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

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

Balkans Debrief

Sep 28, 2022

#BalkansDebrief – What are the four most likely scenarios for Kosovo-Serbia relations by 2027? | A debrief with Milica Andric Rakic and Agon Maliqi

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare interviews Milica Andric Rakic and Agon Maliqi, Policy Analysts, on the different scenarios predicting the future of Kosovo-Serbia relations by 2027.

The Balkans

Balkans Debrief

Sep 14, 2022

#BalkansDebrief – Will Montenegro hold a general election or find a new majority? | A Debrief with Zeljko Pantelic

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare interviews Zeljko Pantelic, Foreign Policy Expert on the current political developments in Montenegro, Montengro's EU path, and the Open Balkan Initiative.

The Balkans

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Content

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

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