9:30 a.m.
Welcome
Daniel Hamilton
TLN President

Jörn Fleck
Senior Director with the Europe Center, Atlantic Council 

9:35 a.m.
Address
Martin McDowell
Director, Office of South Central European Affairs (EUR/SCE)
U.S. Department of State

9:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Enhancing Regional Connectivity
Regional cooperation is essential if Western Balkan countries are to progress in the EU stabilization and association process. Many efforts are under way, including the Western Balkans Berlin Process, Adriatic-Ionian initiative, Regional Cooperation Council, and the Open Balkans initiative –How can the countries of the region connect more effectively to address shared challenges?

Panelists:
Belinda Balluku
Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Albania

David S. De Falco
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Europe and Eurasia, US Department of Commerce

Jasmin Mahmuzić
Director, Banking Agency of FBiH (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

  Bojan Marichijk
Vice Prime Minister for European Affairs, North Macedonia

Tanja Miščević
Minister of European Integration, Serbia

Valbona Zeneli
George C. Marshall Center – Garmisch (Germany)

Moderator:
Ilva Tare
Nonresident Senior Fellow, Europe Center, Atlantic Council

11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Coffee Break

11:15 a.m.
Keynote Address:
Geoffrey R. Pyatt
Assistant Secretary
Bureau of Energy Resources
U.S. Department of State

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Energy Diversification: Towards European Energy Independence
As the energy transition in the Western Balkans slowly proceeds, the region has been hit by a four-fold energy crisis: electricity fluctuations, technical challenges, water scarcities, and skyrocketing biomass prices. Decarbonization and promotion of renewable energy under competitive procurement is the main economically viable alternative to a region subjected to ongoing pollution and reliance on coal. What are the immediate challenges and how can they be addressed?

Panelists:
Kreshnik Bekteshi
Minister of Economy, North Macedonia 

Ana Novaković Đurović
Minister of Ecology, Spatial Planning, and Urbanism, Montenegro

John Jovanovic
Nonresident Senior Fellow, Europe Center Atlantic Council
CEO, Nova Fleet

Enea Karakaçi
CEO, OSHEE Group, Albania

Vedran Lakić
Minister of Industry, Mining, and Energy, Federation of BiH, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Artane Rizvanolli
Minister of Economy, Kosovo (*virtual appearance)

Alex Whittington
Director of International Affairs, Cheniere, US

Moderator:
Debra Cagan
Distinguished Energy Fellow, Transatlantic Leadership Network

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Lunch Break

2:00 p.m.
“How Effectively to Fight Corruption”
Dr. Matej Živković
Deputy President
Security and Exchange Commission – Federation of BiH

2:10 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.
Cyber Security in the Western Balkans: Meeting the Challenges
Ongoing cyber-attacks on public and private institutions and individuals across the region are prompting more cyber security readiness. The IT industry is booming in the region, spearheaded by new generations of talent. What are the challenges, how can the region best respond, and how can it connect more effectively with the US and the rest of Europe?

Panelists:
Don Aviv
President, Interfor International, New York

Marash Dukaj
Minister of Public Administration, Montenegro

Ceno Klosi
Director-General, Tax Office Nacional Directorate, Albania

Brandon McCartney
Watermark Solutions LLC, US

Paul Stack
Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity Lead, USAID

Igli Tafa
Director – General, National Agency for Cyber Security, Albania

Moderator:
Shaun Waterman
TLN Media Fellow and Cybersecurity reporter – Newsweek

3:20 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
TLN “Leadership Award” 2023
Jasmin Mahmuzić
Director, Banking Agency of FBiH (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Presented by:
LTG (ret.) Michael Barbero
Vice President, Transatlantic Leadership Network