FoRLED 2018

The 3rd Forum on Regional and Local Economic Development-FoRLED
Vlore, Albania – November 19-21 November 2018

“To go far, go together”.

“What future for Western Balkans? A vision from local and regional perspective”

“The future of the EU integration of Western Balkans countries and the role of the regions and cities.”

The 3rd Forum on Regional and Local Economic Development in Western Balkans is organized by the Center for European Policy Studies for Regional and Local Development in cooperation with the European Academy of Regions, the University Ismail Qemali of Vlora, the Regional Council of Vlora Region, Vlora Municipality, Regional Youth Center of Vlora, Albanian Associazion of Regions, Chember of Commerce and Industry of Albania and will be under the auspices, support and strategic cooperation of many international, European and Western Balkan Organizations.

The forum has a multidisciplinary approach and intends to bring together, every year, scholars from abroad range of disciplines including anthropology, demography, economics, law, psychology, sociology, geography, development studies, innovation, health sciences, political science, international relations and other related disciplines with a focus on regional economic development. Inter-disciplinary research and comparative perspectives are particularly encouraged.

The forum will start with the Plenary session, keynote speeches by distinguished scholars in regional development studies. The rest of the forum will be composed of series of thematic panels, with several research papers presentations, one presentation by invited practitioner (government institutions, NGO, international organizations, experts) followed by a discussion of the issues raised at a panel.

The aim

The Forum aim to foster the exchange of ideas, reflections and prospects encouraging academics to get more comprehensive information on “real world” issues and policy makers using what emerges from the academic debate. In other words, the basic idea is to promote dialogue with people from different points of view dealing with the same issues and seeking innovative, effective and efficient policy solutions.

The aim of the forum is to bring together scholars and the policy makers from Western Balkans in order to create for exchange of knowledge and discussions of the issues that surround regional and local economic development research and policy , to challenge the existing models and discourses of regional and local economic development, to address current policy challenges and to offer the solutions for better utilization of human mobility. Although the regional focus is on the Western Balkans, we encourage the submissions and participation by scholars and practitioners working in others regions as well, since their experience may be very beneficial for our region and our region will be more attractive.

PARTICIPANTS

Participation in the Forum is open to public officials on different levels: local, regional, and national level, in Western Balkan Bodies and Institutions, in the EU, international organizations, diplomats, entrepreneurs and organizations of entrepreneurs, the public and private regional development agencies, academics, experts and civil society from different countries as well as other interested persons on the themes of Regional and Local Economic Development.

WESTERN BALKANS FORUM STATES

Albania (hosting country)- Bosnia/Herzegovina – FYROM – Kosovo – Montenegro – Serbia.

Draft Axhenda