6–7 February 2020

Lidzbark Warmiński

Hotel Krasicki

Pl. Zamkowy 1/7

11-100 Lidzbark Warmiński

 Conference Room

Programme

6^th February (Thursday) 2020

13.30 – 14.00               Arrival

14.00 – 15.00               Lunch

15:00 – 15:30               Registration

15:30 – 16:00               Opening Remarks

Sławomir Dębski, Director, The Polish Institute of International Affairs

Maciej Lang, Undersecretary of State for Security Policy, the Americas, Africa and the Middle East, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Poland

Eduardas Borisovas, Ambassador of Lithuania to Poland 

16.00 – 17.30               Panel I: EU after Brexit—balance of power among EU27 and perspectives for new coalitions

Having the new European Parliament and European institutions in power, Member States are facing the challenge of outlining the EU’s agenda for the upcoming years. The Union itself is struggling with Brexit and the need to reconcile diverging concepts of Europe’s future. Also, assessing security threats along the EU’s eastern and southern borders remains a divisive issue. In these circumstances, close cooperation between Poland and Lithuania is especially desirable.

• How to combine the deepening and widening trends within the European Union?
• What will be the impact of Brexit on the integration process and cooperation in Europe?
• How can Lithuania’s membership in the eurozone influence its economic cooperation with Poland?

Melchior Szczepanik, Analyst, The Polish Institute of International Affairs

Irmina Matonytė, Ieva Gajauskaitė, General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania

Moderator: Mindaugas Jurkynas, Vytautas Magnus University 

19.30 – 21.00               Dinner and Night Session

Zbigniew Rau, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Sejm of the Republic of Poland

                                    Moderator: Sławomir Dębski, The Polish Institute of International Affairs

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7^th February (Friday) 2020

8.00 – 9.00                  Breakfast

9.00 – 10.30                 Panel II: Belarus—achievements and difficulties in bilateral cooperation

The threat against  the security system in Europe—as a result of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine —has particularly affected Belarus. This influences many dimensions of Poland and Lithuania’s cooperation with this country. On the one hand, it applies to the potential of bilateral collaboration, for instance in the sphere of economics or cross-border cooperation. On the other, it has consequences for the energy sector, crucial for both Lithuania and Poland. Moreover, shaping relations with Belarus via the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) within  the EU’s foreign and security policy will be also challenging for both countries.

• What is the current potential for economic cooperation with Belarus?
• To what extent can collaboration in the energy sector be affected by divergent interests?
• What are the perspectives for the bilateral relations of Poland and Lithuania with Belarus in the context of further EU eastern policy and its engagement in the Eastern Partnership?

Anna Maria Dyner, Analyst, The Polish Institute of International Affairs

Viktorija Rusinaitė, Head of the European Security Program, Vilnius Institute for Policy Analysis

Moderator: Kinga Raś, Analyst, The Polish Institute of International Affairs

10:30 – 11:00               Coffee break

11.00 – 12.30               Panel III: Challenges in transatlantic relations in the era of growing great power competition

For both Poland and Lithuania, U.S. engagement in the field of security is assessed as crucial for stability in the regioin. Meanwhile, a tendency to loosen transatlantic relations in times of new global threats is visible. For instance, the U.S. generally reduces their military involvement in the world, and this can be challenging for Poland and Lithuania, especially when circumstances are far from convenient.

• What perspectives does the future of transatlantic security cooperation and NATO have?
• What are Poland and Lithuania’s approaches to the development of EU security and defence policy?
• How can a common, long-term Russia policy agenda be developed?

Wojciech Lorenz, Coordinator, Programme: International Security The Polish Institute of International Affairs

Ieva Karpavičiūtė, Vytautas Magnus University  

Moderator: Virgis Valentinavičius, Mykolas Romeris University 

12.30 - 13.00              Concluding remarks

                                    Sławomir Dębski, Director, The Polish Institute of International Affairs

                                    Andžej Pukšto, Vytautas Magnus University

13.00 - 14.00             Lunch

14.00 – 14.30             Departure

The event will be held in English.

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