7th International Balkan Summer School 2025 “Contemporary Challenges in the Balkans: EU & Migration” Successfully Concluded

7th International Balkan Summer School 2025 “Contemporary Challenges in the Balkans: EU & Migration” Successfully Concluded
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The International Balkan Summer School 2025, themed “Contemporary Challenges in the Balkans: EU & Migration,” brought together academics, researchers, and students from across the region to explore issues at the intersection of EU & Migration. The program opened with remarks by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bujamin Bela, who underscored the importance of academic collaboration and regional dialogue in addressing the evolving challenges of the Balkans. Following with, Prof. Dr. Sead Turčalo who delivered a compelling keynote lecture titled “Migration and Security Challenges in the Western Balkans”. Throughout the program, participants engaged with lectures by Prof. Dr. Admir Mulaosmanović examined how historical migration patterns continue to shape the region’s political and social landscape, focusing on memory, identity, and forced migration and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Krasniqi offered a critical analysis of economic inequality and its impact on migration.

In a series of workshops, young researchers presented studies on EU migration policies, integration challenges, and cultural transitions. These sessions featured insightful contributions from Busejra Daci, Bilgehan Oğuz, Samir Sinanović, Arben Meta, Lorenca Bejko, Georgios Antonopoulos, Şengül İnce, Alexandros Zyka, and Amina Hadžić, each bringing unique national and thematic perspectives to the discussion. Concluding the academic program, Prof. Dr. Mevludin Ibish delivered an engaging lecture titled “EU at the Crossroads: Between an Active Global Competitor and a Passive Global Spectator,” examining the EU’s evolving global role and its implications for the Balkans. The 2025 edition of the Internacional Balkan Summer School was marked by rich intellectual exchange, cross-border cooperation, and a shared commitment to understanding the multifaceted challenges shaping the region. Through lectures, workshops, and open dialogue, the program succeeded in fostering critical conversations and strengthening academic networks across the Balkans and beyond.