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

Mar 3, 2023

#BalkansDebrief – Is a deal on normalization between Kosovo & Serbia possible? | A debrief with Miroslav Lajčák 

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare speaks with Miroslav Lajčák, EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues, on this episode of #BalkansDebrief about the latest meeting in Brussels, details of the EU brokered plan, implementation of any future agreement, and the path forward.

The Balkans

Balkans Debrief

Feb 22, 2023

#BalkansDebrief – What is the future for Kosovo Serbs in the north? | A Debrief with Tatjana Lazarevic 

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare interviews Tatjana Lazarevic, the Editor-in-Chief of the KoSSev news portal and a resident of the Kosovo Serb-majority city of Mitrovica in the north of Kosovo.

The Balkans

Balkans Debrief

Feb 8, 2023

#BalkansDebrief – How can Bulgaria and North Macedonia overcome their differences? | A debrief with Petar Todorov

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare interviews Petar Todorov, a historian and a member of the Bilateral Multidisciplinary Expert Commission for Historical and Educational questions between Republic of North Macedonia and Republic of Bulgaria.

The Balkans

Balkans Debrief

Jan 25, 2023

#BalkansDebrief – How can investment drive regional prosperity? | A debrief with Diana Gligorijevic and Mergim Cahani

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare interviews Diana Gligorijevic, the co-founder of Telegroup Solutions, an IT Provider and telecommunication company in Serbia, and Mergim Cahani, the co-founder and the CEO of Gjirafa, about the role of investment in driving positive change in the Balkans.

The Balkans

Balkans Debrief

Jan 11, 2023

#BalkansDebrief – Will relations between Kosovo and Serbia normalize?| A debrief with Tim Judah

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare interviews Tim Judah, a journalist and author, in this episode of #BalkansDebrief about the role played by the Serbian President and the Prime Minister of Kosovo in reaching a normalization agreement acceptable to both parties.

The Balkans

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Balkans Debrief

Oct 23, 2023

#BalkansDebrief – A view from the European Parliament on Kosovo-Serbia crisis | A Debrief with Viola von Cramon

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare is joined in this episode of #BalkansDebrief by, Viola von Cramon, a member of the EP Foreign Affairs Committee and the Rapporteur on Kosovo, to discuss the implications of the resolution and the EU's role in ensuring that Serbia cooperates fully with the investigation into the Banjska attack.

The Balkans

Balkans Debrief

Oct 13, 2023

#BalkansDebrief – What is the future of normalization process between Kosovo and Serbia? | A Debrief with Alicia Kearns

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare is joined in this episode of #BalkansDebrief by British MP Alicia Kearns, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, UK House of Commons to discuss recent escalation of hostilities in Kosovo and the future of Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue.

The Balkans

Balkans Debrief

Oct 11, 2023

#BalkansDebrief – Civil society’s role in Western Balkans EU accession | A Debrief with Andi Dobrushi

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare is joined in this episode of #BalkansDebrief by Andi Dobrushi, Western Balkans Executive Director of the Open Society Foundation, to discuss the importance of holding Western Balkan governments and EU member states accountable for their commitments to EU reforms and the role of civil society in the region.

The Balkans

Balkans Debrief

Sep 19, 2023

#BalkansDebrief – How to integrate Serbs in Northern Kosovo? | A debrief with Shpetim Gashi and Milica Andric Rakic

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare interviews Milica Andric Rakic, program manager at the New Social Initiative, and Shpetim Gashi, Vice President of the Council for Inclusive Governance, to discuss steps needed for integrating the Serb community in the north of Kosovo.

European Union Political Reform

Balkans Debrief

Sep 8, 2023

#BalkansDebrief – Will North Macedonia change its constitution? | A debrief with H.E. Bojan Maricikj

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare interviews H.E. Bojan Maricikj, Deputy Prime Minister of European Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia, on the country's upcoming constitutional vote and EU accession prospects.

European Union Political Reform

Balkans Debrief

Jul 26, 2023

#BalkansDebrief – What to expect from the October Berlin Process Summit? | A debrief with Odeta Barbullushi

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare interviews Dr. Odeta Barbullushi, advisor to Albania's Prime Minister on European issues and regional cooperation.

The Balkans

Balkans Debrief

Jul 19, 2023

#BalkansDebrief – Benefits of regional economic integration | A debrief with Stefan Lazarevic and Enio Jaco

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare speaks to the President of American Chamber of Commerce of Serbia Stefan Lazarevic and President of American Chamber of Commerce of Albania Enio Jaco on the region’s business climate.

The Balkans

Balkans Debrief

Jun 21, 2023

#BalkansDebrief – Will Montenegro form a new government? | A debrief with Petar Popovic

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare discusses the post-election political landscape in Montenegro with Petar Popovic, associate professor at the Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb.

The Balkans

Balkans Debrief

Jun 13, 2023

#BalkansDebrief – Will Kosovo and Serbia make the needed concessions towards normalization? | A debrief with Sen. Chris Murphy

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare speaks to Hon. Chris Murphy, United States Senator (D-CT), to discuss his recent trip to the region, the messages he delivered to the leaders in Pristina and Belgrade, and the concessions that Kosovo and Serbia should make in order to progress on their respective paths.

The Balkans

Balkans Debrief

Jun 1, 2023

#BalkansDebrief – What’s behind the escalation in Kosovo? | A debrief with Jovana Radosavljevic and Agon Maliqi

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare speaks to Jovana Radosavljevic, a Kosovo Serb who resides in the north of Kosovo and the Executive Director of the New Social Initiative, and to Agon Maliqi, an analyst from Kosovo.

The Balkans