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

Nov 2, 2022

#BalkansDebrief – What challenges do the Western Balkans face after the Berlin Process? | A debrief with Milan Nič

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare interviews Milan Nic, Senior Fellow at the German Council on the Foreign Relations, on the upcoming Berlin Process summit.

The Balkans

Balkans Debrief

Oct 26, 2022

#BalkansDebrief – What is the problem with democracies representing people’s interests? | A Debrief with Lea Ypi

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare interviews Lea Ypi, political theory professor at the London School of Economics, about the her book “Free”, democratic backsliding, and post-communist transitions.

The Balkans

Balkans Debrief

Oct 19, 2022

#BalkansDebrief – What will the Berlin process bring to the Western Balkans? | A Debrief with Manuel Sarrazin 

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare interviews Manuel Sarrazin, German Federal Representative for the Countries of the Western Balkans, about the upcoming Berlin Process Summit in November as well as German engagement in the region.

The Balkans

Balkans Debrief

Oct 13, 2022

#BalkansDebrief – How can US bipartisan legislation help the Western Balkans? | A debrief with Senator Jeanne Shaheen  

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare interviews Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Senator for New Hampshire and Co-Chair of the NATO Observer Group in the US Senate about her recent Congressional trip to the Balkans, elections in Bosnia, EUFOR mandate extension, and other Western Balkan issues.

The Balkans

Balkans Debrief

Oct 5, 2022

#BalkansDebrief – What to expect in Bosnia following the elections? | A debrief with Damir Marusic

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare interviews Damir Marusic, Senior Fellow, Europe Center, Atlantic Council on the outcomes of the elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Balkans

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Content

Balkans Debrief

Jul 30, 2024

#BalkansDebrief – Does the new EU-Serbia lithium deal undermine democracy? A Debrief with Ivan Vejvoda

To discusss the EU's new lithium deal with Serbia, Ivan Vejvoda from the Institute for Human Sciences sits down with Ilva Tare, Nonresident Senior Fellow, for this episode of #BalkansDebrief.

European Union
Geopolitics & Energy Security

Balkans Debrief

Jul 24, 2024

#BalkansDebrief – What EU reforms will make enlargement successful? A Debrief with Enrico Letta

Enrico Letta, former Prime Minister of Italy, speaks with Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare in this #BalkansDebrief about EU Single Market reform and enlargement in the Western Balkans.

European Union
International Organizations

Balkans Debrief

Jul 3, 2024

#BalkansDebrief – Where next for Serbian foreign policy? | A Debrief with Igor Bandovic and Nikola Burazer

In this episode of #BalkansDebrief, Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare speaks with Igor Bandovic and Nikola Burazer about Serbia's current foreign policy and security challenges.

Civil Society
Europe & Eurasia

Balkans Debrief

Jun 26, 2024

#BalkansDebrief – Do Balkan nationalist chants at EURO 2024 fuel ethnic tensions? | A Debrief with Florian Bieber

In this episode of #BalkansDebrief, Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare speaks with Florian Bieber about flaring Balkan ethnic tensions and politics in the UEFA Euro Cup 2024.

European Union
Nationalism

Balkans Debrief

May 28, 2024

#BalkansDebrief – Why is distrust in institutions alarming for the Balkans? | A debrief with Amila Karačić

In this episode of #BalkansDebrief, Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare sits down with Amila Karacic of the International Republican Institute (IRI) in Bosnia & Herzegovina to discuss IRI's recent polling trends in the Western Balkans.

European Union
Nationalism

Balkans Debrief

May 20, 2024

#BalkansDebrief – What is the US role amidst fragility in the Western Balkans? | A debrief with Gabriel Escobar

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare speaks with Gabriel Escobar, outgoing US Deputy Assistant Secretary and Special Representative for the Western Balkans, about US foreign policy in the region and its future amidst current challenges.

Corruption
European Union

Balkans Debrief

May 1, 2024

#BalkansDebrief – Why do North Macedonia’s elections matter for its EU future? | A debrief with Aleksej Demjanski

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare is joined in this episode of #BalkansDebrief by Aleksej Demjanski to discuss North Macedonia's 2024 parliamentary elections and implications for EU integration.

Elections
European Union

Balkans Debrief

Apr 15, 2024

#BalkansDebrief – Why is France refocused on security in the Balkans? | A debrief with Alexandre Vulic

In this episode of #BalkansDebrief, Europe Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare welcomes Alexandre Vulic. They discuss France's security concerns for the Western Balkans.

Cybersecurity
Disinformation

Balkans Debrief

Mar 29, 2024

#BalkansDebrief – Why is the UK focused on reconciliation in the Balkans? | A debrief with Lord Stuart Peach

In this episode of #BalkansDebrief, Europe Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare welcomes Lord Stuart Peach. Together, they discuss the UK perspective on reconciliation in the Balkans.

Europe & Eurasia
Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

Balkans Debrief

Mar 20, 2024

#BalkansDebrief – Why are elections in North Macedonia critical for its EU path? | A debrief with Marko Troshanovski

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare sits down will Marko Troshanovski, President of the Institute for Democracy, to discuss the importance of the elections and the key issues debated by the main two opposing political camps.

Corruption
Elections