Our Future in Our Homeland Europe

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58th International Congress of the European Journalists Association. Views and Expectations for the Future of Europe Digging out the Sleepwalkers

Meeting online.

Friday, October 15th

9:00 a.m.: (Brussels time): Romanian and European anthems.

9:05 a.m.: Opening of the Congress by the EJ President Paolo Magagnotti.

Official opening address:
Univ. Prof. Dr. Marilen Gabriel Pirtea, Rector of the West University Timișoara, Romania.

Messages by representatives of Romanian public institutions (tba).

9:25 a.m.: Videomessages by descendants of EU Founding Fathers.

Maria Romana De Gasperi, Daughter of the Italian Founding Father of the European Union; Doctor Honoris Causa Beneficiorum Publicorum of the West University Timișoara.

Sven-Georg Adenauer, Grandson of the German Founding Father of the European Union; Doctor Honoris Causa Benificiorum Publicorum of the West University Timișoara.

Videomessage by EJ partner.

Nazmi Bilgin, President of the Association of Turkish Journalist, Ankara.

9:40 a.m.: Introductory remarks to the Congress’ theme by the EJ President Paolo Magagnotti.

9:50 a.m.: Andra Mirona Stan-Dragotesc, Director of the Department of International Relations and UNITA, Office coordinator, West University Timișoara. West University Timisoara as a Breeding Ground for Young European Generations

Views and Expectations for the Future of Europe

Chair: Stefana Ciortea-Neamţu, Lector on Journalism, West University Timișoara; EJ Member.

10:05 a.m.: Team’s representative of the “Conference on the Future of Europe”, Brussels (tba),

Aims of the “Conference on the Future of Europe” and update on the Conference’s progress.

10:20 a.m.: Claudiu Mesaroș, Dean of the Faculty of Political Sciences, Philosophy and Communication. Sciences, West University Timisoara.

Preparing Young People for Living and Shaping Europe

10:35 a.m.: Gianni Bonvicini, frm. Director and deputy vice-president and current scientific adviser of the Institute of International Affairs, Rome; EJ Honorary Member.

Next Generation EU and Obstacles Hindering the European Integration Progress

10:50 a.m.: Break: Zoom meeting will resume in 15 minutes.

11:05 a.m.: Listening to young people

Presentation of a survey conducted among university students on their view for the future of Europe under the coordination of Alexandra Codirla, UVT Graduate Master in Journalism; EJ Member.

Video connection online with groups of students from European countries: Bulgaria – France – Hungary – Italy – Spain.

A speaker for each group will present the outcome of brainstorming sessions students had in previous weeks about their views and expectations for the future of Europe.

11:35 a.m.: Discussion on the Congress speakers’ presentations and interaction online with students from the European groups.

12:40 p.m.: End of the session.

Zoom link for Friday 15th : https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81101124655?pwd=Z1k2bm1zdzBCYTg1cEZxZkhwSU5JZz09

Saturday, October 16th

European Union, Global Geopolitical Challenges and Sleepwalking

9:00 a.m.: Opening by Felica Ristea, EJ Vice-President.

Chair: Michael Jäger, EJ-VEJ Secretary-General; CEO European Economic Senate, CEO Jaeger. EuroConsult.

9:05 a.m.: Mykhailo Samus, Director of the New Geopolitics Research Network, Kiev.

European Union, Russian Federation, Caucasus and Instability Risks in the Continent.

9:20 a.m.: Luisa Chiodi, Director of the Observatory for Balkans and Caucasus Transeuropa, Trento.

The Balkans as a Renewed Geopolitical Responsibility for the European Union.

9:35 a.m.: Ivan Koedjikov, frm. Head of the Department of Information Society and Action against Crime and Counter-terrorism Coordinator, Council of Europe, Strasburg, EJ Honorary Member.

Wake Up, Sleepwalkers!

9:50 a.m.: Panel discussion

Chair: Silviu E. Rogobete, Director of the Doctoral School of Philosophy, Sociology and Political Science, West University of Timisoara; Honorary professor at the Stellenbosch University, SA.

Tinatin Dvalishvili, Manager of the Center for the Formation of Young Journalists of the Caucasus Region; New Media Lecturer at the State University of Tbilisi; Ph.D. Student.

Igor Fedyk, Head of the South-Eastern Europe Section of the New Geopolitics Research Network, Kiev.

Rolf von Hohenhau, President of the Association of Taxpayers Europe, Brussels.
Yusuf Kanli, Vice-President of the Association of Turkish journalist, Ankara; Coordinator of the EU supported projects “Media4Democracy”, “Freedom of expression”, “Media freedom” and “Media Bridges Between Turkey and the European Union”.

Panel’s concluding remarks by Gianni Bonvicini, frm. Director and Deputy Vice-President and current scientific adviser of the Institute of International Affairs, Rome; EJ Honorary Member.

10:40 a.m.: Break: Zoom meeting will resume in 15 minutes.

Media Freedom and Growing Authoritarianism

Chair: András Radetzky, Director of Hungarian Catholic Radio Network, Professor of Journalism at the Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Budapest; EJ Member.

10:55 a.m.: Joan Barata, Fellow at the Cyber Policy Center and Center for Internet and Society at Stanford University,California; expert on freedom of expression at international organizations (Council of Europe, UNESCO, OSCE); former principal adviser to the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media in
Vienna

Freedom of Expression and Authoritarian Trends in Europe and Around the World.

11:15 a.m.: Discussion, chaired by Vassil Sotirov, EJ Vice-president.

12:20 p.m.: Concluding remarks and closing of the Congress by EJ President Paolo Magagnotti.

12:30 p.m.: End of the Congress

Zoom link for Saturday 16th: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88046107700?pwd=di9VL05yZERVRGVWOTVmbW1SSjVyQT09

The outcome of the entire congress in terms of ideas, reflections, expectations and proposals providing suggestions and requests to the national and European policymakers will be sent to the EU platform of the “Conference on the Future of Europe”.