The European Movement in Serbia (EMinS) organized on 24 November 2025, at the Europe House in Belgrade, the public panel “Does the Western Balkans Need a Reset of Multilateral Cooperation? – The Stability Pact, RCC and a Quarter Century of Regional Cooperation in Southeast Europe,” dedicated to the memory of Dr. Erhard Busek, a prominent Austrian statesman and Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact (2002–2008).

The event was officially opened by Duško Lopandić, President of the EMinS Forum for International Relations, and H.E. Christian Ebner, Ambassador of Austria to the Republic of Serbia, who delivered introductory remarks to the guests and participants.

The first panel, “Achievements of the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe,” addressed the development of regional cooperation mechanisms after the conflicts of the 1990s and the transformation of the Pact into the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC). The speakers were Dragan Đukanović, Goran Svilanović and Jelica Minić, and the panel was moderated by Duško Lopandić.

The second panel, “Does the Western Balkans Need a New Reset of Cooperation?” focused on contemporary political, security and European challenges facing the region, as well as the ways in which global changes affect the opportunities for improving cooperation. The speakers were Matej Zakonjšek, Pavle Janković and Dragana Đurica, and the moderator was Vladimir Međak.

The President of the Forum for International Relations, Prof. Dr. Duško Lopandić, emphasized that regional cooperation must not remain confined solely within the closed framework of the Western Balkans, but must once again be viewed within the broader space of Southeast Europe, as it once was under the Stability Pact. It was highlighted that such an approach requires democratic institutions and political decisions that open space for cooperation, instead of policies that limit it.

During the dynamic panel discussion, participants emphasised that regional cooperation is of essential importance not only for the EU integration process but also for the economic and developmental needs of our region.

The discussion concluded with a Q&A session with the audience.

Below you can see a photo gallery from the event.