Berlin – ESI at a debate on 30 years of Dayton and lessons for Ukraine

Adnan spoke at a panel. Photo: ESI

ESI senior analyst Adnan Ćerimagić took part in a public panel discussion titled “30th Anniversary of Dayton: The Future of Bosnia and Lessons for Peace in Ukraine,” hosted by the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) on 25 November 2025 in Berlin.

The discussion marked three decades since the Dayton Accords and focused on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s current political and institutional situation. Panellists assessed the implications of recent developments, including the early elections in Republika Srpska, and examined the prospects for meaningful EU accession talks.

Adnan spoke alongside Jim O’Brien, former assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs and one of the chief drafters of the Dayton Accords; Sabina Stadler Repnik, head of strategic studies and analyses service at the ministry of foreign affairs of Slovenia; and Christian Hellbach, former German ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The debate was opened by Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger, chairman of the Munich Security Conference and head of the German delegation during the Dayton negotiations, and moderated by Milan Nic of DGAP.

In his remarks, Adnan presented ESI’s analysis of the Dayton legacy. Drawing comparative lessons, he also addressed what Europe and the United States can learn from the Balkans’ post-war experience for current efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.

• ESI proposal: “Preventing violence – transform Kosovo dialogue”
• ESI background: “Scoreboard - The true state of accession - What the Commission assessments reveal”
• ESI proposal: “End the turtle race How the EU can address the crisis of the accession process”
• ESI proposal: “Offer the four freedoms to the Balkans, Ukraine, and Moldova For a merit-based EU accession process with a credible goal”
• ESI proposal: “47 again? Russia out, Kosovo in Support Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe”
• ESI proposal: “Abandon clichés about Bosnia: Push EU-related reforms instead of arbitrary conditions”
• ESI proposal: “No partition: Why Kosovo and Serbia must not discuss territory”
• ESI report: “Anti-Corruption Report for the West Balkans: Measure corruption in order to fight it”