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)