PROGRAMME of the 6^th Ideas go public Lab, Berlin, in the framework of the WB2EU project

DAY 1 – 23 March 2023  

Venue: Europäisches Haus, Unter den Linden 78, 10117 Berlin

12.30-13.30: Registration

Venue: Press room    

13.30-15.00: Expert Roundtable

“Zeitenwende” for EU Enlargement Policy? A view on the Berlin process and the promotion of regional integration

Welcome remarks: 

• Nora Hesse, Head of Political Team, European Commission in Germany
  
  

Speakers: 

• Valeska Esch, Personal Advisor to the Special Representative for the Countries of the Western Balkans, German Federal Foreign Office  
• Nedžma Džananović, Professor at University of Sarajevo, Faculty of Political Science, representative of WB2EU Network
  
  

Moderators:  

• Katrin Böttger, Director at Institut für Europäische Politik &  
  Vedran Džihić, Senior Researcher at Österreichisches Institut für Internationale Politik  

Participants: WB2EU and Berlin-based experts on EU enlargement and the Western Balkans, journalists, civil society representatives. Discussion under Chatham House rules. 

On behalf of Institut für Europäische Politik (IEP) in Berlin, our WB2EU network partners, and the Representation of the European Commission in Germany, we would like to cordially invite you to our “WB2EU Ideas go public debate“ in Berlin.

The event will extend the current discussion on the EU’s enlargement policy in the Western Balkans to a broader public in Germany. The debate will focus on the question to what extent the „Zeitenwende“ proclaimed by Chancellor Scholz in Germany after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has an impact on the EU’s enlargement policy in the Western Balkans. It will furthermore offer the opportunity to get first hand insights on the current developments in the region.

The event will take place in cooperation with the Representation of the European Commission in Germany. We are very much looking forward to your participation.

Please note that the debate will be held in English.

15.00-16.00: Coffee break

16.00-17.30: WB2EU Ideas go public debate

Venue: Conference room

Towards a credible EU Enlargement Policy? What does the German “Zeitenwende” mean for the Western Balkans?

Welcome remarks: 

• Jörg Wojahn, Representative of the European Commission in Germany
  
  

Speakers: 

• Susanne Schütz, Director for South-Eastern Europe, Turkey, OSCE, Council of Europe, German Federal Foreign Office
• Senada Šelo Šabić, Senior Scientific Associate, Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO), representative of WB2EU Network
  
  

Moderators:  

• Katrin Böttger, Director at Institut für Europäische Politik &  
  Paul Schmidt, Secretary General, Österreichische Gesellschaft für Europapolitik 

Participants: General public, journalists, civil society representatives. Discussion not under Chatham House rules.

Should you have any questions, please contact Wiebke Stimming at wiebke.stimming@iep-berlin.de.

18.30: Dinner WB2EU Network