Interregional Conference in Bucharest | Twinning Programme UEF Romania, Bulgaria and Kosovo | The Perspective of the Eastern European Countries on the Future of Europe
UEF is proud to announce a new series of events and debates that will be focused on Eastern Europe and its relationship with the EU.
Our first event will be organized this December 2024, focusing on the Future of Europe from the perspective of Eastern Europe alongside a series of debates focused on European Union affairs and it will be held in Bucharest with the expectation that the event will be replicated in 2025 in Sofia or other eastern cities.
These events will be focused on:
- strengthening the Balkan federalist network, by bringing together Eastern UEF European sections with members from the UEF Secretariat and established UEF sections (Twinning Programme UEF Romania, Bulgaria and Kosovo)
- the necessity to move forward together with regards to European integration and accession of new member states in a proper and renewed institutional framework.
PROGRAM
VENUE: Courtyard Bucharest Floreasca , Boulevard Dimitrie Pompeiu 2 A, Bucharest, Romania, 020337
Friday 13 December
13.00 - 14.00 - Meeting of a small delegation with the FM/MPs TBC
14.45-15.00 Arrival of participants and registration
15.00-15.30 Welcome speech
- Ilaria Caria, Secretary General UEF
- Velko Ivanov, Secretary General UEF Bulgaria,
- Alin Mituta, Vice President of UEF, President of UEF Romania
- Liridon Shurdhani, UEF FC Member, Secretary General UEF Kosova
15:30 - 17:00 - Capacity building workshop 1: Engaging youth in the federalist cause
- Davide Negri, UEF Secretariat, Political Communication and Campaign Strategist
- Razvan Petri, Vice President UEF Romania, Info Channel Politica La Minut
- Vlad Adamescu, Member UEF Romania, Info Channel Politica La Minut
17:00 - 17:15 - Coffee break
17:15-18:45 - Capacity building workshop 2: Increasing organisational capacity of the Balkans federalist family. Advocating for federalism in the Balkans context
- Davide Negri, UEF Secretariat, Political Communication and Campaign Strategist
- Velko Ivanov, Secretary General UEF Bulgaria
- Dimitar Uzunov, International Officer of JEF Bulgaria
Saturday 14 December
09.30-10.00 | Arrival Participants and Registration
10:00 - 10.30 | Welcome message and opening of the event
- Alin Mituta, Vice-President of UEF, President of UEF Romania
- Ilaria Caria, Secretary General UEF
10:30 - 12:00 | Panel 1: Strengthening Europe: Rule of Law at the Core of Treaty Reform
- Eszter Nagy, President UEF Hungary
- Alin Orgoan, Expert rule of law
- Besnik Vasolli, EU Governance Expert
- Moderator: Daphni Gogou, President UEF Greece
12:00 - 14:00 | Lunch break
14:30 - 16:00 | Panel 2: Growing Together: Europe’s Path to Enlargement and Deeper Integration
- Dacian Ciolos, former Prime Minister of Romania, former EU Commissioner, former MEP
- Meliza Haradinaj, former MFA of Kosovo
- Giulia Rossolillo, Vice President of the UEF, Full professor of European Union Law at the University of Pavia (Italy) and Director of the Political Review "The Federalist"
- Moderator: Liridon Shurdhani, UEF FC Member, Secretary General UEF Kosova
16:30 - 18:00 | Panel 3: The Governance Blueprint for Europe’s Competitive Future
- Domenec Ruiz Devesa, President of the UEF and former MEP
- Alin Mituta, Vice President of UEF, President of UEF Romania
- Moderator: Emilia Chehtova, Member UEF Bulgaria
Sunday, 15 December
10.30 | Optional visit to the Palace of Parliament or city centre
REPORT
The Perspective of the Eastern European Countries on the Future of Europe
The Interregional Conference in Bucharest brought together key stakeholders to address EU enlargement, the rule of law, competitiveness, federalist action, and the recent inclusion of Romania and Bulgaria in the Schengen area. The conference underscored the critical role of the rule of law as the backbone of democracy, with Alin Orgoan emphasizing Romania’s need to regain public trust following the annulment of presidential votes by its Constitutional Court. He also highlighted Malta’s ongoing challenges with judicial efficiency and the impact of the European Court of Justice’s rulings on judicial appointments.
EU Digital Ambassadors Razvan Petri and Vlad Adamescu, from ‘Politica la Minut’, discussed the need for more public participation among the youth and the transformative impact of the Erasmus program. They underscored the necessity of making Erasmus more accessible and the role of digital platforms in educating and informing the European public.
Dacian Cioloș discussed the renewed focus on EU enlargement, driven partly by Russian aggression and the urgent need for reconstruction in Ukraine. He noted the overall growing political and public acceptance of enlargement despite rising anti-EU sentiments. Cioloș stressed the need for progressive integration, suggesting that member states be allowed access to policies upon completing negotiation chapters, to facilitate smoother integration processes.
The conference also highlighted the disparities in educational funding across EU states, advocating for increased EU funds for economic development and making Erasmus more accessible to financially struggling students, particularly in expensive cities. Alin Orgoan suggested this as part of a broader strategy to ensure that candidate countries embrace EU principles and are adequately prepared for integration.
Furthermore, the need to update EU Treaties was a recurring theme, with discussions focusing on how the current treaties are outdated and not reflective of global changes. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and Laura Codruța Kövesi were cited as exemplary models of upholding the rule of law within the EU framework.
The conference concluded with calls for institutional reform within the EU to enhance decision-making processes. The current unanimity requirement was criticized for blocking progress, with suggestions for a more flexible approach. The importance of resource management was also noted, with a specific call to exploit resources like graphite in Romania and implement solutions from reports by prominent EU figures like Draghi and Letta.
Conclusions: The Interregional Conference in Bucharest highlighted the complexities of EU enlargement, the indispensable role of the rule of law, and the urgent need for institutional reform to tackle current geopolitical and economic challenges. Key action points include developing a robust mechanism for integration, increasing economic support, and redefining EU institutions to improve governance.