Since 2009, the Regional Dialog of the Aspen Institute Germany brings together high-level decision-makers, politicians, diplomats, and civil society experts from the Western Balkans, but also from the United States, Germany, the European Union, NATO, and other international and regional organizations to discuss the region’s current and future challenges. In closed-door conferences, selected participants can exchange views and discuss differences and commonalities in an off-the-record setting. Supported by policy papers, the discussions aim at bridging differences and developing mutually acceptable solutions and recommendations. Topics discussed include: Euro-Atlantic integration and the reform processes; non-traditional security threats; the fight against organized crime and corruption; the role of external actors in the region; economic development; energy security and climate change; regional cooperation; rule of law; and democratization.
Aspen Western Balkans Initiative: Engagement for Progress and Stability
The objectives of the project are to promote dialogue and cooperation in the region, develop concrete recommendations, and draw public attention to the enlargement and reform process.
Bosnia and Herzegovina 2023: How to Breathe Life into the EU Integration?
The project aims to develop concrete ideas on how the reform process in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as its EU integration, can be supported, how the role of civil society can be strengthened in the process, and how the international community can assist Bosnia and Herzegovina in this endeavor.
Publications
Stormy-Annika Mildner, Tina Bories, Kilian Kurtenacker, Avi Shapiro, Duncan Gordon-Forbes, Future of the Western Balkans 2043. Aspen Institute Germany, November 2023.
Stormy-Annika Mildner, Tina Bories, Maren Sass, Aineias Engstrom, Selina Neumann-Wengler, Duncan Gordon-Forbes, Green Agenda for the Western Balkans. The Road Toward Effective and Sustainable Implementation, December 2022.
Maren Sass, Conference Report. Western Balkans Working Group, Aspen Institute Germany, December 2022.
Abe Baker-Butler, Conference Report. Democratization and the Role of Parliaments in the Western Balkans, Aspen Institute Germany, December 2022.
Valeska Esch and Viktoria Palm (eds.), Media Freedom in the Western Balkans. Aspen Institute Germany, December 2021.
Valeska Esch and Viktoria Palm (eds.), Implementing the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, Aspen Institute Germany, December 2021.
Valeska Esch and Viktoria Palm (eds.), Supporting Reconciliation Processes in the Western Balkans. Aspen Institute Germany, 2021.
Valeska Esch, Viktoria Palm, Hansjörg Brey und Christian Hagemann (eds.), Emigration from the Western Balkans. Aspen Institute Germany, 2020.
Valeska Esch and Viktoria Palm (eds.), The Covid-19 Pandemic in the Western Balkans. Consequences and Policy Approaches, Aspen Institute Germany, 2020.
Valeska Esch, Olga van Zijverden and Tina Bories (eds.), Economic Development and Democratization in the Western Balkans. Aspen Institute Germany, 2019.
Valeska Esch and Olga van Zijverden (eds.), Rule of Law Reforms in the Western Balkans. Aspen Institute Germany, 2018.
Valeska Esch and Yannic Remme (eds.), A European Future for the Western Balkans. Addressing Political and Economic Challenges, Aspen Institute Germany, 2017.
Valeska Esch (ed.), Democratization in the Western Balkans. Promoting Multi-Ethnic Open Societies to Counter Radicalization and Polarization, Aspen Institute Germany, 2016.
Valeska Esch and Carina Kempf (eds.), EU Enlargement and Regional Cooperation. Identifying the Next Steps. Aspen Institute Germany, 2015.
Valeska Esch and Juliane Kabus (eds.), EU Enlargement. Between Conditionality, Progress, and Enlargement Fatigue, Aspen Institute Germany, 2014.
