We are thrilled to report that the REDEMOS Mid-term Conference, held on June 7, 2024, in Chişinău, Moldova, was a resounding success. The event gathered an esteemed group of stakeholders from the world of politics, diplomacy, academia, civil society, and the think tank community to address democratic developments in the EU’s eastern neighbourhood from different angles. The conference focused on three critical questions:
- How have wars and conflicts impacted the EU’s eastern neighbourhood’s democratic pathway in recent years?
- How is EU democracy support perceived in the eastern neighbourhood, and what steps does the EU take to enhance its image as a democracy promoter?
- How can the goals and actions of other external actors be integrated into the design and activities of EU democracy support in its eastern neighbourhood?
Dr Mădălina Dobrescu, Coordinator & Principal Investigator, REDEMOS, NTNU, Trondheim, extended a warm welcome to all participants and opened the event.
Keynote Address
We were deeply honored to have the Prime Minister of Moldova, Mr. Dorin Recean, join us. He provided insightful remarks on Moldova’s European integration journey and the broader geopolitical challenges facing democracy in Europe.
Panel Discussions
Panel I: Democratic Development in Eastern Europe in light of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Chair: Prof. Dr. Tobias Schumacher, Professor of European Studies at NTNU & Deputy Coordinator of REDEMOS
Panelists:
- Ion Guzun, Member of the Supreme Council Magistracy of the Republic of Moldova
- Franak Viacorka, Chief Advisor to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, President-elect of Belarus
- Arif Yunus, Azerbaijani author, historian, and human rights activist (remote)
- Prof. Dr. Richard Youngs, Professor of International & European Politics, Warwick University & Senior Associate, Carnegie Europe
- Dr. Iryna Solonenko, Programme Director, Ukraine, Center for Liberal Modernity
- Nino Dolidze, Executive Director, International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED)
Panel II: External images and self-perceptions of the EU, its actions and visibility in Eastern Europe.
Moderator: Rikard Jozwiak, Europe Editor, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Panelists:
- Natalia Gavriliţa, Member of The Supervisory Board, National Bank of Moldova & Former Prime Minister
- H.E. Amb. Jānis Mažeiks, Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova
- Dr. Koba Turmanidze, President, Caucasus Research Resource Center (CRRC)
- Prof. Dr. Tina Freyburg, Chair of Comparative Politics, University of St. Gallen
- Ion Manole, Executive Director, Promo-Lex
Special Session: Diagnosing political regime development in Eastern Europe through REDEMOS tools: the case of Moldova
Presenters:
- Prof. Dr. Marianne Kneuer, Chair of Political Systems and Comparative Politics, TU Dresden
- Dr. Sergiu Buşcaneanu, Research Fellow, Chair of Political Systems and Comparative Politics, TU Dresden
Panel III: Beyond the EU: the role of other international actors in Eastern Europe and the return of geopolitics
Moderator: Dr. Ragnar Weilandt, Research Fellow, REDEMOS, NTNU
Panelists:
- H.E. Amb. Thomas Mayr-Harting, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-In-Office for the Transdniestrian Settlement Process
- Dr. Stanislav Secrieru, National Security Advisor to the President of Moldova, Maia Sandu
- Laura Hruby, Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy in Moldova
- Dr. Mareike Ohlberg, Lead, Stockholm China Forum, German Marshall Fund
- Michaela Guerard Šimák, Head of the NATO Liaison Office in the Republic of Moldova
We extend our gratitude to all speakers, moderators, and participants for their invaluable contributions to this pivotal event!
