Bled Strategic Forum Explained

Bled Strategic Forum
Formation:2006
Abbreviation:BSF
Founder:Government of the Republic of Slovenia
Type:International Conference
Location City:Bled
Location Country:Slovenia
Region:Central and Southeastern Europe
Sec Gen:Peter Grk
Subsidiaries:Young BSF
Website:www.bledstrategicforum.org

The Bled Strategic Forum is a global ideas platform founded by the government of the Republic of Slovenia.

It produces events, discussions, roundtables, projects, analyses and publications.[1]

Bled Strategic Forum International Conference

The annual Bled Strategic Forum International Conference, hosted in Bled, Slovenia, is a gathering of participants from various fields to exchange views and ideas. It is an intragovernmental project of the Republic of Slovenia that focuses on areas that align with Slovenian foreign policy priorities. The event traditionally takes place at the end of the summer (usually just before the UN General Assembly in September), each year under a different title that guides the content of the sessions.

History

The Bled Strategic Forum was launched in 2006, at a time when Slovenia was embarking on its path of European and Euro-Atlantic integration after joining the EU and NATO in 2004. The event was created on the basis of the successful Slovenian Chairmanship of the OSCE. The venue – Bled – was chosen for its picturesque Alpine setting and prominence.

In 2011, the Young Bled Strategic Forum was added. Since then, the Young BSF has grown from a one-day side event into a standalone three-day international conference for young participants.[2] From 2012 to 2019, the programme also featured Business BSF, which has later been integrated into its main part. Over the years, the event has hosted some 60 heads of state and government, 380 ministers and 150 representatives of international organisations, as well as over 250 think-tank representatives and 1500 media representatives.

Notable speakers

The Bled Pledge

In his speech to the attendees of the Bled Strategic Forum International Conference in 2023, Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, set the goal for the EU and the Western Balkans to be ready for Enlargement by 2030. The speech is known as the Bled Pledge.

Past editions

Partnerships

In order to expand the Bled Strategic Forum into a year-round platform, the organisation collaborates with other conferences and organisations, usually through joint sessions.[10]

In 2024, the Bled Strategic Forum co-organised a debate at the Munich Security Conference.[11] The Bled Strategic Forum team attended the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi.[12] In the same year, it also partnered with the Center for China and Globalization for a roundtable on Climate Change and Global Resilience in Beijing.[13] [14]

The Bled Strategic Forum's close partners also include Interpeace, the BMW Foundation, the Global Diplomacy Lab, etc.

Secretaries general

The secretary general of the Bled Strategic Forum is responsible for steering the development and preparing events throughout the year.

List of the secretaries general of the Bled Strategic Forum[15] !Start!End!Name
2016currentPeter Grk
20132015Alain Brian Bergant
20102012Miriam Možgan
20092009Melita Gabrič
20062008Darja Bavdaž Kuret

Young Bled Strategic Forum

The first Young BSF took place in 2011 under the title 'The Power of the Future'. It was established with the aim of bringing together students and prospective young professionals from the diplomatic, academic and think-thank fields in both Europe and the Mediterranean region.

Since then, the Young BSF has developed from a one-day side event with a couple of the discussions happening on the margins of the Bled Strategic Forum into a three-day separate international conference for young participants from all over the world. Young BSF is now a separate event, yet connected with the Bled Strategic Forum.[16]

Past editions

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2021-10-22 . About BSF - Bled Strategic Forum . 2024-04-25.
  2. Web site: 2022-08-08 . Our History - Bled Strategic Forum . 2024-06-10 . en-GB.
  3. Web site: Michel . Charles . 28 August 2023 . Speech by President Charles Michel at the Bled Strategic Forum . 10 June 2024.
  4. Web site: Press corner . 2024-05-13 . European Commission - European Commission.
  5. Web site: 31 August 2020 . Bled Strategic Times . 5 August 2024 . bledstrategicforum.org.
  6. Web site: 2024-05-06 . UN high commissioner and ombudsman discuss human rights challenges . 2024-05-13 . www.varuh-rs.si . sl.
  7. Web site: 2 September 2019 . Opening of the 2019 Bled Strategic Forum "(Re)sources of (In)stability)" General Assembly of the United Nations . 2024-05-13 . en-US.
  8. Web site: Instagram . 2024-05-13 . www.instagram.com.
  9. Web site: Publications – Bled Strategic Forum. 11 March 2020 .
  10. Web site: 2024-04-11 . Bled Strategic Forum as a Soft Power Instrument of Slovenian Foreign Policy - Bled Strategic Forum . 2024-06-10 . en-GB.
  11. Web site: 2024-02-16 . Bled Strategic Forum at the Munich Security Conference - Bled Strategic Forum . 2024-06-10 . en-GB.
  12. Web site: 2024-03-01 . Bled Strategic Forum team at the 9th Raisina Dialogue: A Recap - Bled Strategic Forum . 2024-06-10 . en-GB.
  13. Web site: STA: Fajon ends China visit with discussion on multilateralism . 2024-06-10 . english.sta.si.
  14. Web site: 2024-04-20 . Roundtable on 'Navigating the Future: Strategic Imperatives for Global Resilience' - Bled Strategic Forum . 2024-06-10 . en-GB.
  15. Web site: 2022-08-05 . Organisers - Bled Strategic Forum . 2024-05-13 . en-GB.
  16. Web site: 2021-06-28 . About Young Bled Strategic Forum - Bled Strategic Forum . 2024-06-10 . en-GB.
  17. Web site: 2023-04-26 . Young Bled Strategic Forum 2023 - Bled Strategic Forum . 2024-05-13 . en-GB.
  18. Web site: 2022-05-04 . Young BSF 2022 - Bled Strategic Forum . 2024-05-13 . en-GB.
  19. Web site: 2021-11-15 . Young BSF 2021 - Bled Strategic Forum . 2024-06-10 . en-GB.

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