Idea
Re:Open Zakarpattia – Re:Open Ukraine
Forum of ideas and solutions for victory, peace, rule of law and the EU
Re:Open Zakarpattia is a forum of ideas and solutions for the development of the Zakarpattia region as a multicultural frontier and a bridge of Ukraine to the EU and NATO.
The forum is an independent discussion platform for all actors who develop, influence or take decisions at the local, national and international levels. Re:Open Zakarpattia is initiated and held by the NGO “Institute for Central European Strategy” in partnership with representatives of civil society, state authorities, international partners and businesses.
What is this forum for?
In 2024, the forum will be held for the fifth time in a row. Over the past 4 years, leading Ukrainian and foreign politicians, entrepreneurs, public intellectuals, experts, diplomats, heads of regions and city mayors, military servicemen, volunteers, ecologists, journalists have participated in the forum, in particular, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Oleksandra Matviychuk, the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olga Stefanishyna, former Ukrainian Ministers Dmytro Kuleba, Pavlo Klimkin and Pavlo Sheremeta, Members of the European Parliament Michael Gahler, Viola von Cramon-Taubadel and Andryus Kubilius.
We believe in the power of contextual and interdisciplinary discussions that cover topics of local, national and international importance.
The focus of Re:Open Zakarpattia 2024 will be on reforms that are critical for Ukraine to ensure resilience during the war and simultaneous integration into the EU, and the role of Zakarpattia as a pilot region in implementing and multiplying these reforms in Ukraine. These are primarily the rule of law, good governance, national minority rights, social cohesion, integration of IDPs and veterans, mental health, demography, good neighborliness and security in Central Europe.
The Institute for Central European Strategy (ICES) is a non-governmental organization founded in 2019 that functions as a “think tank” and “do tank”.
ICES implements projects in the fields of analytics, education, media development, countering disinformation and hybrid threats, rule of law, local government, cross-border cooperation, reform advocacy, geopolitics, cultural and expert diplomacy, etc. The institute operates simultaneously at local and regional, national and international levels.
Institute aims at conceptualizing and advocating Ukraine’s new strategy in Central Europe that would bring about the consolidation of this geopolitical region and the country’s integration into the transatlantic community.
ICES is a founder and organizer of such forums as Re:Open Zakarpattia and Dialogues on Europe, initiative Re:Open Ukraine (which covers Transcarpathia, Bukovyna and Odesa regions, as well as Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania), providing institutional development of such media outlets as Varosh and Infopost.
Speakers
Program
Registration and welcome coffee
Official opening of the 5th Re:Open Zakarpattia forum
Speaker and host: Rosana Tuzhanska, expert in organization and media development, co-founder of Varosh
Opening speech “The Choice”
Speaker: Pavlo Velychko, lieutenant and commander of the first rifle company of the 68th separate battalion of the TRO
Dialogue on War, Peace, Ukrainian Resilience, Good Governance, Difficult Decisions and New Leaders
Speakers: Pavlo Velychko and Pavlo Kazarin.
Keynote speech “Integrity as the “new sexy”, and basis for development, reconstruction and accession of Ukraine to the EU”
Speaker: Viktor Pavlushchyk, Head of the National Agency for the Corruption Prevention (NACP)
Keynote speech “Dutch perspective on Ukraine’s EU accession: views from an EU Founding Member”
Speaker: Alle Dorhout, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Ukraine
Panel discussion #1. Building Integrity and Good Governance for Recovery and European Integration: Give us an Action Plan
Speakers:
- Viktor Pavlushchyk, Head of the National Agency for the Corruption Prevention (NACP)
- Alle Dorhout, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Ukraine
- Ruslana Naturkach, Chief of Staff of the Zakarpattia Regional State Administration
- Frans Geraedts, partner at Governance and Integrity
- Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, MP, Head of the Parliamentary Committee on Freedom of Speech
Moderator: Andriy Sheketa, First Deputy Head of the Zakarpattia Regional Council
Commentator:
- Zoltán Babják, Mayor of Berehove municipality
- Volodymyr Hnatkivsky, chief of staff of the Transcarpathian Regional Council
Lunch, Irys restaurant, Derenivska Kupil resort
Public attitudes in Ukraine and its regions: Democratic Initiatives Foundation: the Democratic Initiatives Foundation
Speaker: Vladyslava Znoviak, analyst at the Democratic Initiatives Foundation
Hardtalk with the Head of the Zakarpattia Regional State Administration Myroslav Biletskyi and the Head of the Zakarpattia Regional Council Roman Sarai
Moderator: Tetiana Kohutych, Ukrinform journalist
Commentators:
- Pavlo Sheremeta, Minister of Economy of Ukraine in 2014
- Mykola Syusko, Deputy Head of the U-LEAD Regional Activity Department
A series of stand-up speeches “Stories of Resilience, Victory and Challenges”
- Pavlo Sheremeta, Minister of Economy of Ukraine 2014. What civil servants need to learn if Ukraine is to survive and join the EU. Homework for officials
- Antonio Lukic and Mykhailo Karpenko, Nasha Fayta, On a feature-length animated film as a promotion of the region and breaking stereotypes
- Vasyl Ivancho, Deputy Head of the Zakarpattia Regional State Administration. From a subsidized province to a growth point: how to achieve sustainable development in Zakarpattia
- Ivan and Leonid Ilko, authors of the project “Horyany Rotunda. Digital Dimension”. Discovering historical heritage for yourself and the world
- Kateryna Okhremenko, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at balbek bureau
- Viktor Mykhailov, restaurateur. How businesses can survive in times of war and continue to promote an authentic product
- Oleksandr Volosyansky, How to keep the government in line while on the front line
“What Hungary expects from Ukraine. And what Ukraine should expect from Hungary”.
Hard-talk with Csilla Fedinec, Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Social Sciences of the Hungarian Research Network & András Rácz, senior research fellow at DGAP’s Center for Order and Governance in Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia
Moderator: Andriy Lyubka, Director of the Institute for Central European Strategy
Panel discussion #2. National Communities of Ukraine as Unobvious Lobbyists of European Integration”
Speakers:
- Volodymyr Kulyk, professor at the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE)
- Andrzej Sadecki, Head of the Central European Department at the OSW (Poland)
- Csilla Fedinec, Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Social Sciences of the Hungarian Research Network (Hungary)
- Yaroslava Riznykova, Deputy Head of the Department – Head of the Department of Culture, Nationalities and Religions of the Department of Culture, Nationalities, Religions and Protection of Cultural Heritage Sites of the Odesa Regional State Administration
- Yulia Hrytsku, Advisor to the Head of the Chernivtsi Regional State Administration on European Integration and International Grants
Moderator: Andriy Lyubka, Director of the Institute for Central European Strategy
Commentators:
- László Zubánics, the head of the Hungarian Democratic Union of Ukraine
- Vitaliy Dyachuk, analyst at the Institute for Central European Strategy, editor-in-chief of Infopost
Debate. It’s not just about Svydovets: how to ensure sustainable development of mountainous areas
Speakers:
- Petro Testov, NGO “Ukrainian Nature Protection Group”
- Andriy Delyatynchuk, head of Yasinya municipality
- Ihor Melnychuk, Head of the Association of Local Governments of Prykarpattia (online)
- Yuriy Sikun, head of the NGO “Union of Entrepreneurs of Dragobrat Resort”
Moderator: Tetyana Kohutych, journalist, Ukrinform
Recap of the day in a live studio format
Speakers:
- Pavlo Sheremeta, Minister of Economy of Ukraine 2014
- Ruslana Naturkach, Chief of Staff of the Zakarpattia Regional State Administration
- Zoya Kazanzhy, media manager and writer
- Pavlo Kazarin, soldier
Moderator: Rosana Tuzhanska, expert on organization and media development, co-founder of Varosh
Dinner, Irys restaurant, Derenivska Kupil resort
Registration and welcome coffee
Follow-up of the previous day and announcement of the second day of the forum
Speaker and host: Rosana Tuzhanska, expert in organization and media development, co-founder of Varosh
Panel discussion #3. Development of regions and cooperation between them as a guarantee of national stability and unity
Speakers:
- Viktor Mykyta, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine
- Andriy Karausch, Head of Rivne Regional Council
- Serhiy Bostan, Director of the Department of Social and Economic Development and Strategic Planning of Chernivtsi City Council
- Solomiya Bobrovska, Member of Parliament of Ukraine of the IX convocation, Committee on National Security and Defense
Moderator: Andriy Sheketa, First Deputy Head of the Transcarpathian Regional Council
Commentator:
- Mykola Syusko, Deputy Head of the U-LEAD Regional Activity Department
- Serhiy Hemberg, Regional Project Manager of the USAID Competitive Economy Program in Ukraine
Panel discussion #4. “Information warfare, news deserts and the role of media in the resilience and reconstruction of Ukraine’s regions”
Speakers:
- Gillian McCormack, Internews Country Director in Ukraine
- Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, MP, Head of the Parliamentary Committee on Freedom of Speech
- Oksana Romaniuk, Director of the Institute of Mass Information
- Olgа Myrovych, Head of Lviv Media Forum
- Gaigiziz Geldiev, co-founder of Jnomics
Moderator: Zoya Kazanzhy, journalist and writer
Commentator: Svitlana Bodnar, journalist
Panel discussion #5. “From Good Neighborliness to a New Central Europe as a Shield of the West”
Speakers:
- Tadeusz Iwański, Head of the Department for Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova at the OSW
- András Rácz, senior research fellow at DGAP’s Center for Order and Governance in Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia
- Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the European Union
- Oleksandr Sushko, Executive Director of the International Renaissance Foundation
Moderator: Tim Judah, writer, reporter, political analyst at The Economist
Commentator: Ivo Mijnssen, Ukraine correspondent at Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ, Switzerland)
Lunch, Irys restaurant
Panel discussion #6. “For a Match to Happen and Ukraine to Win: International Grant Support for Civil Society Initiatives in the Time of War”
Speakers:
- Jan Philipp Wölbern, Deputy Director of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Ukraine
- Karine Meaux, Emergency Head of Unit at Fondation de France
- Gillian McCormack, Internews Country Director in Ukraine
- Uliana Bakh, project director at IREX
- Oleksandr Sushko, Executive Director of the International Renaissance Foundation
Moderator: Yulia Serbina, Community Development Specialist, UNDP Ukraine
Panel discussion #7. “Veterans and rehabilitation. What Zakarpattia should do today”
Speakers:
- Masi Nayyem, human rights activist, Armed Forces serviceman
- Taras Haiduk, head of the project office of the 4.5.0 rehabilitation center
- Uliana Bakh, project director at IREX
- Coline Maestracci, doctor in political science, Independent Researcher
- Ivona Kostyna, co-founder of VeteranHub
Moderator: Inna Pryhara, civic activist, volunteer, member of the NGO “Transcarpathian Association of Local Development”
Break
“Between theory, practice and benchmark of the good governance and integrity in Ukraine and the EU”.
Conversation between Oleksandr Yarema, State Secretary of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, and Frans Geradts, co-founder of Governance and Integrity (Netherlands)
Results of the forum in a live studio format
Speakers:
- Tim Judah, political commentator at The Economist
- Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, MP, Head of the Parliamentary Committee on Freedom of Speech
- Csilla Fedynets, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Minority Studies, Center for Social Sciences (Hungary)
Moderator: Rosana Tuzhanska, expert on organization and media development, co-founder of Varosh
Official closing of the forum and “family photo”
Speaker: Andriy Lyubka, Director of the Institute for Central European Strategy
Dinner, Irys restaurant, Derenivska Kupil resort
Partners
