Centre for Security Cooperation (RACVIAC), together with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) Office for Croatia and Slovenia, held the 13th annual Conference on Security Challenges for Europe in Zagreb on 25–26 November 2025. The event once again brought together a wide range of policymakers, diplomats, security experts and academics to exchange views on the most pressing security issues facing Europe today, with particular attention on South-East Europe. Discussions focused on global instability, the impact of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, economic and strategic competition, and the future of EU and NATO integration, as well as reforms in the Western Balkans.
IRMO was represented at the conference by Sandro Knezović, PhD, who moderated Panel II, “Economic Warfare and the Tide in Southeast Europe.” The panel brought together Prof. Dr. Bernard Siman (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Laris Gaiser, PhD (Catholic University of Milan), Prof. Dr. Ulrich Blum (Institute for Technologies and Economics of Lithium), and Valentin Ene (E-ARC), who offered diverse perspectives on the growing role of economic instruments in modern conflict and competition. The discussion highlighted how trade dependencies, investment flows and energy resources can be used as tools of influence, shaping political decisions and security dynamics across the region. The panelists underlined that such economic interdependence can be exploited within hybrid strategies, posing significant risks to the political autonomy and long-term resilience of South-Eastern European states. Through his participation, dr. Knezović contributed to a broader exchange of perspectives on how the region can strengthen its resilience, protect strategic sectors, and navigate an increasingly complex and competitive security environment.
