sponsors
Speakers
Head of Department, Political Science and International Relations, Bahçeşehir University
Professor, University of Zagreb; Former Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to the United States
Professor, Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Perugia, Italy
Senior Economist, Global Insight
Hosted By
Global Europe Program
The Global Europe Program is focused on Europe’s capabilities, and how it engages on critical global issues. We investigate European approaches to critical global issues. We examine Europe’s relations with Russia and Eurasia, China and the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. Our initiatives include “Ukraine in Europe”—an examination of what it will take to make Ukraine’s European future a reality. But we also examine the role of NATO, the European Union and the OSCE, Europe’s energy security, transatlantic trade disputes, and challenges to democracy. The Global Europe Program’s staff, scholars-in-residence, and Global Fellows participate in seminars, policy study groups, and international conferences to provide analytical recommendations to policy makers and the media. Read more