EU’s Future: Enlargement, Security, and Delivering on Promises
The Union of European Federalists is proud to announce the continuity of a rather new series of events and debates that will be focused on Eastern Europe and its relationship with the EU. Our first event was in December 2024 in Bucharest, and focused on theFuture of Europe from the perspective of Eastern Europe alongside a series of debates focused on European Union affairs.
In 2025, our second event will be held in Sofia with the expectation that the event will be replicated in 2026 in another eastern city. These events will be focused on strengthening the Balkan federalist network and the necessity to move forward together with regards to European integration and accession of new member states in a proper and renewed institutional framework.
This year's focus is on EU’s Future: Enlargement, Security, and Delivering on Promises.
VENUE: National Student House, 10 Narodno sabranie Sq
PROGRAM - Download here the PDF VERSION
Friday 12 December |
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| 20:00 | Dinner |
Saturday 13 December |
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| 09:30 - 10:00 | Registration and welcoming coffee |
| 10:00 - 10:45 | Welcoming words by Velko Ivanov, Secretary General of UEF Bulgaria
Welcoming words by Mathilde Baudouin, Secretary General of UEF Europe Greetings by Domenec Ruiz Devesa, President of UEF Europe |
| 10:45 - 11:00 | Coffee Break |
| 11:00 - 13:00 | Political Debate: The EU at Crossroads: 20 Years After the Big Bang Enlargement, Is the EU Ready for the Next Wave?
Can the EU Avoid Another Lost Decade in the Western Balkans? Confirmed speaker: ● Granit Tërnava - Consultant, Politics & Entrepreneurship Expert specialized in Civil Society & Local Development ● Lubomira Popova - Expert on Enlargement, University of Sofia ● Daphne Gogou, Lawyer and former European Commission official, expert on enlargement, migration and human rights issues, UEF EB Member, President of UEF Greece ● Kristian Vigenin, Member of the European Parliament, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria Moderator: ● Mathilde Baudouin, UEF Secretary General |
| 13:00 – 14:45 | Lunch |
| 15:00 – 16:15 | Keynote speech by Rosen Plevneliev, Former President of Bulgaria, followed by a Q&A
“The leadership we need - European values Vs. national egoism” Moderator of the Q&A Velko Ivanov, UEF Bulgaria Secretary General |
| 16:15 - 16:30 | Coffee Break |
| 16:30 – 18:15 | Political Debate: Can the EU Deliver? The new Commission’s first year, the MFF review, and what it takes to build a strong and secure Europe.
Speaker: ● Besnik Vasolli - Managing Director of Kosovarisch-Deutsche Wirtschaftsvereinigung/German-Kosovar Business Association (KDWV) |EU Governance Expert ● Emilia Chehtova, UEF Bulgaria Member (EU financing expert) ● Simina Tulbure, Honorary Adviser to the Romanian Minister of Investments and European Projects, Former Member of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies Moderator: ● Mihai Beța, IR and European Studies Student, Financial Analyst CFA Candidate, UEF Romania Member |
| 19:00 – 21:30 | Federalist gathering & dinner |
Sunday 14 December |
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| 09:00 – 09:30 | Registration and welcoming coffee |
| 09:30 – 11:00 | Capacity building workshop 1: Increasing organisational capacity of the balkanic federalist family (in cooperation with JEF).
Chaired by Davide Negri UEF , with ● Velko Ivanov, UEF Bulgaria Secretary General, ● Dimitar Uzunov, International Secretary of JEF Bulgaria, ● Gergana Blazheva, UEF Bulgaria Board member |
| 11:00 - 13:00 | Capacity building workshop 2: Twinning program method/Reviving a national section, how to bring people together? (in cooperation with JEF).
Chaired by Davide Negri, with ● Eszter Nagy, UEF Hungary President and UEF EB Member, ● Velko Ivanov, UEF Bulgaria Secretary General, ● Dimitar Uzunov, International Secretary of JEF Bulgaria, ● Gergana Blazheva, UEF Bulgaria Board member |
| 13:00 – 14:30 | Lunch & departures |
| 14:30 | Optional: Sightseeing of Sofia |
REPORT
Pictures of the Political Debate: The EU at Crossroads: 20 Years After the Big Bang Enlargement, Is the EU Ready for the Next Wave? Can the EU Avoid Another Lost Decade in the Western Balkans?
Pictures of keynote speech by Rosen Plevneliev, Former President of Bulgaria, followed by a Q&A
Pictures of Political Debate: Can the EU Deliver? The new Commission’s first year, the MFF review, and what it takes to build a strong and secure Europe.
