The Belgrade Security Conference (BSC) is pleased to invite civil society organisations and think tanks from the Western Balkans to submit proposals for side sessions to be held as part of this year’s conference, taking place from 17 to 19 November 2025 at the Sava Centre in Belgrade, Serbia.

About BSC

The BSC has become the leading regional platform for dialogue on foreign and security policy in the Western Balkans. Held by-invitation-only and on a not-for-profit basis, the conference brings together more than 500 influential participants, including regional and international officials, diplomats, representatives of international organisations, researchers, journalists, civil society representatives, activists, and young professionals. It offers a unique opportunity for bold ideas, inclusive debate, and strategic thinking on the most pressing issues facing Europe and the region.

Call For Proposals

We invite proposals for side sessions that align with the overarching themes of this year’s BSC. This call is only for organisations from the Western Balkan region, with the aim to have country-specific discussions that address important issues in your respective countries, related to the BSC’s overarching topics, which include:

• Regional security dynamics
• Foreign policy and the role of external actors
• State capture and the rule of law
• The role of civil society amid ongoing rise of authoritarianism
• European integration

To ensure interactive and dynamic exchange, this year’s side sessions should be organised in the form of a roundtable discussion or a fishbowl discussion. Both formats are designed to encourage open dialogue, active participation, and meaningful engagement between panelists and the audience.

All costs associated with the organisation of a selected side session (including logistic arrangements, travel, and accommodation for speakers) will be covered by the BSC. Selected session will take place on the third day of the conference, 19 November 2025.

Why Apply

Hosting a side session offers organisations from the region the opportunity to:

• Showcase their expertise and visibility on a prominent regional platform
• Influence key discussions among international policymakers and experts
• Engage with high-level professionals in foreign and security policy, media, and fellow think tanks

Eligibility

This call is open to civil society organisations and think tanks from the Western Balkans: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Partnerships with organisations from outside the region are welcome, but the lead applicant must be from the Western Balkans.

Proposal Requirements

Proposals must be submitted via the online submission form and should include:

1. Session Title

A clear and engaging title that reflects the core theme of the discussion.

2. Session Description (max. 300 words)

A concise summary of the key issues to be explored, relevance to the country’s security or foreign policy context, and expected insights.

3. Participants

A list of proposed speakers and a moderator, including names, institutional affiliations, and short biographies. The proposed format should include 3 to 4 discussants and a moderator, with expected audience involvement as per the discussion format. Please note that the final list of speakers and the exact focus of the session will be agreed upon with the BSC team, which retains the right to propose speakers for the selected panels.

4. Objectives and intended outcomes

A brief explanation of the session’s goals and how it contributes to the overall conference themes.

Submission Guidelines

Deadline for submission: 15 August 2025

Event date: 19 November 2025 (only in-person participation is accepted)

Submit your proposal: Use the online application form to submit your proposal.

Selection Criteria

• The proposed topic’s relevance to current foreign and security policy issues in your country
• Alignment with the BSC overarching themes
• Quality and expertise of the proposed speakers, with attention to diversity and gender balance
• Original, innovative and thought-provoking approach to the proposed topic
• Country specificity (side session should focus on domestic challenges in your respective country)
• Feasibility (availability of proposed speakers and logistical preparedness)

We look forward to receiving your proposals and to working together to ensure a dynamic and thought-provoking Belgrade Security Conference 2025.

For any questions or technical issues regarding the submission process, please contact us at info@belgradesecurityconference.org.

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The Belgrade Centre for Security Policy as the organiser of the Belgrade Security Conference is happy to announce the winners of the Call for Proposals: Western Balkan Partners at the BSC 2024.

The post The Winners of the Call for Proposals: Western Balkan Partners at the BSC 2024 appeared first on BELGRADE SECURITY CONFERENCE 2024.

The Belgrade Security Conference (BSC) is inviting organisations from the Western Balkans to propose ideas for panel discussions to be included in the main programme of this year’s conference.

About BSC

The BSC has become the leading conference on foreign and security policy in the Western Balkans. It is a by-invitation-only, not-for-profit gathering of over 500 globally influential people, regional officials, diplomats, representatives of international organisations, think-tankers, journalists, academics, young professionals, and all the brave thinkers who shape the present to influence a better future.

In order to seek answers to current challenges, we are building the BSC as a contemporary discussion platform and environment for more stimulating, engaging and sincere dialogue. Over the three days of the conference (18-20 November 2024), the most pressing global, European and Western Balkan issues will be explored through panel discussions on main stage and side sessions in parallel.

Call For Proposals

We invite proposals for panel discussions on the main stage that align with the overarching themes of this year’s BSC. This call is only for organisations from the Western Balkans region, with the aim to have country-specific panel discussions that address important issues in your respective countries, related to the BSC’s overarching topics, that include:

• Regional security challenges
• EU enlargement
• Foreign policy and the role of foreign actors in your country
• Rule of law and democracy

All costs (travel and accommodation) of organising a panel discussion will be covered by the BSC. A maximum of three proposals will be chosen, and the selected panel discussions will be held on the third day of the conference, 20 November 2024.

Hosting a panel discussion at the BSC provides the organisations with an opportunity to gain visibility and showcase the organisation’s expertise and insights to a diverse audience of international experts and policymakers, as well as networking opportunities and a chance to engage with leading professionals in the field of foreign and security policy.

Who Can Apply

Civil society organisations and think-tanks from the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia) have to be the lead applicant. Partnering up with organisations and think tanks from outside the region is also possible.

Proposal Requirements

Interested organisations are invited to submit proposals for panel discussions using the online submission form. Proposals should include the following information:

1) Title of the panel discussion: A concise and compelling title that reflects the core topic of the discussion.

2) Description: A brief overview of the proposed panel discussion (maximum 500 words), outlining the key issues to be addressed, the relevance to your country’s foreign and security policy, and the expected outcomes.

3) Panelists and moderator: List of proposed panelists, including their names, affiliations and brief biographies (maximum 200 words). The format of the panel discussion includes three or four panelists and one moderator.

4) Objectives: Clear objectives for what the panel aims to achieve and how it will contribute to the overall conference theme.

Submission Guidelines

Deadline: All proposals must be submitted by 31 July 2024.

Selection Criteria:

• Relevance: The topic’s relevance to current foreign and security policy issues in your country, EU enlargement of your country, regional security in the Western Balkans and the rule of law in your country.
• Expertise: The expertise, diversity and high profile of the proposed panelists.
• Innovation: Originality and potential impact of the panel discussion.
• Clarity: Clarity and coherence of the proposal.
• Country specific: Considering that there will be other panels at the BSC with a regional, comparative focus, the purpose of the panels selected under this call is to be specifically related to pressing issues in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.
• Feasibility: The speakers at the proposed panel must be contacted by the applicant beforehand to assure their availability from 18-20 November 2024. Only in person participation of speakers is accepted, therefore the applicant should guarantee that the speakers will be physically present at the BSC.

We look forward to receiving your proposals. For any questions or additional information, please contact us at info@belgradesecurityconference.org.

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