Bled Strategic Forum

Young BSF 2025 applications now open

3. 4. 2025 | Bled Strategic Forum, PR, Young BSF

We are happy to announce that the applications for the 14^th Young Bled Strategic Forum (Young BSF) are now open! Young BSF is a participant-driven platform where bright young minds from around the world come together to share ideas and find inspiration to improve their communities.

We are inviting ambitious young professionals working in a broadly defined field of international politics to apply by 27 April 2025. All the relevant information can be found on the Young BSF website.

About Young BSF 2025

Under the title ‘What values?’ Young BSF 2025 will explore the intersection of values and world politics. Our aim is to better understand the fundamental drivers of international politics at the personal, professional and institutional levels by explicating our individual belief systems and juxtaposing those with the values that guide our actions on the global stage. For more information on the content please refer to the concept note that you can find on the website.

The programme of the Young BSF 2025 will take place from 29 to 31 August 2025 in Pokljuka, Slovenia, with participants arriving on 28 August. Following the conclusion of the Young BSF programme, the Young BSF participants will attend the 20th Bled Strategic Forum in Bled on 1 and 2 September.

Who can apply?

The Young Bled Strategic Forum participants are promising, curious and proactive young professionals aged 18–35. They are leaders and practitioners in the broadly defined field of world politics, with overlapping educational backgrounds, professional interests and career paths. They are young people driven by a commitment to creating a positive impact.

Why should you apply?

To explore the main theme of Young BSF and source ground-up solutions for select contemporary challenges in collaboration and in discussion with other participants and world-renowned experts.
Attend a three-day Young Bled Strategic Forum tailor-made programme with insightful discussions and engaging workshops in Pokljuka and then participate at the Bled Strategic Forum international conference – the leading conference in Central and South-Eastern Europe.
Hang out with and befriend some 40 thought-provoking, up-and-coming, interesting, ambitious, and diverse young leaders from all over the world.
Because the attendance is free, and all the costs of your participation are covered by us! Young Bled Strategic Forum is possible because of donations and funds from generous partners and sponsors. This way we can enable participation to whomever, regardless of their socio-economic status.

Participant selection process

The applications are now open and will remain open until 27 April. As the conference is participant-driven, we aim to select a gender-balanced group of individuals who will bring diverse and informed perspectives to the discussions. Participants will be selected from all continents, representing a variety of worldviews, educational backgrounds, and professional experiences.

The 20th Bled Strategic Forum will be held under the title “A Runaway World”

2. 4. 2025 | Bled Strategic Forum, PR

Announcing the 20th edition of the Bled Strategic Forum international conference taking place in Bled on 1–2 September.

This anniversary edition will be held under the title “A Runaway World.” The conference will mark the 20th jubilee of the Forum and will focus on Europe’s role in a new global order. The Bled Strategic Forum is an intergovernmental project of the Republic of Slovenia, organised by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the Centre for European Perspective, and is considered the most prominent foreign policy event in Slovenia.

“In a turbulent world, with many dynamic changes, crises and conflicts, politicians, world leaders, decision-makers are faced with increasing, complex global challenges to which we should respond with appropriate measures, policies, actions. This is why discussions within such an established, broad platform as the Bled Strategic Forum are particularly valuable for us, where we can seek answers and solutions to key issues in contemporary societies with a wide range of relevant actors,” emphasised Tanja Fajon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs.

The Bled Strategic Forum 2025 reflects 20 years of its existence by steadfastly adhering to the core of its success: a global platform that brings together diverse stakeholders to exchange ideas and views on contemporary society and its future.

A Jubilee of Adaptive Reliance

Over the past two decades, the Bled Strategic Forum has undergone a remarkable transformation. Initially established as a regional, one-day conference with a select group of panellists, it has evolved into a prestigious two-day international conference. Today, it attracts a diverse range of distinguished participants, including global decision-makers, thinkers, experts, think tanks, academics, business professionals and emerging talents.

The conference’s unique feature lies in its ability to foster meaningful exchanges and generate innovative solutions to address both current and future challenges. By bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds and skill sets, it creates an environment conducive to intellectual growth and collaborative problem-solving.

Recognised as the leading international conference in Central and South-Eastern Europe, the Bled Strategic Forum has gained global recognition. Its evolution from a one-off event to an ongoing platform has enabled it to establish partnerships with other global conferences, participate in international panels and expand its presence beyond Slovenia. This strategic expansion has not only enhanced Slovenia’s international standing, but has also contributed to its active role on the global stage.

Since its inception, the Bled Strategic Forum has been held in the picturesque town of Bled, which has become an integral part of the conference’s identity. This unique setting has garnered the trust and support of its participants, contributing to the enduring legacy of the Bled Strategic Forum.

Reshaping Resilience in the Evolving Global Landscape

Under the theme “A Runaway World”, the Bled Strategic Forum 2025 will focus on Europe’s role in a new global environment.

The Bled Strategic Forum 2025 will serve as a platform for reflection and action in a world overshadowed by ongoing crises and geopolitical uncertainty. As the international order fractures and new global complexities emerge, the Forum will invite leaders, experts and visionaries to examine Europe’s role in shaping a more stable, cooperative and resilient future.

Through strategic dialogue and innovative ideas, the conference will address the challenges of strengthening global governance, fostering strategic sovereignty and building trust in an increasingly polarised world.

Peter Grk, Secretary General of the Bled Strategic Forum, stated: “The Bled Strategic Forum 2025 will showcase its strengths by focusing on its guests through one-on-one talks, facilitating the exchange of ideas in panel discussions with diverse speakers and welcoming high-level decision makers.”

The concept and content of the Bled Strategic Forum are available here (link)

About the Bled Strategic Forum international conference

The Bled Strategic Forum international conference is the leading event in Central and South-Eastern Europe, bringing together participants from diverse fields and backgrounds to exchange views and generate ideas for overcoming current and future challenges.

The conference is the flagship event of a global platform of the same name, which aims to generate ideas and exchange views on contemporary society and its future. As an instrument of Slovenia’s soft power in foreign policy, it hosts and participates in key debates both in Slovenia and abroad throughout the year.

BSF 2024 – A World of Parallel Realities

1. 9. 2024 | Bled Strategic Forum, PR, Young BSF

Za novico v slovenskem jeziku kliknite tu.

The 19th International Conference Bled Strategic Forum will take place in Bled on 2 and 3 September. This year’s event is titled “A World of Parallel Realities”.

The focus of the Bled Strategic Forum 2024 will be a call to work together for the common good: by listening, by hearing, and by going beyond one’s own views.

We are living in a time of great global transformation, which has the potential to shape our common future profoundly. At such a time, the ability to hear and listen in the international community is crucial if we are to find effective and sustainable solutions. This is what this year’s Bled Strategic Forum offers – an inclusive platform where the different voices, perspectives and reflections of key players in the global multilateral environment are heard and taken into account. We believe that constant and constructive dialogue is the only way to build a multilateral system that operates on universally accepted norms.

This year, BSF will once again host a wide range of interesting guests from the worlds of politics, business and civil society. It will touch on all the most crucial challenges of global society while also raising themes that have the potential to shape our common future. The most exciting panels will therefore include a panel on the (dys)functioning of the global multilateral framework (including Slovenia’s experience in the work of the UNSC so far), a panel on the Middle East, preparations for the Future Summit, the Indo-Pacific, India, disinformation, food security, energy and much more.

As one of the novelties of the Bled Strategic Forum 2024 programme, an innovative concept of “Living library” will be introduced. This is an interactive event where people with different experiences and backgrounds on a chosen topic act as “books”. Conference participants (“readers”) talk to them and learn about their stories and perspectives on the topic.

The Bled Strategic Forum continues to strengthen its partnerships and, this year is working with more than ten key global thinkers from different continents to shape the programme. It continues its long-standing collaboration with leading organisations such as the Atlantic Council, the Nelson Mandela Center and the BMW Foundation. This year, for the first time, it is working with the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity and the Oxford Process on International Law Protections in Cyberspace. Collaborating with global partners allows for a broader understanding of global issues, a wider range of speakers and topics, and the inclusion of new perspectives.

This year, for the 13th time, the Young Bled Strategic Forum will take place on the sidelines of the Bled Strategic Forum. This year, 42 selected young people from all over the world will take part in the event, which will take place in Pokljuka between 30 August and 1 September. They will focus on the causes of the existence of different realities and on ways to reunite them in a programme entitled “Restoring Common Ground“. This year, the participants of the Young Bled Strategic Forum will also be actively involved in the Bled Strategic Forum International Conference. They will have the opportunity to participate as speakers in the debates, the priority to ask questions in the debate (the so-called first question opportunity) and the possibility to organise their own debates within the Forum.

Young Bled Strategic Forum 2024 applications open

17. 5. 2024 | Bled Strategic Forum, PR, Young BSF

We are happy to announce that the Young Bled Strategic Forum 2024 (Young BSF 2024) applications are open!

Young Bled Strategic Forum is a unique meeting place for young leaders, offering them a platform to share their visions, exchange ideas and network with other exceptional young individuals from all over the world. Each year, it attracts a group of about 40 young leaders from diverse backgrounds and engages them in interactive discussions on pressing challenges and addresses inventive approaches to developing creative solutions. Young Bled Strategic Forum is an inseparable part of Bled Strategic Forum, the leading conference in Central and South-Eastern Europe.

If you are between 18 and 35 years old and committed to bringing positive change within society (you can be a student, young academic, NGO representative, activist, politician, engineer, young member of public administration or governmental institution, athlete, member of international organisation, entrepreneur, or anything else) you are eligible to apply. You can apply here for Young BSF by 2 June 2024 23:59.

This year, the Young Bled Strategic Forum will take place under the title Restoring Common Ground. It will take place between 30 August and 1 September 2024 in Pokljuka, Slovenia. The participants will then participate at the 19th Bled Strategic Forum on 2 and 3 September in Bled. Young Bled Strategic Forum participants will explore the factors that contribute to the divergence of realities and what can be done to bring these realities closer together to restore common ground from which meaningful social action can emerge.

For more information on the content of the conference and the format of the conference you can refer to the concept note and the website.

Announcing the title of the Bled Strategic Forum international conference 2024

9. 5. 2024 | Bled Strategic Forum, PR, Young BSF

The 19th Bled Strategic Forum International Conference, titled’ A World of Parallel Realities,’ will take place between 2 and 3 September 2024.

Within the framework of the title, the thematic focus of the Bled Strategic Forum 2024 will call for cooperation for the common good, by listening and hearing beyond one’s own views. Sustainable solutions are needed at a time when international society is confronted with a cycle of competition, insecurity, and antagonism, manifested in instability, violence, and conflict. The awareness that we live in a world of parallel realities encourages us to bring these realities together for the common good.

#BSF2024 will aim to bring new innovative approaches to the programme and involve young people more.

As per its mission, BSF 2024 will bring together a diverse set of participants, including heads of state and government, ministers, diplomats, businesspeople, scholars and experts, youth, and media from around the world. It will provide a platform for participants to openly discuss and contrast opinions and seek solutions for contemporary regional and global challenges.

Additionally, the Forum will provide an excellent opportunity for tailored bilateral and multilateral meetings and networking with prominent regional and global actors from diplomacy, policy, business, science, and innovation.

Before the BSF, Young BSF will take place between 30 August and 1 September in Pokljuka, Slovenia.

CEP’s Roundtable on the Role of Slovenia as a UN Security Council Non-permanent Member 2024-2025: Perspectives and Priorities

13. 12. 2023 | Bled Strategic Forum, POTC, PR

On Tuesday, December 12th, the Centre for European Perspective (CEP) hosted a roundtable discussion titled ‘The Republic of Slovenia as a Non-Permanent Member of the UN Security Council 2024–2025: Streamlining our Approach Toward Common Objectives.’ The event took place at Jable Castle.

The discussion highlighted Slovenia’s commitment to four key priority areas during its presidency: 1) proactive measures for conflict prevention; 2) ensuring the protection of civilians in times of armed conflicts; 3) advancing the cause of women, peace, and security; and 4) addressing the intricate relationship between climate, peace, and security. These areas of emphasis were carefully chosen based on existing needs and unanswered questions, illuminating persisting challenges that demand ongoing attention.

Roundtable’s Key Contributors

Nina Čepon, Executive Director of CEP, commenced the event with introductory remarks. She expressed gratitude to all attendees for their presence and subsequently provided insights into CEP’s initiatives. Her remarks touched upon diverse projects, ranging from collaborations with Ukraine and the Western Balkans to addressing misinformation, building capacities for peacekeeping and engaging in projects involving artificial intelligence.

Following Ms. Čepon’s introductory remarks, Mr Peter Grk, Secretary General of the Bled Strategic Forum and National Coordinator for the Western Balkans at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, skillfully guided the conversation with a panel of five speakers. Setting the stage, Mr. Flavio Milan from the Federal Department for Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, heading UN coordination and serving as deputy head of the UN division in Bern, shared opening insights. His unique perspective, rooted in Switzerland’s precedence over Slovenia in the United Nations Security Council, offered valuable insights and experiences. In light of unfolding global events, Mr. Milan acknowledged the challenges anticipated in the upcoming year.

The subsequent contributors included Mr Matej Marn, Head of the UN Security Council Task Force at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia; Ms Sabina Stadler Repnik, Head of the Strategic Studies and Analyses Service at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia; Dr Ljubica Jelušič, Professor at the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Social Sciences; and Mr Samo Selimović, Coordinator of the Peace Operations Training Centre (POTC).

Roundtable’s Conclusions

The roundtable also served as an opportunity to map out other Slovenian actors – NGOs, Institutes and research organisations – to present their activities, aligned with the Slovenian priorities and provide ideas on future collaboration with the Slovenian government within these topics.

The dialogue, alongside the panellists, reached a consensus on the challenging times anticipated ahead. Despite Slovenia’s relatively small size, the prevailing sentiment was that size should not be a limiting factor. The collective commitment urged the pursuit of peace while remaining steadfast in upholding core values.

We want to thank the panellists, representatives of various Slovenian NGOs and institutes, and the numerous audience members who contributed to the successful and engaging roundtable. Even though our traditional pre-holiday roundtables were halted during the COVID-19 pandemic, we will strive to continue with this tradition and offer you insight into another relevant topic next year.

« Older Entries