Regional Director for Southeastern Europe of Hanns Seidel Foundation

Klaus Fiesinger

Dr. Klaus Fiesinger is regional director for Southeast Europe of the Hanns Seidel Foundation. In this function, he is responsible for promoting the European idea, international dialogue, cross-border cooperation, political culture and civic education in new EU member states, candidate countries as well as potential candidate countries. Since 1992, he has been head of the Division for Central, East and Southeast Europe and Central Asia at the Hanns Seidel Foundation in Munich. Furthermore, Dr. Fiesinger is member of IDM, the Austrian Institute in Vienna for the Danube Zone and Central Europe as well as of “Südosteuropa Gesellschaft”. Dr. Fiesinger received his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Munich. He is author of the book “Ballhausplatz – Diplomatie 1945-1949.” From 2004 until 2012, he was visiting professor at the Andrassy University in Budapest. Occasionally he gives lectures on Euro-regions, cross-border police cooperation and political education.

Director of Research, Cooperation and Development Institute, Tirana

Ardian Hackaj

Ardian Hackaj is the Director of Research at Cooperation and Development Institute – an independent Tirana-based think tank. He has authored research works on the Berlin Process, on youth, migration, connectivity and Belt & Road Initiative in the Western Balkans. During his career, Mr. Hackaj has held management positions at the College of Europe-Bruges, International Organization for Migration, United Nations, and the EU Commission. He holds an MA from College of Europe, a BA in International Economics from Université Lumière, Lyon II, and a University Diploma in European Studies from Institut d’Etudes Politiques, Lyon.

Executive Director of the Economic Policy Institute (EPI)

Yasen Georgiev

Yasen Georgiev is Executive Director of the Economic Policy Institute (EPI). Since 2008 he has been the Bulgaria-Coordinator of the Marshall Memorial Fellowship – a flagship leadership program of the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

Yasen Georgiev is elected Member of the National Advisory Board of the Diplomatic Institute to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria for a third two-year term. He is also Member of the Public Consultations Council within the Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds, National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria for a second term.

Yasen Georgiev speaks and writes on economic policy issues such as competitiveness, entrepreneurship and SMEs. His strategic thinking revolves around the economic development and good governance challenges of Central and Eastern Europe. He also covers topics on EU’s internal agenda.

Yasen contributes frequently to local and foreign media outlets including Bloomberg TV (Bulgaria), Emerging Europe (UK), Hospodářské noviny (Czech Republic) and Balkan Insight.