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 22, 2025

Can Serbia survive US sanctions on Russian oil? | A Debrief with Igor Novaković

Atlantic Council Senior Fellow Ilva Tare speaks with Igor Novakovic from ISAC Fund on the new US sanctions on Serbia’s NIS.

Europe & Eurasia
Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

Balkans Debrief

Aug 15, 2025

Will Serbia’s protests change its future? | A Debrief with Florian Bieber

Atlantic Council Senior Fellow Ilva Tare speaks with Florian Bieber from BiEPAG to discuss the latest escalations of tension in Serbia’s student-led protests.

Corruption
Europe & Eurasia

Balkans Debrief

Jun 17, 2025

What is Brussels’ mood on Balkans EU enlargement? | A Debrief with Augustin Palokaj

Europe Center Senior Fellow Ilva Tare sits down with Augustin Palokaj, Brussels-based correspondent, to discuss the EU’s current attitude toward EU enlargement in the Balkans.

European Union
Political Reform

Balkans Debrief

Apr 11, 2025

From Dayton to Dodik, what’s at stake in Bosnia? | A Debrief with Adnan Ćerimagić

Ilva Tare, Europe Center Senior Fellow, sits down with Adi Cerimagic to discuss Bosnia and Herzegovina’s political landscape and challenges.

Europe & Eurasia
European Union

Balkans Debrief

Mar 12, 2025

What is the future of Russian immigration to Serbia? | A Debrief with Srdjan Cvijić and Maxim Samorukov

Russians have migrated to Serbia en masse particularly since the Ukraine war began in 2022. Ilva Tare speaks with Srdjan Cvijic and Maxim Samorukov about BCSP’s latest findings on Russian immigration to Serbia.

Europe & Eurasia
Migration
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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.

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Content

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

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

Balkans Debrief

Sep 7, 2022

#BalkansDebrief – What is the future of Kosovo-Serbia relations? | A Debrief with Ambassador Christopher Hill

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare interviews Ambassador Christopher Hill, US Ambassador to Serbia, about Serbia's EU path, issues affecting the EU-facilitated dialogue, and the US support for the Open Balkan Initiative.

The Balkans

Balkans Debrief

Aug 31, 2022

#BalkansDebrief – Why does Russia want instability in the Western Balkans?| A debrief with Fabian Zhilla

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare interviews Fabian Zhilla, Senior Fellow of the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, on the national security threats posed by Russian intelligence activities and cyber attacks.

The Balkans

Balkans Debrief

Aug 8, 2022

#BalkansDebrief – What set off protests and heated political rhetoric in Bosnia? | A debrief with Adnan Huskic

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare interviews Adnan Huskic, President at the Center for Elections Studies in Sarajevo, on the recent OHR's proposal to change electoral law.

The Balkans
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