Participation of ICBSS Director General at the Budapest Balkans Forum 2026
16 March 2026
On 10 - 11 March 2026, ICBSS Director General, Mr. Georgios Mitrakos, participated at the Budapest Balkans Forum 2026, organised by the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs, in Budapest, Hungary.
Since its launch in 2016, the Budapest Balkans Forum has served as a high-level platform, bringing together decision-makers, policymakers, and leading experts to examine political, economic, and security developments in the Western Balkans.
This year's edition under the theme 'Prioritizing the Western Balkans', marked the tenth anniversary since the Forum's inauguration. Panel discussions addressed key issues shaping the region’s future, including regional connectivity, emerging security challenges, the role of shared values, and effective pathways to EU enlargement.
During the Forum, the establishment of the Balkans Institute was announced. This new initiative will be dedicated to research, analysis, and engagement focused on the Western Balkans, and will aim to provide a permanent platform for expertise, policy support, and regional outreach.
At the sidelines, Mr. Mitrakos attended the invitation-only, closed-door, Day 3 of the Budapest Balkans Forum, hosted at the headquarters of the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs.
Following the high-level plenary sessions of the main event, the third day of the Budapest Balkans Forum aimed to convene experts in a more focused format. Organised around two parallel workshops and two moderated discussions, it facilitated in-depth exchanges among practitioners and analysts who encounter the respective challenges on a daily basis.
The visit aligns with ICBSS objectives to promote dialogue, knowledge exchange and enable synergies to advance sustainability and development in the wider Black Sea region and beyond.
