WELCOME

MICHAEL ZINKANELL, Director of the AIES

SPEAKERS

MILENA MIHAJLOVIĆ, Programme Director, European Policy Centre Belgrade; Member of the IIP Advisory Board

VEDRAN DŽIHIĆ, Senior Researcher, Austrian Institute for International Politics

DENNIS MISKIĆ, Journalist and Project Assistant, International Institute for Peace

MODERATION

STEPHANIE FENKART, Director of the IIP

CONTENT

With the European Union deciding on whether to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina in May, a sense of optimism has been detectable among politicians in both Brussels and Sarajevo. But while the streets of the Bosnian capital have been decorated with EU flags, the country continues to face political turmoil. Milorad Dodik, president of Republika Srpska, has increased his secessionist rhetoric and continues to threaten the country’s stability following the enforcement of US sanctions against him. In a heavily polarized political climate, an increase in ethno-nationalist rhetoric in the lead-up to Bosnia’s municipal elections on October 6th is likely. While the Western Balkans region seems to stumble from one political crisis to another, predictions for the EU’s own elections suggest a significant boost for right-wing populist parties. With those parties gaining votes and seats, this will directly affect foreign policy choices within the EU, especially in terms of enlargement. But does Bosnia even have the capacity to fulfill the requirements for EU accession? How does Bosnia’s younger generation view the country’s future? How could the EU support overcoming Bosnia’s political polarization, and what role do neighboring countries Croatia, Hungary, and Serbia play? These questions and more will be discussed with Milena Mihajlović, Vedran Džihić, and Dennis Miskić