Thursday’s final panel addressed friction between the Berlin Process and the Open Balkan initiative. Moderator Zoran Nechev, the Head of the Center for EU integration at the Institute for Democracy Societas Civilis, framed the discussion with a simple question: can these two frameworks coexist? Among panelists, three positions emerged. The first position supported the superiority of the Berlin Process. The second approach recommended integrating the two frameworks. The final stance suggested that both frameworks are complementary, 

This panel discussed the challenges that the rise of illiberalism within and beyond the EU poses to the EU’s internal and external policies and its very own foundations. The speakers discussed the extent of the pressures that democracies within EU member states and candidate states face by providing examples from Hungary, Poland, Turkey, and Serbia. They also exchanged thoughts on what the EU institutions can do to counter the rise of illiberalism.  

Věra Jourová, Vice-President of the European Commission, spoke about the current pressures that democracy, fundamental rights, and rule of law face within the EU and beyond. She highlighted that parliamentary democracies are under attack, as we are witnessing now in Russia’s war against Ukraine. Therefore, at this moment, defending democracy is paramount.  

This panel addressed whether the war in Ukraine created opportunities or risks for the EU enlargement process. The invasion has opened a series of new questions in connection with EU enlargement and engagement. 

Panellists agreed that Southeast Europe must improve its energy infrastructure and further diversify its energy sources. This comes as a rational next move to improve the region’s political situation through mitigation of energy vulnerability.  

H.E. Emanuele Giaufret, Head of Delegation of the EU to Serbia, began by highlighting the suffering and economic hardship generated by attacks on critical Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Giaufret proceeded to emphasize how the current conflict threatens democracy and calls into question the stability of the current international order. Despite these challenges, the war has promoted more unity among the population of EU member states.

The escalation of the war in Ukraine has raised a lot of questions regarding new security challenges across the globe. Discussing the Black Sea Region as a potential boiling point, panelists agreed that there is a need for a common risk-assessment and a long-term defensive collaboration because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.  

This panel shed light on the attitudes of Russian society and elites towards the war against Ukraine to better understand the extent of support for the regime, Putin himself, and the war. A key question the panel addressed was how Russian society has responded to the last few months of full-scale war, including the consequences this war and sanctions have had on daily life in Russia. Panelists also discussed prospects for a possible regime change in Russia and what impact this could have on both Ukrainian and global security.  

Ukraine Under Attack: A View from Kyiv provided robust insights into the current Ukrainian conflict, from a Ukrainian perspective. Iskra Kirova, a Senior Policy Analyst at the Open Society European Policy Institute, guided a discussion addressing the current state of warfighting in Ukraine. Panelists covered a wide range of topics, including Ukrainian faith in democracy, Russia’s evolving strategy, the impact of the war on civil society and the economy, and Ukraine’s relations with the West. 

BCSP Director Igor Bandovic highlighted the need for honest conversations, suggesting that Serbia can no longer remain Balkan-centric. Therefore, the inaugural Belgrade Security Conference (BSC) is focusing on the threat of authoritarianism in the wider context of Europe.