AGENDA

Join conference of Green Habito and EuroMeduc Networks
26-29th November 2026, Tallinn/Narva, Estonia |

Security and Civil Society Conference 2026

 “Safer and stronger together: strengthening Europe’s civil resilience and preparedness in time of realpolitik”

PROGRAMME 26th– 29th of November, in Narva, Estonia

Thursday, 26th November 2026 Arrivals and sightseeing in Tallinn

  • The arrival of Officials and Speakers in Tallinn
  • The arrival of Delegates and Experts (on the 25th and 26th November in Tallinn)
  • Registration to the Conference
  • Preparation of Conference and visiting CSOs and governmental institutions
  • Sightseeing tours in Tallinn
  • Dinner in Tallinn, Ulemiste Centre
  • Departure at 19.00pm to Narva- Jõesuu and Narva (Accommodation places)
  • Arrival in Meresuu Spa Hotel and/or Narva Hotel at 21.50
  • 22.00 – 22.30 Organising Committee meeting in Meresuu Spa Hotel

Friday, 27th November 2026. OFFICIAL CONFERENCE DAY in Narva College of Tartu University, Narva

09.00 – 10.00 Registration and coffee

10.00 – 11.30 The Opening Ceremony and keynote speeches

Moderator of the Conference: Amb. Hatem Atallah

– Welcome speech by Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs or  Estonian Minister of Defence
– Welcome and keynote speech by representative of NATO
– Welcome and keynote speech by representative of European Commission
–  Welcome speech by Maria Gratschew, director of Nordic Council of Ministers´ Office in Estonia
– Welcome speech by Janne Rajala, “Green Habito” European Civil Society Network (Finland)
– Welcome speech by Francisco Nombre, YATA International President (TBC)

11.30 – 13.00 Round Table discussion with experts, delegates and interested members of the public

“Societal Security and Resilience in the Nordic-Baltic and Arctic Region”

Nordic and Baltic governments and institutions prioritize crisis preparedness, societal resilience, and civil security, addressing hybrid threats (e.g., cyberattacks, disinformation), natural disasters, and the coordination of emergency response across states and municipalities. Security in these regions is increasingly shaped by the interaction of hard security dynamics, geopolitical interests, and societal resilience. Governments and institutions focus on crisis preparedness, civil defence, and resilience while responding to shifting geopolitical realities, including great-power competition and the strategic interests of the United States, Russia, and China. Military security, NATO deterrence, critical infrastructure protection, and Arctic militarization intersect with hybrid threats such as cyberattacks, disinformation, energy security risks, and climate-driven disruptions. The panel will discuss how to integrate hard security considerations with a whole-of-society approach, ensuring that defence, civil preparedness, and resilience reinforce democratic values, social cohesion, and public trust. It will also examine how regional cooperation and the role of civil society can strengthen resilience and mitigate the societal impact of crises.

Subtopics for discussion:

  • Great-power competition and its impact on Nordic-Baltic and Arctic security
  • The role of NATO, EU cooperation, and transatlantic relations
  • Russia’s hybrid influence in the region and China’s growing strategic, economic, and technological footprint in the Arctic
  • Protection of critical infrastructure, energy security, and supply chains
  • Linking military preparedness with civil resilience and democratic governance

Moderator:   Ilmar Raag, Security expert (Estonia) or Chris Lunday,  Politico journalist (UK) / TBC

Experts: to be confirmed

  • Anna Wieslander, PhD, is director for Northern Europe and head of the Atlantic Council Northern Europe Office in Stockholm, (Sweden) / TBC
  • Ole Gunnar Håland, Emergency Preparedness Manager, Tromsø Municipality (Norway) / TBC
  • Thierry Rodon, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Université Laval, (Canada) / TBC
  • Romain Chuffart , Nansen Professor in Arctic Studies, Managing Director at The Arctic Institute (Iceland) / TBC
  • Kristoffer Stensrud, Senior Advisor, Nordic Council of Ministers, Security and Civil Preparedness / TBC

12.40 – 13.00 Working groups

13.00 – 14.00 Lunch (on the first floor)

14.00 – 15.30 Round Table discussion with experts, delegates and interested members of public “Inclusive Governance and Institutional Participation in the Euro-Mediterranean Region”

Across the Euro-Mediterranean region, civil society initiatives increasingly seek meaningful and structured participation in policymaking and governance processes at national, regional, and international levels. There is a clear shift from limited, formal consultation toward co-design, shared decision-making, and joint implementation of policies. This trend is particularly visible within frameworks such as the EU’s New Pact for the Mediterranean and the Union for the Mediterranean, which emphasise partnership, mutual accountability, and multi-level governance. The panel explores how institutional participation mechanisms can be strengthened to enable civil society to contribute substantively to policy design, monitoring, and evaluation—particularly in the fields of security, migration, climate action, social cohesion, and democratic governance.

Proposed subtopics for discussion:

  • From consultation to co-creation: what works in practice?
  • Institutional trust and long-term cooperation models
  • Civil society participation in security and migration governance
  • Measuring impact and accountability in participatory governance

Moderator: Anneli Ohvril, moderator

Experts: to be confirmed

  • Josep Ferré is the Executive Director of the Anna Lindh Foundation (Egypt) TBC
  • Representative of EEA (EU External Service) on the topic of the EU’s New Pact for the Mediterranean (Belgium) TBA
  • Representative of European Economic and Social Committee (Belgium) TBA
  • Michael G. Kavuklis, Political Scientist, Coordinator in Chief of the Europe, Entrepreneurship & Sustainable Development Forum of Rhodes
  • Senén Florensa, Executive President, European Institute of the Mediterranean TBC
  • Anna Dorangricchia, Programme Manager Gender Equality, Social and Civil Affairs Division, Union for the Mediterranean TBC

15.30 – 16.00 Working groups

16.00 – 16.15 Coffee break

16.15 – 17.45 Round Table discussion with experts, delegates and interested members of public “Regional Cooperation, Human-Centred Security, and Civil Society Engagement”

Security in the Nordic (including Greenland) and Euro-Mediterranean regions is increasingly framed through human-centred and cross-border cooperation perspectives. Shared challenges – geopolitical tensions, climate change, migration, and hybrid threats – require coordinated responses that go beyond state-centric solutions. Civil society organisations play a crucial role in strengthening community resilience, protecting democratic values, fostering social cohesion, and ensuring inclusive participation. Safeguarding civic space and public trust in institutions is essential for long-term stability and sustainable security in both regions.

Proposed subtopics for discussion:

  • Human security as a bridge between regions
  • Civil society’s role in regional crisis response and prevention
  • Protecting civic space under growing security pressures
  • Local authorities as key actors in cross-border cooperation

Moderator: Ph.D Mette Brogden, The University of Arizona (USA)

Experts: to be confirmed

  • Anna-Kaisa Ikonen, Minister of Local and Regional Government (Finland)
  • Grønlands Ungdoms Fællesråd NGO, Greenland Civil Society Representative
  • Israel Civil Society representative
  • Researchers from USA
  • Inese Vaivare, Director of LAPAS, Latvian Development platform
  • (final list to be confirmed)

17.45 – 18.15 Working groups

18.15 – 18.30 The concluding remarks of the Conference by Moderator: Amb. Hatem Attallah.

19.00 – 21.00 Official Reception and Estonian Culture programme

Saturday, 28th November 2026 OFFICIAL CONFERENCE DAY at the Narva College of Tartu University, Narva

09.30 – 10.00 Elaborating Conference Declaration language on „Empowering Sustainable change through success of Green and Just Transition“

10.00 – 10.20 Summary of the agreements. The conference Moderator & Working Group Rapporteurs

10.20 – 11.00 Keynote speakers on Conference Themes & Goals

11.00 – 13.00 Round Table discussion with experts, delegates and interested members of the public on “Interconnected Security Challenges in Europe and the Mediterranean: State and Civil Society Perspectives”

Migration, conflict, economic instability, and border management shape a complex and interconnected security landscape across Europe and the Mediterranean. From a state perspective, priorities often centre on security, crisis management, and institutional stability. Civil society actors, meanwhile, emphasise human rights, social cohesion, and community resilience. This panel creates space for dialogue between these perspectives, exploring how security measures can be balanced with human-centred approaches and highlighting the role of civil society in shaping inclusive, just, and sustainable solutions in both Europe and the Southern Mediterranean.

Proposed subtopics for discussion:

  • Balancing border security and human rights
  • Civil society as a mediator between communities and institutions
  • Migration governance and shared responsibility
  • Long-term resilience versus short-term security responses

Moderator: Kari Käsper, Head of Office for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Estonia (TBC)

  • Stefanos Vallianatos, Co-Founder of Fotoessa, Head of Greek Network of Anna Lindh Foundation (Greece)
  • Saara Pellander is Director of the Migration Institute of Finland (Finland) 
  • Veiko Kommusaar, Deputy Director General of Estonian Police and Border Guard Board (Estonia) TBC
  • Sophie Beau – Co-founder and General Director, SOS Méditerranée (France) (TBC)
  • Mahmoud Ezzat, Director of Center for Strategic Studies, Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Egypt)
  • List of confirmed experts to be added later.

 12.30 – 13.00 Working groups

13.00 – 14.00 Lunch

14.00 – 15.00 Round Table discussion with experts, delegates and interested members of public on “Bridging Perspectives: State and Civil Society in a Changing Security Landscape

This round table explores how governments, institutions, and civil society can better understand and complement each other in responding to today’s complex and interconnected security challenges. As Europe and the Mediterranean face overlapping pressures—from migration and geopolitical tensions to economic instability and social fragmentation—the discussion focuses on moving beyond siloed responses toward shared responsibility. Participants examine how state-led security approaches can be aligned with human rights, social cohesion, and long-term resilience, drawing on the strengths of civil society as a bridge between institutions and communities. The session highlights trust-building, inclusive governance, and dialogue as essential tools for preventing conflict, managing crises, and shaping sustainable security solutions that place people at the centre.

Moderator: Ivan Vasilevskikh, head of the Compass (Denmark)

  • List of confirmed experts to be added later

15.00 – 15.20 Elaborating Narva Declaration language on “Narva Declaration on Societal Resilience and the Strengthening of Human-Centred Security” (2026)

15.20 – 15.30 The concluding remarks of the Conference by moderator: Amb. Hatem Attallah.

15.30 – 22.00 Estonian Museums and Culture Programme (Vaivara Museum, Sillamäe City Museum and/or Mining Museum in Kohtla Nõmme at 17.00pm) and option to visit Estonian civil society organisations in Ida-Virumaa.  

DAY THREE. Sunday, 29th November 2026. OFFICIAL CONFERENCE DAY at the Narva College of Tartu University, Narva

09.00– 09.30 Official Presentation and adoption of Conference Declaration on Societal Resilience and the Strengthening of Human-Centred Security

09.30 – 10.00 Summary of the agreements – The conference Moderator & Working Group Rapporteurs

10.00 – 12.00 Networking and Visiting Narva Museum & Raekoda

12.00 – 13.00 Official closing lunch

13.00 – 16.00 Departure to Tallinn (arrival in airport and city Centre), Bus to the airport

Organisers reserve the right to make changes to the programme.

Join us virtually on the 27th and 28th November 2026 at Zoom Conference