Providing a high-level platform for discussion, the 12th Bled Strategic Forum will take place on 4 - 5 September 2017 and will address the challenges posed by the "New Reality". As a leading strategic conference in Central and South-East Europe, it provides the forum for the exchange of ideas and concepts through panels, round tables and one-on-one interviews in the idyllic environment of Bled, Slovenia.

The established political, economic and social elite are losing ground. Populist, nationalist and extremist movements are on the rise. It is difficult to keep up with the vast amount of information that bombards us daily, let alone evaluate its true value or meaning and put it in a proper context. Wars and conflicts in Europe's immediate neighbourhood and in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, challenge our views on morality, norms and values. Terrorist attacks fuel fear in our societies and the fact that there are millions of refugees worldwide deepens our sense of insecurity.

With the world order possibly at breaking point, we need strategic vision, strong democratic leadership and perseverance. We need to adapt to the new reality but also remember the foundations on which our modern societies were built. It is vital to ensure that human rights and fundamental freedoms, democracy and the rule of law continue to be respected.

With the challenges of adapting to the new reality, the forum will commence with the Leaders Panel. This year's program provides an insight into global nuclear governance, the strategic and security role of water resources and the influence of transformation on the concept of human rights. The European Union, the Western Balkans and the EU enlargement process, and the Southern Mediterranean region will be examined closely through the geopolitical and geostrategic panel discussions. In order to keep a close eye on the societal transformations, fake news, digital diplomacy and realistic hope as the approach of future-oriented thinkers and doers will be explored.

Pressing regional and global issues also bring forth the question of the role of the business sector. Since it no longer sufficient to understand changes solely on the basis of past
experience and to adapt to a new reality with traditional approaches, we need to create and implement new business, economic and social concepts and new approaches. The search for such approaches will be at the core of the Business BSF, an integral part of the forum, organised in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Administration, the American Chamber of Commerce in Slovenia, and the German-Slovene Chamber of Commerce and Industry, under the title "Innovating New Reality". The tourism panel, organised in collaboration with the Slovenian Tourist Board and Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, will weigh in the opportunities and threats presented by the collaborative economy.

The challenges of the younger generation in their aspirations for a better future will be, as always, incorporated into the Young BSF. Taking place on 1-3 September 2017, it will tackle the "(Dis)connected Reality" and give visionary young leaders an opportunity to form real, connected or virtual partnerships and networks.

Attracting around 1,000 participants, including heads of state and government, ministers, diplomats, businesspeople, scholars and the media from around the world, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Centre for European Perspective put a unique emphasis on bilateral and multilateral meetings with regional and global stakeholders and the leaders of today and tomorrow.