Deepening EU integration in view of future enlargement

The roundtable event “Deepening EU integration or future enlargement” is deliberately entitled the same as the European Parliament’s current report, which aims to provide input to the European Union strategic vision. The latter consists of two essential steps that the Union must in parallel: internal reforms to prepare for future enlargement, and further support and assistance to candidate countries for accession.

The first session will focus on the EU’s internal reforms to prepare for the future enlargement. It will feature European Union policy experts and decision-makers from the EU and its Member States. As Ukraine and its courageous people, heroically resisting brutal Russian aggression, have created a new impetus for EU enlargement and encouraged neighbouring Moldova to apply for the EU membership, the second session will bring together Ukrainian and Moldovan representatives, including Members of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, as well as Members of the Seimas and the European Parliament.

The event is organised by Member of the European Parliament Petras Auštrevičius, the Renew Europe political group in the European Parliament and the Committee for the Future of the Seimas. The roundtable is part of Renew Europe organised exchanges in EU Member States to engage citizens on issues relevant to Renew Europe’s priorities for 2024. Members of the Renew Europe political group will be attending and sharing their views at the event.

Agenda

09.30 - 10.00 Registration of guests and welcome coffee

10.00 - 10.10 Opening remarks by Petras Auštrevičius, Member of the European Parliament, Renew Europe & Member of Liberals’ Movement, Lithuania

10.10 - 10.20 Keynote address by Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania and Chairwoman of Liberals’ Movement

10.20 - 12.00 Panel I - Preparing EU for future enlargement

Guy Verhofstadt, Member of the European Parliament, Renew Europe, Belgium (remote connection)
Petras Auštrevičius, Member of the European Parliament, Renew Europe & Member of Liberals’ Movement, Lithuania
Karen Melchior, Member of the European Parliament, Renew Europe, Denmark
Michael Emerson, Associate Senior Research Fellow, Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS)
Dr. Dovilė Jakniūnaitė, Professor, Institute of International Relations and Political Science at Vilnius University
Jovita Neliupšienė, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania (tbc)
Orinta Omelytė, Member of the Board, Liberals’ Movement (tbc)

Followed by Q&A

Moderator: Justinas Mickus, Senior Policy Analyst, The Government Strategic Analysis Centre (STRATA)

12.00 - 13.00 Lunch

13.00 - 14.40 Panel II - Ukraine’s and Moldova’s path to the EU

Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine (remote connection)
Raimundas Lopata, Member of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, Chair of the Committee for the Future & Member of Liberals’ Movement

Georgios Kyrtsos, Member of the European Parliament, Renew Europe, Greece

Kira Rudik, Member of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine

Amanda Paul, Senior Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre (EPC)

Mark Mazureanu, Project Coordinator & Executive Director, ASIST - Association for Students and Youth Initiative' Support, The Republic of Moldova

Darius Žeruolis, Adviser to the Prime Minister of Lithuania on strategic planning, public administration, reforms and change management

Followed by Q&A

Moderator: Rasa Tapinienė, Journalist, Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT)

14.40 - 14.50 Wrap up of discussions by Raimundas Lopata, Member of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, Chair of the Committee for the Future & Member of Liberals’ Movement, and Petras Auštrevičius, Member of the European Parliament, Renew Europe & Member of Liberals’ Movement, Lithuania

14.50 - 15.30 Networking (coffee/tea available)

Master of Ceremonies: Kateryna Pendak, Ukrainian student in Lithuania