‘BALKANS 2030: CHALLENGES TOWARDS PEACE, SECURITY AND STABILITY’

The Institute of Political Studies ‘Sami Frashëri’ and the Center for Advanced Studies, Sarajevo, organize the forum ‘Balkans 2030: Challenges to Peace, Security and Stability’ on November 19-20, at the Grand Hotel Europa in Shkodra.

In the context of rapid and unpredictable developments at the international system level and regional developments from the commitment of Serbia and third parties to disrupt the status quo that could lead to the resumption of frozen conflicts in the Balkans, we aim at:

creating a coalition of organizations and individuals from the Western Balkans (Albania, Serbia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Northern Macedonia, Montenegro) coming from academia, diplomacy, civic engagement and politics, who possess in-depth expertise and share common concerns toward developments in the region;

  • creating a coalition of organizations and individuals from the Western Balkans (Albania, Serbia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Northern Macedonia, Montenegro) coming from academia, diplomacy, civic engagement and politics, who possess in-depth expertise and share common concerns toward developments in the region;
  • identifying short- and medium-term threats and challenges to the peace, stability and prosperity of the countries of the Balkan region;
  • elaborating and providing policy proposals to deal with these risks in a timely manner, finding adequate solutions, proposing and encouraging forms of regional cooperation on a parity basis and taking into account the specific sensitivities of different countries, while discouraging proposals and actions that promote separatist ideas that threaten the territorial integrity of the Balkan countries.

In the first meeting of the forum ‘Balkans 2030: Challenges to Peace, Security and Stability’ that takes place in Shkodra, participate a group of personalities coming from academia, diplomacy, politics such as: Reuf Bajrovic, Azem Vllasi, Shaban Murati, Kim Mehmeti, Nexhmedin Spahiu, Admir Mulaosmanovic, etc.

The forum takes place in two days, where topics related to changes taking place in the international system, the weakening of the collective security system, the redefinition of the United States Grand Strategy, uncertainties about the future of the European Union and how such developments affect the Balkan region, will be addressed. The rise of other countries, in particular China, and the forms of engagement of great powers, especially Russia and China in the Balkans.

Emphasis will also be placed on intensifying Serbia’s armaments and the growing imbalance of power in the region, separatist tendencies and threats to the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Kosovo, and undermining of Montenegro’s sovereignty.

The current forms and new proposals for regional cooperation will also be discussed. It will be examined whether the current approaches to regional cooperation are fair and effective, and innovative ideas will be put forward for new cooperation mechanisms and instruments that foster exchange between citizens, taking into account the sensitivities of each country in the region.