Europe In-Between is a bridge connecting the old continent with the future that looks South and East. It is the Europe that, throughout history, witnessed the meeting of the catholic and orthodox Christianity, Islam and Judaism. In short, the Balkans.

Today, however, this Europe is hardly moving towards the integration into the European Union. On the contrary, the effects of the last enlargement and the stop to the Constitution risk to further delay the process.

And what happens at the local level? Wars, deregulation and over-dependency on international aid have caused unsustainability and serious imbalances. Can local economy and self-government be feasible ways out? And how about international cooperation, what is its role?

An international conference to bring together policy-makers, researchers, representatives of local governments and development workers on the field. In a place – the Trentino Alto Adige Autonomous Region - that used its autonomy as the key-factor for overcoming a conflict and, at the same time, gave the way to a ‘locally-tailored’ sustainable development strategy.


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This event is connected to 'Do the right thing!', the fair of critical consumption and sustainable life styles that will take place in Trento at the Fair District, from 4th to 6th November. Over 4000 sqm of exibition and market related to organic agricolture, low-energy consumption, responsible turism, fair trade, bio-architecture, ethical finance, and other experiences of fair and just economy. Some exhibitors come from the Southern hemisphere (in collaboration with Microfinanza Srl), some from the near South East Europe (in collaboration with the Observatory on the Balkans).


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PROGRAMME


FRIDAY 4th NOVEMBER 2005


9:15 - Welcome

Introduces and chairs: Mauro Cereghini, Director of the Observatory on the Balkans

- Mario Magnani, President of the Trentino - Südtirol Regional Council
- Iva Berasi, Local Minister of International Solidarity, Autonomous Province of Trento
- Alberto Robol, President of the Rovereto Peace Bell Foundation


10:00 - Introduction

South East Europe in the time of interdependency

The Balkans are not an island. They are bound through a double thread with the rest of Europe. Historically and culturally, the mutual influences are numerous. Starting from a case study - the big automobiles factory ‘Zastava’ in Kragujevac, Serbia – a summary of the economic and social dynamics in South East Europe. Is it coming closer to or moving away from the European Union?

Planet Zastava - Travel to Kragujevac, Torino of the Balkans
Documentary movie by Andrea Rossini and Davide Sighele, Observatory on the Balkans

Italy and the Balkans: acknowledging the interdependency
Michele Nardelli, Observatory on the Balkans


11:00 - Coffee break


11:30 - Session I

Local and national: ideas for a sustainable integration

It could be called ‘the end of production’. In many areas in the Balkans the economy is not based on manufacturing anymore but on trading. Wars, deregulation and over-dependency on international aid have created unsustainability and imbalances. What is the space left to new national economic policies in a globalised world? And what is the place left to autonomous local economies that could really bring out resources and specificities of the territories?

Moderator: Giorgio Andrian, UNESCO ROSTE, Venice

Economic Policy. National strategy for a balanced development
Dragoljub Stojanov, University of Sarajevo

Local Development. Awareness of own resources
Martial Paris, Association of the Local Democracy Agencies (ALDA), Strasbourg

Debate


13:00 - Buffet


14:30 – Session II

Local development and self-government

Local development is not only about economy. It is also about individual responsibility, community-building, spaces for autonomy as well as the local institutions’ ability to self-government. Based on the experiences of Macedonia and Croatia, a reflection upon the role and the potentials of local stakeholders. Which is the relation between democracy, participation and sustainable economy?

Moderator: Jens Woelk, University of Trento and European Academy of Bozen

Beyond technocratic-clientelism? Rethinking community development and mobilization
Paul Stubbs, Institute of Economics, Zagreb

Responsibility, partecipation and self-government in the local systems. The Macedonian case
Risto Karajkov, University of Bologna

Debate


16:00 – Coffee break



16:30 – Session III

Between solidarity and economic internationalization: good practices wanted...

Numerous are the ways of ‘doing cooperation’ with South-East Europe. And they do not always communicate among themselves. What is the relation between the economic internationalization of the Italian system and the solidarity approach of the civil society? Are local institutions able to promote coordinated policies for coherent, sustainable interventions? What is the role of the local communities in the Balkans? An exchange of ideas among the actors on the field.

Moderator: Alessandro Rotta, Centro Studi di Politica Internazionale, Rome

Introduces: Francesco Terreri, Confesercenti of Trentino

Comments from actors on the field:
- Bruno Dallago, University of Trento
- Wainer Stagnini, COOP NordEst, Zagreb
- Claudio Beni, Director Settore Affari Internazionai e Comunitari, Region Piemonte
- Gianlorenzo Martini, Director Sede di Bruxelles - Ufficio V.inE., Region Veneto
- Andrea Cioncolini, Servizio Attività Internazionali, Region Toscana

Debate



SATURDAY 5th NOVEMBER 2005


Round Table

RELAUNCHING THE INTEGRATION
Local systems in the Europe of regions

The Europe of regions: a slogan or a realistic perspective for the Balkans? How can local systems be strengthened in countries that where shaped along nationalistic aspirations? Policy makers and analysts will discuss about the future integration of South East Europe. And will reflect – like in a mirror - about the future of the entire European Union.

9:30 - Opening session
Mauro Cereghini, Director of the Observatory on the Balkans


9:45 - Welcome
- Mighat Haracic, Ambassador of Bosnia Erzegovina in Italy
- Mircea Gheordunescu, Consul General of Romania in Italy
- Maria Grazia Rando, DCGS - Coordinamento Cooperazione Decentrata, Ministry of Foreign Affairs


10:00 - Summary and comments of the previous day
Mariella Pandolfi, University of Montreal


10:15 - Introductions and Chairs
Tonino Perna, University of Messina


10:30 - Video-interviews I

The role of justice
Carla Del Ponte, Chief Prosecutor, International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia

Quickly in Europe
Zlatko Dizdarević, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Bosnia and Herzegovina, former Director Oslobođenje


10:45 - Spechees I
The integration of the Balkans in the European Union

- Mario Zucconi, University of Princeton
- Mario Holzner, The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, Vienna
- Francesco Strazzari, University of Amsterdam


11:50 - Video-interviews II
A road map for the Balkans
Olli Rehn, Commissioner for Enlargement, European Commission


12:00 - Speeches II
Regional systems in the European integration

Speakers:
Lorenzo Dellai, Vice President of the Trentino - Südtirol Autonomous Region
Alessandro Profumo, Italian UniCredito CEO
Peter Tatarko, Co-ordinator OECD LEED Centre for Local Development, Trento


Discussion


13:30 - Conclusions
Tonino Perna, University of Messina





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INFO:

Observatory on the Balkans
Contact person
Mirela Oprea
Telephone: 0464 424230
Fax: 0464 424299
Email: eventi@osservatoriobalcani.org

Autonomous Region Trentino - Südtirol
www.regione.taa.it/balcani2005