Event programme 2023

Thursday 18 May

09.30 – 09.45: Official opening 
(Plenary – open session – press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –” Le Diplomat” Venue]

09.30 – 09.45 Welcome remarks: Mr. Ionel NIȚU, President, New Strategy Center, Mr. Sorin CÎMPEANU, Rector of the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Romania

09.45 – 10.30 Panel I. Security Challenges in the Black Sea Region. Increasing the Resilience of States Affected by Current Crises through Cooperation
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –” Le Diplomat” Venue]

Chair: Ambassador Sorin DUCARU, Honorary Chairman of the Scientific Council, New Strategy Center; Director, European Union Satellite Centre, Romania

Key-speakers:

10.30 – 10.40 Break

10.40 – 11.20 Panel II. The Reconstruction Begins Now. Ways to Support Ukraine’s Economy and European Integration of Ukraine and Republic of Moldova – in partnership with the German Marshall Fund of the United States
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –” Le Diplomat” Venue]

Chair: Mrs. Alina INAYEH, Adviser to the German Marshall Fund, President on Black Sea Security

11:20- 11:30 Break

11.30 – 12.20 Panel IIIa. Standing by Ukraine.  Cohesion of the Democratic World and the Challenges of a Year of War – in partnership with Centre for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), USA
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –” Le Diplomat” Venue]

Chair: Mr. Edward LUCAS, Senior Fellow and Advisor, Center for European Policy Analysis, UK

12.00 – 12.20 Open Discussions

11.30 – 12.20 Panel IIIb. Can Europe Achieve Energy Independence? New Strategies for Old Problems – in partnership with Delphi Forum, Greece
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –” Regina Maria” Venue]

Chair: Mr. Symeon TSOMOKOS, Founder and President of Delphi Economic Forum, Greece

11.30 – 12.20 Panel IIIc. Weaponization of Food as a Risk to World Stability  – in partnership with University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Romania
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –” Danube” Venue –  1st floor]

Chair: Mrs. Gina FÎNTÎNERU, Vice-rector for Research & Innovation, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (USAMV)

12.00 – 12.20 Open Discussions

11.30 – 12.20 Panel IIId. Thanks for the tanks! Lessons learned from the battlefield in Ukraine and the future equipment of NATO forces
(Restricted access, by invitation only)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –” Black Sea” Venue – 1st floor]

Chair: MG (Ret.) Paul HURMUZ, Senior associate expert, New Strategy Center, former Deputy of the State Secretary and Chief of the Defence Policy and Planning Department in the Ministry of National Defence

12:00-12:20 Open Discussions

12.20 – 12.30 Break

12.30 – 13.20 Panel IVa. Zeitenwende:  Turning Point of the German Foreign and Security Policy – in partnership with Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Germany
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – “Le Diplomat” Venue]

Chair: Mrs. Cristina CILEACU, Senior editor, Digi24, Romania

13:00 – 13:20 Open Discussions

12.30 – 13.20 Panel IVb. Energy Opportunities in the Black Sea Region in the Context of Current Security Challenges – in partnership with West University of Timișoara,
Romania

(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –“Regina Maria” Venue]

Chair: Mr. Radu TUDOR, Journalist, Antena 3 CNN, Romania

13.00 – 13.20 Open Discussions

12.30 – 13.20 Panel IVc.  Societal Resilience and Emergency Preparedness – How Can We Prepare Critical Infrastructures for Medical and Civil Emergencies? – in partnership with Ovidius University of Constanța, Romania
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –” Danube” Venue – 1st floor]

Chair: Mrs. Liliana Ana TUȚĂ, ViceRector for International Relations, Ovidius University of Constanta, Romania

  • Mr. Raed ARAFAT, State Secretary, Head of Emergency Situations Department, Ministry of Interior, Romania (via VTC )
  • Mr. Andrei BACIU, State Secretary, Ministry of Health, Romania
  • Mr. Daniel IONIȚĂ, Cyber Security Manager, Cymed/Infoworld, Romania

12.15 – 12.30 Open Discussions

12.30 – 13.20 Panel IVd.  One Year of War: Lessons Learned in the Unmanned Systems Domain
(Restricted access, by invitation only)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –” Black Sea” Venue – 1st floor]

Chair: COL. AF (Ret.) Mihai ȘTIR, Senior Associate Expert, New Strategy Center

13:00-13:20 Open Discussions

13.20 – 13.30 Break

13.30 – 14.15 Panel Va. Russian Political Warfare and Threats from High North to the Black Sea – in partnership with Norwegian Institute for International Affairs
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –” Le Diplomat” Venue]

Chair: Mr. Ion IONIȚĂ, Senior editor Adevărul, Editor in chief, Historia, Romania

  • Mrs. Alina BÂRGĂOANU, Senior Associate Expert of New Strategy Center, Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Public Relations, SNSPA, Romania
  • Mr. Jakub GODZIMIRSKI, Research Professor, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI), Poland (via VTC )
  • Mrs. Olga REZNIKOVA, Researcher, National Institute for Strategic Studies, Ukraine

14.00 – 14.15 Open Discussions

14.15 – 14.30 Presentation of the NUPI and New Strategy Center study on Russian Disinformation Campaigns in the NATO Space in the Context of the War in Ukraine
(Open session, press access)

[InterContinental Athénée Palace –” Le Diplomat” Venue]

Chair: Mr. Sergiu MITRESCU, Coordinator of International Relations Department, New Strategy Center, in dialogue with the authors of the study: Mrs. Ileana ROTARU, Senior Associate Expert, New Strategy Center, Romania and Mr. Jakub GODZIMIRSKI, Research Professor, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI), Poland (via VTC)

13.30 – 14.30 Panel Vb.  Reconstruction of Ukraine. The Biggest Project of the Western World after WWII – in partnership with Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW), Poland
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –” Regina Maria” Venue]

Chair: Mrs. Alexandra GĂTEJ, Member of the Scientific Council of New Strategy Center

14:10 – 14:30 Open Discussions

13.30 – 14.30 Panel Vc. The Russian – Ukrainian War and IMINT Lessons Learned. New Challenges for Europe
(Restricted access, by invitation only)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –” Black Sea” Venue – 1st floor]

Chair: Mr. Marcel FOCA, Senior Expert, New Strategy Center, Romania

14:10 – 14:30 Open Discussions

14.30 – 16.00 Lunch

16.00 – 17.00 Panel VIa. The Balkans at the Crossroads: Stability or a New Crisis? – in partnership with Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, Serbia
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –” Le Diplomat” Venue]

Chair: Mr. Robert LUPIȚU, editor-in-chief, Calea Europeană, Romania

  • Mr. Yordan BOZHILOV, President, Sofia Security Forum, Bulgaria
  • Mr. Manuel SARRAZIN, Special Representative for the Countries of the Western Balkans of the Federal Government of Germany (pre-recorded message)
  • Mr. Bojan ELEK, Deputy Director, Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, Serbia
  • Mr. James GOW, Department of War Studies, King’s College, UK

16:40– 17:00 Open Discussions

16.00 – 17.00 Panel VIb. Protecting Critical Infrastructure. Safeguarding  Communication Systems in Uncertain Times
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –“Regina Maria” Venue]

Chair: Mr. Marcel FOCA, Senior Expert, New Strategy Center, Romania

16:30– 17:00 Open Discussions

17:00-17:10 Break

17.10 – 18.10 Panel VIIa. What Will Security Architecture Look Like After the War? How We Can Restore Stability in Europe?
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –“Le Diplomat” Venue]

Chair: Ambassador Gheorghe MAGHERU, member of the Scientific Council of New Strategy Center, Romania

17:50 – 18:10 Open Discussions

17.10 – 18.10 Panel VIIb. New Energy Sources for the Black Sea and Balkan Region. Opportunities for a More Secure Future
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – “Regina Maria” Venue]

Chair: Mr. Laurențiu PACHIU, Vice-President, Energy Policy Group, Romania

17:50 – 18:10 Open Discussions

17.10 – 18.10 Panel VIIc. Cyber Resilience in the Current War Context. Main Threats, Possible Developments – in cooperation with the Euro-Atlantic Resilience Centre, Romania
(Restricted access, by invitation only)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –“Black Sea” Venue  – 1st floor]

Chair: Mr. Ovidiu RAEȚCHI, President, Euro-Atlantic Resilience Centre, Romania

17:50 – 18:10 Open Discussions

18:10 – 18:20 Break

18.20 – 19.30 Panel VIII. How the Conflict in Ukraine Will Influence the conduct of War in the Future – in partnership with King’s College, UK
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – “Le Diplomat” Venue]

Chair: Brigadier General (Ret.) Hans DAMEN, Member of the International Consultative Board of New Strategy Center, The Netherlands

19:00 – 19:30 Open Discussions

19:30 – 20:30 Cocktail

20.30 – 20.45 Presentation of the New Strategy Center study: A Synchronous Approach to the Reconstruction of Ukraine
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – “Le Diplomat” Venue]

Ms. Antonia COLIBĂȘANU, Senior Associate Expert, New Strategy Center & Chief Operating Officer & Senior Geopolitical Analyst, Geopolitical Futures, Romania, in dialog with the author, Mr. Horia CIURTIN, Expert, New Strategy Center

20.45 – 21.45 Night Owl Session (Panel IX). How Can We Define the Victory of Ukraine? Objectives and Strategic Impact – in partnership with Defense 24, Poland
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – “Le Diplomat” Venue]

Chair: Mr. Jacek RAUBO, Expert in International Relations, Defense 24, Poland

Friday 19 May

09.30 –  10.50 Panel Xa. Migration and Border Security: New Challenges for Europe in partnership with the Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO), Croatia

(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –” Le Diplomat” Venue]

Chair: Mr. Krševan Antun DUJMOVIĆ, Senior Associate, Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO), Croatia

10.20 – 10:40 Open Discussions

09.30 – 10.50 Panel Xb. New and Old Challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean Area  – in cooperation with the Abba Eban Institute, Israel
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –” Regina Maria” Venue]

Chair: Ms. Antonia COLIBĂȘANU, Senior Associate Expert, New Strategy Center & Chief Operating Officer & Senior Geopolitical Analyst, Geopolitical Futures, Romania

  • Mr. Yossi MANN, Head of Israel and the Arab Gulf Program, Abba Eban Institute. Israel
  • Mr. Mitat ÇELİKPALA, Kadir Has University, Department of International Relations, Turkiye
  • Mr. Symeon TSOMOKOS, Founder and President of Delphi Economic Forum, Greece
  • Mr. Andreas THEOPHANOUS, President of the Cyprus Center for European and International Affairs, Head of the Department of Politics and Governance, University of Nicosia, Cyprus

10.20 – 10.40 Open Discussions

09.30 – 10.50 Panel Xc. Impact of the Russia`s war in Ukraine on the Post-Soviet Space. – in partnership with the Caucasus Institute, Armenia
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – ”Danube” Venue – 1st floor]

Chair: Mr. Dan DUNGACIU, Member of the Scientific Council of the New Strategy Center, Romania

10.30– 10.50 Open Discussions

09.30 – 10.50 Panel Xd. Lessons Learned from the War for the Land Domain

(Restricted access, by invitation only)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – “Black Sea” Venue – 1st floor]

Chair: Mr. Greg MELCHER, Chief Operations Officer, New Generation Warfare Centre, USA

10:30-10:50 Open Discussions

10:50-11:00 Break

11.00-12.00 Panel XIa. Strategic Thinking in Times of Crisis. Managing Threats and Seizing Opportunities
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – ”Le Diplomat” Venue]

Chair: Mr. Ionel NIȚU, President, New Strategy Center, Romania

  • H.E Mr. Sebastian BURDUJA, Minister of Research, Innovation, and Digitalization, Romania
  • Mr. Sabin SĂRMAȘ, Chairman, Committee for information technologies and communications, Chamber of Deputies, Romania
  • Mr. Ionuț STANIMIR, Director of Marketing & Communication, Banca Comercială Română – BCR, Romania

11.40-12.00 Open Discussions

11.00 – 12.00 Panel XIb. NATO Defence Policy and Host Nation Strategic Infrastructure. Smart Investments in Security
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – ”Regina Maria” Venue]

Chair: BG Eduard SIMION (Ret.), Senior Associate Expert, New Strategy Center, Romania

11.20 – 11.50 Open Discussions

11.00 – 11.45 Panel XIc. Future Russian Cooperation with China and Iran. Strategic Association or Opportunistic Collaboration? – in partnership with the Council on Geostrategy, UK
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – ”Danube” Venue – 1st floor]

Chair: Ms. Viktorija STARYCH-SAMUOLIENĖ, Co-Founder and Director of Strategy, Council on Geostrategy, UK

  • Ms. Tomiko ICHIKAWA, Director General, The Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA) – (via VTC)
  • Mr. Justin BASSI, Executive Director, Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) – via VTC
  • Ambassador Doru COSTEA, member of the Scientific Council of the New Strategy Center, former ambassador of Romania to Beijing, Romania

11.20 – 11.35 Open Discussions

11.45 – 12.00 Presentation of the New Strategy Center study: A Possible Ominous Partnership: The China-Russia’s ‘Friendship Without Limits’

[InterContinental Athénée Palace – ”Danube” Venue – 1stfloor]

Ms. Antonia COLIBĂȘANU, Senior Associate Expert, New Strategy Center & Chief Operating Officer & Senior Geopolitical Analyst, Geopolitical Futures, Romania, in dialog with the author, Ambassador Doru COSTEA, member of the Scientific Council of the New Strategy Center, former ambassador of Romania to Beijing, Romania

11.00 – 12.00 Panel XId. Challenges to the Defence Industry in NATO Countries in the Context of the Russia-Ukraine War  – in partnership with „Carol I” National Defense University, Romania

(Restricted access, by invitation only)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –” Black Sea” Venue – 1st floor]

Chair: Air Flotilla General Eugen MAVRIȘ, Rector, „Carol I” National Defense University

11:40-12:00 Open Discussions

12.00 – 12.10 Break

12.10 – 13.00 Panel XIIa. How to Avoid War Fatigue in the Western World? Coping with Economic Crisis and Social Problems while Resisting Kremlin’s aggressive autocracy
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – ”Regina Maria” Venue]

Chair: Ambassador Doru COSTEA, Member of the Scientific Council of New Strategy Center

12.40 – 13.00 Open Discussions

12.10 – 13.00 Panel XIIb. France’s Black Sea Strategy. Policy shift or long-term commitment?
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –” Le Diplomat” Venue]

Chair: Ambassador Gheorghe MAGHERU, member of the Scientific Council of New Strategy Center, Romania & Mr. Quentin JALABERT, Non-Resident Associated Expert, New Strategy Center, France

  • Mr. Emmanuel DUPUY, President, Institute for European Perspective and Security, France
  • Mr. Luca NICULESCU, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Romania
  • Mrs. Alice RUFO, Director General for International Relations and Strategy, Ministry of the Armed Forces, France (pre-recorded message)

12.35 – 12.50 Open Discussions

13.00 – 13.10 Break

13.10 – 14.00 Panel XIIIa. Transatlantic Cooperation and the Challenges Posed by the Russia`s War in Ukraine. Stronger Together!
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – ”Le Diplomat” Venue]

Chair: BG Eduard SIMION (Ret.), Senior Associate Expert, New Strategy Center, Romania

13:45– 14:00 Open Discussions

13.10 – 14.00 Panel XIIIb. Prospects for Turkiye’s Foreign and Security Policy in the Current Security Context – in partnership with The Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA), Turkiye
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –” Regina Maria” Venue]

Chair: Mr. Dan PREDA, Director, Radio Romania News, Romania

13:40 – 14:00 Open Discussions

13.10 – 14.00 Panel XIIIc. Wagner Group and Its Role in the Russia`s War in Ukraine
(Restricted access, by invitation only)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –“Black Sea” Venue – 1st floor]

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

13:40-14:00 Open Discussions

14.00 – 15:15 Lunch

15.15 – 16.05 Panel XIVa. Challenges to Western Military Capabilities in the Light of the Russia`s  Ukraine War – in partnership with the Centre for the Study of the New Generation Warfare, USA

(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – ”Le Diplomat” Venue]

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

15:45– 16.05 Open Discussions

15.15 – 16.05 Panel XIVb. Russia`s War in Ukraine and Its Impact on the Naval Domain

(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –” Regina Maria” Venue]

Chair: Captain (Navy) (Ret.) John SANDOZ, former Assistant to the Director of Naval Intelligence, USA

15:35 – 15:50 Open Discussions

16.05– 16:15 Break

16.15 – 17.15 Panel XVa. European Strategic Autonomy in the Next Decade. Reality or Utopia? – in partnership with Elcano Royal Institute, Spain

(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –” Le Diplomat” Venue]

Chair: Ambassador Gheorghe MAGHERU, member of the Scientific Council of New Strategy Center, Romania

16:50– 17:15 Open Discussions

16.15 – 17.15 Panel XVb. War and Disinformation. The Struggle for Truth After a Year of War – in partnership with the ”Mihai Viteazul” National Intelligence Academy, Romania

(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –” Regina Maria” Venue]

Chair: Mrs. Cristina IVAN, Director, National Institute for Intelligence Studies, “Mihai Viteazul” National Intelligence Academy, Romania

16:50– 17:15 Open Discussions

16.15 – 17.15 Panel XVc. Security and Enlargement. EU Policy Towards the Western Balkans and the Black Sea Region as related to the Current Security Crisis – in partnership with the Institute for Liberty and Democracy, Romania

(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –” Danube” Venue – 1st floor]

Chair: Mr. Cristian DAVID, President, Institute for Liberty and Democracy, Romania

  • Mr. Leonard ORBAN, Member of the Scientific Council of New Strategy Center, former Presidential Advisor on European Affairs, Romania
  • Mr. Iulian GROZA, Executive Director, Institute for European Policies and Reforms, Republic of Moldova
  • Mr. Igor BANDOVIĆ, Director, Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, Serbia

16:40– 17:15 Open Discussions

17:15– 17:25 Break

17.25 – 18.45 Panel XVI. One Front, One Vision, One Strategy. NATO’s Deterrence and Defence Policy Against Russian Aggression on the Eastern Flank

(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –“Le Diplomat” Venue]

Chair: Major General (Ret.) Leonardo DINU, Member of the Scientific Council of New Strategy Center, Romania

18:15 – 18:45 Open Discussions

18.45 – 18.55 Break

18.55 – 19.20 Panel XVII. Democracy vs. Autocracy. Russia`s War in Ukraine and the Answer of the Democratic World

(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –“Le Diplomat” Venue]

Chair: Mr. Marilen PIRTEA, Rector, West University of Timisoara, Romania

19:20 – 19:30 Closing remarks: Mr. George SCUTARU, CEO, New Strategy Center; Mr. Sorin CÎMPEANU, Rector of the University of Agronomic Sciences

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