The coronavirus crisis will severely hit the already weak economies of the region, after years of stagnation or slow growth. What will the effect be on employment in the context of a weak welfare state and for a region characterised by a rising brain drain? From the EU budget to the EIB, what European funds will be available for the region after the COVID-19 emergency? What are the sectors that will be most affected by the pandemic?
ISPI is hosting this event online. You will be able to access the live-stream on this page, as well as on Facebook, starting from 21 May at 15:00 CEST.
During the event, take part in the debate and submit your questions for panelists by emailing segreteria.eventi@ispionline.it or comment on Facebook.
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The event will be held in English only.
This event is part of the ISPI's initiative Why the Balkans Matter. The Future of the Region in the Age of the Virus
Despite the outbreak of the pandemic, 2020 began with renewed hopes for the Western Balkans. Last March, the General Affairs Council green-lighted the opening of EU accession talks for Albania and North Macedonia. Moreover, after more than a year of stalemate, the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia will probably be resumed soon. Yet, the region is still prey to high instability factors, both economic and political. While all the Balkan countries are allegedly committed to a future in the European Union, the influence and soft power of other international powers are rising, as shown by the so-called “health diplomacy” during the COVID-19 crisis.
The initiative consists of two online events aiming to discuss the topics deepened in the Report "The Balkans: Old, New Instabilities", published by ISPI with the support of the Unit for Analysis and Policy Planning of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in accordance with Article 23- bis of the Decree of the President of the Italian Republic 18/1967.