On 1–2 September 2025, political leaders, policymakers, academics, and civil society representatives gathered in Bled, Slovenia, for the 20th Bled Strategic Forum (BSF) under the theme ‘A Runaway World’.

Since its inception in 2006, the BSF has developed into the leading international conference in Central and South-Eastern Europe. For two decades, it has provided an integral platform for strategic dialogue and cooperation on pressing global issues — ranging from geopolitics and economic resilience to climate change, disinformation, and peacebuilding.

On its 20th anniversary, BSF 2025 enabled a reflection on the forum’s impact to date, as well as a platform to direct this impact towards today’s urgent challenges. The platform fostered dialogue towards topics such as:

• the fragmented international order;

• rising global tensions; and

• the urgent need for renewed cooperation and multilateralism.

High-level participants included heads of state, ministers, senior representatives of international organisations, academics, and thought leaders who came together to explore how Europe and its partners can shape a more secure and sustainable future.

Sustaining Peace in a Shifting Global Order

CoE Director, Johanna Sumuvuori, represented the CoE as a keynote listener in the session ‘Sustaining Peace in a Shifting Global Order’.The CoEwas happy to actively contribute to this anniversary edition of the Forum.

The discussion brought together international perspectives from across diplomacy, international organisations, and peacebuilding, to reflect on how best to adapt peace efforts to the increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape. With global violence from armed conflicts at its highest in recent years, the panel addressed how peace can remain central to international cooperation despite ongoing, growing challenges.

In her intervention, Johanna underscored key messages central to the CoE’s mission and the broader role of CSDP in the EU security landscape:

• Lasting peace cannot be achieved by military means alone. Civilian tools are essential to prevention, resilience, and post-conflict recovery.

• Civilian CSDP remains one of the EU’s most powerful, yet under-recognised foreign policy instruments, offering locally led and governance-focused solutions.

• Prevention must be proactive. Early warning must link directly to preventive measures, not only crisis response.

• Holistic approaches are key. Combining civilian, humanitarian, development, and diplomatic instruments provides sustainable pathways to peace.

Looking Ahead

As the international landscape continues to shift and crises become increasingly common and more complex, the CoE continues to support its members in strengthening civilian capabilities for crisis prevention and peacebuilding.

The CoE’s participation at BSF2025 reflects our commitment to ensuring that civilian crisis management is recognised as a central part of the EU's crisis response.