30 years ago a major shift has happened in global politics and Eastern Europe – states dissolved and collapsed and new ones have been established, the system has been changed. During this period there was a promise that after a long struggle we would achieve democracy and well-being.
But as we look back from today it is clear that this has not happened and if it did it was not sustainable.
These last decades have been full of hope and misery, protests and revolutions, conflicts and wars, economic uphills and downfalls, democratisation and backsliding.
This story has not ended, it is developing and continuing, there are more challenges and opportunities ahead. And all of us, Young Greens and activists in Eastern Europe, are part of this.
Therefore we in CDN decided to organise a conference where we would discuss all these issues we are facing.
How did we end up where we are now? What is the role of global powers such as the EU, Russia and China in our region? Should we be hopeful for the future as we see emerging environmental movements and progressive political actors? Can we achieve climate prosperity and what challenges do we have regards energy and transition?
Although the Conference was planned to happen prior to the CDN General Assembly in March 2022, taking everything into consideration minding everyone’s concerns and safety, the Executive Committee (EC) has accessed the ongoing situation and has come to a conclusion in agreement with GEF partners for the Conference to be postponed.
Having this in mind, The Future of Eastern Europe Conference will be taking place in Riga, Latvia on 6-7th June 2022.
Location: Rija VEF Hotel, Brīvības 199c, Riga, Latvija, LV-1039
Practicalities:
Language: The main language of this activity will be English. But not being comfortable with interacting in English should not prevent you from applying. CDN strives to create an inclusive atmosphere at the events, where participants are encouraged to express themselves and ask for clarifications or translations from peers that speak the same language.
Costs: Anyone is welcome to take part in the conference with their own expenses. There is no participation fee.
In addition, CDN can cover the participation of a limited number of applications of young greens and activists from Eastern Europe (with a maximum age of 30). Meaning the cost of travel, and lodging (accommodation in multi-bed rooms, vegetarian/vegan food and refreshments).
In any case, take into consideration choosing the most economic and environmentally friendly means of travel (lowest price + travel time + CO2 emissions) and in case the trip would take less than 15 hours only travelling by land (train+bus) is reimbursed (IRPs §9.1).
Deadline: 20th of May (if applying for CDN to cover your participation.)
You will be informed by e-mail approximately 1 week after the deadline. Please add office@cdnee.org to your contacts, so that you do not receive our reply in the spam folder.
In case of having any questions, do not hesitate to write us at office@cdnee.org
Programme
Day 1, Monday, June 6
Speakers:
– Sonja Schiffers, Director of Heinrich-Boell Foundation, South Caucasus Office
– Anastasiya Dorofeeva, Belarusian Green party, Belarusian anti-nuclear campaign, hub “Green foundations”
– Anton Cherepenko, the Free Hong Kong Center in Kyiv
– Zarina Burkadze Associate Professor of Political Science, Ilia State University
– Raluca Besliu, contributor of Green European Journal focusing on Eastern European affairs
– Teo Comet, European Greens
Manana Kochladze, Bankwatch Strategic Area Leader – Democratization and Human Rights
Workshop:
Day 2, Tuesday, June 7th
How can we make democracy more ecological? What kind of changes do we need to apply to our thinking about participation, institutions and decision-making to put ecology and the environment at the forefront of our political systems?
– Justine Pantelejeva, Progresīvie, Latvia
– Sopo Shubitidze, Mtsvaneebi, Georgia
– Predrag Momčilović, Ne davimo Beograd, Serbia
– Stefan Vukmanovic, Ura Montenegro
– Koray Doğan Urbarlı, Green Party Turkey
Description: For the last decades, if you checked the electoral map of Europe intending to see how Green parties have been performing, you would see a clear pattern: Greens in the west and north do well – they get elected in national and regional parliaments, city councils, win mayorships and even participate in governing coalitions; while in the east – you would see a grey colour representing either absence of Green parties from the political landscape or lack of support and therefore relevance. However, in recent years the pattern is dissolving and becoming a blur, the Green wave spreading to the East.
This event is organised by the Green European Foundation with the support of CDNEE and with the financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation. The European Parliament is not responsible for the content of this event.
