This initiative is on the trace of the so-called Brijuni-Brdo process which has been promoted by both countries for several years in the region to advocate measures for political stabilisation, reconciliation and economic recovery as part of the efforts by countries in the region to come closer to European Union and NATO membership.
Even though the Bled Strategic Forum is to discuss a wide range of topics, it was dominated by the migrant issue in Europe, which Tusk and Slovenia's Prime Minister Miro Cerar discussed ahead of the main panels.
Tusk said that over the next few years, refugees would present a challenge for Europe. He condemned smugglers that are illegally transferring refugees, causing big human tragedies. He called on joint efforts at the European level to resolve the refugee issue.
After the forum in Bled, Tusk will visit Croatia on Tuesday where he will meet with the highest officials. Slovenian media have speculated that Tusk will try and act as a mediator in the arbitration crisis between the two countries.
Slovenia's STA news agency reported that after he had met with Prime Minister Cerar, Tusk said that he regretted that the border arbitration had been terminated and that he hoped the process wasn't dead. Cerar said that he had presented Slovenia's stance in that matter to the president of the European Council but only informally.
President Grabar Kitarovic on Sunday attended a trilateral meeting with Pahor and Austrian President Heinz Fischer in Alpbach. After the meeting, Grabar-Kitarovic underscored that although Slovenia and Croatia had different opinions concerning the arbitration, they had to continue developing their good relations.