7 May 2026 (Ministerial segment)
Arrival, Registration and Welcome Coffee
Media Statements
Official Opening Ceremony
Official Opening Ceremony
Keynote Opening Address:
- H.E. Hristijan Mickoski, Prime Minister of North Macedonia
Opening Remarks:
- H.E. Fatmir Limani, Minister of Social Policy, Demography and Youth, North Macedonia
- H.E. Timčo Mucunski, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, North Macedonia
- Pio Smith, Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director (Programme) a.i., UNFPA
- Alain Berset, Council of Europe Secretary General
- Tatiana Molcean, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of UNECE
- Rita Columbia, United Nations Resident Coordinator in North Macedonia
Master of Ceremony:
- Kasia Madera, Journalist and Broadcaster
Moderator:
- Vlatko Gjorchev, National Coordinator for Demography, Youth and Human Resources, North Macedonia
Keynote Presentation
Dr. Rachel Snow, Global population and public health expert
Group Photo
Demographic Trends and Public Policies: From challenge to resilience
Speakers:
- H.E. Natalia Plugaru, Minister of Labour and Social Protection, Moldova
- H.E. Jelena Žarić Kovačević, Minister of Family Care and Demography, Serbia
- Eldor Tulyakov, Executive Director, Development Strategy Centre, Uzbekistan
- Serhii Sobchuk, Director General in the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity, Ukraine
- Tigran Jrbashyan, Partner, Ameria Think Tank
- Öndercan Muti, Deputy Executive Secretary, Population Europe
Moderators:
- Florence Bauer, Regional Director, UNFPA in Eastern Europe & Central Asia
- H.E. Michalis Rokas, Ambassador of the European Union to North Macedonia
Lunch
Youth Fertility Aspirations Survey: Preliminary regional findings
Presented by Eduard Mihalas, Regional Adviser on Population and Data, UNFPA in Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Empowering People: Human capital, family-friendly policies, healthy & active ageing
Speakers:
- H.E. Mikheil Sarjveladze, Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs, Georgia
- Sevim Sayım Madak, Deputy Minister of Family and Social Services, Türkiye
- Kamchybek Dosmatov, First Deputy Minister of Labour, Social Security and Migration, Kyrgyzstan
- Duška Jurišić, Deputy Minister of Human Rights and Refugees, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Rintaro Mori, Mayor of Takarazuka City, Japan
- Rhea Tariq, Director of Global Impact, HelpAge International
Moderators:
- Mark Pearson, Deputy Director, Employment, Labour and Social Affairs Directorate, OECD
- Klaus Beck, Deputy Regional Director, UNFPA in Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Supporting People in Transition: Labour market, social protection, migration & diaspora policies
Speakers:
- Denada Seferi, Deputy Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Albania
- Ayaulym Sagynbayeva, Head of the Center for Analysis and Forecasting of Demographic Processes, Kazakhstan
- Mileva Brajušković-Popović, Director General in the Ministry of Social Welfare, Family Care and Demography, Montenegro
- İrem Apaydın, Governing Body Member, European Youth Parliament
Moderators:
- Alex Plekhanov, Director for Transition Impact and Global Economics, EBRD
- Afrodita Shalja, Regional Political and Intergovernmental Adviser, UNFPA in Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Coffee Break
International and Regional Cooperation for Demographic Resilience
Speakers:
- H.E. Aleksandar Nikoloski, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport, North Macedonia
- Zulfiya Abdusamatzoda, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Population, Tajikistan
- Azat Atayev, Deputy Minister of Education, Turkmenistan
- Željka Josić, State Secretary in the Ministry of Demography and Immigration, Croatia
- Sven Iversen, Vice-President, COFACE Families Europe
- Florence Bauer, Regional Director, UNFPA in Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Moderators:
- Indhira Santos, Lead Economist for Human Development, Europe and Central Region, World Bank
- Vlatko Gjorchev, National Coordinator for Demography, Youth and Human Resources, North Macedonia
Closing Remarks
Presentation of the Chairs’ Synthesis
Speakers:
- Pio Smith, Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director (Programme) a.i., UNFPA
- H.E. Fatmir Limani, Minister of Social Policy, Demography and Youth, North Macedonia
Moderator:
- Kasia Madera, Journalist and Broadcaster
Reception
Welcoming remarks by H.E. Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, President of North Macedonia
