The event will be held on 18^th November 2015, from 18:00 to 20:00 at European Parliament under the auspices of MEP Pavel Svoboda from EPP Group in Room 2Q2. Glass of wine will be offered afterwards.

The program of the conference will include two panel discussions: first with the theme of Eastern Neighbourhood of the EU with Volodymyr Ogrysko, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, and Ekaterine Tkeshelashvili, Former Minister for Reintegration of Georgia. Second panel will be oriented on European Neighbourhoud Policy and its current review with Rostislav Valvoda, Director of Prague Civil Society Centre, Iryna Shvets, Civic Network OPORA Ukraine, and Sona Ayvazyan, Transparency International Armenia and representing Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum.

The conference “Europe´s Unstable Eastern Neighbourhood: What role for Civil Society?” aims to continue a debate about Europe and to contribute to a discussion in the context of European Neighbourhood Policy Review, especially with a focus to the importance of the engagement of civil society for democracy.

An active and self-confident civil society is one of the crucial prerequisites for any functioning democracy. Whereas in some states of the Eastern Partnership civil society is an important part of the reform efforts, in other countries it is perceived as a problematic by the government. This situation is being influenced by developments in Russia, where we witness steps aimed at limiting the freedoms and independence of civil society. At the same time, Russia, herself is facing many external and internal challenges and threats, engages in military action against Ukraine and her activities challenge European security and our values of democracy, pluralism and the right to make foreign policy choices.

Civil society is an important part of EU Neighbourhood Policy. The conference will aim to answer the following questions:  What are the tendencies for civil society Eastern Partnership countries? What are Eastern partnership countries' needs and expectations from the EU and the Eastern Partnership? What should be the EU´s role vis-à-vis civil society in Eastern partnership countries?  Is EU engagement efficient? What is the role of the EU, when faced with assertive Russian policies towards its neighbours?

When: 18th November 2015, 18:00

Where: Room 2Q2, European Parliament, Brussels

Contact: For any questions and registration please contact Kristina Pavelkova at pavelkova@czech.cz, +32 2641 89 47. If you do not have a badge to access the European Parliament you need to register and provide personal details before 6^th November.