Event Programme 2020

Friday 4 September

09:30 – 09:45: Official opening
(Plenary – open session – press access)
[University of Agronomic Sciences –” Bucharest” Venue]

09.30 – 09.45 Welcome remarks: Mr. Ionel Nițu, President, New Strategy Center, Mr. Sorin Cîmpeanu, Rector of the University of Agronomic Sciences, Mr. Adrian Ivan, Rector of the National Intelligence Academy, Romania

09:50 – 10:30 Panel I. Strengthening EU and Trans-Atlantic Solidarity / Unity of Purpose: Defending Common Values and Interests / Mastering the Challenges and Opportunities of a Fast Changing World
(Plenary – Open session, press access)
[University of Agronomic Sciences –” Bucharest” Venue]

Chair: Ambassador Sorin Ducaru, Honorary Chairman of the Scientific Board of the New Strategy Center, Director of the European Union Satellite Centre, Romania

Key-note speaker: H.E. Ludovic Orban, Prime-Minister, Romania (confirmed)

10:30-11:00 Coffee break

11:00 – 12:20 Panel IIa. The World After Tomorrow. Challenges and Opportunities. How will Economical and Educational Fields look like?
(Plenary – open session, press access)
[University of Agronomic Sciences –”Bucharest” Venue]

Chair: Mr. Marilen Pirtea, Rector of the West University of Timișoara, Romania

Mr. Leonard Orban, Presidential Advisor for European Affairs, Romania
Mr. Daniel Dăianu, Chairman of the Fiscal Council, former Minister of Finance, Romania (confirmed)
Mr. Sorin Cîmpeanu, Chairman of the National Council of Rectors, Rector of the University of Agronomic Sciences, Romania (confirmed)
Mr. Ionuț Stanimir, Director for Marketing&Communication, Romanian Commercial Bank (BCR), Romania (confirmed)
Mr. Ulf Pehrsson, Vice-President and Head of Government & Industry Relations, Ericsson Corporate, Sweden (confirmed – via VTC*)

Conclusions: Mrs. Alexandra Gătej, member of the Scientific Council, New Strategy Center, Romania

12.00 – 12:20 Open Discussions

11:00 – 12:20 Panel IIb. Space: Cooperation, Rivalry or Confrontation? How Can We Avoid a Star War?
(Chatham House rules, no press access)
[University of Agronomic Sciences –”Danube” Venue]

Chair: Lieutenant General (Ret.) Dumitru Prunariu, Vice-Chair of the Working Group on Space 2030 Agenda of the UN COPUOS, Honorary Member of the Romanian Academy, the only Romanian astronaut

Major General Viorel Pană, Chief of the Air Forces Staff, Romania (confirmed)
Ambassador Sorin Ducaru, Director of the European Union Satellite Centre, Honorary Chairman of the Scientific Board of the New Strategy Center, Romania (confirmed)
Col. Daniel Cocolici, Chief Analyst, Ministry of Defence, Romania (confirmed)
Mr. Roberto Scagnoli, CEO of RARTEL, country Representative of the Space Alliance (Telespazio/Thales Alenia Space), Italy (confirmed)

11:50 – 12:20 Open Discussions

12:20-12:45 Coffee break

12:45 – 14:15 Panel IIIa. Consequences of the Pandemic on the Medical Field. Lessons Learned for the Future
(Open session, press access)
[University of Agronomic Sciences –”Bucharest” Venue]

Chairs: Mr. Dan Iliescu, Rector of the Ovidius University of Constanta, Romania

H.E. Nelu Tătaru, Minister of Health, Romania (confirmed)
Mr. Raed Arafat, State Secretary, Head of the Emergency Department, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Romania (confirmed)
Mr. Daniel Ioniță, Cyber Security Manager, Cymed/Infoworld, Romania (confirmed)
Mrs. Kristie L. Oxford, Scientist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory – PNNL, USA (confirmed – via VTC)

13:45 – 14:15 Open Discussions

12:45 – 14:15 Panel IIIb. Energy Security: New Opportunities to Enhance the Independence of the Black Sea Region and the Balkans
(Open session, press access)
[University of Agronomic Sciences –“Danube” Venue]

Chair: Mr. Bogdan Berneagă, Senior Associate Expert, New Strategy Center, Romania

H.E. Virgil Popescu, Minister of Economy and Energy, Romania (confirmed)
Mr. Ion Sterian, CEO Transgaz, Romania (confirmed)
Mr. Alexandru Maximescu, Public and Regulatory Affairs Director, OMV Petrom, Romania (confirmed)
Mr. Ștefan Popescu, Deputy Director of Regulatory and Public Affairs, ENGIE Romania (confirmed)
Mr. Ondřej Šafář, Country Manager, CEZ Romania, Czech Republic (confirmed)

13:45 – 14:15 Open Discussions

14:15 – 15:45 Lunch

15:45 – 17:00 Panel IV. Why the Black Sea Matters? What Can We Do for a Safer Region?
(Plenary – open session, press access)
[University of Agronomic Sciences –”Bucharest” Venue]

Chair: Ambassador Cristian Diaconescu, member of the Scientific Council, New Strategy Center, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Romania

E. Nicolae Ciucă, Minister of National Defence, Romania (confirmed)
H.E. Andriy Taran, Minister of Defense, Ukraine (confirmed)
General (Ret.) Philip M. Breedlove, former Supreme Allied Commander Europe, USA (confirmed – via VTC)
James Appathurai, Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, NATO (confirmed – via VTC)

16:30 – 17:00 Open Discussions

17:00 -17:30 Coffee break

17:30 – 19:00 Panel V. Emerging Security Challenges for the Eastern Flank of NATO: Predicting the Unpredictable
(Chatham House rules, no press access)
[University of Agronomic Sciences –”Bucharest” Venue]

Chair: Major General (ret.) Leonardo Dinu, member of the Scientific Council, New Strategy Center, former Deputy Chief of Military Intelligence Directorate, Romania

General Tod D. Wolters, Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) of NATO Allied Command Operations, USA (confirmed)
Lieutenant General Daniel Petrescu, Chief of Defense Staff, Romania (confirmed)
General Rajmund Andrzejczak, Chief of General Staff, Poland (confirmed)
Lieutenant General (Ret.) Ben Hodges, Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies, Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), former commander United States Army Europe, USA (confirmed-via VTC)

18:30 – 19:00 Open Discussions

19.00- 20.30 Garden Party

Saturday 5 September

09:30 – 11:00 Panel VIa. Fake News Campaigns and Cyber Space. Misinformation During the Coronavirus Pandemic and the Resilience of the Democratic World
(Chatham House rules, no press access)
[University of Agronomic Sciences –”Bucharest” Venue]

Chair: Mrs. Alina Bârgăoanu, Senior Associate Expert, New Strategy Center, Dean, Faculty of Communication and Public Relations, National School of Political Science and Public Administration (SNSPA), Romania

Mr. Dragoș Preda, State Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Infrastructure and Communications, Romania (confirmed)
Mr. Corneliu Bjola, Associate Professor in Diplomatic Studies in the Department of International Development, University of Oxford, UK (confirmed – via VTC)
Mr. Florian Pennings, EU Cybersecurity Policy Manager, Microsoft (confirmed – via VTC)
Mr. Damien Arnaud, Senior Member, Engagements Section, Public Diplomacy Division, NATO (confirmed – via VTC)
Mr. Florin Pană, Senior Analyst in Cyber Security, National CyberInt Center, Romanian Intelligence Service (confirmed)

10:30– 11:00 Open Discussions

09:30 – 11:00 Panel VIb. EU Defense Industry and PESCO Projects in the Crisis Period. Opportunities for Eastern Europe
(Open session, press access)
[University of Agronomic Sciences – Venue ”Danube”]

Chair: RADM (ret.) Sorin Learschi, Senior Associate Expert, New Strategy Center, Romania

Mr. Cristian Bușoi, Chairman, Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, EU Parliament, Romania (confirmed – via VTC)
Mrs. Simona Cojocaru, State Secretary, Ministry of National Defence, Romania (confirmed)
Mr. Cyrille Bret, Development Director, Naval Group, France (confirmed)
Mr. Cătălin Nae, President & General Director, The National Institute of Aerospace Research “Elie Carafoli” – INCAS, Romania (confirmed)

10:30– 11:00 Open Discussions

11:00– 11:20 Coffee break

11:20-12:45 Panel VIIa. Coronavirus and the Reshaping of the Global Order
(Open session, press access)
[University of Agronomic Sciences –”Bucharest” Venue]

Chair: Ambassador (Ret.) Gheorghe Magheru, Member of the Scientific Council, New Strategy Center

Mr. Charles Powell, Director of the Elcano Royal Institute, Spain (confirmed via VTC)
Ambassador Lazăr Comănescu, member of the Scientific Council, New Strategy Center, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Romania (confirmed)
Mr. Christopher Coker, Professor of International Relations, London School of Economics, Director of IDEAS, LSE’s foreign policy think tank, UK (confirmed – via VTC)
Antonia Colibășanu, Analyst, Geopolitical Futures, Romania (confirmed)
Ambassador Boris Ruge, Vice-Chairman, Munich Security Conference, Germany (confirmed – via VTC)
Mr. Emmanuel Dupuy, President of the Institute for European Perspective and Security, France (confirmed)

12:20 – 12:45 Open Discussions

11:20-12:45 Panel VIIb. The US Defense Industry and Eastern Europe. Smart Defense and Smart Cooperation
(Open session, press access)
[University of Agronomic Sciences –”Danube” Venue]

Chair: Lieutenant General (Ret.) Cătălin Moraru, former Deputy Chief of the Armaments Department, Ministry of Defense, Romania

Mr. Cristian Simu, State Secretary, Ministry of Economy, Romania (confirmed)
Mr. Paul Brinkley, former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense, USA (confirmed-via VTC)
Mr. Dennis Goege, Vicepresident Central and Eastern Europe, Lockheed Martin International, USA (confirmed)
Mr. Vasile Boicu, General Manager, Romaero, Romania (confirmed)
Mr. Terry Jamison, Director, International Vertical Lift Sales & Marketing, Boeing, USA (confirmed)
RADM (Ret.) Mike Lyden, former General Manager, NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) (confirmed – via VTC)

12:20 – 12:45 Open Discussions

12:45 – 14:15 Lunch

14:15 – 15:30 Panel VIIIa. Hybrid Warfare from the Arctic Region to the Black Sea
(Chatham House rules, no press access)
[University of Agronomic Sciences –”Bucharest” Venue]

Chair: Mr. Greg Melcher, Chief Operations Officer, Center for the Study of New Generation Warfare, USA

Brigadier General Cristian Bizadea, Deputy Director, Romanian Intelligence Service, Romania (confirmed)
Mr. Seth Cropsey, Director, Center for American Seapower, Hudson Institute, USA (confirmed – via VTC)
Mr. Johann Schmid, Director of the Community of Interest Strategy and Defence, The European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats, Hybrid CoE, Finland (confirmed – via VTC)
Mr. Karsten Friis, Senior Research Fellow, Head of Research Group on Security and Defense, The Norwegian Institute of International Affairs – NUPI (confirmed – via VTC)

14:15 – 15:30 Panel VIIIb. Western Balkans: Old Problems, New Challenges. The Great Powers’ Competition
(Open session, press access)
[University of Agronomic Sciences –”Danube” Venue]

Chair: Ambassador (Ret.) Doru Costea, Senior Associate Expert, New Strategy Center, Romania

H.E. Ivo Josipović, former President of Croatia (confirmed – via VTC)
Ambassador Teodor Meleșcanu, member of the Scientific Council, New Strategy Center, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Romania (confirmed)
Ambassador (Ret.) Victor Jackovich, first US Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, former U.S. Ambassador to Slovenia, USA (confirmed – via VTC)
Ambassador Mihnea Motoc, Deputy Head, European Political Strategy Center (EPSC), European Commission, former Minister of Defense, Romania (confirmed – via VTC)
General (ret.) Sir James Everard, former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR), UK (confirmed – via VTC)

15:00 – 15:30 Open Discussions

15:30 – 15:55 Coffee break

15:55-17:15 Panel IXa. Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears. The battle for Ukraine, Republic of Moldova and Belarus
(Chatham House rules, no press access)
[University of Agronomic Sciences –”Bucharest” Venue]

Chair: Mr. Dan Dungaciu, member of the Scientific Council, New Strategy Center, Romania

Mr. Vlad Nistor, member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, EU Parliament, Romania (confirmed)
Lieutenant General (Ret.) Victor Hvozd, former Chief of External Intelligence Service, Ukraine (confirmed – via VTC)
Mr. Phillip Petersen, President, Center for the Study of New Generation Warfare, USA (confirmed- via VTC)
Mr. Igor Munteanu, Chairman of the Public Finance Control Committee, Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, former ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to the USA (confirmed)
Mr. Adam Eberhardt, Director, Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW), Poland (confirmed – via VTC)
Mr. Arseny Sivitsky, Director, Center for Strategic and Foreign Policy Studies, Belarus (confirmed)

16:50 – 17:15 Open Discussions

15:55-17:15 Panel IXb. Unmanned Vehicles – a Solution for the Black Sea Naval Challenges
(Chatham House rules, no press access)
[University of Agronomic Sciences –”Danube” Venue]

Chair: Mr. Greg Melcher, Chief Operations Officer, Center for the Study of New Generation Warfare, USA

Rear Admiral Mihai Panait, Chief of the Romanian Naval Forces, Romania (confirmed)
Mr. James Thomsen, former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development & Acquisition, USA (confirmed – via VTC)
Mr. Christophe Fontaine, Regional Director Europe, International Strategic Development, General Atomics, France (confirmed)
Mr. Bo Wallander, Naval Senior Advisor, SAAB, Sweden (confirmed)

16:45 – 17:15 Open Discussions

17:15 – 17:40 Coffee break

17:40-19:00 Panel X. Working together with EU Neighbors to Enhance Our Interdependent Resilience
(Plenary – Open session, press access)
[University of Agronomic Sciences –”Bucharest” Venue]

Chair: Mr. Iulian Fota, member of the Scientific Council, New Strategy Center, Romania

H.E. Bogdan Aurescu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Romania
Mr. Lasha Darsalia, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Georgia (confirmed – via VTC)

18:05 – 18:45 Open Discussions

19:00 – 19:10 Closing remarks: Ambassador Sergiu Celac, Honorary Chairman of the New Strategy Center, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Romania

Note – Simultaneous translation into English and Romanian is available.
*VTC – video teleconferencing