Slovenia will still be hosting its Bled Strategic Forum during the novel coronavirus pandemic, this year for the 15th consecutive time. Moreover, the largest number of high-profile guests to date might well be coming to Bled. Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers of Croatia, the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary have already confirmed their participation, as have the President of the Republic of Serbia, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, and numerous others. Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, will address the participants via video link.

Because of the pandemic, the number of participants is expected to be at least a quarter lower than in previous years, but the forum will certainly be of the utmost interest in terms of content. Bled Strategic Forum will be only a one-day event this year and will take place on Monday, 31 August. Unlike previous years, when even more than 20 debates took place within two days, this year only five panels will be held at the venue and two will take place virtually.

This year there will be a strong digital component, as only 150 to 160 people, mostly invited, will be able to attend the panels on-site because of the safety measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. The focus of discussions will be regional cooperation within the EU and the future of the EU both after Brexit and following the coronavirus pandemic. This will also be the first time that the Prime Ministers of five EU Member States meet in person since the July summit, at which the path for economic recovery of the EU after the pandemic, which will also be the topic at this year's Bled Strategic Forum, was set.