“Hybrid threats in the new European security architecture – Role of NATO” is a title of a two-day conference held in Zagreb, 24-26 November 2023, organized by the Atlantic Council of Croatia and YATA Croatia, and under the sponsorship of NATO Public Diplomacy Division (NATO PDD).
Five panels were held at the conference, in which experts from the country and the world participated. After all panels, young participants had a moderated debate on NATO’s Open Door Policy and tackling hybrid threats, that was moderated by Mislav Pohovski.
Topics and speakers during the panels were:
“Croatia’s role in NATO and EU enlargement – Western Balkan region on its Euro-Atlantic path“ – in this first panel Antun Antun Krševan Dujmović from the Croatian Institute for Development and International Relations and Monika Begovic, President of the Atlantic Council of Croatia, discussed the fact that it is in Croatia’s interest for the Western Balkan countries to join the EU and NATO. The panel was moderated by Nikola Golubović Reiser.
In the second panel with the topic: „Role of NATO and the EU in the security agenda in the Western Balkan with the new European Security Architecture“, Prof. Jadranka Polović from Libertas University in Zagreb and Prof. Stefano Pilotto from the University in Trieste talked about obstacles the Western Balkan countries encounter when joining the Euro-atlantic integrations, however the process of joining is actually what brings reforms in these countries. The panel was moderated by Danijel Bačan.
Third panel: „Policy risks associated with hybrid threats: Common values and common interests„ brought numerous questions to the public by great speakers: Prof. Vanja Rokvić PhD, Faculty of Security Studies in Belgrade, Daniel Hinšt from the Croatian Centre for Public Policy and Economic Analysis and Bruno Rukavina, Vice-President of the Atlantic Council of Croatia. The panel was moderated by Nikola Puljić.
Fourth panel was dedicated to NATO, especially the new Strategic Concept, with the title: „NATO 2022 Strategic concept in view of the new European security architecture: Reaffirming common values in a geopolitical puzzle“. Dr. Matthew Rhodes from George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies gave a great overview of the main points from the Strategic Concept, Biljana Popovska from North Macedonia, representing the George Marshall Alumni, talked about how important it is from North Macedonia to join EU also, after becoming a NATO member country, while Stephanie Fenkart, Director of International Institute for Peace from Vienna, had a special accent of Euro-Atlantic values, stressing how important is to always be on the first place when thinking about international security. The panel was moderated by Nikola Golubović Reiser
A great introduction to the debate was a presentation by journalist Valentina Wiesner with the topic: „Influence of disinformation in media on youth and security implications“. It is important never to stop educate young people to be able to recognize fake news, while not spreading the disinformation.
During the project a video was filmed and produced and can be found on the official Youtube channel of the Atlantic Council of Croatia: https://youtu.be/rDInAQY8gn0
Further more, a journal with policy papers will be published as part of the project with the topic: Importance of stability in the Western Balkans for European security.
Atlantic Council of Croatia members contribute solely as volunteers to the promotion of Euro-Atlantic values in Croatia and the neighbouring region, emphasizing the important role of NATO in the European security architecture.
A special ‘Thank you’ note goes to all volunteers, especially young people that gather within Youth Atlantic Treaty Association Croatia, but also to all experts that cooperate with the Atlantic Council of Croatia, and to all the speakers in this international conference, who invested their time to share the knowledge on the international relations and international security with young participants.