Organised by the NATO Defense College Foundation (NDCF), in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (D.G.U.E.), International Council on Environmental Economics and Development (ICEED), Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo, Fondazione CSF, and the NATO Defense College (NDC)

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The Western Balkans and the wider Black Sea region continue to represent a strategic interface for the Euro-Atlantic community, where questions of security, democratic governance and regional stability are becoming increasingly interconnected. While EU enlargement and NATO cooperation remain important drivers of political and institutional convergence, the region is also facing growing geopolitical pressure and exposure to hybrid threats.

The rapid development of artificial intelligence is accelerating the scale and sophistication of disinformation and cognitive warfare, enabling external actors to conduct low-cost, high-impact influence operations that are difficult to detect and counter. Persistent gaps in early warning systems, analytical capabilities and AI-assisted monitoring continue to limit regional resilience.

Against this backdrop, the “Balkans and Black Sea Perspectives 2026 – Democratic Resilience, AI and Cognitive Security” High-Level Conference, will provide a platform for dialogue among policymakers, analysts, researchers and practitioners. Through high-level panels, interactive discussions and dedicated sessions involving young experts, the event aims to strengthen regional cooperation, foster knowledge-sharing and advance policy reflections on democratic resilience, information integrity and emerging hybrid threats.