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KOSOVO PUBLIC POLICY CENTER
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Western Balkans:
An Opportunity or a Challenge for the Future of the EU Keynote Speakers:
As the enlargement of the EU continues to be a hot topic of discussion in many oval offices in the old continent, the ancient peoples of the Balkans look forward to this unique opportunity. The prospects of the Western Balkans* countries for EU integration, and the role of the EU intuitions in this process will be the theme of the first public policy international conference organized jointly by the Kosovo Public Policy Center, the American University in Kosovo Research Center, and the Victory University College, Prishtina, Kosovo. Among EU member states, there are those who believe that further enlargement of the Union is necessary and indeed beneficial for the future of the EU as a whole and the Western Balkans countries provide an opportunity for such enlargement. On the other hand, there are also those who see the integration process of the Western Balkans countries as a challenge for the future of the EU. In light of Kosovo’s independence and its recognition by all but five EU members (Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia, Spain), this divide about the future of the EU and Western Balkans prospects for accession becomes even more important. As to how Western Balkans countries can move closer to becoming members of the EU family and how the EU can help to facilitate this process are some of the key questions that are yet to be fully answered. What are key policies that Western Balkans countries that aspire to join the EU are to undertake and how to do so? Apart from the above key questions, the conference would like to entertain other questions and papers, falling into one of the following categories and stressing the challenges and opportunities that the Western Balkans countries present for the future of the EU:
Depending on the number of accepted proposals for paper presentations, there will be between four and six panel sessions. Papers will be grouped into sessions based on their topic, theoretical frameworks, and methodologies used. A list of guest speakers and honorary speakers will be announced in May 2010. A select number of papers and abstracts of all papers accepted for presentation at the conference will be published in the first, special edition of the Western Balkans Policy Review, a semi-annual, peer-reviewed scholarly journal. The first edition of the WBP Review is scheduled to come out in time for the conference. For more information on the WBP Review, please click here. The Kosovo Public Policy Center wishes to invite all scholars and especially graduate students (registered in an MA or PhD program) and recent post-graduates, with an interest in Western Balkans and public policy to submit abstracts for consideration for the first annual KPPC conference and the first edition of the Western Balkans Policy Review. The deadline for abstract submission is April 30, 2010. Authors of selected abstracts will have to submit their full papers by May 31, 2010. Abstract Submission Guidelines:
An academic committee consisting of university professors will be called upon to review all abstracts and select papers for presentation at the conference. Please note that there is no fee to attend or present at this conference, thanks to the generous commitment of the organizers. The organizers are working intensively to find sponsors, however, to financially help presenters from developing countries to cover their travel and accommodation expenses. As funds become available, adequate announcements will be made on this site. The organizers also plan to take all conference presenters on a tour of Kosovo, provided that funds permit. So far the conference has earned the support of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Pro Credit Bank and Hotel Victory. All selected presenters and interested participants from abroad will be given practical information as to best travel options to Prishtina, Kosovo. Hotel accommodation will be offered at a discounted rate for all conference participants. More details will have now been published on this page under the Practical Information section. For further information or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at conference@kppcenter.org Because of the importance of the conference topic and the unique opportunity to get yourself published, the organizers hope to have a great number of you in Prishtina, Kosovo in June 2010.
* For the purposes of the conference,
Western Balkans countries include: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia. Papers focusing on
Turkey will also be considered.
CONFERENCE DONORS AND SPONSORS
We hope that the Academic Committee of the conference will announce selected paper presenters for the conference very soon after the deadline for abstract submission of April 30 passes. In the meantime, we are providing the following practical information for all those interested in attending the conference. Coming to
Kosovo by Air From the airport, you may take a taxi to your arranged hotel accommodation in Prishtina. The trip takes about 30 minutes and the average fare is about €25.00. There are plenty of taxi companies at the airport that can offer you a ride to the city 24 hrs a day. Coming to Kosovo
by Bus / Ground Transportation Entry Visas Accommodation Local
Transportation Food Financial Support
for Presenters Contact Person
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