The Aspen Institute Romania and the Aspen Institute Italia, under the aegis of the Aspen Initiative for Europe, in collaboration with the Doha Forum, are organizing the roundtable session A Stronger Role for Europe on the International Arena – What Would It Take?” within the framework of the 19th edition of the Doha Forum, December 14-15.

The session will tackle the position which the European Union currently assumes within the global affairs as well as future paths towards further developing its strategic role on the international arena. The European Union is a major economic power, yet is unable and/or unwilling to assume the strategic role on the international arena this status would normally grant. Consumed by internal tensions and crises that make it hard to adapt to an increasingly complex international arena, the Union seems resigned to look inward and focus less than it could on raising its strategic global position. Whether in its own neighborhood, Asia, or Africa, other players often engage in the revived great power politics while the Union remains only a secondary actor. Many would like Europe to baldly promote and defend the values it stands for, heighten its security and strengthen its alliances with like-minded actors, but can it rise to this challenge? Can the Union effectively look both inwards and outwards? Would a change in structure and processes allow it to play an enhanced international role? Is there a need for such a role?

Roundtable Speakers:
H.E. Mr. Jacek Czaputowicz, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Poland
H.E. Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Slovak Republic
H.E. Mr. Igor Crnadak, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Dr. Marta Dassù, Senior Director of European Affairs, The Aspen Institute (Chair)
Ms. Alina Inayeh, Director, German Marshall Fund, Bucharest Office (Chair)
Mr. Doru Costea, Ambassador (ret.), Member, Aspen Institute Romania Strategy Group
Ms. Arancha Gonzalez, Executive Director, International Trade Centre, United Nations & WTO
Mr. Carl Bildt, Co-Chair, European Council on Foreign Relations
Mr. Daniel Gros, Director, Centre for European Policy Studies
Mr. Andrey Kortunov, Director General, Russian International Affairs Council
Mr. Cristian Pîrvulescu, General Manager, Enevo Group
Ms. Anca Dragu, Deputy Director General, E.ON Romania

Doha Forum is a global platform for dialogue, bringing together leaders in policy to build innovative and action driven networks. Doha Forum was a strategic partner of the Aspen Institute Romania’s flagship event, the Bucharest Forum, at its 8th edition held on the 16th – 17th of October 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

Agenda

15:30 – 16:20 Part 1: Towards a Bolder Vision of EU – opportunities and obstacles
 The new agenda for Europe: becoming a global player.
 The political economy of a global Europe.
 Political vision – Why US/China competition forces Europe to make a shift, including in the defence field. Is there enough consensus to go into this direction?
Chair: Marta Dassù, Senior Director of European Affairs, The Aspen Institute

15:30 – 15:40 Introductory remarks:
Carl Bildt, Co-Chair, European Council on Foreign Relations
Daniel Gros, Director, Centre for European Policy Studies
Arancha Gonzalez, Executive Director, International Trade Centre, United Nations & WTO
H.E. Jacek Czaputowicz, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Poland

15:40 – 16:20 Roundtable Discussions

16:20-16:30 Break

16:30-17:15 Part 2: From Vision to Reality
 Europe whole, free and at peace?
 Relations with Russia.
 Enlargement. Eastern Neighborhood.
Chair: Alina Inayeh, Director, German Marshall Fund of the US, Bucharest Office

16:30 – 16:45 Introductory remarks:
Doru Costea, Ambassador (ret.), Member, Aspen Institute Romania Strategy Group
Andrei Kortunov, Director-General, Russian International Affairs Council
H.E. Mr. Igor Crnadak, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bosnia and Herzegovina
H.E. Miroslav Lajčák, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Slovak Republic

16:45 – 17:10 Roundtable Discussions

17:10 – 17:15 Conclusions