Ukrainian Central European Forum is a brand-new discussion platform bringing together prominent thinkers and pundits from all over the region to spot common challenges and craft common visions for a prosperous Central European future.
15-16 September 2021, Kyiv
Ukrainian
Central
European
Forum
Register for online participation
The Launch
Ukrainian Central European Forum / DAY 1
Session Two
Central European Identity: Interperceptions / DAY 2
Session Three
Economic Recovery In A Divided World:
Fiscal Policy Choices Of The Region / DAY 2
Session Four
Central European Energy Sector And The Green Deal's Impact / DAY 2
ABOUT UCEF
Ukraine, in
the heart of
Central Europe
Central Europe is a unique region, being on the one hand a community of like-minded states and societies that often, if not always, share the same values, threats, and expectations. We, the countries of Central Europe, can pick up promptly when something isn't quite right in the neighborhood; we are the first to assist in the case of emergency. But on the other hand we belong to different international formats, and often our priority policies vary. Furthermore, our countries are hit by the curses of modern world: erosion of democracy, rise of populism, uneven economic development, and devastating consequences of COVID-19 pandemic.

But our minor differences are our major strength. Even more, we share a common future since being a Central European country means belonging to the Center of Europe.

Ukraine, being located on the crossroads of different political ideologies, has always felt an external threat to its sovereign identity and regional affiliation. In modern history Ukraine faces not only internal transitional processes but stands as a bulwark of European values on its Eastern frontiers.

The Forum will bring together politicians, diplomats, corporate actors, and civil society leaders from the Baltics to the Black Sea. We will combine closed events for sharing insights and open sessions for a wider discussion. Long missed offline meetings will be supplemented with already traditional online contributions.

Journalists will get a chance to ask direct questions to stakeholders of the region. Politicians will elaborate on common priorities, while think-tankers and civil society leaders promote common good agenda issues.

The Forum is organised by the International Renaissance Foundation, in partnership
with the Foreign Policy Council "Ukrainian Prism" within the EU-funded EU4USociety Project.


SPEAKERS
Dmytro KULEBA
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (UA)

KEYNOTE SPEAKER
15 September, 16:10
Oleksandr SUSHKO
Executive Director of the International Renaissance Foundation (UA)
Opening remarks,
Moderator of Session One
15 September, 16:10
Matti MAASIKAS
EU Ambassador,
Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine (EU)
Opening remarks
15 September, 16:00
Hennadiy MAKSAK
Executive Director of
the Foreign Policy Council "Ukrainian Prism" (UA)
Opening remarks
15 September, 16:00
Vasyl BODNAR
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukriane (UA
Speaker at Session One
15 September, 16:30
Radek MATULA
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic to Ukraine (CZ)
Speaker at Session One
15 September, 16:30
Bartosz CICHOCKI
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Poland to Ukraine (PL)
Speaker at Session One
15 September, 16:30
Marek SAFIN
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Slovak Republic to Ukraine (SK)
Speaker at Session One
15 September, 16:30
Krisztina MARFI
Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Hungary in Ukraine (HU)
Speaker at Session One
15 September, 16:30
Tetyana FILEVSKA
Acting General Director of the Ukrainian Institute (UA)
Speaker at Session Two
16 September, 10:30
Maria PIECHOWSKA
Analyst of the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PL)
Speaker at Session Two
16 September, 10:30
Gheorghe Magheru
Ambassador (Ret.), Member of the Scientific Council of the New Strategy Center (RO)
Speaker at Session Two
16 September, 10:30
Iulian GROZA
Executive Director, Institute for European Policies and Reforms (MD)
Speaker at Session Two
16 September, 10:30
Pavel HAVLICEK
Research Fellow of AMO Research Center (CZ)
Speaker at Session Two
16 September, 10:30
Petro BURKOVSKIY
Analyst of the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation (UA)
Speaker at Session Two
16 September, 10:30
Veronika MOVCHAN
Academic Director, Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting - IER (UA)
Moderator at Session Three
16 September, 12:30
Konrad POPLAWSKI
Head of Central European Department, OSW (PL)
Speaker at Session Three
16 September, 12:30
Тamas BARANYI
Deputy Director of the Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade (HU)
Speaker at Session Three
16 September, 12:30
Adrian LUPUSOR
Executive Director,
Expert Group (MD)
Speaker at Session Three
16 September, 12:30
Michal POTOCKI
Journalist,
"Dziennik Gazeta Prawna" (PL)
Moderator at Session Four
16 September, 15:30
Eugenia GUSILOV
Director,ROEC (Romania Energy Center) (RO)
Speaker at Session Four
16 September, 15:30
Andras DEAK
Research fellow at the Institute of World Economics of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (HU)
Speaker at Session Four
16 September, 15:30
Natalia ANDRUSEVICH
Chairman of the Board of the Resource and Analytical Center "Society and Environment" (UA)
Speaker at Session Four
16 September, 15:30
Ildiko EPERJESI
Producer, journalist,
ATV (HU)
Speaker at Session Two
16 September, 10:30
Nataliya Gumenyuk
Founder, Public Interest Journalism Lab (UA)
Moderator at Session Two
16 September, 10:30
Maciej ZANIEWICZ
Analyst of the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM) (PL)
Speaker at Session Four
16 September, 15:30
Nazar BOBYTSKYI
Head of the Brussels office of the Ukrainian Business and Trade Association (UA)
Speaker at Session Four
16 September, 15:30
Daryna MARCHAK
Head of the Center of Public Finance and Governance of the Kyiv School of Economics (UA)
Speaker at Session Three
16 September, 12:30
AGENDA
DAY 1 / 15 September
DAY 2 / 16 September

OPENING REMARKS
Oleksandr SUSHKO, Executive Director of the International Renaissance Foundation (UA)

Matti MAASIKAS, EU Ambassador, Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine (EU)

Hennadiy MAKSAK, Executive Director of the Foreign Policy Council "Ukrainian Prism" (UA)
16:00
KEYNOTE SPEECH
Dmytro KULEBA, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
16:10
REGIONAL INTEGRATION PROJECTS:
BETWEEN DECLARATIONS AND RESULTS
One can lose count of regional projects and initiatives launched by Central European states: Visegrad Four, Central European Initiative, Bucharest Nine, Three Seas, and the list can be extended. Some of these coalitions played crucial role in European and Euroatlantic integration processes, in orchestrating efforts for solid joint agenda. Some might still be considered as promising. Here comes a real challenge not to lose track in growing numbers but to achieve tangible results. It is important to take stock of previous experience and puncture way ahead for mutually enforcing international initiatives.

16:30
Ambasadorial
PARTICIPANTS
Speakers:

  • Vasyl BODNAR, Deputy Minister, MFA of Ukraine (UA)
  • Radek MATULA, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic to Ukraine (CZ)
  • Bartosz CICHOCKI, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Poland to Ukraine (PL)
  • Krisztina MARFI, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Hungary in Ukraine (HU)

Moderator:
  • Oleksandr SUSHKO, International Renaissance Foundation (UA)
DISCUSSION POINTS
  1. From Visegrad Four and Central European Initiative to Three Seas Initiative and Central European Five: variety or continuity?
  2. Regional leadership: is it needed to keep the initiatives on track?
  3. Ukraine as a part of regional initiatives: between the statuses.
  4. KPIs: how to measure success?
CENTRAL EUROPEAN IDENTITY: INTERPERCEPTIONS
In modern political history, the region of Central Europe is widely known for its common approach to crafting its European identity and strong solidarity in causes of mutual interest. But Central European identity as such is still under construction, being influenced by internal and external factors. The notion itself is not the issue of geographical location, but rather of common values and perceptions. It is of utter importance to keep partner relations within the region and foster interconnections and interdependencies on societal level. Can Central European identity become a key to deepen these ties and overcome historical burden? Is it an inclusive or exclusive phenomenon?


10:30
PARTICIPANTS
Speakers:

  • Tetyana FILEVSKA, Acting General Director of the Ukrainian Institute (UA)
  • Maria PIECHOWSKA, Analyst of the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PL)
  • Gheorghe MAGHERU, Ambassador (Ret.), New Strategy Center, Member of the Scientific Council (RO)
  • Iulian GROZA, Executive Director, Institute for European Policies and Reforms (MD)
  • Pavel HAVLICEK, Research Fellow of AMO Research Center (CZ)
  • Ildiko EPERJESI, producer, journalist, ATV (HU)
  • Petro BURKOVSKIY, Analyst of the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation (UA)
Moderator:
  • Nataliya GUMENYUK, founder Public Interest Journalism Lab (UA)
DISCUSSION POINTS
  1. What does it mean to be Central European?
  2. Is there a specific value code and widely embraced practices?
  3. How do countries precept each other on the background of mutual historical grievances and neighboring spats?
  4. Can Central European self-identification be a benchmark common European future?
Coffee-break
12:00
ECONOMIC RECOVERY IN A DIVIDED WORLD: FISCAL POLICY CHOICES OF THE REGION
The post-pandemic economic situation requires innovative solutions and balanced approaches towards economic recovery. The national governments seek to find the balance between the fiscal stimulus and growing national debts. Such sensitive choice has to be well-argued and to consider regional growth perspective, existing and newly designed EU financial instruments of support, assistance, and cooperation. Priority sectors and tailored tax measures have to be considered. The sensitivity of choices prioritizes them on the political agenda. The objective of the session is to compare planned and already undertaken measures in the countries of the region, to consider green recovery instruments, to debate on their pros and cons, and to outline the best solutions
12:30
PARTICIPANTS
Speakers:

  • Konrad POPLAWSKI, Head of Central European Department, OSW (PL) (online)
  • Тamas BARANYI, Deputy Director of the Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade (HU)
  • Adrian LUPUSOR, Executive Director, Expert Group (MD
  • Daryna MARCHAK, Head of the Center of Public Finance and Governance of the Kyiv School of Economics (UA)
Moderator:
  • Veronika MOVCHAN, Academic Director, Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting - IER (UA)

DISCUSSION POINTS
  1. Using fiscal stimulus to restore output lost due to the pandemic.
  2. Targeting fiscal stimulus: priority sectors.
  3. Tax options with the most potential to stimulate consumption.
  4. Finding a balance between stimulus measures and state debt burden.
Lunch
14:00
CENTRAL EUROPEAN ENERGY SECTOR AND THE GREEN DEAL'S IMPACT
Besides the challenges caused by the pandemic and its economic consequences, the countries of the region mostly remain committed to the ambitious goals envisaged by the European Green Deal. However, the strategies undertaken by the countries of the region differ. Their commitments and ability to implement them depend on European support, proper specialization, ability to exploit renewable energy potential, and to ensure energy efficiency for the sake of decarbonization of the region. The objective of the session is to discuss unilateral national decisions and joint European commitments and transition instruments, prospects of "green" cooperation, and key obstacles on the way to building green economies.
15:00
PARTICIPANTS
Speakers:

  • Natalia ANDRUSEVICH, Chairman of the Board of the Resource and Analytical Center "Society and Environment" (UA)
  • Eugenia GUSILOV, Director, ROEC (Romania Energy Center) (RO) (online)
  • Andras DEAK, research fellow at the Institute of World Economics of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (HU) (online)
  • Maciej ZANIEWICZ, Analyst of the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM) (PL)
  • Nazar BOBYTSKYI, Head of the Brussels office of the Ukrainian Business and Trade Association (UA)
Moderator:
  • Michal POTOCKI, journalist, "Dziennik Gazeta Prawna" (PL)
DISCUSSION POINTS
  1. The Regions' green commitments and green transitions key elements.
  2. Renewable energy potential: wind, solar, and biomass fuel.
  3. Green hydrogen and its role in the decarbonization of the region.
CONTACTS
Additional information:
info@prismua.org
+380 (97) 983 04 88

Please note that the number of in-person participants is limited to by-invitation-only due to the capacity of the venue and potential pandemic protection measures at the time of the conference.

This event will be streamed online. registered participanrs will recieve a link.
ORGANIZERS
INFORMATION PARTNERS
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