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

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
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

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

Balkans Debrief

Jun 17, 2022

#BalkansDebrief – Part II: What is the path forward for the stalled Belgrade-Pristina dialogue? | A Debrief from Ivan Vejvoda

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare Interviews Ivan Vejvoda, Permanent Fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences, on the stalled Belgrade-Pristina dialogue.

The Balkans

Balkans Debrief

Jun 9, 2022

#BalkansDebrief – Part I: What is the path forward for the stalled Belgrade–Pristina dialogue? | A Debrief with Veton Surroi

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare Interviews Veton Surroi, a well-known publicist and former politician from Kosovo, on the stalled Belgrade–Pristina dialogue.

The Balkans

Balkans Debrief

Jun 7, 2022

#BalkansDebrief – What are the regional ramifications of Serbia’s gas agreement with Russia? | A debrief with Olga Khakova

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare Interviews the Global Energy Center's Olga Khakova on the Serbia's gas deal with Russia.

Energy & Environment
The Balkans

Balkans Debrief

Jun 2, 2022

#BalkansDebrief – EU enlargement: a process that is lacking political fuel? | A debrief from Nikola Dimitrov

By Ilva Tare

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare interviews former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia Nikola Dimitrov on his expectations for EU enlargement.

English
Europe & Eurasia

Balkans Debrief

May 10, 2022

#BalkansDebrief – What is the future of EU enlargement? | A debrief from Gerald Knaus

By Ilva Tare

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare spoke with Austrian social scientist Gerald Knaus on the two-stage EU accession process for the Western Balkans.

English
Europe & Eurasia