Western Balkans Summit 2021 | The Economist | 15 October 2021 | DoubleTree by Hilton Skopje, Bulevar ASNOM 17, Skopje 1000, North Macedonia

At a time when the global community is still fighting a battle against Covid-19, governments and international institutions are focusing on the implementation of policies to enable them to return to competitiveness and growth.

The Western Balkans have been affected by the pandemic, adding to the long-standing challenges of the region. At the same time, however, the current situation underscores the need for a deeper co-operation and solidarity from international institutions. Structural reforms are needed to enable a deeper integration with European institutions. The European Union needs to move faster and more efficiently in providing assistance to the countries of the region, in helping them resolve cross-border disputes and, above all, in bringing the Western Balkans candidate countries into the club. The latter is in the interest of the region but it is also in the interest of Europe as a whole. Where do we stand?
• How can stability and co-operation in the region be reinforced?
• How can the integration of the Western Balkans into the EU be accelerated?
• Which are the priorities for North Macedonia and the region in the post-covid period?

2021 Speakers

Joan Hoey
Regional director, Europe, Economist Intelligence Unit

Anita Angelovska-Bezhoska
Governor, National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia

Dimitar Bechev
Lecturer, Oxford School of Global and Area Studies, University of Oxford, UK, senior fellow, Europe Centre, Atlantic Council, Washington, D.C.

Kreshnik Bekteshi
Minister of economy, North Macedonia

Fatmir Besimi
Minister of finance, North Macedonia

Baiba Braže
Assistant secretary-general for public diplomacy, NATO (video message)

Kate Marie Byrnes
Ambassador, US Embassy, North Macedonia

Fatmir Bytyqi
Deputy prime minister in charge of economic affairs, coordination of economic sectors and investments, North Macedonia

Jovan Despotovski
Director, Technological Industrial Development Zones

Jeroen Dijsselbloem
Former president, Eurogroup, Chairman, Dutch Safety Board

Nikola Dimitrov
Deputy prime minister for European affairs, North Macedonia

Colin Ellis
Chief credit officer, EMEA, Moody’s Investors Service

Gabriel Escobar
Deputy assistant secretary, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, United States

Joschka Fischer
Former vice chancellor and former minister of foreign affairs, Federal Republic of Germany

Zdravko Krivokapić
Prime minister, Montenegro

Albin Kurti
Prime minister, Kosovo

Ian Lesser
Executive director, Transatlantic Centre, vice-president for foreign policy, German Marshall Fund of the United States

John Negroponte
Former United States deputy secretary of state (via connection)

Bujar Osmani
Minister of foreign affairs, North Macedonia

Kosta Petrov
Managing director, Fund for Innovations and Technology Development

Matteo Renzi
Former prime minister, Italy

Matteo Rivellini
Head of division in the Adriatic Sea department, European Investment Bank

Peter Sanfey
Deputy director for country economics and policy, EBRD

Radmila Šekerinska
Minister of defence, North Macedonia

Petre Shilegov
Mayor of Skopje

Juerg Steffen
Group CEO, Henley & Partners

Zoran Zaev
Prime minister, North Macedonia

2021 Sponsors

GOLD SPOSNOR:
• Henley & Partners

ACADEMIC SPONSOR:
• Alba

COMMUNICATION SPONSOR:
• Kapital

ONLINE COMMUNICATION SPONSOR:
• Faktor

SUPPORTERS:
• GLOA Design & Marketing Services
• Artecniko