Berlin – The EU's border revolution: Schengen White List Project board meeting

11 November 2010
"White List Project" board meeting in Berlin, 11 November 2010. Photo: ESI
"White List Project" board meeting in Berlin, 11 November 2010. Photo: ESI

On 11 November, the members of ESI's "White List Project" board met at the premises of the Robert Bosch Stiftung in Berlin. They discussed the "EU's border revolution" in the wake of the visa liberalization for the countries of the Western Balkans and new challenges ahead.

Two special guests briefed the board members on the situation in their countries: Kosovo's Minister of the Interior Bajram Rexhepi and Nicu Popescu, adviser to the Prime Minister of Moldova. Before the meeting, ESI's Alexandra Stiglmayer and Gerald Knaus met with board member Otto Schily, former Minister of the Interior of Germany.

In the evening the group met with three members of the German Bundestag, including Ruprecht Polenz, CDU, Rainer Stinner, FDP, and Dietmar Nietan, SDP. ESI senior analyst Besa Shahini also participated in the dinner meeting.

Charles Clarke – Giuliano Amato – Misha Glenny – Tanja Fajon – Bajram Rexhepi
Charles Clarke – Giuliano Amato – Misha Glenny – Tanja Fajon – Bajram Rexhepi

Participants:

  • Giuliano Amato, chairman of the advisory board
  • Charles Clarke, former UK Home Secretary
  • Misha Glenny, historian and author
  • Sandra Breka, head of the Berlin office of the Robert Bosch Stiftung
  • Gerald Knaus, ESI chairman
  • Alexandra Stiglmayer, project director and ESI senior analyst
  • Besa Shahini, ESI senior analyst

Special guests:

  • Bajram Rexhepi, Interior Minister of Kosovo
  • Nicu Popescu, advisor to the Prime Minister of Moldova
  • Tanja Fajon, EP rapporteur on visa-free travel for Western Balkans countries

Guests at the dinner:

  • Ruprecht Polenz, CDU, MP and Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Bundestag
  • Rainer Stinner, FDP, MP and Foreign Affairs Speaker of the FDP in the Bundestag
  • Dietmar Nietan, SPD, MP and member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Bundestag