Conferences
Conference program
AGENDA
International Interdepartamental Scientific JEAN MONNET CONFERENCE
„Challenges of the Western Balkans countries to the Accession on the EU Internal Market “
13th of November, 2025
Faculty of Economics-Skopje, Ss.Cyril and Methodius University Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
9:00 – 9:30 | Registration | |
9:30 – 10:00 | Opening Ceremony – Amphitheater 1 | |
10:00 – 11:00 | Plenary Lecture 1: What Makes Universities Economically Useful—and What This Means for Developing Economies Keld Laursen, PhD, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark Amphitheater 1 | |
11:00 – 11:30 | Coffee Break | |
11:30-13:00 | PANEL DISCUSSION „Challenges of the Western Balkans countries to the Accession on the EU Internal Market “ (Amphitheater 2) | |
Moderator: Prof. Katerina Toshevska – Trpchevska | ||
1. Prof. Marko Tomljanović, Prof. Igor Cvečić, and Prof. Alen Host – The Western Balkan Countries and the EU: State and Perspectives of the Integration Process 2. Prof. Ines Kersan-Škabić – The Western Balkan Countries’ Position in Global Value Chains: Facts and Perspectives 3. Prof. Predrag Bjelić, Prof. Paskal Zhelev, Prof. Radmila Dragutinović Mitrović, Ass. Prof. Radovan Kastratović and Prof. Ivana Popović Petrović – Effects on Global Value Chains Participation: Does European Union Membership Play a Role? 4. Prof. Nenad Janković and Božidar Čakajac –Services – West Balkan Countries’ Export Potential) 5. Prof. Nenad Stanišić, Ass. Filip Bugarčić Convergence of the Western Balkans with the European Union | ||
13:00 – 13:45 | Buffet Lunch | |
13:45 – 14:45 | SESSION 1: Economic Development, Infrastructure, and Policy Challenges (Amphitheater 2) | |
Moderator: Prof. Predrag Bjelić | ||
1. Prof. Radovan Kovačević – The Impact of Public Debt on Economic Growth in CEFTA Countries – A Dynamic Panel ARDL Analysis 2. Prof. Miloš Todorović, Prof. Aleksandra Đorđević, and Ass. Milan Kalinović – Western Balkan Countries’ Exchange Rate Policy Efficiency 3. Prof. Albana Borici (Begani) – Evaluating the Role of Airport Growth in Fostering Commerce and Investment: The Case of Tirana International Airport 4. Prof. Mile Bošnjak, Prof. Ivan Novak, and Prof. Davor Filipović – The Impact of Trade Openness on Income Inequality: Evidence from the European Union 5. Prof. Joel Deichmann – Western Balkan Accession to the European Union: Comparative Assessment of Motivations and Impediments | ||
14:45-16:15 | SESSION 2: Sustainability, Climate Policy, and Green Transition (Amphitheater 2) | |
Moderator: Prof. Radovan Kovačević | ||
1. Prof. Zoran Jolevski – The Impact of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on North Macedonia’s Exports to the European Union 2. Prof. Elena Makrevska Disoska, Prof. Katerina Toshevska-Trpchevska, and Ass. Prof. Viktor Stojkoski – The Impact of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on Western Balkan Exports: Challenges and Policy Responses 3. Prof. Irena Kikerkova and PhD student Ivana Ivanova – Monitoring Trade in Plastic Waste and Scrap in North Macedonia 4. Prof. Ognjen Erić, Predrag Ilić, and Prof. Bojan Baškot 5. Prof. Tereza De Castro, PhD Student Jana Vlčková, and Prof. Cristina Ilinitchi-Procházková – Integration into Low-Carbon Technology GVCs: The Case of Visegrad 6. Prof. Kristina Afrić Rakitovac- The Environmental Dimension of the Western Balkans’ Accession to the EU Internal Market 7. Elvin Alirzayev, PhD – Customs Policy and Green Transport: Comparative Perspectives from the European Union and Azerbaijan | ||
16:15 – 16:30 | Coffee Break | |
16:30 – 17:30 | SESSION 3: Political and economic dimensions of EU enlargement, migration, and structural change (Amphitheater 2) | |
Moderator: Prof. Irena Kikerkova | ||
1. Prof. Emilija Miteva-Kacarski and Prof. Kostadinka Panova – Trade Relations Between the Republic of North Macedonia and CEFTA 2006: A Comparative Analysis 2. Prof. Cristina Procházková Ilinitchi and Prof. Tereza De Castro – Shifting Motives: How the War in Ukraine Reshaped Remittance Behaviour Among Ukrainian Migrants in the Czech Republic 3. Prof. Kosjenka Dumančić and Ass. Prof. Jelena Tadić Cegnar – Migrant Platform Workers in Croatia 4. Ass. Jasna Tonovska – Do multinationals pull economies downstream? Evidence from Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltics 5. Prof. Jakub Doński-Lesiuk – The concept of research on the development of rail transportation in the Republic of North Macedonia – assumptions and methodology 6. PhD student Petar Vićentić – Contemporary Trade Measures: Primarily Economic Instruments or Political Tools? | ||
19:30 | Gala Dinner | |
Challenges of the Western Balkans countries to the Accession on the EU Internal Market
CALL FOR PAPERS for the
International Interdepartmental Scientific
JEAN MONNET CONFERENCE
on the topic:
„Challenges of the Western Balkans countries to the Accession on the EU Internal Market “
Dear Colleagues,
Building on the success of the previous international interdepartmental scientific conferences organized by the regional Departments of International Trade, the Department of International Trade at the Faculty of Economics – Skopje, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, is pleased to continue this tradition. We cordially invite you to participate in the International Interdepartmental Scientific Jean Monnet Conference “Challenges of the Western Balkans countries to the Accession on the EU Internal Market”, which will take place on 13th November 2025, at the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Faculty of Economics – Skopje.
In an era of successive global crises, forming a chain of economic disruptions, international trade stands at the intersection of both challenges and solutions. Key issues such as trade policies, supply chain resilience, digitalization, and sustainable trade practices have become central to academic research and policy discussions. This conference aims to examine the impact of contemporary crises on global trade flows, market integration, trade agreements, and international business strategies. By analysing the origins, dynamics, and consequences of these disruptions, participants will contribute to scholarly debates and offer policy recommendations for navigating future uncertainties.
Beyond academic discussions, the conference serves as a platform for fostering collaboration and developing joint research initiatives in the field of international trade. We look forward to your participation and valuable contributions.
SUBMISSION AND PARTICIPATION
We invite all interested authors from the Departments of International Trade and related fields to submit an abstract or a full paper on one of the following topics concerning the challenges and responses to economic crises:
- International Trade and Economic Growth
- Trade Policies and Economic Integration
- Global Supply Chains and Resilience
- Trade Wars and Protectionism
- Digital Trade and E-Commerce
- Trade in Services
- Trade and Labor Markets
- Trade and Income Inequality
- Environmental Impact of Trade
- Sustainable Trade Practices
- Regional Trade Agreements
- Trade Finance and Investment
- Trade Facilitation and Logistics
- Impact of Sanctions and Embargoes
- Innovation and Competitiveness in International Trade
- Trade and Emerging Markets
- Crisis Management in International Trade
- Digitalization and Trade Transformation
- Legal Aspects of International Trade
We welcome submissions that address these topics from various theoretical, empirical, and policy-oriented perspectives.
There is no registration fee for the conference. Participation in the conference is also possible without presentation.
Interested participants could submit full papers for publishing in English. All submitted full papers will be subject to a double-blind peer review process. The accepted and presented papers will be published in the Jean Monnet scientific monograph titled “Challenges of the Western Balkans countries to the Accession on the EU Internal Market” with an associated ISBN. The papers should be written in an understandable English language and according to the author’s instructions.
The full papers (in English) should be submitted in .doc or .docx format by e-mail to: katerina@eccf.ukim.edu.mk and jasna.tonovska@eccf.ukim.edu.mk.
The papers could be presented in English or in local official languages.
IMPORTANT DATES
Please note the following deadlines for submission and registration for the conference:
- Abstract submission: 31.07.2025
- Abstract acceptance notification: 15.08.2025
- Full paper submission and registration: 30.09.2025
- Paper acceptance notification: 15.10.2025
For more detailed information about the conference, visit the website www.eumarket-eccf.com or contact the members of the Organizing committee via e-mail katerina@eccf.ukim.edu.mk or jasna.tonovska@eccf.ukim.edu.mk.
Please feel free to share this call for papers with your colleagues and associates.
We are looking forward to welcoming you in Skopje in November 2025.
Template for the Completed research papers can be downloaded HERE.
Best regards.
Organization Committee
Organization Committee:
- Prof. Katerina Toshevska-Trpchevska, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Faculty of Economics – Skopje, President
- Prof. Predrag Bjelić, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Economics and Business, Serbia
- Prof. Irena Kikerkova, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Faculty of Economics – Skopje
- Prof. Elena Makrevska Disoska, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Faculty of Economics – Skopje
- Prof. Radovan Kovačević, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Economics and Business, Serbia
- Prof. Miloš Todorović, University of Niš, Faculty of Economics, Serbia
- Prof. Nenad Stanišić, University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Economics, Serbia
- Prof. Snjezana Brkić, University of Sarajevo, School of Economics and Business, B&H
- Prof. Marko Đogo, University of East Sarajevo, Faculty of Economics, B&H
- Prof. Dragan Gligorić, University of Banja Luka, Faculty of Economics, B&H
- Prof. Ines Kersan-Škabić, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Faculty of Economics and Tourism, Croatia
- Prof. Sanda Soucie, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Economics and Business, Croatia
- Prof. Marko Tomljanović, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Economics and Business, Croatia
- Prof. Danijela Jacimovic, University of Montenegro, Faculty of Economics, Montenegro
- Prof. Paskal Želev, University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria
- Prof. Albana Begani-Borici, University Luigj Gurakuqi, Faculty of Economics, Shkodër, Albania
- Prof. Ljuben Kocev, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Faculty of Economics – Skopje
- Jasna Tonovska, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Faculty of Economics – Skopje
