EUTI Participates in ESDC’s Annual Training and Education Conference

EUTI Participates in ESDC’s Annual Training and Education Conference

25. 11. 2025 | EUTI, Peace and security, PR

The Centre for European Perspective and the European Union Training Initiative took part in the European Security and Defence College’s Annual Training and Education Conference, held over two days at the historic Egmont Palace in Brussels.

This year’s conference focused on practical and innovative ways to enhance the effectiveness of the training cycle within the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy. Participants worked through each key stage of the EU training loop — Training Needs, Standardisation & Adaptation, Innovation & Methodology, and Evaluation & Uptake — through a series of appetiser discussions and targeted breakout groups.

Representatives of the Centre for European Perspective and the European Union Training Initiative contributed to the appetiser discussion on Standardisation & Adaptation and led one of the breakout groups within this segment. Their session explored the crucial balance between standardised curricula and the necessary flexibility or adjustability of training formats. The discussion highlighted the importance of aligning training with real operational contexts while maintaining coherence across the broader EU framework.

Beyond the working sessions, the conference served as an excellent platform to exchange best practices, discuss emerging needs, and strengthen cooperation with partners from across Europe. The atmosphere encouraged open dialogue and the sharing of forward-looking ideas that will contribute to further improving training standards at the EU level.

The Centre for European Perspective and the European Union Training Initiative extend their appreciation to the European Security and Defence College for organising a well-structured and engaging conference, and for fostering a community dedicated to enhancing the quality and impact of EU training.

VABILO: Slovenija v svetu prelomnic: od inovacij do varnosti

VABILO: Slovenija v svetu prelomnic: od inovacij do varnosti

25. 11. 2025 | Nacionalno varnostno mislišče, PR

Kaj pomeni varnost v času naraščajočih globalnih pritiskov in hitrih tehnoloških sprememb, ko gospodarstvo ostaja ključni steber stabilnosti?

Kako lahko Slovenija krepi odpornost ob kibernetskih grožnjah, političnih napetostih, energetski odvisnosti in hitro spreminjajoči se industriji?

Kaj je potrebno, da se sodelovanje med državo, gospodarstvom, raziskovalci in lokalnimi skupnostmi razvije v učinkovit sistem skupne varnosti?

Vabimo vas na okroglo mizo o tem, kako lahko Slovenija razvije gospodarstvo, ki poleg konkurenčnosti krepi tudi nacionalno odpornost. Dotaknili se bomo vloge inovacij, strateških industrij in lokalnih okolij pri soustvarjanju varnosti ter pomena sodelovanja med institucijami, podjetji in skupnostmi. Razprava bo ponudila vpogled v vlogo gospodarstva pri krepitvi stabilnosti, raziskovalnega okolja kot vira novih rešitev ter lokalnih skupnosti kot prvega odzivnega stebra v krizah.

📅 Torek, 2. december 2025

🕒 09.00

📍 Katapult, Gabrsko 12, Trbovlje

Teme razprave bodo med drugim:

  • Kako lahko Slovenija poveže nacionalne strateške cilje z odpornostjo lokalnih okolij in skupnosti?
  • Na katerih področjih lahko sodelovanje med gospodarstvom, državo in družbo okrepi varnost ter obrambno pripravljenost države?
  • Kako lahko nove socialne strukture in oblike skupnostnega delovanja prispevajo k večji družbeni odpornosti in zaupanju?
  • Kako lahko Slovenija v okviru Evropske unije in drugih zavezništev ohranja ravnotežje med sodelovanjem in strateško samostojnostjo?

Okroglo mizo organizirata Center za evropsko prihodnost in podjetje Dewesoft.

V razpravi bodo sodelovali:

  • Matjaž Han, minister za gospodarstvo, turizem in šport RS
  • Boštjan Pavlin, državni sekretar na ministrstvu za obrambo RS
  • Jure Knez, soustanovitelj in predsednik Dewesoft

Moderatorka: Sonja Šmuc, namestnica predsednika za strateške projekte pri Dewesoft

Okrogla miza bo potekala v slovenskem jeziku.

Po končani razpravi sledi pogostitev in prijetno druženje.

Vstop je prost do zapolnitve mest. Lepo prosimo za potrditev udeležbe preko povezave.

 

Okrogla miza: o tem kako vojne, podnebne spremembe in odvisnost od uvoza vplivajo na našo prehransko varnost.

Okrogla miza: o tem kako vojne, podnebne spremembe in odvisnost od uvoza vplivajo na našo prehransko varnost.

21. 11. 2025 | Nacionalno varnostno mislišče, PR

Povzetek okrogle mize »Slovenija v svetu prelomnic: prehranska varnost in strateška odpornost«

Na razpravi v Mariboru smo govorili o tem, kako vojne, podnebne spremembe in odvisnost od uvoza vplivajo na našo prehransko varnost.

Slovenija je še vedno daleč od samooskrbe. Pri žitih in semenih imamo največje primanjkljaje, predelovalna industrija pa je pogosto v tuji lasti, kar zmanjšuje našo odpornost v krizah. Ob tem ostaja kar 200.000 hektarjev kmetijskih zemljišč neobdelanih, kmetijsko prebivalstvo pa se hitro stara – povprečen kmet ima 63 let.

Govorci so opozorili, da moramo bolj odločno zaščititi obstoječa kmetijska zemljišča, ponovno aktivirati zapuščene površine ter okrepiti predelovalno industrijo, ki mora ostati vsaj deloma v domači lasti, če želimo večjo strateško varnost. Javne institucije bi morale veliko več hrane kupovati neposredno od slovenskih kmetov, lokalne zadruge in povezovanje kmetij pa so ključni za stabilne dobavne verige. Posebno pozornost je treba nameniti tudi ohranjanju kmetijskega znanja in spodbujanju mladih prevzemnikov.

Govorce je povezoval isti zaključek: solidarnost – doma in med državami – bo ključna, če želimo ostati odporni v svetu, kjer cene hrane in energentov naraščajo hitreje kot kadar koli prej.

Na razpravi so sodelovali:

🔸 Tanja Fajon, podpredsednica vlade RS in ministrica za zunanje in evropske zadeve RS

🔸 Boštjan Pavlin, državni sekretar na Ministrstvu za obrambo RS

🔸 Saša Arsenovič, župan Maribora

🔸 Aleš Gregorc, dekan Fakultete za kmetijstvo in biosistemske vede UM

Moderiral je Slavko Bobovnik.

 

Posnetek razprave ⬇️

Glavna sporočila razprave

Slovenija je prehransko ranljiva in močno odvisna od globalnih dobavnih verig.

Čeprav je le redko katera država povsem samooskrbna, bi to moral biti strateški cilj države. Govorci so opozorili, da Slovenija dosega nizko samooskrbo pri ključnih kategorijah – zlasti pri žitih in semenih – kar ob geopolitičnih pretresih, vojnah in prekinitvah transportnih poti pomeni realno varnostno tveganje.

Odpornost je več kot samooskrba – vključuje energijo, vodo, predelavo in znanje

Prehranska varnost po besedah govorcev obsega dostop do energije, vode, namakalnih sistemov ter sposobnost doma pridelati in predelati ustrezno količino kakovostnih pridelkov, kar pa Slovenija zaradi razdrobljene predelovalne industrije in pomanjkanja mladih kmetov trenutno ne dosega.

Javni sektor mora postati motor podpore domači pridelavi in predelavi.

Javni razpisi bi morali vključiti merila, ki omogočajo, da šole, bolnišnice in druge institucije kupujejo hrano od slovenskih kmetov, saj se brez tega lokalne verige ne bodo okrepile, sektor pa ostaja ranljiv.

Kmetijska zemljišča, znanje in lokalna organizacija so strateški viri, ki jih izgubljamo.

Govorci so opozorili, da se pomembne kmetijske površine pozidavajo ali ostajajo neobdelane, hkrati pa upada kmečko prebivalstvo in se izgublja tradicionalno znanje, zato bo treba aktivirati zapuščene površine, krepiti zadružništvo in razvijati lokalne modele prodaje, da se ohrani dolgoročna prehranska stabilnost.

Solidarnost – doma in med državami – ostaja temelj stabilnosti v kriznih časih.

Vojne vedno povzročijo rast cen hrane in energentov, kar smo videli v Ukrajini in drugod, zato je po besedah govorcev nujno okrepiti solidarnostne mehanizme, saj se pomoč, ki jo dajemo drugim, dolgoročno vrača tudi nam.

 

Okroglo mizo sta organizirala Center za evropsko prihodnost in Zveza slovenskih častnikov 18. 11. novembra v Mariboru.

 

Povzetek okrogle mize »Slovenija v svetu prelomnic: varnost, odpornost in strateške izbire«

Povzetek okrogle mize »Slovenija v svetu prelomnic: varnost, odpornost in strateške izbire«

21. 11. 2025 | Nacionalno varnostno mislišče, PR

Kako naj se Slovenija znajde v novem varnostnem okolju, kjer mir ni več samoumeven, izzivi pa postajajo vse bolj kompleksni?

To vprašanje je bilo v središču razprave na okrogli mizi, ki je potekala v Parku vojaške zgodovine v Pivki  17. oktobra.

Govorci so poudarili, da se je evropsko varnostno okolje močno spremenilo – vojna v Ukrajini, naraščajoče geopolitične napetosti ter hibridne grožnje, kot so kibernetski napadi, dezinformacije in pritiski na kritično infrastrukturo, zahtevajo novo razumevanje varnosti. Slovenija se ne more izolirati od teh dogajanj; članstvo v EU in Natu ter sodelovanje z zavezniki zato predstavljajo ključni okvir za zagotavljanje stabilnosti in miru.

V razpravi je bilo večkrat poudarjeno, da varnost danes presega klasično razumevanje vojske in orožja. Pomeni tudi močne in zaupanja vredne institucije, energetsko in digitalno varnost, odpornost družbe ter zavedanje državljanov o skupni odgovornosti za obrambo. Slovenija ima na tem področju dobro izhodišče – od izkušenj s civilno zaščito do tradicije solidarnosti in organiziranosti – vendar bo za dolgoročno odpornost potrebno ohranjati enotnost, vlagati v lastne zmogljivosti ter graditi kulturo varnosti in zaupanja

Govorci

🔸 mag. Borut Sajovic, minister za obrambo Republike Slovenije
🔸 Vojko Volk, državni sekretar v Kabinetu predsednika Vlade Republike Slovenije
🔸 prof. dr. Iztok Prezelj, predstojnik Obramboslovnega raziskovalnega centra na FDV UL in predsednik Evro-atlantskega sveta Slovenije

Moderirala je Katja Geršak iz Centra za evropsko prihodnost.

 

Posnetek razprave ⬇️

    Glavna sporočila razprave

    Varnostno okolje se slabša in postaja vse bolj kompleksno.

    Vojna v Ukrajini, napetosti med velesilami in vse pogostejše hibridne grožnje kažejo, da se svetovni red, zgrajen po drugi svetovni vojni, maje. Slovenija mora delovati v tej realnosti, v kateri mir ni več samoumeven in kjer se stabilnost ohranja z aktivnim sodelovanjem.

    Majhne države morajo delovati strateško in proaktivno.

    Slovenija se ne more zanašati na svojo geografsko lego ali nevtralnost, temveč mora svoj vpliv graditi znotraj zavezništev EU in Nata. Članstvo v teh organizacijah zagotavlja varnost, a hkrati zahteva odgovornost in prispevek k skupnim ciljem.

    Odpornost pomeni več kot le vojaško moč.

    Sodobna varnost vključuje zanesljive institucije, energetsko neodvisnost, kibernetsko zaščito, boj proti dezinformacijam ter učinkovito civilno zaščito. Slovenija je po zaupanju v civilno zaščito med vodilnimi v EU, kar dokazuje, da ima močne temelje za gradnjo družbene odpornosti.

    Enotnost in zavedanje sta ključni orodji nacionalne varnosti.

    Razprava je opozorila na nevarnost populizma in notranjih delitev, ki lahko oslabijo pripravljenost države. Le s politično in družbeno enotnostjo lahko Slovenija ohranja stabilnost in verodostojnost znotraj zavezništev.

    Mir je vrednota, ki zahteva nenehno vlaganje.

    Mir ni samoumeven – tako kot zdravje ga začnemo ceniti šele, ko ga izgubimo. Ohraniti ga pomeni vlagati v obrambo, znanje, partnerstva in v zavedanje, da varnost ni odgovornost drugih, temveč vseh nas.

     

    Youth Shaping the Danube Region: Reflections from Our Interactive Workshop at the 14th EUSDR Annual Forum

    Youth Shaping the Danube Region: Reflections from Our Interactive Workshop at the 14th EUSDR Annual Forum

    20. 11. 2025 | Danube, PR, Regional cooperation, Youth

    Young people across the Danube Region are stepping forward with ideas, motivation, and a strong desire to shape the future. This spirit was at the heart of our interactive workshop Youth Engagement and Active Citizenship in the Danube Region, held on 6 November 2025 during the 14th EUSDR Annual Forum in Sarajevo. Bringing together representatives of the Danube Youth Council, the Danube Youth Organizations Network, and the Enter:Change initiative, the workshop created a vibrant space for honest dialogue, shared experiences, and forward-looking proposals. Designed as a World Café, the session encouraged participants to rotate among discussion tables, exchange perspectives, and collectively explore how youth can play a meaningful role in democratic governance and regional cooperation.  

    Youth as Contributors Today — Not Only Tomorrow

     
    • Meaningful involvement: Youth want more than symbolic participation; they want structured, long-term channels to influence decision-making.
    • Capacity-building: Leadership training, critical thinking, communication skills, and digital literacy are essential tools for empowered citizenship.
    • Cross-border cooperation: Mobility, exchange, and shared learning strengthen connections and help address regional challenges together.
    • Supportive ecosystems: Youth-led initiatives need sustained funding, mentorship, and visibility — not isolated, short-term projects.
    The workshop’s outcomes reflect the priorities and aspirations of young people across the Danube Region  

    Looking Ahead

    The enthusiasm and maturity demonstrated by the workshop participants confirmed once again that youth are ready to contribute — not only to the future, but to the present of the Danube Region. Their perspectives are essential for building trust, strengthening governance, and enhancing cooperation across borders. As Priority Area 10, we remain committed to supporting youth engagement, creating opportunities for dialogue, and working together with our partners to ensure that young people continue to shape the direction of the Danube Region. More about Priority Area 10 Representatives from the Danube Youth Organizations Network reflected on the growth of youth-led initiatives and the importance of building stronger, more sustainable networks. They emphasised the value of improved visibility, alumni engagement, and new links between young people, local authorities, NGOs, and communities along the Danube. Better fundraising opportunities and shared purpose were also identified as essential elements for the network’s future development. The discussion reaffirmed the need for transnational cooperation — not only to connect young people, but also to create lasting partnerships and shared solutions to common challenges.  

    A New Generation of Leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina

    The Enter:Change initiative shared insights from its work with young leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina, focusing on leadership skills, democratic participation, anti-corruption, interethnic dialogue, and resilience to disinformation. Their central question — whether young leaders can pave a more cooperative political path — sparked reflections on the need for cultural change, institutional openness, and long-term support. Participants stressed that progress requires more accessible EU funding for emerging youth initiatives, stronger support for civil society, and wider opportunities that convince talented young people to remain engaged in their home communities rather than seeking prospects elsewhere.  

    Key Takeaways: What Young People Need to Thrive

    Across all discussions, several common themes emerged:
    • Meaningful involvement: Youth want more than symbolic participation; they want structured, long-term channels to influence decision-making.
    • Capacity-building: Leadership training, critical thinking, communication skills, and digital literacy are essential tools for empowered citizenship.
    • Cross-border cooperation: Mobility, exchange, and shared learning strengthen connections and help address regional challenges together.
    • Supportive ecosystems: Youth-led initiatives need sustained funding, mentorship, and visibility — not isolated, short-term projects.
    The workshop’s outcomes reflect the priorities and aspirations of young people across the Danube Region  

    Looking Ahead

    The enthusiasm and maturity demonstrated by the workshop participants confirmed once again that youth are ready to contribute — not only to the future, but to the present of the Danube Region. Their perspectives are essential for building trust, strengthening governance, and enhancing cooperation across borders. As Priority Area 10, we remain committed to supporting youth engagement, creating opportunities for dialogue, and working together with our partners to ensure that young people continue to shape the direction of the Danube Region. More about Priority Area 10 A strong message echoed throughout the room: young people are not passive observers. They are already contributing to shaping the Danube Region, and they want to be recognised as equal partners in decision-making. Participants highlighted why their involvement matters: they bring creativity, technological confidence, a long-term outlook, and the courage to challenge old patterns. They are open-minded, results-oriented, and motivated by a genuine sense of responsibility for the world around them. For many, meaningful participation is closely tied to trust in institutions and a belief that their voices can lead to real impact.  

    Building Stronger Youth Networks Across the Region

     
    Representatives from the Danube Youth Organizations Network reflected on the growth of youth-led initiatives and the importance of building stronger, more sustainable networks. They emphasised the value of improved visibility, alumni engagement, and new links between young people, local authorities, NGOs, and communities along the Danube. Better fundraising opportunities and shared purpose were also identified as essential elements for the network’s future development. The discussion reaffirmed the need for transnational cooperation — not only to connect young people, but also to create lasting partnerships and shared solutions to common challenges.  

    A New Generation of Leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina

    The Enter:Change initiative shared insights from its work with young leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina, focusing on leadership skills, democratic participation, anti-corruption, interethnic dialogue, and resilience to disinformation. Their central question — whether young leaders can pave a more cooperative political path — sparked reflections on the need for cultural change, institutional openness, and long-term support. Participants stressed that progress requires more accessible EU funding for emerging youth initiatives, stronger support for civil society, and wider opportunities that convince talented young people to remain engaged in their home communities rather than seeking prospects elsewhere.  

    Key Takeaways: What Young People Need to Thrive

    Across all discussions, several common themes emerged:
    • Meaningful involvement: Youth want more than symbolic participation; they want structured, long-term channels to influence decision-making.
    • Capacity-building: Leadership training, critical thinking, communication skills, and digital literacy are essential tools for empowered citizenship.
    • Cross-border cooperation: Mobility, exchange, and shared learning strengthen connections and help address regional challenges together.
    • Supportive ecosystems: Youth-led initiatives need sustained funding, mentorship, and visibility — not isolated, short-term projects.
    The workshop’s outcomes reflect the priorities and aspirations of young people across the Danube Region  

    Looking Ahead

    The enthusiasm and maturity demonstrated by the workshop participants confirmed once again that youth are ready to contribute — not only to the future, but to the present of the Danube Region. Their perspectives are essential for building trust, strengthening governance, and enhancing cooperation across borders. As Priority Area 10, we remain committed to supporting youth engagement, creating opportunities for dialogue, and working together with our partners to ensure that young people continue to shape the direction of the Danube Region. More about Priority Area 10