Further support for reforms in Armenia with Visegrad Four's know-how
The project focused on some of the issues set among reform priorities by the Armenian government and the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, as well as on some common challenges. It also built upon the experiences from the project implemented in 2020-2021, Advancing reforms in Armenia with Visegrad Four’s know-how.
The project included webinars with policy experts from Visegrad Four states, as well as experts' visits to Armenia, with meetings and roundtable discussions with Armenian experts and officials, focusing on issues such as
- security policy of Visegrad Four states;
- digitalisation and information society development;
- healthcare and management of crisis situations;
- municipal governance.
Policy papers prepared by CPS staff and affiliated experts as the project outcome:
On 21-22 November 2022, CPS organised the visit of Ján Cingel, the CEO of the Strategic Analysis think tank, to Yerevan. On 21 November, Ján Cingel made a presentation on Slovak Defence Policy in the Regional Context at a conference attended by public officials and experts. The project's first event was opened with welcome notes by CPS vice president Armen Grigoryan and deputy head of mission of the Embassy of Slovakia in Armenia Pavol Popjak.
Ján Cingel also gave an interview to 1in.am about the perceptions of Slovakia and the EU of the situation in Armenia (video dubbed into Armenian).
On 22 November, Ján Cingel moderated the presentation by Rastislav Janota, Director of the National Cyber Security Centre of the National Security Authority of the Slovak Republic: Cybersecurity Governance in Slovakia with the Focus on Legislation and Practical Questions.
An additional expert meeting took place on the premises of the Armenian Institute of International and Security Affairs. Regional security issues and the prospects for the Eastern Partnership were discussed.
On 12-13 December 2022, CPS organised the visit of Jan Havlíček, researcher from the Prague-based Institute for Politics and Society, to Yerevan.
On 12 December, Jan Havlíček made a presentation on digitalisation of public services in the Czech Republic at a conference attended by public officials and experts (see below). He also gave an interview to the Aravot daily: Hybrid Threats in the Centre of Attention.
On 18-19 January 2023, CPS organised the visit of the Wojciech Przybylski, chairman of the Res Publica Foundation and editor-in-chief of Visegrad Insight, to Yerevan. On 18 January, Wojciech Przybylski made a presentation on Poland's security policy at a conference attended by public officials and experts. The event was opened with welcome notes by CPS vice president Armen Grigoryan and ambassador of Poland in Armenia Paweł Cieplak.
On 19 January, an additional expert meeting and a discussion on Armenia's security environment took place on the premises of the Armenian Institute of International and Security Affairs.
Digitalisation and information society development
On 12-13 December 2022, CPS organised the visit of Jan Havlíček, researcher from the Prague-based Institute for Politics and Society, to Yerevan.
On 12 December, Jan Havlíček made a presentation on digitalisation of public services in the Czech Republic at a conference attended by public officials and experts.
Online discussion on the topic 'Startup ecosystems in Visegrad Four countries' with Nicole Azimioara, researcher from the Prague-based Institute for Politics and Society (19 December 2022).
Online discussion on the topic 'Start-up ecosystems' with Timothy Gittins, Professor of Entrepreneurship, Corvinus University, Budapest (17 January 2023).
Livestreamed discussion on the digitalisation agenda and cybersecurity issues at Media Centre (10 May 2023), with participation of Armen Grigoryan, Victoria Melkonyan, and Mary Sheroyan (CEO, Digital Armenia).
Healthcare reforms and management of crisis situations
On 14-15 December 2022, CPS organised the visit of Balázs Váradi, senior researcher from the Budapest Institute for Policy Analysis, to Yerevan.
On 14 December, Balázs Váradi made a presentation on Hungary's experience of crisis management during the Covid pandemic at a conference attended by public officials and experts.
On 15 December, there was a working lunch with Dr Samvel Kharazyan, expert on healthcare financing, member of the working group planning introduction of a universal health insurance system at the Ministry of Health of Armenia.
Online discussion on the Slovak healthcare model and Covid crisis management with Radovan Lapuník, researcher, Faculty of Economics, Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia (25 January 2023).
Online discussion on the Slovak model of municipal governance with Katarína Sýkorová, assistant professor, Faculty of Economics, Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica (24 January 2023).
Online discussion on the Polish model of municipal governance with Michał Dulak, lecturer at the Chair of Studies on Integration Processes, Institute of Political Science and International Relations, Jagiellonian University, Krakow (24 February 2023).
Online discussion on the Czech model of municipal governance with Tomáš Vlach, deputy mayor of Ústí nad Labem (7 March 2023).
Livestreamed discussion on municipal governance issues at Media Centre (27 April 2023), with participation of Tatevik Ghazaryan and Levon Chukaklyan (president, 'Mitk' educational centre).
