UfM strengthens ties with Central Europe and the Western Balkans at Bled Strategic Forum

Bled, 31 August–1 September 2026. The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) reinforced its engagement with Central European and Western Balkan partners during the participation of the UfM Acting Secretary General Fadi Hajali in the 21st Bled Strategic Forum in Slovenia. On the sidelines of the Forum, Hajali held bilateral exchanges with senior representatives from Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Slovakia and Slovenia. The discussions sought to strengthen political engagement with the UfM, raise awareness of key upcoming high-level events and identify concrete areas for cooperation within the wider Euro-Mediterranean framework.

As host country, Slovenia provided an important opportunity for engagement with the new Slovenian Government. Hajali met with Tone Kajzer, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs; Borut Rončević, Minister of Education, Science and Youth; Polona Rifelj, Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning; Janez Cigler Kralj, Minister of Agriculture; and Tamara Weingerl Požar, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.

The programme also included meetings with Atanas Pekanov, Deputy Prime Minister of Bulgaria; Ervin Ibrahimović, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro; Ferit Hoxha, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania; Timčo Mucunski, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of North Macedonia; Rastislav Chovanec, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia; and Nikolaus Marschik, Secretary General for Foreign Affairs of Austria.

Hajali also participated in the panel “From Fragility to Fertility: Stabilizing the European Neighborhood through Resilience”, where he stressed the need to move from crisis management towards long-term resilience-building. He highlighted water and food security as strategic entry points for strengthening stability, noting the interconnected nature of water, energy, food systems, ecosystems and climate resilience across the Mediterranean.

Ahead of the Forum, Hajali and Deputy Secretary General for Human Development Petra Kežman of the UfM visited EMUNI University in Slovenia. Discussions focused on EMUNI’s role within the New Pact for the Mediterranean and on strengthening connections between academia, policymakers and institutions across the region. The UfM reaffirmed its support for EMUNI’s mission as a platform for Euro-Mediterranean education, research and dialogue.