Small and Medium Entrepreneurs Union of the European People’s Party

DRAFT INVITATION (Speakers to be confirmed)

SME Union in cooperation with the SME UNION of the EPP and SA SME cordially invite you to the

III. International Balkan SME Congress

“Stability, Association and Integration of Serbia into the EU”

Saturday, 17th December 2005 9.00 – 16.30h Sava Center – Congress Hall Milentija Popovića 9, 11070 , Serbia

organised by the SME UNION of the EPP, SME Union Serbia and the SA SME - Serbian SME Association, with the support of the Government of Serbia and in co-operation with the European Commission, European Parliament and Balkan Stability Pact

In cooperation with

DRAFT AGENDA (Speakers to be confirmed) (Translations provided: Serbian/English/German/French)

08.30 – 09.00 Registration

09.00 – 09.30 Opening Session: Welcoming Remarks

Welcoming Remarks

• Velimir VUKADIN, President of SME Union Serbia • Peter JUNGEN, Co-President of SME UNION of EPP • Blagoje PAUNOVIC, President of the Serbian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises • Wilfried MARTENS, President of the European People's Party

Opening

• Boris TADIC, President of the Republic of Serbia

09.30 –10.30 Keynote Speeches: Stability, Association and Integration of Serbia into the EU

• Vojislav KOSTUNICA, Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia • Miroljub LABUS, Deputy Prime Minister, Government of the Republic of Serbia • Olli REHN, European Commissioner for Enlargement • Erhard BUSEK, Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe • Carl BILDT, Member of the International Commission on the Balkans • Jean-Luc DEHAENE MEP, Member of the International Commission on the Balkans • Doris PACK MEP, Chairwoman European Delegation for Relations with the Countries of South-East Europe • Stefan LEHNE, Director of the EU Council for Balkans, East Europe and Middle Asian Affairs

10.30 - 11.00 Coffee Break

11.00 – 12.30 Panel 1: Political Stabilization of Serbia on the Way to European Integration

Introduction and Moderation: Peter JUNGEN, Co-President of SME UNION of EPP

• Ursula PLASSNIK, Foreign Minister of Austria • Christos FOLIAS, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Economy and Finance of Greece • Ivan MIKLOS, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Slovakia • Milan PARIVODIC, Minister for International Economic Relations of the Republic of Serbia • Gerhard JANDL, Austrian Ambassador in Belgrade • Werner FASSLABEND, Member of the Austrian Parliament, former Defense Minister

Discussion

12.30 – 13.30 Lunch

13.30 – 15.00 Panel 2: Attracting Investments and Strengthening the Finance Sector in the Balkans

Introduction and Moderation: Jasna MATIC, Director, SIEPA – Serbia Investment and Export Promotion Agency

• , Minister of Economy of the Republic of Serbia • Bojan DIMITRIJEVIĆ, Minister of Trade, Tourism & Services of the Republic of Serbia • Radovan JELASIC, Governor • Dragica PILIPOVIĆ, EBRD Bank for • Carolyn JUNGR, Country Manager, World Bank Country Office for Serbia and Montenegro • Keith E. SIMMONS, Mission Director of USAID – Serbia and Montenegro • Sergio ARZENI, OECD Director, LEED (Local Economic and Employment Development)

Discussion

15.00 – 16.30 Panel 3: The Future of EU Integration of the Balkan

Introduction and Moderation: Tomaz TOPLAK, Vice-President of SME UNION of EPP, former President of the Central Bank of the Republic of Slovenia

• Tanja MISCEVIC, Director, Serbian European Integration Office (SEIO) • Cesare COCCHI, SME Union Italy • Erik KROIHER, International Secretary of Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) • Marko PAUNOVIC, Cabinet of Deputy Prime Minister Labus • Simona MARZETTI, Secretary General of INSME (International Network for SMEs) • Hans-Dieter LEHNEN, Secretary General MIT of CDU/CSU • Hans-Werner MUELLER, Secretary General of the European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-Sized Entrepreneurs (UEAPME) • Christian Wehrschütz, Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF)

Discussion

RSVP until 9 December 2005 per mail: [email protected] / per fax:+32 2 230 92 18

For further information, please contact:

SME UNION of the EPP SME Union Serbia Wolfgang FIEDLER Velimir VUKADIN 22, Rue de Pascale Cara Nikolaja II br.59 1040 Brussels, Belgium Belgrade 11000, Serbia Tel: +32 2 233 38 37 Tel/fax: +381 11 3442 475 Fax: +32 2 230 92 18 [email protected] [email protected] www.srb-smeunion.org

Hotel reservation in Belgrade: Hotel Inter Continental Vladimira Popovica 10, Belgrade (Serbia) Tel.: +381 11 2204 – 711/712 Fax.: +381 11 3111 – 330/402 E-mail: [email protected] www.ichbg.com