FEATURED COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

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

Issue Brief Feb 26, 2024

Western Balkans must pursue more competitive energy sectors

By Matthew Bryza

The EU needs to take steps to support more competition and efficiency in the energy sectors of Bulgaria and the Western Balkans to advance the energy transition and promote energy independence from Russia.
Energy Markets & Governance Energy Transitions
#BalkansDebrief – Will Kosovo and Serbia make the needed concessions towards normalization? | A debrief with Sen. Chris Murphy

Issue Brief Dec 20, 2023

Up for grabs? The Western Balkans’ aging energy systems place it between East and West

By Aleksandar Kovacevic

The Western Balkans’ hydropower can help Europe’s pursuit of energy security. Failure to act on this potential brings significant costs.
Energy & Environment Europe & Eurasia
#BalkansDebrief – Will Kosovo and Serbia make the needed concessions towards normalization? | A debrief with Sen. Chris Murphy

Report Dec 11, 2023

Getting back on track: Unlocking Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic and development perspective

By Agon Maliqi

Report exploring the path forward for Kosovo’s integration into transatlantic institutions and the geopolitical and economic challenges and opportunities facing the country.
Economy & Business Energy & Environment

Explore the #BalkansDebrief Series

#BalkansDebrief

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.

Explore the Series

Featured Events

Online Event Mon, November 27, 2023 • 9:00 am ET

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama on Western Balkans integration and the EU

AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT— Prime Minister Edi Rama shared his perspective on Albania’s path to the EU and Western Balkan integration.

Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy Southern & Southeastern Europe The Balkans
Public Event Thu, November 16, 2023 • 10:00 am ET

Building a stable Western Balkans: Regional challenges and opportunities

A discussion on the regional challenges and opportunities in the Western Balkans, with a focus on political developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, and the opportunities that exist to promote stability and security in the region and keep the Western Balkans aligned on a European path.
Democratic Transitions Europe & Eurasia Political Reform Politics & Diplomacy
Online Event Tue, June 20, 2023 • 9:00 am ET

Restarting the Dialogue: A conversation with Gabriel Escobar and Miroslav Lajcak

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Gabriel Escobar and EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and Western Balkans Miroslav Lajcak join the Atlantic Council to discuss recent developments in the region, the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, US-EU cooperation in the region, and strategies to ensure the implementation of the Ohrid and Brussels agreements.
Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy The Balkans
Public Event Wed, May 10, 2023 • 9:00 am ET

Fireside chat with President of the Republic of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu

President of the Republic of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu joins the Atlantic Council to discuss recent developments in the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic path, and her vision for the future of Kosovo.
Politics & Diplomacy The Balkans
Online Event Fri, March 17, 2023 • 10:00 am ET

Next Steps for the Dialogue: A decisive moment for Normalization between Serbia

A conversation on the next steps of the EU-led Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue ahead of the March 18th reconvening of the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo.
Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy The Balkans
Online Event Wed, February 22, 2023 • 9:15 am ET

A conversation with Prime Minister of Croatia Andrej Plenković

AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT—Plenković joined the Atlantic Council to share his perspective on the implications of Russia’s war in Ukraine for Europe and the Western Balkans, Croatia’s foreign-policy objectives, its entry into the eurozone and the Schengen area, and how his country’s Euro-Atlantic journey can serve as a source of inspiration for the Western Balkan countries and Ukraine.
Europe & Eurasia Eurozone Politics & Diplomacy Southern & Southeastern Europe
Prime Minister of Croatia Andrej Plenković
Online Event Tue, December 13, 2022 • 9:30 am ET

The path ahead for regional integration initiatives in the Western Balkans

The six Western Balkan countries convened in Berlin in November and signed three agreements under the auspices of the revitalized Berlin Process. The year ahead offers a new set of opportunities to demonstrate the transatlantic commitment to the region. How can the transatlantic partners work together to support the region on its Euro-Atlantic path?
Democratic Transitions Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy Rule of Law
Online Event Thu, December 1, 2022 • 9:00 am ET

The Western Balkans’ Euro-Atlantic future: A conversation with Deputy Assistant Secretary Gabriel Escobar

Deputy Assistant Secretary Escobar discusses the latest challenges in the Western Balkans, what the new year may hold, and how the transatlantic partners can help the region get back on track.

Crisis Management Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy Southern & Southeastern Europe
Online Event Wed, May 18, 2022 • 3:30 pm ET

A conversation with Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo Albin Kurti

AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT – Prime Minister Kurti discussed Kosovo’s domestic situation, relations with Serbia, and his ideas for accelerating European integration.
Southern & Southeastern Europe The Balkans
Online Event Wed, June 9, 2021 • 8:30 am ET

A conversation with President of the Republic of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani

AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT – President Osmani discussed Kosovo’s domestic and foreign policy priorities and her agenda for achieving them.

Europe & Eurasia
Online Event Thu, April 22, 2021 • 9:00 am ET

A conversation with President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić

AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT – President Aleksandar Vučić discussed Serbia’s domestic agenda amid the pandemic as well as the country’s regional and foreign policy priorities.
Europe & Eurasia The Balkans

Program

The Europe Center promotes the transatlantic leadership and strategies required to ensure a strong Europe.

EXPLORE THE PROGRAM

Content

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

New Atlanticist

Jun 13, 2023

Authoritarian investment in southeastern Europe is a security threat. Here’s what NATO can do.

By Jeffrey Lightfoot and John Kay

Stronger investment screening in Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia will help strengthen NATO against economic weapons that are increasingly central to today’s conflicts.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

New Atlanticist

Jun 2, 2023

Five questions (and expert answers) about the recent clashes in Kosovo

By Atlantic Council experts

Protests this week in Kosovo when local officials took office resulted in injuries to NATO peacekeeping troops—and in fears of a further escalation of violence. Atlantic Council experts answer the critical questions.

Conflict Crisis Management

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

Balkans Debrief

May 22, 2023

#BalkansDebrief – Why the European future of the Balkans depends on Serbia? | A Debrief with Borut Pahor

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare is joined in this episode of #BalkansDebrief by former Prime Minister and former President of Slovenia Borut Pahor to discuss region's main challenges.

The Balkans

Balkans Debrief

May 4, 2023

#BalkansDebrief – What challenges face ASM? | A Debrief with Miodrag Marinkovic and Naim Rashiti

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare is joined in this episode of #BalkansDebrief by Miodrag Marinkovic, an activist from the north of Kosovo and Director of the Center for Affirmative Social Actions (CASA), as well as Naim Rashiti, Executive Director of the Balkans Policy Research Group in Pristina, to provide on-the-ground insight into the latest developments in the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue. 

The Balkans

Balkans Debrief

Apr 26, 2023

#BalkansDebrief – Anti-Roma Sentiment in the Western Balkans | A Debrief with Sonja Licht and Zeljko Jovanovic

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare discusses the current challenges and potential changes for Roma communities in the Western Balkans with Sonja Licht, the President of Foundation BFPE for a Responsible Society in Belgrade and Zeljko Jovanovic, the Director of Roma Initiatives Office for the Open Societies Foundation in Berlin. 

The Balkans

Balkans Debrief

Apr 11, 2023

#BalkansDebrief – What’s next after Bulgarian elections? | A Debrief with Dimitar Bechev

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare speaks with Dimitar Bechev, Lecturer at Oxford School of Global and Area Studies on implications of another caretaker government for Bulgaria's economic and European outlooks.

The Balkans

New Atlanticist

Mar 17, 2023

Montenegro’s presidential election is a litmus test of Russian influence in the Western Balkans

By Luka Ignac and Kevin Morris

Can Montenegro continue the regional trend of pro-Russian candidates and parties performing poorly? The international community should keep a close eye on this race.

Elections European Union

Balkans Debrief

Mar 17, 2023

#BalkansDebrief – What challenges faces the Kosovo/Serbia agreement | Debrief with Jovana Radosavljevic and Visar Ymeri 

Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare speaks with Jovana Radosavljevic, Executive Director of the New Social Initiative, and Visar Ymeri, Executive Director of the Institute for Social Policy "Musine Kokalari," to discuss the challenges of implementing a proposed agreement for normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia and the expectations for the upcoming Ohrid Summit on March 19.

The Balkans
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Experts

Fellow

Judy Ansley

Senior Advisor

Europe Center

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Dimitar Bechev

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

The Balkans Security & Defense

Fellow

Thammy Evans

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoTech Center

China Climate Change & Climate Action

Fellow

Daniel Fried

Weiser Family Distinguished Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative Eurasia Center

Eastern Europe Democratic Transitions

Millennium fellow

Aleksandar Vratonjić Gligorijević

Chief Marketing Officer, TeleGroup

Millennium Leadership Program

Digital Currencies Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Michael Groen

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Policy Defense Technologies
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