18. 6. 2019 | European Digital Diplomacy Exchange, PR
ANNOUNCEMENT: European Digital Diplomacy Exchange Training
The Centre for European Perspective, together with the U.S. Department of State and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia is organizing a three-day training designed to enhance the digital press and public diplomacy capacities of government communicators.
Governments have been uniquely challenged by the proliferation of digital communication channels. On one hand, they have never had as much access to domestic and foreign publics – access that they can use to understand and inform their audiences. On the other, the proliferation and democratization of the digital media space has increased their narrative competition, and opened them up to a number of consequential challenges, including proactively destructive counter-narratives and disinformation. Governments that are active on social networks therefore require new knowledge and experience, different abilities and skills that are necessary to effectively operate within the information space.
For this purpose, a fourth iteration of the training, taking place between 19th and 21st June 2019 in Bohinj, Slovenia, will recruit government communicators from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Georgia, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine. The training will cover a range of topics from public relations and public diplomacy theory to practical application of digital tools.
The project is a result of a joint cooperation between the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Embassy in Ljubljana, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia in the scope of the International Development Cooperation and the Centre for European Perspective.
Click here to read more about the project in Slovenian language. 
18. 6. 2019 | Perspektive/Perspectives, PR
Tokrat so PERSPEKTIVE posvečene temi umetne inteligence (UI), ki se počasi, vendar vztrajno, širi na vsa področja naše družbe. Umetna inteligenca lahko izboljša naša življenja, prinaša pa tudi izzive in odpira etična vprašanja.
Nedvomno bo umetna inteligenca preobrazila naša gospodarstva, zato je na tem področju pomemben proaktiven pristop. Slovenija ima na področju umetne inteligence primerjalne prednosti in je po številu UI raziskovalcev per capita uvrščena v sam svetovni vrh. Potrebna pa je seveda podpora tako razvoju kot tudi vpeljavi UI v gospodarstvo in javno upravo za izboljšanje storitev za državljane in konkurenčnosti slovenskih podjetij.
V luči tega predstavljamo prispevke Inštituta Jožef Štefan in štirih svetovno znanih podjetij, ki so med vodilnimi na tem področju: Microsoft, IBM, SAP in Siemens. Hvaležni smo za njihove analize in poglobljena mnenja, ki predstavljajo pomemben doprinos k razpravi o prihodnosti umetne inteligence.
Razprava o prednostih kot tudi izzivih UI, ki jo naslavljamo skozi junijske PERSPEKTIVE, pa je tudi ena od ključnih tem, ki jo bomo obravnavali na letošnjem Blejskem strateškem forumu.
14. 6. 2019 | PR, U-LEAD: with Europe
The Centre for European Perspective has hosted its 7th International Study Visit of Ukrainian Local officials in Slovenia. The event begun on Monday, 9th of June at Jable Castle and ended on the 14th of June with a closing ceremony in Vogrsko.
The topic of the visit was “Local Economic Development”. Local economic development is one of the key issues for ensuring the success of the decentralization process in Ukraine. However, the number of enterprises and economic activity at the local level remains very low.
18 local officials from Ukraine have taken part in the study visit, coming from different spheres – from Heads and Deputy Heads of hromadas to Land managers, Capacity development advisors, Experts of the expert group on strategic planning from Ministry of Regional Development, Construction and Communal Services to the Head of regional development centre from Chernivtsi region.
The first day started with a welcome speech from the CEP Executive Director Katja Geršak, followed by the opening delivered by Andrii Borodenkov and Oleksandra Yanushevska from the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Slovenia. Later on, Meliha Muherina, Project Manager at CEP, followed their introductory remarks with an overview of the agenda for the following days.
The first lecture of the day was given by Mr. Robert Drobnič, discussing the topic of regional development planning, implementation of national programs, implementation of EU programs and social entrepreneurship.
The second lecture was given by mag. Peter Medved, who focused on the functioning of development councils of cohesion regions, initiating consultations, coordination, cooperation and joint action of ministries, development regions and development partners in the development region (representatives of municipalities, the economy and the non-governmental sector).
The third and last lecture of the day was given by Dr. Boštjan Grabner, from the Development Agency of Savinjska Region. Dr. Grabner spoke about regional sustainable development in Slovenia; national and international regional development; connecting and developing partnerships for sustainable development; finding financial resources and promotion of the region.
The following day was full of good practices in the field of social entrepreneurships in Slovenia, as the participants visited Skuhna and social farm Brinjevka. They also visited Štanjel, where they heard more about Interreg projects between Slovenia and Italy and the process of application for such cross-border projects.
The third day began in Nova Gorica, with a lecture on theoretical approach to historical ties between Slovenia and Ukraine by Mr Sašo Radovanovič. Later, the participants visited the municipality of Nova Gorica, where they met with Deputy Mayor of Nova Gorica, Mr Simon Rosič, who spoke about the history of Nova Gorica and the development of the municipality. He also spoke about cross-border cooperation and EPK project. Later on, the participants visited the Europe square – the joint square of Gorizia (Italy) and Nova Gorica (Slovenia), which honours the entry of Slovenia into EU and the cementery in Zalošče, where they paid their respects to the soldiers of the 22nd Domobranski regiment from Chernivtsi in Ukraine who died during WWI.
On Thursday, the participants visited the Municipality of Renče-Vogrsko, where they met with the Mayor Mr Tarik Žigon, who spoke about the municipality, their projects and plans for future development of the municipality. They also visited main investments that took place in the municipality with the help of EU funds. The participants also paid their respects by laying a wreath at the WWI. cemetery in Bukovica in memory of Ukrainian soldiers, who died in the region during WWI. The study visit ended with a closing ceremony in Vogrsko.
The visit is taking place in the framework of the multi-donor action U-LEAD established by the European Union and its Member States Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Poland and Sweden. It aims at contributing to the establishment of multilevel governance that is transparent, accountable and responsive to the needs of the population of Ukraine. U-LEAD with Europe is supporting the Ukrainian Government, represented by the Ministry of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine (MinRegion) as a key political partner in the coordination and implementation of the decentralization and regional policy reforms. The Program carries out demand-driven and targeted trainings for officials at the national, regional and local level.
12. 6. 2019 | LET4CAP, PR
APPLICATIONS FOR THE ToT COURSE ARE NOW OPEN!
Within the framework of the Internal Security Fund of the European Union, the Italian Carabinieri is leading a training initiative called “Law Enforcement Training for Capacity Building project” – LET4CAP”. Members of the consortium are also the Centre for European Perspective (CEP), founded by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies of Pisa, the Polish police force “Policja” and the in-house agency of the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance “Studiare Sviluppo”.
We are now accepting applications for a ToT course that will be held in Ljubljana (Slovenia) from 8th to 11th July 2019, hosted by the Centre for European Perspective (CEP). The invitation letter and the registration form can be downloaded below.
Applications can be sent to the following email address: [email protected] and copies to [email protected]. Please mention “Application LET4CAP ToT training” in the email Ref.
Deadline for applications is 21st June 2019.
The Consortium will select up to 28 participants, according to the criteria mentioned in the invitation letter. Participants who have duly completed the registration form and have been admitted to the course will be contacted by Studiare Sviluppo for logistic and organizational arrangements.
Invitation letter ToT
ToT Course Programme LET4CAP
Registration form let4cap ToT training
Participation procedures and additional information can be obtained on the LET4CAP site
10. 6. 2019 | PR, U-LEAD: with Europe
The Centre for European Perspective is hosting its 7th International Study Visit in Slovenia. The event began on Monday, 10th of June at Jable Castle and will continue throughout the week.
The topic of the visit is “Local Economic Development”. Local economic development is one of the key issues for ensuring the success of the decentralization process in Ukraine. However, the number of enterprises and economic activity at the local level remains very low. It concerns both the lack of enterprises in general and the problem of registration outside the place of operation.
There are currently 18 local officials from Ukraine taking part in the study visit. Participants are coming from different spheres, ranging from, Heads of hromadas Head of departments, Land managers, Advisor on capacity development, Advisor on regional development, State Experts of the Expert Group on Strategic Planning of Regional Development of Directorate of Regional Development at the Ministry of Regional Development.
The event was open by Katja Gersak, CEP Exeutive Director and Andrej Vrčon, CEP Administrative Director, wHo warmly welcomed the participants at Jable Castle, and gave an overview of its work. Opening remarks were given by Andreja Purkart Martinez, Head of Sector at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Slovenia, who gave an insight of the general work the Ministry does with Ukraine and the region. Finally, a welcome speech was given by Andrii Borodenkov, Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Slovenia, who introduced the participants to Slovenia, doing business there and the topics handled in general. Meliha Muherina, Project Manager at CEP, followed their introductory remarks with an overview of the agenda for the following days and answered all the questions participants had.
The first lecture of the day was given by Dr Robert Drobnič, discussing the topic of Regional Development Planning. He focused on the planning of regional development, implementation of national programs, implementation of EU programs and Social Entrepreneurship. Dr Drobnič continued with a lecture on East and West Slovenia Cohesion Region Development Councils, the Functioning of development councils of cohesion regions, Initiating consultations, coordination, cooperation and joint action of ministries, development regions and development partners in the development region (representatives of municipalities, the economy and the non-governmental sector).
The third and last lecture of the day was given by Dr. Boštjan Grabner, on the topic of the Development Agency of Savinjska Region, where he gave an insight to regional sustainable development in Slovenia; National and international regional development; connecting and developing partnerships for sustainable development; finding financial resources and promotion of the region.
The visit is taking place in the framework of the multi-donor action U-LEAD established by the European Union and its Member States Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Poland and Sweden. It aims at contributing to the establishment of multilevel governance that is transparent, accountable and responsive to the needs of the population of Ukraine. U-LEAD with Europe is supporting the Ukrainian Government, represented by the Ministry of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine (MinRegion) as a key political partner in the coordination and implementation of the decentralization and regional policy reforms. The Program carries out demand-driven and targeted trainings for officials at the national, regional and local level.
