The conference will be organised as a hybrid event, with a high-level segment taking place on-site while some discussions will be held online. In addition to the familiar livestreamed sessions, a strong digital component of this year’s conference will open the possibility of online participation allowing us to host speakers and participants are unable to travel to Bled in person and to stimulate virtual audience engagement.

There will be fewer guests in Bled than in years past, the forum will be a one-day event, there will be no youth or business section. Five panels will be in-person and two digital-only. But participation will be exceptional, especially considering the fact that we are living at a time when travel and meetings are fairly restricted. Organisers have confirmed attendance of the prime ministers of Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland, and the president of Serbia. Half a dozen foreign ministers have been confirmed as well.

The forum will focus on the aftermath of the pandemic and the future of the EU. Other debates will be about cybersecurity, digitalisation and European security, the latter focusing both on the development of European defence capabilities and EU-NATO cooperation, and relations with Russia, China and other global players.

The Western Balkans panel, which typically closes the event, will not be held this year due to the epidemiological situation in the region.

Overall the event will comply with all epidemiological rules and recommendations. Masks will be mandatory indoors, participants will be asked to maintain physical distance and disinfect their hands.