The Atlantic Council Europe Center‘s #BalkansDebrief series features timely conversations on key issues impacting the Western Balkans.

Nonresident senior fellow Ilva Tare hosts newsmakers, experts, and officials for discussions on rule of law, energy security, cultural heritage, Russian and Chinese influence in the region, and more.

Watch #BalkansDebrief on YouTube and listen to it as a Podcast.

#BalkansDebrief Episodes

Balkans Debrief

Aug 2, 2022

#BalkansDebrief – What triggered tensions on the border between Kosovo and Serbia? | A debrief with Petrit Selimi

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare interviews Petrit Selimi, Former Foreign Minister of Kosovo and CEO of Millennium Foundation Kosovo, on the recent tensions on the border between Kosovo and Serbia.

The Balkans

Balkans Debrief

Jul 26, 2022

#BalkansDebrief – Will the new EU enlargement methodology facilitate the Balkans accession to the EU? | A debrief with Pierre Mirel

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare interviews Pierre Mirel, Honorary Director General of the European Commission, on the impact of the new EU methodology in the accession talks

The Balkans

Balkans Debrief

Jul 13, 2022

#BalkansDebrief – How can the West support the Western Balkans to shape their European future? | A debrief with Damon Wilson

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare interviews Damon Wilson, President and CEO of the National Endowment for Democracy, on the opportunity for Western support in the region.

The Balkans

Balkans Debrief

Jul 7, 2022

#BalkansDebrief – Is a compromise possible in the dispute between Bulgaria and North Macedonia? | A Debrief from Dimitar Bechev

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare discusses the origins of the Bulgaria – North Macedonia dispute and the path forward for both countries with Dimitar Bechev, lecturer at Oxford’s School of Global & Area Studies.

The Balkans

Balkans Debrief

Jun 30, 2022

#BalkansDebrief – The impact of the European Council’s decision on the Western Balkans | A Debrief from Damir Marusic and Maja Piscevic

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare at the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center, speaks with Maja Piscevic and Damir Marusic, Senior Fellows at the Europe Center with firsthand knowledge of the situation in the region.

The Balkans
Load More

MEET THE #BALKANSDEBRIEF HOST

Fellow

Ilva Tare

Resident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Albanian English

The Europe Center promotes leadership, strategies, and analysis to ensure a strong, ambitious, and forward-looking transatlantic relationship.

Learn more

Content

Balkans Debrief

Mar 7, 2025

Will Merz step up Germany’s role in the Balkans? | A Debrief with Gerald Knaus

Ilva Tare, Europe Center Resident Senior Fellow, speaks with Gerald Knaus about the German elections on February 23 and the next government's approach to the Western Balkans.

Elections
European Union

Balkans Debrief

Feb 13, 2025

Is Kosovo Headed for Political Gridlock? | A Debrief with Jeff Hovenier

Resident Senior Fellow speaks with Jeff Hovenier, retired former US Ambassador to Kosovo, to debrief Kosovo's 2025 parliamentary elections.

Elections
Europe & Eurasia

Balkans Debrief

Feb 6, 2025

The EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans – A Debrief with Valbona Zeneli, Isabelle Ioannides, & Richard Grieveson

The European Union’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans aims to accelerate economic growth and convergence in the region—but can it truly deliver? With reform, investment, and EU integration at stake, how can the region turn this initiative into real progress? Ilva Tare, Resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center, dives into the […]

Economy & Business
European Union

Balkans Debrief

Feb 4, 2025

How is the media covering Serbia’s protests? A Debrief with Igor Božić and Marko Prelević

Serbia is at a crossroads. What started as grief over the Novi Sad tragedy has become a full-scale protest movement, forcing Prime Minister’s Vučević’s resignation and even earning students a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize. But with no clear leader, how is pro-government media responding? Is this the start of real change, or will […]

Europe & Eurasia
Politics & Diplomacy

Balkans Debrief

Nov 19, 2024

Can Serbia’s Lithium Protests Redefine Its Future? | A Debrief with Ivanka Popovic

Resident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare speaks with Ivanka Popovic from ProGlas about Serbia's lithium mining in the Jadar Valley and its economic, political, and social implications.

Democratic Transitions
Energy & Environment

Balkans Debrief

Nov 8, 2024

Why is Depopulation a Threat to Balkan Security? | A Debrief with Majlinda Bregu

To discuss the Common Regional Market 2.0 and its role in the Western Balkans' EU integration, Europe Center Senior Fellow Ilva Tare sits down with Majlinda Bregu of the RCC, and considers the region's depopulation and other security concerns.

European Union
Political Reform

Balkans Debrief

Oct 18, 2024

How was the CEFTA deal secured before the Berlin Process Summit? | A Debrief with Manuel Sarrazin

Europe Center Senior Fellow Ilva Tare sits down with Manuel Sarrazin from the German Federal Foreign Office to discuss the recent Berlin Process Summit and CEFTA deal, in this #BalkansDebrief.

European Union
Germany

Balkans Debrief

Oct 17, 2024

What’s next for the Berlin Process? | A Debrief with Simonida Kacarska and Klodjan Seferaj

At the 10 year anniversary of the Berlin Process, Europe Center Senior Fellow Ilva Tare discusses the future of the Berlin Process for the Western Balkans with Simonida Kacarska and Klodjan Seferaj.

Civil Society
European Union

Balkans Debrief

Oct 1, 2024

How do cyber-attacks threaten the Balkans? | A Debrief with Dan Ilazi and Filip Stojanovski

Senior Fellow Ilva Tare speaks with Dan Ilazi and Filip Stojanovski about the political and economic threats of cyber-attacks for the Western Balkans.

Cybersecurity
European Union

Balkans Debrief

Aug 29, 2024

What are the challenges for Mickoski’s North Macedonia? | A Debrief with Malinka Jordanova, Branimir Jovanovic and Lura Pollozhani

PM Hristijan Mickoski's new government in North Macedonia has a strong mandate but faces key challenges. Resident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare speaks with Malinka Jordanova, Branimir Jovanovic, and Lura Pollozhani to discuss.

Elections
European Union
Load More