09.00 - 09.15

Welcome address by Peter R. Weilemann, Director of the European Office of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung

Session I: Making 2010-2020 the Decade of the Balkans

In some ways the Balkans are teetering on the edge of a breakthrough that could transform the region economically and socially. But the first hurdle to be overcome is political, for today's early signs of a new democratic maturity have yet to be turned into moderate and constructive political processes that reject all forms of nationalism. How can the rule of law and the fight against corruption be strengthened? And in light of the EU's mood of enlargement fatigue, what should Brussels be doing to maintain the pace of reform in Balkan countries whose membership prospects seem to be stagnating? 

• Aart de Geus, Deputy Secretary General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
• Milo Đukanovic, Prime Minister of Montenegro
• Nikola Gruevski, Prime Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
• Eduard Kukan MEP, Chairman of the European Parliament Delegation to Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo
• Borut Pahor, Prime Minister of Slovenia
• Vygaudas Ušackas, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania 

The European Union's Stabilisation and Association Agreements have contributed to a significant shift in Balkan countries' relationships with the EU; today they are partners, whereas a decade ago they were more like Brussels' subjects. But if the western Balkan states are to take ownership of the stabilisation process they must develop and greatly intensify their regional cooperation. With this in mind, has the new Balkan-administered Regional Cooperation Council become an efficient instrument? To what extent could the EU’s upcoming Danube Strategy enhance regional cooperation? What are national governments in the Balkans doing to encourage local decision making and a far stronger application of the EU's subsidiarity principle? What sort of benchmarking could ensure that civil society plays a greater role in all countries that aspire to eventual EU membership?

Keynote address by Božidar Đelić, Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia

• Hido Biščević, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council
• Vladimir Drobnjak, Chief Negotiator for EU Accession Negotiations in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Croatia
• Ingeborg Grässle MEP, Member of the European Parliament
• Georgios Koumoutsakos MEP, Member of the European Parliament Committee on Transport and Tourism and Substitute Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs
• Pierre Mirel, European Commission Director for Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and Kosovo Issues in the Directorate General for Enlargement

Co-moderated by Giles Merritt, Secretary General of Friends of Europe and Tim Judah, Western Balkans Correspondent for the Economist

14.00 - 15.30

The figures make gloomy reading; the Balkans' economic buoyancy, averaging 5% growth in recent years, has been abruptly shattered by the crisis. No longer boosted by the magnet of privatisation profits, foreign direct investment (FDI) has slowed to a trickle in most Balkan countries and there have also been slowdowns in such economic staples as exports of raw materials and tourism earnings. The substantial €4bn coming to the region during 2007-11 in pre-accession funding from the EU is becoming a lifeline rather than an aid to reform. But could the crisis be seen as a blessing in disguise, creating the conditions in which Balkan governments will find it easier to introduce the tough market reforms that are crucial to future competitiveness? What plans can western Balkan countries point to for improving education and training and boosting research and innovation? How can the importance of the shadow economy be reduced?

• Tim Brett, President of the Alpine and Adriatic Business Unit of The Coca-Cola Company
• Genc Pollo, Minister of State for Reforms and Relations with the Parliament of Albania
• Dusan Sidjanski, Professor Emeritus at the University of Geneva and Special Advisor to the President of the European Commission

Co-moderated by Giles Merritt, Secretary General of Friends of Europe and Alistair Nolan, Head of the Investment Compact for South East Europe at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

The future prosperity of the western Balkans will to a very large extent be determined by infrastructural decisions taken today. And the scale of infrastructural costs now facing the region is daunting; the World Bank estimates that between now and 2020 some €27bn will have to be spent on energy and environmental projects alone, and that takes no account of the road and rail transport links and industrial processing infrastructures that are vital to an efficient economy. What steps are Balkan governments now considering for joint projects and cross-border partnerships, and what advice have they been receiving from bodies like the European Commission, the European Investment Bank, the OECD and other multilateral agencies? What financing arrangements would be on offer if Balkan governments began to view economic policymaking as a regional rather than national matter?

Opening remarks by:

• Dirk Lange, European Commission Head of Unit for Croatia in the Directorate General for Enlargement
• Peter Sanfey, Lead Economist in the Office of the Chief Economist of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
• Ahmet Shala, Minister of Finance and Economy of Kosovo (under UNSCR 1244)

Co-moderated by Giles Merritt, Secretary General of Friends of Europe and Alistair Nolan, Head of the Investment Compact for South East Europe at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

Format: The roundtable featured some 50 senior discussants and 2 co-moderators. Each session was opened by short remarks from 3 introductory discussants. The two moderators then opened up the debate around the table. The backgrounds of discussants covers the full range of stakeholders, including: European Parliament, European Commission and other international organisations; EU member states and Balkan countries (senior officials from national ministries); international companies investing in the region and Balkans-based companies; entrepreneur associations and chambers of commerce; academic and NGO experts. The style is informal and spontaneous.