Mr. Bandović started his closing speech by taking a moment to reflect on what was achieved over the past three days. He stressed that this was a space where challenging conversations and important dialogues were held, on important topics of great importance for security.
The Ambassador reflected on the European Union enlargement as thus far being too slow and too long, and without enough results, which led to decreasing enthusiasm for the accession process. However, he highlighted that there is a new political momentum, with a clear window of opportunity for Western Balkans states to join. Enlargement has a geostrategic imperative now, and it is prioritised by the new European Commission, promising that there is a clear decision to complete the EU through the process.
The final panel of the conference analysed the effects of the European Union’s Growth Plan on the accession process of the Western Balkans region. The panellists agreed that it is a good tool for economic integration, which is a key element of the process, especially as the region lags a lot behind Europe in this aspect. However, it must not be decoupled from fundamental values.
The panel reached a disheartening agreement, which is that the right to protest is being threatened around the world, especially in the region. They spoke of the further deterioration of civic rights, and the intimidation of activists which we are witnessing in the region.
The Panel was expectedly the most tense discussion of the conference so far, including the forceful exchange of views by the panellists. Despite many disagreements, the point of agreement was that the dialogue is not working. However, the panellists had different explanations on why the dialogue is failing.
Cybersecurity is one of the most pressing challenges facing modern society. When cyberspace power is misused, the primary target often becomes democracy, particularly within civil society and the media. During a panel discussion on the state of cybersecurity in the Western Balkans and Europe, panelists agreed that numerous challenges exist that have great potential to undermine both democracy and the security of citizens.
The panel highlighted the importance of human security, agreeing that there needs to be a move away from only state perspectives of security towards a more holistic approach that prioritizes the well-being of individuals. One of the panel’s conclusions was that risk needs to be shared and managed regionally and that regional cooperation can help sustain international security.
The final day of the Belgrade Security Conference commenced with a keynote address by Ambassador Erin E. McKee, Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia at USAID. She stated that Europe is at critical juncture and reflected on the suffering of Ukranians who continue to endure Putin’s brutality, emphasizing that Ukraine serves as an inspiration.
