By Dr. Sebastian von Münchow
College of International and Security Studies
George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies

ŠIPAN, Croatia (July 10, 2018) – The George C. Marshall Center for Security Studies supports South East Europe to join the Trans-Atlantic Community. Dr. Sebastian von Münchow, professor at the College of International and Security Studies at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, gave three presentations at the 15th Šipan Summer School from 30 June 30 to 4 July.

The Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSS) & Atlantic Council of Croatia organizes the Šipan Summer School that brings both junior and senior defense and diplomatic professionals from the Balkans to Dalmatian Island. This event has occurred since 2003.

Around 25 young men and women from Croatia, Bosnia-Hercegovina (BiH), Serbia & Macedonia met on the island to discuss topics focusing on "Contemporary Challenges to Transatlantic Security Space."

They did so with politicians from the region, as well as with academics from abroad.

Among the attendees were Davor Stier (Croatian Parliament MP/former Vice-Prime Minister & Minister of Foreign Affairs), Branimir Tojicic (Head of NATO & EU Deputy Ministry of Defense of Croatia), Talat Xhaferi (Speaker of the Macedonian Parliament), and Andreas List (Austrian MFA), Arnold Kammel (Austrian Federal Chancellery Cabinet), Alexander Pivovarenko (Russian Academy of Science Institute of Slavonic Studies Moscow), Klaus Fiesinger (Regional Director of the Hanns Seidel Foundation - HSS), Radovan Vukadinovic (President of the Atlantic Council of Croatia), Sandro Knezovic (Institute for Development and International Relations - IRMO), Josip Brkic (Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bosnia and Hercegovina), Marko Savkovic (GMF Belgrade), Dmitry Maltsev (First Secretary, Embassy of the Russian Federation, Zagreb).

Among them were the Speaker of the Macedonian Parliament, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs from Bosnia and Hercegovina and the former Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia.

The Marshall Center’s alumni network was on display as some of the attendees and speakers were former participants and distinguished presenters in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The focus of the Marshall Center’s faculty presentation was on the junction of academia and politics dealing with Balkan challenges with its path to join the Euro-Atlantic space.

“The Summer School was an excellent occasion to gain a sense for issues which could play a role in the forth-coming Balkan 360 Initiative which intends to elaborate a stronger US-German engagement in the region,” von Münchow said.