International Conference Economic Integration with the European Union Prospects and Opportunities 26-27 March 2014 Exhibition and Convention Centre – ExpoGeorgia Tbilisi, Georgia 26 March Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel – Filini Restaurant 20:00 Welcome Buffet 27 March ExpoGeorgia – 3rd Pavilion 09:00 – 10:00 Registration, coffee/tea 10:00 – 10:45 Opening of the Conference Welcome Remarks: Mr. Alex Petriashvili – State Minister of Georgia on European and EuroAtlantic Integration Opening Addresses: 1. H.E. Mr. Irakli Garibashvili – Prime Minister of Georgia 2. Ms. Daniela Bobeva – Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Development, Republic of Bulgaria 3. Mr. Evaldas Gustas – Minister of Economy of the Republic of Lithuania 4. Mr. George Kvirikashvili – Vice Prime Minister of Georgia, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia 5. Ms. Maia Panjikidze – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia 10:45 – 11:00 11:00 – 12:00 Break (coffee/tea) Session I – Prospects for Deepening Economic Cooperation in the Framework of the Eastern Partnership Questions to be addressed: To what extent the Eastern Partnership countries are prepared for further approximation with the EU and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA); Political and economic integration prospects and challenges in the framework of the Eastern Partnership; Foreign policies of partner countries, priorities and political preconditions of European integration Format: Moderated discussion Moderator: Mr. Andris Sprūds – Director of the Latvian Institute of International Affairs, Republic of Latvia Panelists: 1. Ms. Mariam Rakviashvili – Deputy State Minister of Georgia on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration 2. Mr. Adriano Martins – Deputy Head of the Eastern Partnership Bilateral Division, European External Action Service (EEAS) 3. Mr. Bogdan Lucian Aurescu – State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Romania 4. Mr. Juris Poikans – Ambassador-at-Large for Eastern Partnership, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Latvia 5. Mr. Vsevolod Chentsov – Director-General, Directorate General for the European Union, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ukraine 6. Ms. Elżbieta Kaca – Senior Research Fellow, Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM), Republic of Poland Followed by Q&A 12:00 – 12:30 12:30 – 13:30 Break (coffee/tea) Session II – The EU’s Economic Potential and Its Impact on the Eastern Partnership Questions to be addressed: What positive results the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area Agreement (DCFTA) with the EU will deliver; What the EU offers to the Eastern Partnership countries; Ongoing integration processes in the region Format: Moderated discussion Moderator: Mr. Fraser Cameron – Director, EU-Russia Centre, Brussels Panelists: 1. Mr. Mikheil Janelidze – Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia 2. Mr. Andrzej Dycha – Deputy Minister of Economy, Republic of Poland 3. Mr. Rolandas Kriščiūnas – Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Lithuania 4. Mr. Väino Reinart – Undersecretary, Economic and Development Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Estonia 5. Mr. Philippe Cuisson – Deputy Head of Unit, Trade Relations with Europe (non-EU) and Central Asia, Directorate General for Trade, European Commission 6. Mr. Dirk Jan Kop – Ambassador, Special Representative for Europe and the Eastern Partnership, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of the Netherlands Followed by Q&A 13:30 – 15:00 Lunch Session III – The Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area Agreement 15:00 – 16:00 (DCFTA) Related Reforms, Prospects for Modernisation and Increased Competitiveness Questions to be addressed: Difficulties/challenges related to the implementation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area Agreement (DCFTA); The needs of private sector; To what extent state institutions of the Eastern Partnership countries are prepared for the implementation of reforms; What kind of support the EU, the Member States and other donors can provide to partner countries Format: Moderated discussion Moderator: Mr. Taras Kachka – Expert on EU Law, Vice President of Policy of the American Chamber of Commerce, Ukraine Panelists: 1. Mr. Shalva Pipia – Minister of Agriculture of Georgia 2. H.E. Mr. Philip Dimitrov – Ambassador, Head of Delegation of the European Union to Georgia 3. Mr. Martin Hagström – Ambassador for the Eastern Partnership, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Sweden 4. Ms. Katharina Plath – Deputy Chair of the 4th Decision Division, Bundeskartellamt (German Competition Authority), Federal Republic of Germany 5. Mr. Stephen Haykin – Mission Director, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) 6. Ms. Tatjana Dinkić – Head of the EU and EFTA Unit, Ministry of Foreign and Internal Trade and Telecommunications, Republic of Serbia Followed by Q&A 16:00 – 16:30 Break (coffee/tea) 16:30 – 17:30 Session IV – Sectoral Integration Questions to be addressed: Importance of sectoral integration foreseen in the Association Agreement; Difficulties and benefits of sectoral reforms; What are the benefits for partner countries in light of cooperation with the EU financial institutions - the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank; Eastern Partnership – as a cooperation instrument for joint investment projects Format: Moderated discussion Moderator: Mr. Kakhaber Gogolashvili – Director, Center for EU Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies (GFSIS), Georgia Panelists: 1. Ms. Khatuna Gogaladze – Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia 2. Ms. Mariam Valishvili – Deputy Minister of Energy of Georgia 3. Mr. Federico Tarantini – International Relations Officer, DG Energy, European Commission 4. Mr. Bruno Balvanera – Director for the Caucasus, Moldova and Belarus, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) 5. Mr. Martin Pospíšil – Director of the Department of European States, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Czech Republic 6. Mr. David Lee – President, Magticom, EUGBC Representative, Georgia Followed by Q&A 20:00 Gala Dinner (by invitations)