Moldova’s candidate status and how think tanks can contribute to EU integration – the example of the IDM

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Date:
October 12, 2023
13:00 – 15:00 CEST

‘Ion Creangă’ Pedagogical State University of Chișinău, str. Ion Creangă No. 1, main building, 2nd floor, Mediatica 

With the unprovoked and unjustified full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, not only has the European security  architecture been destroyed, but also the Eastern dimension of the European Neighbourhood Policy has ultimately become obsolete. Moldova, together with Georgia and Ukraine, had already been pushing within the so-called Associated Trio for a closer cooperation as well as approximation to the EU. Contrary to the other three target countries of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) – with the suspension of Belarus’ participation in the EaP, the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement with Armenia and a similar agreement being negotiated with Azerbaijan – Chisinau wants to become an EU member. Following the application for membership in March 2022 as well as the candidate status received in June 2022, expectations are high that by the end of 2023, negotiations with Brussels could be opened. Regardless of when this happens, integration will take significant time and effort. Civil society organizations and think tanks play an important role in supporting these efforts. We discussed how the Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM) had been fostering European integration through regional cooperation over the past 70 years and proposed the concept of a Greater European Council, a policy that could contribute to a better transition in becoming an EU member both in general and in the specific case of Moldova. 

IDM at the “European Week of Regions and Cities” in Brussels

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The 21st “European Week of Regions and Cities” took place in Brussels from 9 to 12 October 2023. A dense programme was offered to researchers, officials, policy makers and the interested public. In total 7000 participants and 500 speakers participated in 220 workshops. In cooperation with the Working Community of the Danube Regions and the Federal Government of Lower Austria, the IDM was also present at the event. Research Associate Sophia Beiter took part in the workshop “Working Together for a Healthy Europe by Enhancing Cross-Border Collaboration and Digitalization”. The workshop highlighted the importance of regional cooperation in the field of medical care. Especially in times of staff shortages and with a growing part of the population in need of medical care, our future health system will have to rely on effective cross-border collaboration and digitalisation. Representatives of the European Committee of the Regions, the Health Agency of Lower Austria and the EGTC Euregio Meuse-Rhine presented successful case studies across different parts of Europe.

Péter Techet about the Kosovo-Conflict and the International Law

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Péter Techet spoke about the “International Law Aspects and Constitutional Questions in relation to NATO’s »humanitarian intervention«” at the conference “Kosovo Conflict” organized by the Academy for Political Education in Tutzing (Germany). He presented the international legal situation and the problem of “humanitarian intervention” with reference to the question of whether violations of human rights can be prevented militarily. 

Programme 

Malwina Talik at the international conference “Revolutionale” in Germany

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Extraordinary things happen when ordinary people take action in challenging circumstances and times. This sentence from the keynote by Nobel Prize winner Oleksandra Matviichuk expressed well the purpose of the International Round Table Conference (IRTC) 2023 in Leipzig, Germany: gathering activists, NGOs, journalists and think tankers from around the world to learn from one another and exchange their observations and insights.

Our colleague Malwina Talik participated in this event together with approximately 80 other guests. As part of the “70yearsIDM” event series, she also organized a workshop for NGOs on how they can create and implement a digital strategy. .

The IRTC is a democracy and human rights conference that offers participants a non-public, safe space to exchange views on socio-political issues, current challenges and shared values. It is part of the project REVOLUTIONALE, run by the Foundation of the Peaceful Revolution with the aim to strengthen civil society engagement for human rights, democracy and social change.

European integration of the Western Balkans: Montenegro on the way to the European Union

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Datum/Zeit
Oktober 10, 2023
10:00 – 11:30 MESZ/MEZ

Venue: University of Donja Gorica, Oktoih 1, Podgorica 81000, Montenegro

Even after months of coalition negotiations in the wake of parliamentary elections in June 2023, a new government has not been formed in Montenegro so far. As a member of NATO and a front-runner in the accession process to the European Union, the country’s pro-European, pro-Atlantic orientation is expected to continue under the new cabinet in Podgorica. However, the question remains what kind of stability the new government brings, can a multi-party coalition withstand domestic political turbulences and face regional turmoil and tensions? 

Considering the newly established political constellation in this Adriatic country and recent events in the region, the panel discussion focused on the long-awaited European integration of the Western Balkan countries. Experts evaluated the role of Montenegro and current cross-border cooperation formats fostering the accession of the politically and geographically strategic region of South-Eastern Europe to the European Union. 

The Power of Telling Stories Online. How to Build a Digital Strategy for an NGO using/based on the Example of the Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe

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Date:
October 10, 2023
14:30 – 16:00 CEST

Workshop in the framework of “70 Years IDM – Locating the Future” and REVOLUTIONALE – the International Round Table Conference 2023

The online space is utilised by actors from all sides of the political spectrum, including autocrats, who eagerly resort to questionable practices to influence and confuse public opinion. The question often arises as to whether social media contributes to a more democratic world by connecting people or if they instead amplify polarisation and create information bubbles. Quite frequently, it is the most controversial messages that go viral. This situation is not inevitable, and NGOs can successfully assert their presence in the online space as well. However, this is not a level playing field as most NGOs may have insufficient funds for paid campaigns, social media software or employing a full-time social media manager who could focus solely on creating a strategy, preparing campaigns and content. 

This workshop explained how a well-conceived digital communication strategy can help NGOs to make the cause of their commitment more visible and successful. Based on her experience from the academic, governmental and NGO sectors, Malwina Talik (IDM) explained how NGOs can ensure that message gets through and reaches the right audience, what pitfalls to avoid and how to stay safe from malign actors. She used concrete examples of good practices and lessons learned of the Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe. As the IDM celebrates its 70th anniversary under the slogan “Locating the Future”, this workshop aimed to help your NGOs locate their digital future.

The Slovaks Opted for Stability and Peace – Will It Work?

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For months, Slovaks have been worried about the chaos and confusion affecting their country. Three and a half years after the last parliamentary elections, Slovakia stands at a pivotal juncture in its political journey. 

To find out more about the political situation in Slovakia, continue reading Kinga Brudzińska‘s article:

The Slovaks Opted for Stability and Peace – Will It Work?

En quête de stabilité et de paix : les Slovaques ont-ils fait le bon choix ?

Beyond Elections: Youth Civic Engagement and the Future of Democracy

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Beyond Elections: Youth Civic Engagement and the Future of Democracy 

“70 Years of IDM – Locating the Future” series 

 

Venue: Permanent Secretariat of the Community of Democracies (CoD), Aleje Ujazdowskie 41, Warsaw 

Youth engagement in public life is vital to building stable and resilient democracies and inclusive societies. Yet young people across the globe often feel detached from political processes and have the impression that they are not considered important enough to be represented and their voice considered. Paradoxically, many young people see themselves as actively engaged citizens, though they stress that voting in elections is the main channel through which they practice this activism.  

  • What are the perceptions of young people with respect to democracy, democratic forms of participation, and citizen activism in the EU and beyond? 
  • What tools do the governments have to engage more impactfully and consistently young people?  
  • What can the international community do to advance impactful channels for citizens’ participation and activism? 

This event was organised within the framework of “70 Years IDM – Locating the Future”, an event series organised in the IDM’s target countries on the occasion of its 70th anniversary.

Programme

10.30

Welcome coffee

11.00

Welcome

CoD Secretary General Thomas E. Garrett

70YearsIDM: The Institute and its Mission in Central and Eastern Europe and the Danube Region,
Malwina Talik, research associate, IDM

 

Presentation of reports

CoD report: Youth Recommendations to Increase Engagement in Democracy 

Daryna Onyshko, CoD youth network coordinator 

GLOBSEC/IDM (EUact2 project): “Young Minds, democratic horizons. Paving the Way for the EU’s Promising Future. Attitudes of Young People from Austria, Greece, Ireland and Slovakia”

Lukáš Dravecký, project coordinator, GLOBSEC

Comments/response

Prof. Irena Lipowicz, former Polish Ombudsman for Citizen Rights

Bartosz Kubiak, CoD YouthLead, Poland

 

Q&A

 

Conclusions & closing remarks

 

Moderation: Malwina Talik, IDM

 

Malwina Talik attended Warsaw Security Forum 2023

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Our colleague Malwina Talik was invited to attend the 10th Warsaw Security Forum (WSF), which took place on 3-4 October in Poland.

The WSF defines itself as one of the leading European security conferences on transatlantic cooperation with an emphasis on the security of Central and Eastern Europe. It “gathers annually over 1500 highest representatives of governments, international organizations, industry, think tanks and civil society coming from over 90 countries.”

The 2023 edition prioritized the issues of the Russian war in Ukraine, democratic resilience, as well as energy security and climate.

More information here.

What will Ukraine’s membership of the European Union change? – German expert Explains

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The European Union is expected to begin discussions with Ukraine regarding its future EU membership. However, Ukraine must first fulfill seven conditions set by the Commission, including judicial reforms and the fight against corruption.

Read the whole article with Sebastian Schäffer for ED News here.