Impressions of GLOBSEC Young Europeans’ Forum 2016

On 28 – 30 October GLOBSEC Young Europeans’ Forum 2016 was held on the sidelines of GLOBSEC Tatra Summit. The aim of the project was to give young professionals an opportunity to discuss current challenges in the EU while improving their policy-making skills and engaging in networking with their peers as well as senior policy makers. GLOBSEC Young Europeansʹ Forum was an excellent opportunity for emerging leaders to confront their views on current European, foreign and economic issues. In just three days they participated on multiple debates with experts on topics, enjoyed Cocktail as well as Gala Dinner. On the last of conference, they joined the main GLOBSEC Tatra Summit 2016. That is enough from us, let’s read impressions of GLOBSEC Young Europeans’ Forum participants.

 

The GLOBSEC Young Europeans' Forum was an illuminating and enlightening experience - a chance to meet other young people from all over Europe interested in international politics but engaged in different areas: some students (but with different expertise), and professionals from a variety of areas contributing to a superb discussion. It was particularly worthwhile to have speakers from such a wide variety of areas: many were not actually speaking about my specific research interests but despite my (at times) ignorance, I found them all very insightful and credible on their policy areas. In particular, I thought GYEF was especially useful for challenging the assumptions we hold (both overt and tacit) and bringing them out into the open. I especially enjoyed the Working Group on the Future of Europe: so much prognosticating is done about Europe and how it is sick, but remarkably little seems to be done to try and fix this so I felt this was a step in the right direction. Thanks for a great weekend, and hopefully I can participate in more GLOBSEC events in the future.

Adam Bernstein Student, College of Europe (United Kingdom)

The GLOBSEC Young Europeans' Forum was an excellent opportunity to meet young people from all around Europe and exchange with them views on issues that are currently pressing the EU the most. Even though we have more or less agreed on an overarching diagnosis of the majority of the EU’s problems quite soon, it has taken us a lot of time and efforts to agree on solutions how to tackle the diagnosis. In the end, all of us had to make some concessions and compromises in order to deliver the expected outcome – a policy paper. I believe that none of us was completely happy with the outcome but I think that this moment captures the EU quite well – compromises, concessions and considerations to national specificities need to be made and taken into account by all Member States in order to find a common ground.

Radovan Mačuga

EU & International Energy Affairs Officer, Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic (Slovakia)

The GLOBSEC Young Leaders’ Forum has been a great opportunity to share ideas with peers from all over Europe. It has made me realise that exchanging thoughts between young people from different backgrounds are the key to shape the future of the European project. The workshops with outspoken thinkers, policy-makers and influencers created the basis for our own enriching discussions. Not only from a political, but also from a social point of view it has been a wonderful experience to challenge and adjust my own understanding of Europe because of the intercultural setting. The GLOBSEC Young Leaders’ Forum has been the beginning of long-lasting friendships and a continuing network of young Europeans professionals who can work together to build a better Europe.

Laurens Soenen, Communication Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Belgium (Belgium)

The GLOBSEC Young Europeans Forum was a wonderful opportunity for me to meet a lot of successful and dedicated professionals from all around Europe, engaged in various fields of work. It also gave me the opportunity to have fruitful discussions with the participants, which at the end also produced a policy draft, so it was great to share my own experiences about certain issues and to hear other opinions and different perspectives when dealing with these issues. The organization of the event was also impressive, one of the best I have ever seen, and I would warmly recommend this event to a lot of young European professionals who are willing to build a professional network and to meet a lot of European colleagues!

Bojan Stojkovski, Journalist, News Agency Makfax (Bulgaria)

This year’s GLOBSEC Young European’s Forum has provided a great opportunity to discuss crucial questions for the future of Europe, peace and order, to participate in activities and exchanges with young academics and professionals from diverse backgrounds, and to engage with participants beyond our working groups, such as politicians and practitioners. Personally, GLOBSEC Young European’s Forum was a great chance to talk to like-minded people about fundamental issues outside my own academic bubble. It has helped to make a step towards reality and to test to what extent young Europeans are actually able to contribute and influence policy choices and political directions. Both the sessions and working group meetings as well as the social programme, in which we were able to talk to and network with policy-makers, politicians and practitioners, were great experiences. Thanks to the great combination of discussions and social exchanges, I would highly recommend to attend GLOBSEC Young European’s Forum and I am very much looking forward to participating again myself.

Nele Ewers-Peters, PhD Candidate, University of Kent (Germany)

As an alumni of GLOBSEC Young Leader’s Forum 2015, I had the honour to attend the 2016 Tatra Summit's Young European Leaders as a facilitator of a working group on migration. I very much enjoyed the discussion at the main Tatra Summit, but this year I was particular struck by the in-depth debates at the sessions organised for the Young Leaders. Overall, GYEF was an excellent experience. If you are an active and aspiring young professional interested in current affairs, then GLOBSEC Forums are the place to be. The discussions are frank, critical but also constructive. It is a fantastic opportunity to meet leading policy-makers, and to develop one’s network. For me, it is particularly important that there is also a strong emphasis on output and within the working group on migration we produced a set of concrete policy recommendations that will be published by GLOBSEC and that we intend to promote to policy-makers. 

Igor Merheim-Eyre

Researcher, University of Kent, Cantebury; GLOBSEC Young Leaders’ Forum Alumni (Belgium)

The GLOBSEC Young Europeans’ Forum was an informative and instructive three days. Over the course of this forum, participants were forced to think critically on the state of the EU and its path of development. Particularly significant was how intellectually stimulating our conversations were. Our discussions forced us to think outside the contexts of both our fields of expertise and that of the countries we come from. These debates built on our knowledge of current events and policy issues, showing how difficult it is to unite member states on various policy issues but at the same time highlighting how much room and potential there is for strengthening this union. GYEF gave me tools and perspectives to think about how to consequentially improve the state of the EU. Moreover, it was a pleasure meeting some of Europe’s future policy- and change-makers. I truly enjoyed my GYEF experience and would recommend it to all young Europeans.

Hannah Braun, LNG Business Development, PGNiG Supply & Trading GmbH (Poland)

   

The GLOBSEC Young Europeans' Forum is a one-of-a-kind experience for any aspiring policy-maker. Working with a small group of people on a specific policy has been a great learning experience for me, just as the opportunity to listen to experts speaking on so many current topics. It was also a privilege to be present at a gathering that captures the attention of policy-making circles all over Europe - the GLOBSEC Tatra Summit - and which this year happened in Bratislava during the time Slovakia holds the Council Presidency. I must not mention how much I enjoyed coming in contact with the participants at the Summit and so getting the opportunity to expand my network. I am grateful for the possibility to contribute with my ideas to a paper to be published by GLOBSEC and for the advantage of being part of an ever increasing Alumni network. I will always keep the priceless memories from the social activities. I would recommend GYEF to anyone who wants to enter the small world where great ideas are discussed and where solutions to great problems are sought and sometimes found.

Doris Manu, Head of Communications, Club Alpbach Brussels (Romania)

Open Call for GLOBSEC Labs

Enjoy the laboratory of thinking and fuel your knowledge with GLOBSEC Labs!

GLOBSEC Labs organized by GLOBSEC Academy Centre is composed of 5 unique events taking place during this winter semester. 4 great lectures dedicated to the topic of Energy security and an intensive workshop-day aimed at improving writing and debating skills will be opened for the students with a vivid interest in Energy topics at the Faculty of Political Science and International Relations in Banská Bystrica. After the end of the project, participants will be asked to submit a short policy paper on a topic related to Energy security and the selection of the policy papers will be later on published at the GLOBSEC Academy Centre blog, the most outstanding participant will have an excellent opportunity to experience short-term internship at the GLOBSEC Policy Institute.

Let´s take a brief look at the GLOBSEC Labs agenda for this academic winter semester.

12.10.2016

ENERGY SECURITY SAYS HELLO_INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

The main aim of this lecture is to provide a brief introduction to the topic of Energy security, to explain the concept of Energy security in general, to clarify the basic terminology, to enlighten multiple aspects of Energy security and to touch upon the relevance of the topic in the context of international relations.

13.10.2016

ENERGY SECURITY MEETS GEOPOLITICAL AND REGIONAL CHALLENGES_ SOURCES OF ENERGY IN CENTRAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

The main aim of this lecture is to provide a broader picture of the evolvement of energy power map of Central European countries and main drivers of their energy policies; to explain potential threats and opportunities that can emerge from their current energy mix for the future and also to highlight the recent problems and priorities in Energy security. This lecture will also touch upon the polemic about the use of nuclear energy, its potential costs and benefits in this region.

3.11.2016

ENERGY SECURITY NEEDS INFRASTRUCTURE_ STRENGHTS AND WEAKNESSES OF EUROPEAN UNION PROJECTS

The main aim of this lecture is to answer the question regarding current strengths and weaknesses of the EU energy infrastructure, as well as to look at the present state of infrastructural projects. What should be done in order to satisfy different national interests and is it even possible?

10.11.2016

ENERGY SECURITY IN GREEN_ RENEWABLES AS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF BALANCED ENERGY MIX

The main aim of this lecture is to underline the fact that renewables are a key factor in climate commitments of the European union, but are they also fit for a real market competition? In what aspects can the usage of renewables influence our Energy security?

15.12.2016

ACADEMIC VS. THINK-TANK WRITING_WORKSHOP

This workshop is aimed at explaining the basic differences when using “academic” and “think-tank” style of writing. But what do they have in common? And what is the most important thing to do before you type down the title of a future article?

15.12.2016

BUILDING A STRONG ARGUMENT_WORKSHOP

This workshop is aimed at improving the urgently needed soft-skill of building a strong argument as a part of a broader debate training.

Interested? Apply HERE until 5th October and your Policy Paper on Energy Security can be published at our blog page, but you can also prove that you are eligible for a short-term internship at GLOBSEC Policy Institute!

For more information follow us on Facebook!

New KFOS project kicked off in Thessaloniki

On 13^th-14^th July 2016 a new project sponsored by Kosovo Open Society Foundation was launched in Thessaloniki. It is aimed on building knowledge of new statehood in Southeast Europe, focusing on creating and disseminating policy-relevant new information about Kosovo.

16 young researchers from Slovakia, Romania, Greece, Albania, Cyprus, Serbia, FYROM, Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina gathered on 13^th of July in the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki to work on their research projects with their supervisors. The skilled researchers based on universities from all around the world – Arolda Elbasani, Nikolas Tzifakis, Stephanie Schwandner-Sievers, Agon Demjaha and Elton Skendaj – gave the younger ones precious advice regarding research plans, relevant literature and helped them to specify their research questions.

The sessions were complemented by master classes about research design and methodology in political research by Kostas Gemenis from University of Twente; about Kosovar diplomacy after independence by Agon Demjaha from South East European University; and by informal discussion on Brexit and its consequences for Western Balkans. In the afternoon of July 13^th researchers also visited the Thessaloniki City Hall in order to meet with progressive Mayor Boutaris, who did great job in opening the city and reviving its Jewish heritage. Unfortunately, some serious events prevented mayor from coming, so just his deputy expressed warm welcome to the group and shortly outlined the cornerstones of successful policy of Mayor Boutaris.

Aim of the project is to create a publication with new ideas and information about Kosovo by February, with thematically varied chapters in the highest academic standard – from security and IR perspectives on western Balkans, to anthropology, sociology and economics. From March onwards the phase of dissemination will begin, where the aim is to bring the new knowledge to as wide spectrum of citizens as possible.

  Two days full of hard work on research and dissemination plans, networking and learning were just an initial phase. Next few months will be spent in research from behind the desk and in October researchers will be able to gather more information on field trip in Kosovo.

Energy Summer School

One month has already passed since the end of a very special event – Energy Summer School powered by Slovenské elektrárne and its partners and GLOBSEC Academy Centre was a part of this energetic ride.

The Energy Summer School was organized under the auspices of H.E. Maroš Šefčovič, Vice President of the European Commission for Energy Union, who decided to personally meet the students and discuss with them about their ideas on Europe’s energy outlook.

In 2016, Energy Summer School welcomed a 20 excellent university students regardless of their field of study or degree and the team behind the Energy Summer School further extended its reach to include participants from all Visegrad 4 countries and also participants from Lithuania, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Uganda and Albania.

The 2016 program was full of interactive workshops and discussions with high level representatives of the European and international energy sector, energy experts, analysts and journalists, while organizing visits to several power plants and installations that are normally off limits for public, with trainings and various social and networking activities.

The overall impact and atmosphere cannot be better described than using following two quotes, one from the panelist Adrzej Anczgier, Climate Analytics, saying that: “This school is fascinating especially when I listen to the questions, which are extremely sophisticated and at a very high level. To answer them is also difficult for professionals. But there is much more that goes into the school because we need more elites, new elites. We need new leaders and those leaders are being created here. This school is great and we need more of this.” And another one by Jan Málek, Participant of Energy Summer School who added that: “It was extremely powerful experience in the sense that I have met a lot of people who are absolutely into the topic, who want to be active in the field of energy in the future and these contacts will be very helpful in the future.”

Project manager of GLOBSEC Academy Centre Martina Šinkovičová took part in this extraordinary series of debates, trainings and visits as well and also presented the work of GLOBSEC Academy Centre to participating students.

To make a long story short – Energy Summer School team, you did a great job! And GLOBSEC Academy Centre strongly recommends to all student with vivid interest in energy topics to participate at Energy Summer School 2017!

To learn more, visit: https://www.seas.sk/summerschool

GLOBSEC Academy Centre Opened

GLOBSEC Academy Centre is a joint educational project by GLOBSEC and the Faculty of Politcal Science and International Relations of the Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica. The project’s aim is to find exceptional young individuals and educate them to become the new generation of world-class analysts on global security and international relations. Read the press release in Slovak language in the file below.