Programme Varna Forum 2.0: „The Black Sea: confrontation or cooperation“

Friday, May 12, 2017

Afternoon

Arrival of participants/ Registration/ Check in

20.00-22.30

Dinner

Saturday, May 13, 2017

09.00-09.20

Opening Remarks by

 Regine Schubert, Director, FES-Bulgaria

 Georgi Pirinski, MEP, Programme Director, SSF, Bulgaria

 Lyubomir Kyuchukov, Director, EIRI, Bulgaria

 Introductory Keynote Statements:

09.20-10.20

Michael Christides, Secretary-General, BSEC

Karmenu Vella, European Environment Commissioner (video message)

10.20-10.50

Coffee break

First Discussion Round: The Black Sea – a European Backwater or a European Macro‑Region?

10.50-12.20

• The present state of cooperation in the Black Sea region – the Black Sea Synergy; EU supported programs; BSEC – driven; other- in the light of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals perspective
• The EU Macro Regional Strategies approach to European territorial cooperation – present state and post-2020 prospects
• The possibilities for launching a new European Black Sea Macro Region under the successive Bulgarian and Romanian Presidencies of the Council of the EU

Panelists: Kristian Vigenin, MP, Europe Affairs Commission, Bulgaria

Svetoslav Stoyanov, EC, Policy Officer, DG MARE

Stavros Kalognomos, Policy Officer, CPMR

Moderator: Maria Grapini, MEP, Romania

12.30-14.00

Lunch

Second Discussion Round: The Black Sea – Borderline or Bridge for the European Union – Eurasian Economic Union Interaction

14.00-15.30

• The dawning new post-neoliberal globalization era and the emergence of transcontinental constellations shaping a new global order
• The one belt one road paradigm as one of the leading forces shaping the trans-European perspective regarding the interaction with Asia
• The Black Sea as a potential key interface for dynamic expansion of comprehensive European – Eurasian interaction

Panelists:  Tatjana Zdanoka, MEP, Latvia

Nils Schmid, MP, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Marian Lupu, MP, Moldova

Moderator: Prof. Neil MacFarlane, Oxford University, UK

Coffee break

Third Discussion Round: The Black Sea Space – Minefield or Pillar in the Evolving European Security Landscape?

16.00-17.30

• The growing military build-up and confrontation between NATO and the Russian Federation in and around the Black Sea
• The Black Sea in the context of the broader European security landscape
• Specific challenges for European security emanating from conflicts in the region

Panelists:  Sergiu Celac, Senior Adviser, NCSD, Romania

Dr. Reinhard Krumm, Head, ROCPE, Vienna, FES, Germany

Moderator: Valentin Radomirski, Ambassador, CEO, EIRI, Bulgaria

17.30-18.00

Break

18.00-19.00

General Discussion and Closing Remarks

20.00-22.00

Dinner

Sunday, May 14, 2017

09.00-11.00

Working Breakfast

Brainstorming on the development of the Varna Forum as a venue of new thinking on Regional Security in the Balkan – Black Sea Macro‑Region