In the framework of a thematic conference, the members of a research team of the University of Debrecen (UD), supported by Nemzeti Kutatási Kiválóság Program STARTING Kutatópályázat [STARTING Call for Research Proposals of the National Research Excellence Program], presented their research project plans for the years ahead, the purpose of which is to shed new light on the significance of the Balkans. The kick-off workshop of the project, titled Geopolitical Trends and Balkan Strategy of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy: Individual Sources and Foreign Policy Actors (1878-1918), was held on Thursday at the Institute of History of the Faculty of Humanities of UD.