After 3 days, 18 panels, 2 keynote speeches, and more than 100 speakers, the Belgrade Security Conference officially closed. This year’s edition gathered 743 registered participants and hosted 566 attendees, marking the most visited BSC to date. Closing remarks were delivered by Alexandra de Hoop Scheffer, President of the German Marshall Fund, and Igor Bandović, Director of the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy.

In her closing message, Alexandra de Hoop Scheffer emphasized that Europe is at a strategic crossroads and that the principles that shaped the post-war order such as democracy, cooperation, and the transatlantic bond are facing renewed challenges. She highlighted that the Western Balkans, long positioned at the crossroads of history, have a clear path forward: Euro-Atlantic and European integration remain the most effective route to lasting peace and prosperity. De Hoop Scheffer underlined that vision, reform, and strategic partnerships consistently lead to progress and that GMF is proud to support journalists, activists, and young leaders across the Balkans who work to strengthen democracy and anchor the region in transatlantic cooperation. “The Western Balkans are not just part of Europe’s past — they are central to its future,” she noted, reaffirming GMF’s commitment to regional changemakers.

In his remarks, Igor Bandović reflected on the difficult year that preceded the conference. He recalled that in April it was unclear whether BSC would take place at all, given pressure on civil society, police visits to partner organizations, funding withdrawals, and an overall environment of instability, describing, moreover, challenges posed by nationwide protests and general strike – Do we stop our work or continue supporting vulnerable groups, those detained, and communities experiencing repression.

He pointed out that the high numbers of this year’s conference “do not just reflect scale — they reflect trust, commitment, and the shared belief that this space matters.” This year, Belgrade Security Conference, he proceeded, created space for and honest discussion based on truth, responsibility, and confrontation with reality. Mr. Bandović stated that “only by standing together — in a shared, principled, and coordinated front — can we hope to defend space for truth, freedom, accountability, and European civic space.”