1st INTERNATONAL MEETING OF FRIENDS OF WESTERN BALKANS:

THE WESTERN BALKANS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

Ljubljana, 19th - 20th of April 2024

MEETING PROGRAMME | LIST OF SPEAKERS

Friends of Western Balkans is a private institute for promoting dialogue, reconciliation, peaceful resolution of open issues, economic development and integration of the countries of the Western Balkans into the European Union. The method of operation of the institution which is designed as a thinktank is to assist and facilitate the cooperation among the countries of the region and with the European and international institutions, to promote reconciliation between the nations and countries of the Western Balkans, and to cooperate with various state institutions and civil society organizations.

Thinktant Friends of Western Balkans will perform analyses of political, economic, social situation and circumstances in the region and advise governments, economic operators and other institutions. It will receive funds for its work through the provision of these services, as well as through donations, sponsorships and other ways determined by law. Friends of Western Balkans were founded in December 2023 by Borut Pahor, former Prime Minister and President of the Republic of Slovenia in two terms from 2012 to 2022. It will continue the legacy that Borut Pahor created as Prime Minister and President of the Republic, and thus continue his work from the last two decades. Borut Pahor made an important contribution to the reconciliation and regulation of relations with the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Serbia.

He was the initiator and founder of the Brdo Brijuni Process, one of the most important regional political initiatives that has been promoting dialogue, cooperation, managing open issues peacefully and integrating countries in the region into the European Union - it worked at the level of Prime Ministers and Presidents of all the countries in the region since 2010. This was possible because Borut Pahor is equally welcomed by all nations and countries in the Western Balkans and has gained trust and confidence with their political representatives over past decades. He is considered an honest mediator. This will also be the mission of the thinktank Friends of Western Balkans.

Borut Pahor, founder and director of Friends of Western Balkans, as founder and leader of Brdo Brijuni Process (est. in 2010) at the last conference under his leadership with Zoran Milanović, president of Croatia, Željko Komšić, Milorad Dodik and Šefik Džaferović, three members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Aleksandar Vučić, president of Serbia, Stevo Pendarovski, president of North Macedonia, dr. Vjosa Osmani, president of Kosovo, Bajram Begaj, president of Albania and Milo Đukanović, president of Montenegro; Brdo pri Kranju, September 2022.

Since 2013 Brdo-Brijuni Process initiative meetings have been held every year; the leaders were joined several times by special guests:

  • François Hollande, President of the French Republic (2013),

  • Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (2014),

  • Heinz Fischer, Federal President of the Republic of Austria (2015),

  • Joe Biden, Vice President of the United States (2015),

  • Donald Tusk, President of the European Council (2015 and 2018),

  • Sergio Mattarella, President of the Italian Republic (2016),

  • Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of the Federal Republic of Germany (2017),

  • Boyko Borisov, EU Council President (2018),

  • Andrzej Duda, President of the Republic of Poland (2019) and

  • Federica Mogherini, EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy (2019).

Borut Pahor was born on 2 Novmber 1963 in Postojna. He has a degree in political science, with a focus on international relations. In 1987, he won the Prešeren and Zore Awards from the then Faculty of Sociology, Political Science and Journalism, University of Ljubljana for his graduate thesis.

He has a son Luka with Tanja Pečar, advocate in Ljubljana. 

Borut Pahor

  • 1990-2004 Member of the Parliament

  • 1997-2012  Leader, Social Democratic Party

  • 2000-2004 President of the Parliament

  • 2004-2008 Member of the EU Parliament

  • 2008-2012 Prime Minister

  • 2012-2022 President of the Republic

Borut Pahor has devoted his political career to:

  • democracy (30 years of witnessing and shaping the transition from communism to democracy in Central and Eastern Europe,

  • future of ever closed European Union, united free and at peace,

  • national reconciliation and the promotion of peace and dialogue,

  • European perspective of Western Balkans.

 

Borut Pahor is the long-time leader of the Brdo-Brijuni Process, a joint initiative that he cofounded with Croatia as Prime Minister by Slovenia to serve as a driving force for political and overall developmentof the Western Balkans and its Euro-Atlantic integration. Brdo-Brijuni Process was an incentive for other high-level initiatives, the Berlin Process being amongst them.

 

Borut Pahor has received several state decorations of the highest rank. He was awarded with academic honors and international awards as follows:

  • the Honorary Doctorates by the University of Lisbon, Portugal, and by the New University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, for his efforts for reconciliation and the common European project (2022),

  •  the "Siglium Magnum", the highest honour of the University of Bologna, Italy (2021),

  • "Alcide de Gasperi Award: Builders of Europe", Government of the Autonomous Province of Trento, Italy, for achievements in building Europe, and his work in favour of coexistence and cooperation between nations,

  • the esteemed title of the Protector of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts EASA Salzburg, Austria (2013), and the EASA Ring of Tolerance (2022),

  • the Medal of the City of Sarajevo for his contribution to obtaining the status of a candidate for membership of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European Union (2023),

  •  the 'Isa beg Ishaković' Award for personal contribution to the European inspiration of the Western Balkan region (2014),

  • the Mare Nostrum Lifetime Achievement Award for Dialogue and Cooperation - Mediteranean Tourism Foundation (2023)

Alja Brglez

Alja Brglez is a historian, researcher, publicist and author. She holds a PhD in historical anthropology, a master's degree in history and an MBA. At FoWB, she is a senior advisor to the Founder and Director Borut Pahor. She is a scientific associate and researcher at the ICK Institute for Civilization and Culture, researcher at AMEU-ECM European Center Maribor, and President of the Committee for Sustainability in Sports at Slovene Olympic Committee. She is Senator at the Mediterranean Tourism Foundation and a member of the European Council on Foreign Relations.

Alja Brglez was Head of the Cabinet of the President of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Pahor during both mandates from 2012 to 2022. She has been working with President Pahor ever since his campaign in 2012 - when Borut Pahor was elected and then sworn in as President of the Republic on 23 December 2012, she was appointed the Head of the Cabinet. During this time, she also worked as Adviser to the President for International Relations (from June 2017 to August 2019) and as the Secretary General of the President's Permanent Committee for Climate Policy from its establishment in 2019 onwards.


She is a founder, a former long-term director and research associate of the ICK Institute for Civilization and Culture. President Mattarella of Italy awarded her State Decoration in 2022.
She is founder and former long-term director of the ICK Institute for Civilization and Culture. When leading this thinktank, she was awarded the titles "Global Leader for Tomorrow" (2003) and “Young Global Leader" (2005) by WEF World Economic  Forum. She is among the pioneers of sustainability projects in Slovenia, focusing primarily on sustainable mobility and waste management. The ICK project Egozero was awarded special prize at the  WTM London in 2012 and was presented at the ITB Berlin in 2012.


From March 1999 to January 2003, she worked as director of Govt. PR and Media Office. During that time, she was acting as the Head of the Cabinet of the then Prime Minister dr. Janez Drnovšek for a year. Upon her initiative, government established the Council for Promotion of Slovenia in 2002, with her as the president. She led information/communication campaign for the NATO and EU referenda. She headed the information and communication of following events with historical value: Bill Clinton's visit to Slovenia in June 1999, Pope John Paul II visit to Slovenia in September 1999, the meeting of Russian and American presidents Vladimir Putin and George Bush in Slovenia in June 2002.

Advisory Board - members

  • Catherine Ashton, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Chancellor of the University in Warwick, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (2009-2014)

  • Carl Bildt, Kingdom of Sweden, Co-Chair of the European Council on Foreign Relations, High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina (1995-1997), Prime Minister of Sweden (1991-1994)

  • Volkan Bozkir, Republic of Türkiye, President of the 75th UN General Assembly (2020-2021), Chief Negotiator for Turkish Accession to the European Union (2014-2015), Minister for EU Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye (2015-2016)

  • Jean-Paul Carteron, Swiss Confederation, Chairman and Founder of the Crans Montana Forum and WDA World Diplomatic Academy

  • Susan M. Elliott, President and CEO of the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, Ambassador

  • Nedžad Grabus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mufti of Sarajevo, Mufti of the Islamic Community in Slovenia (2006-2021)

  • Peter Grk, Republic of Slovenia, Head of the Department for the Bled Strategic Forum, MFA Slovenia

  • Werner Faymann, Republic of Austria, Chancellor of Austria (2008-2016)

  • Jadranka Kosor, Republic of Croatia, Prime Minister of Croatia (2009-2011)

  • Atifete Jahjaga, Kosovo, President of Kosovo 2011-2016

  • Zlatko Lagumdžija, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Permanent Representative of BiH to the United Nations, Prime Minister of BiH (ali Chairman of the Concil of Ministers of BiH, 2001-2002)

  • Zef Mazi, Republic of Albania, Chief Negotiator for Albania's Accession to the European Union (2020-2022)

  • Mladen Ivanić, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chairman on the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2014-2015), Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2014-2018)

  • Milica Pejanović Djurišić, Montenegro, Minister of Defence of Montenegro (2012-2016)

  • Rosen Plevneliev, Republic of Bulgaria, President of Bulgaria (2012-2017)

  • Radmila Šekerinska, Republic of North Macedonia, Minister of Defence of North Macedonia (2017-2022)

  • Boris Tadić, Republic of Serbia, President of Serbia (2004-2012)

Supervisory board

  • Nataša Kovač, Secretary-General, Office of the President of the Republic (2012-2022)

  • Predsednik sveta

    dr. France Arhar, Governor of the Bank of Slovenia (1991-2001), Senior Adviser to the President (2017-2022)

    President of the Supervisory Board

  • dr. Alja Brglez, Senior Adviser

KONTAKT / CONTACT

Prijatelji Zahodnega Balkana / Friends of Western Balkans:

Address: Trg republike 3, SI-1000 Ljubljana

IBAN: SI56 0284 3026 5645 738, NLB d.d. Ljubljana

SWIFT/BIC code: LJBASI2X

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