Euro-Atlantic Council of Macedonia from October 17th - 19th 2014, hosted a conference entitled on the topic of “Regional Approach to Smart Defence and Pooling and Sharing Initiatives - Possibilities and Directions”. The conference yielded great value for the future of defense planning in the region. With representatives from all A5 countries plus Kosovo and Serbia, the meeting discussed how each state in the region can enhance regional security while maintaining realistic foresight in the face of growing security threats, regional tension and declining defense budgets. 

On the night at 17th, EACM hosted welcoming dinner for all the participants where fruitful discussions were held. The official part of the conference started on the next morning with the session where the President of Euro-Atlantic Council of Macedonia, Mr. Ismet Ramadani opened the conference and invited H.E. Arben Labenista, Deputy Minister of Defence of the Republic of Macedonia to address the audience.



After his speech, Mr. Trifun Kostovski Executive Director of the Business Club of the Euro – Atlantic Council of Macedonia took the floor and explained the possible business perspectives.

Next on the floor to address was our dear guest from Brussels, Mr. Jason Wiseman, Secretary General Designate of the Atlantic Treaty Association. This session continued with the addressing of the representatives of regional ATA members, Dr. Arian Starova, President of the Atlantic Council of Albania, Mrs. Dijana Gupta, President of the Atlantic Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina, MSci. Monika Begovic, Memeber of The Atlantic Council of Croatia, Prof. Dr. Bejtush Gashi, President of the Atlantic Council of Kosovo and Deputy Minister of Kosovo Security Forces and Mr. Milovan Milosevic Executive Director of Atlantic Council of Serbia.

The day continued with the Round Table - Lessons Learned from UN, NATO & EU Led Operations moderated by Col. Metodi Hadji Janev, Vice Dean of Military Academy “General Mihajlo Apostolski”, On this round table speakers were the distinguished guests: Lt. Col. Slaven Arambasic, Deputy Head of Policy and Planning Sector, Ministry of Defence – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dr. Tomo Radicevic, Head of Policy and Planning Sector, Ministry of Defence – Croatia, Mr. Faruk Geci, Director of Policy and Planning, Ministry of Defence – Kosovo and Col. Ljube Dukoski, State Advisor for Policy and Planning, Ministry of Defence – Macedonia.



Next on the agenda was the round table named Which Are the Possibilities and Directions for the A5+ Countries in the Smart Defence & Pooling and Sharing Initiatives where Mr. Wiseman held presentation on this topic and explained the growing security threats.
The conferences was concluded with the panel for recommendations for development of joint capacities and capabilities in the spirit of the NATO Smart Defence and EU pooling and sharing initiatives



The event was held in hotel Drim, Struga.