‘‘Food security is no longer merely a technical or agricultural issue

but a core pillar of national security, social stability, and strategic readiness’’

‘‘IMEC is more than a trade route; it is the foundation of a new geopolitical architecture.

By anchoring India and Europe through a stabilized Middle East, it has the potential to secure the strategic interests of its stakeholders for the next century’’

‘‘it is emphasized the need for a Radical System Redefinition of the agri-food model

to address the impacts of the climate crisis and severe sanitary challenges in livestock’’

The post Reporting in Times of Polycrisis in Geopolitics, Food Security & Supply Chains appeared first on Balkans & Black Sea Forum.

Amidst the powershifting dynamics between East & West and the disruptions in the Middle-East & Red Sea, the 3rd annual Executive Roundtable takes place on Wednesday July 2nd, 2025 in the Athenian Club, entitled “IMEC from potential to partnership” focusing on unveiling aspects, dilemmas, risks and opportunities in Eur-Asia & beyond.

Download the report here

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3^rd annual Executive RoundTable, Wednesday July 2^nd, 2025

“IMEC from potential to partnership”

The 3^rd annual Executive RoundTable of the Balkans & Black Sea Forum was held on Wednesday July 2, 2025 in the Athenian Club, entitled “IMEC from potential to partnership”.

Held under Chatham-house rule, restricted to experts & selected audience by invitation only, the Executive Roundtable 2025 brought together policymakers, diplomats, thinktanks and business executives who engaged in a lively dialogue about IMEC, the proposed new economic corridor aimed at enhancing economic cooperation and connectivity between India, Middle Eastern countries, and Europe.

Considering IMEC a high-stakes and strategic topic, which offers a rich canvas for powerful debate across trade, geopolitics, infrastructure, and global alignments, a number of high-level speakers delved into aspects, dilemmas, risks, and opportunities of IMEC; examined potential complementarity and competition with other existing and projected corridors (BRI, TITR, INSTC, CPEC); unveiled the importance of leadership, governance, sustainability, peace and security across the regions; and unfolded the “Black Swan” of IMEC, being the opposing forces and powershifting dynamics between East & West.

IMEC’s high-level view was delivered by the Ambassadors of India Mr. Tandon, France Ms. Auer, Cyprus Mr. Avgoustides, and Israel Mr. Katz, its interplay with other corridors addressed by the Ambassadors of Korea Mr. Lim, Kazakhstan Mr. Sultangozhin, and Georgia Mr. Beridze, connectivity & infrastructure blueprint by Ms. Gehenot Director Europe UIC, Dr. Tsakiris Professor of Geopolitics & Energy Policy at the University of Nicosia, Mr. Liagos Fm CEO at Piraeus & Thessaloniki Port Authorities, governance & sustainability unfolded by Ms. Palli Chair of the CSR HELLAS, while the geopolitical dimension portrayed by Dr. Efthymiopoulos Director Strategy International and Mr. Itimoudis Geopolitical analyst. The panels were moderated by the prominent journalists, Mr. Papayannides, Mr. Kalarrytis and Ms. Touchtidou.

The Balkans & Black Sea Forum expresses sincere thanks to the esteemed panelists, the delegates, the partners (European Public Law Organization | CSR Hellas | International Union of Railways, and the sponsors (Constantakopoulos Foundation, Ganis Organic Wines, Violanta, Hellenic Dairies, Nektar, Gnomon Events, and Athenian Brewery), for their presence and support to the Executive RoundTable 2025.

Website (agenda & speakers): https://balkansblackseaforum.org/bbsf2025-exrt/

Social media: Facebook ◊ LinkedIn ◊ Twitter

Athens, July 3, 2025

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Participants engaged in a lively and constructive dialogue, exchanging views on the upcoming activities of both the Balkans & Black Sea Forum and the AgriBusiness Forum.

Guest speaker Mr. Mathios Rigas, CEO of Energean, delivered an insightful presentation on natural gas reserves and challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Participants in the meeting have been (A-Z order):

Ambassadors

• HE Stavros Avgoustides, Ambassador of Cyprus
• HE Noam Katz, Ambassador of Israel
• HE Arif Mammadov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan
• HE Valentin Poriazov, Ambassador of Bulgaria
• HE Andrei Popov, Ambassador of Moldova
• HE Zsolt Sandor, Ambassador of Hungary
• HE Timur Sultangozhin, Ambassador of Kazakhstan
• HE Aleksandar Sunko, Ambassador of Croatia
• HE Gerda Vogl, Ambassador of Austria
• ΗΕ Dragan Vukovic, Ambassador of Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Mr Boris Mirchevski, Chargé d’Affaires, North Macedonia

Embassy of Israel

• Mr. Doron Lebovich, Deputy Chief  of Mission, Embassy of Israel
• Ms. Nelly Leon, Economic Coordinator, Embassy of Israel

Energean PLC

• Mr. Mathios Rigas, Chief Executive Officer
• Mr. Sotiris Chiotakis, Head Corporate Affairs & Comm. Greece, Balkans, SEE

Balkans & Black Sea Forum

• Mr. Giannis Balakakis, Chair, Organizing Committee
• Ms. Christina Mangou, V.P. Comm-External Relations

The next Ambassadorial meeting will be held in late Autumn 2025

The post BBSF spring Ambassadors Meeting, June 2025 appeared first on Balkans & Black Sea Forum.

Website, Agenda, Speakers https://balkansblackseaforum.org/bbsf2025-exrt/

The post Meet the Speakers – Only 2 weeks away from the Executive Roundtable 2025 appeared first on Balkans & Black Sea Forum.

Don’t miss the opportunity to join as a speaker, sponsor, or delegate to gain insights, networking, sharpen the saw, and stay ahead of geopolitics, geoeconomics, intercultural dialogue, food & climate security, and agribusiness nexus (policies & provisions apply).

July & September 2025

Balkans & Black Sea Forum 2025 | 3rd Executive Roundtable

On July 2, 2025, the 3^rd Executive Roundtable highlights “IMEC from potential to partnership”. Held under Chatham-house rule & by invitation only, and addressed to businesses, diplomats, thinktanks and policymakers aims at unveiling IMEC’s geopolitical, trade and economic opportunities between India, Middle Eastern countries, and Europe.

Website, Agenda, Speakers https://balkansblackseaforum.org/bbsf2025-exrt/

2^nd Thessaly AgriBusiness Forum 2025

On September 30 to October 2, 2025, the 2^nd Thessaly AgriBusiness Forum entitled “The Future of Thessaly agriculture in the Green & Digital Era” is held at the Municipal Art Gallery of Larissa, in cooperation with the Region of Thessaly, and Larissa Municipality. The Forum features 9 breaking sessions and 65 speakers from Greece and beyond, and addressed to businesses, farmers, cooperatives, banks, academics, and policymakers fostering dialogue and innovation at the heart of agricultural progress. https://agribusinessforum.org/

November 2025 – February 2026

Save the dates and stay tuned for more pivotal events

Revealing Portraits “Medea Symposium 2025”

On 12-16 November 2025, the international symposium «Medea, an endless journey to eternity» will take place at Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, aimed at illustrating the social, cultural, and political landscape of the time, and unveiling issues that remain strikingly relevant in the modern world. The event consists of a 2-day conference (12-13/11/2025), and Santa Medea, a 5-day exhibition (12-16/11/2025), addressed to businesses, actors/scientists, diplomats and academia. https://www.geo-routes.com/

8^th International AgriBusiness Forum 2025

On November 27-28, 2025, the 8^th international AgriBusiness Forum entitled “Agrifood systems & Entrepreneurship to address Food-Health-Environmental nexus in times of insecurity“, is held at the Athens Chamber of Commerce & Industry, featuring 9 roundtables and 60 actors from Greece & beyond, and addressed to businesses, farmers, banks, academics, and policymakers fostering dialogue and innovation at the heart of agrifood value chain. https://agribusinessforum.org/

Balkans & Black Sea Forum 2026 | 6^th international edition

In February 2026 the 6^th Balkans & Black Sea Forum entitled “Leadership, Security, Cooperation in a fragmented world” will be held at a time of numerous geo-political/economic, and power-shifting challenges influencing the global scene and endanger the social and economic equilibrium of regions. It will feature 8 pivotal roundtables addressed to leading business- & policy-makers, diplomats, ThinkTanks & academia. https://balkansblackseaforum.org/

Athens June 1,2025

The post Riding the storm of Geo-politics/economics or Food Security: Stay tuned appeared first on Balkans & Black Sea Forum.

Participation is by invitation only

Stay tuned

The post BBSF-Executive Roundtable 2025 announcement appeared first on Balkans & Black Sea Forum.

Our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.

May he rest in peace!!

The post In memory of Nicolas Boutsikos appeared first on Balkans & Black Sea Forum.

Participants engaged in a lively and constructive dialogue, exchanging views on the upcoming activities of both the Balkans & Black Sea Forum and the AgriBusiness Forum.

From left to right

Ambassador of Croatia-HE Aleksandar Sunko, Head Communications Geo Routes Institute-Ms. Christina Mangou, Embassy of Azerbaijan Secretary B-Ms. Amina Zalova, Ambassador (a.h.) Co-Chair Balkans & Black Sea Forum-Michael B.Christides, CEO Hellenic Development Bank-Ms. Ismini Papakirillou, Ambassador of Georgia-HE Levan Beridze, Charge d’Affaires Embassy of Romania-Ms. Mioara-Florina PITUȚ, Ambassador of Bulgaria-HE Valentin Poriazov, Embassy of Turkey, Deputy Head of Mission-Mr. Onur Katmerci, Ambassador of Azerbaijan-HE Arif Mammadov, Chair Balkans & Black Sea Forum-Mr. Giannis Balakakis.

From left to right

• Ambassador of Turkiye-HE Cagatay Erciyes
• Ambassador of Bulgaria-HE Valentin Poriazov
• Ambassador of Croatia-HE Aleksandar Sunko
• Ambassador of Italy-HE Paolo Cuculi
• Ambassador (a.h.) Co-Chair Balkans & Black Sea Forum-Michael B.Christides
• Chair Balkans & Black Sea Forum-Mr. Giannis Balakakis
• Ambassador of Azerbaijan-HE Arif Mammadov
• Ambassador of Moldova-HE Andrei Popov
• Ambassador of Georgia-HE Levan Beridze
• Charge d’Affaires a.i. Embassy of Romania-Ms. Mioara-Florina PITUȚ
• Head Communications Geo Routes Institute-Ms. Christina Mangou

The next working meeting will take place in Spring 2025.

The post BBSF autumn’s Ambassadors Meeting, Oct/2024 appeared first on Balkans & Black Sea Forum.

EXECUTIVE REPORT – KEYNOTE REMARKS

The 2^nd annual Executive RoundTable of the Balkans & Black Sea Forum was hosted on July 10, 2024, in the prestigious “Athenian Club”, under the title “Peace & Security in EUrAsia: feasible, sustainable or an illusion”. Amid the destabilizing conflicts and tensions both in Europe and in the Middle East, a select group of distinguished speakers and guests contributed to a lively and candid debate, held under “Chatham-house-rule”.

https://balkansblackseaforum.org/bbsf-2024-balkans-amp-black-sea-forum-executive-roundtable-2024/

Keynote remarks are available upon request

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