BLED STRATEGIC FORUM 2010 - "Global Outlook for the Next Decade"

The rise of emerging powers, a globalizing economy and the growing influence of non-state actors is likely to make the international environment almost unrecognizable by 2020. Will the international system be up to the challenges that lie ahead? How can growing energy demands be met? How can access to sufficient clean water be guaranteed to everyone? How to re-connect the Western Balkans? What is the role of EU in the multipolar world?

Leaders and their ideas matter. These issues will be discussed at the Bled Strategic Forum, an annual gathering of leading decision-makers from private, public and academic spheres at Bled, Slovenia from 29 to 30 August 2010.

THE BLED STRATEGIC FORUM IN PREVIOUS YEARS

Last year's Bled Strategic Forum, called "The Politics of Economic Crisis: Redefining Economic and Geopolitical Landscapes in Europe and Eurasia", brought together numerous leaders, policy planners and representatives of civil society. The main topics of discussion were the politics of economic crisis and its influence on economic and political landscapes of Europe and Eurasia. It was a great pleasure to find out that the topic was highly accurate, provoking enough for lively discussion and useful for our further formation of policy approaches.

The previous Bled Strategic Forum was devoted to the nexus between energy and climate change. Under the title "Energy and Climate Change: Si.nergy for the Future" it brought together more than 400 high-level government representatives, politicians, EU officials, private sector leaders and senior representatives from think tanks and the non-governmental sector.

The 2007 Bled Strategic Forum was convened in August 2007, just a few months before the start of the first Slovenian EU presidency. A Conference titled "European Union 2020: Enlarging and Integrating" gathered a large number of participants from variegated backgrounds, including a number of high-level governmental representatives and private sector leaders. The Forum covered major challenges that the EU and global society face today, primarily focusing on the principal priorities of the Slovenian EU presidency.

The 2006 Bled Strategic Forum, called "Caspian Outlook 2008", was focused on the geopolitical relevance of the Caspian region for the EU from economic, political and strategic perspectives.

Bled Strategic Forum is organized jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and the Centre for European Perspective.