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A leading conference in Central and South East Europe, the 11th Bled Strategic Forum (BSF), taking place on 5 and 6 September 2016 under the title 'Safeguarding the Future', will provide a high-level platform for discussion of pressing regional and global issues.

The complex and interdisciplinary challenges of today's globalised world require comprehensive solutions and in the past years, our sense of global security, stability and freedom has been seriously undermined by various threats. Thus, our response to these challenges will have an important impact on our common future, based on universal values, standards and norms.

Attracting several hundred participants, including heads of state and government, ministers, diplomats, representatives of the business sphere, scholars and the media from the entire world, the Forum will kick off with the Leaders' panel, held under the patronage of the President of Republic of Slovenia. The consecutive debates, spanning over two days, will address issues such as water risks and positioning water as an essential factor of cooperation and an instrument of peace, future the European Union and weakening trust and solidarity among its member states, challenges posed by global energy trends, security of the individual, as well as the need for adaptation of European security and defence structures.

Western Balkans, a traditional topic of discussion, will look into the enlargement process, which has been one of the most successful EU policies. Nonetheless, due to a number of crises in the past couple of years that have abruptly exposed the EU's vulnerabilities and weaknesses, the panel will attempt to assess how long the EU can retain its pull factor and attractiveness in the region.

An integral part the Forum, the Business BSF, organized in cooperation with the American Chamber of Commerce in Slovenia and IEDC-Bled School of Management, will be devoted to discovering innovative opportunities and focus on key challenges of European and global economy. Participants will be able to listen in on debates about digital transformation, how taking use of the information and communications technologies is advancing us to the age of smart cities, as well as how the contemporary developments are challenging our well-established concepts of mobility and automotive industry. In light of Ljubljana being the 2016 European Green Capital, tourism and sustainability experts will also try to answer questions of global security challenges and sustainability in today's tourism industry.

In addition, the BSF will continue its tradition of discussing less conventional issues - the Hidden Dimensions of International Relations. The 6th Young Bled Strategic Forum (Young BSF), featuring a select group of young leaders, will be taking place under the title 'Global Citizens' in the days preceding the Forum.

With the ever-changing global situation, the BSF remains determined to strive towards innovative thinking and forward-looking visions. Enabling a unique opportunity for bilateral and multilateral meetings with the foremost regional and global stakeholders, and a possibility for extensive networking between political and business leaders of today, it is our hope that the Forum will continue to grow, evolve and influence various policy agendas and solutions of tomorrow.