16. 4. 2018 | PR, Serbia - Information exchange
In the framework of Slovenia’s Development Cooperation with the Republic of Serbia a field analysis of the operation of the system of operational data exchange related to illegal migration took place on 11 – 14 April 2018. Representatives of the police from Serbia and Slovenia analysed the exchange of data in various organizational units of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia on the local, regional and state level of the boarder, general and criminal police and operational centre. Their conclusions will serve for the preparation and execution of a three-day workshop that will aim to draft a proposal for the data exchange system optimization, which will fulfil the EU membership standards.
Field analysis was executed in cooperation with the organizational units of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia, including Border Police Station Preševo, Border Police Station Rujan, Regional Centre for the Border with Macedonia, Police Directorate Vranje and its organizational units, Border Police Station Vrška Čuka, Border Police Station Zaječar and its organizational units, Police Directorate Bor, Commanding Operations Centre at Police Administration Belgraade, Border Police Station Batrovci, Border Police Station Srem, Border Police Station Šid, Regional Centre for the Border with Croatia and the General Police Directorate (Sector for Analytics, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Department for Electronic Services, Operations Centre, Border Police Directorate and Criminal Police Directorate – Office for Fight Against Organized Crime and Corruption).
Inclusive and interactive nature of the field analysis brought good results, which is why an effective, hands-on and resourceful follow-up workshop can be expected on 18-21 June 2018.
Field analysis is part of CEP’s program activities conducted in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia in the framework of Slovenia’s Development Cooperation.
13. 4. 2018 | European Digital Diplomacy Exchange, PR
Digital Diplomacy Bootcamp 2.0 organised by the Centre for European Perspective and supported by the U.S. Department of State concluded in Ljubljana on Friday, 13 April 2018. A 4-day training »Enhancing Digital Diplomacy Activities in the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe” brought together over 70 PR representatives, communication officers and digital diplomats from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Ukraine and Slovenia.
The training covered theoretical and practical aspects of digital communications, digital journalism, story-telling, strategic communications planning, video-editing, photography and design. It evolved and upgraded the understanding of communications theory, digital crisis communications and digital journalism, but also offered a chance to improve and boost the skills in photography, design and video-editing. Participants were challenged in digital campaign development, but also actively discussed the phenomenon of misinformation, social media usage, audience identification, understanding and targeting.
Press and public affairs products and their development attracted the attention of participants particularly because of its applicability in their everyday professional life. The last day of the training took place in Ljubljana and focused on teamwork, simulations and presentations, where the participants had to show their best and use the knowledge and skills acquired during the training.
The concluding session and certificate ceremony were joined by Ambassador Brent R. Hartley, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Slovenia and Dr Gorazd Justinek, director of the Centre for European Perspective.
The training is second of its kind, following the Digital Diplomacy Bootcamp conducted in November 2017 and represents an upgrade of an established cooperation between the Centre for European Perspective and the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Ljubljana.
11. 4. 2018 | PR, V4, Youth
Public discussion at the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium concludes a two-day event Back on the Agenda: EU Enlargement and the Western Balkans, organized by the Centre for European Perspective. By involving think tank representatives and youth, civil society of the Western Balkans discussed their concerns, challenges, ideas and prospects with EU representatives, policy makers and experts.
Welcome Address was delivered by Dr Gorazd Justinek, Director of the Centre for European Perspective, who emphasized the three pillars of CEP’s work: security, democratization and youth.
Mr Maciej Popowski, Deputy Director-General for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, European Commission delivered a speech on the implementation of the Western Balkan Strategy.
Public discussion continued with a dynamic dialogue between the civil society and youth representatives and the stakeholders’ representatives. Four main topics: democratization, social affairs, participation and reconciliation were addressed and each discussion involved an overview of the topic, burning issues, examples of good practices and policy recommendations.
Mr Molnár Balázs, Deputy State Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Hungary; Mr Peter Grk, National Coordinator for the Western Balkans, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia; Ms Marlène Bartes, European Commission – Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture; and Mr Albert Sesé Ballart, European Commission – Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture responded to the presentations and engaged in a very vivid and energetic dialogue with the audience.
Discussion was moderated by Mr Zoran Nechev, Institute for Democracy „Societas Civilis“. In the concluding remarks Ms Tanja Fajon, Member of European Parliament from Slovenia pointed out the importance of the voice of the youth and emphasised two main challenges being negative perception of the enlargement in the EU and the distrusts of people towards EU policies.
The outcomes of the two-day event, supported by the International Visegrad Fund, will be published and distributed as policy recommendations.
Find the agenda here.
10. 4. 2018 | European Digital Diplomacy Exchange, PR
Digital Diplomacy Bootcamp 2.0 organised by the Centre for European Perspective and supported by the U.S. Department of State kicked off today in Bled, Slovenia. PR representatives, communication officers and digital diplomats from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Ukraine and Slovenia gathered for a 4-day training »Enhancing Digital Diplomacy Activities in the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe”.
The training covers theoretical and practical aspects of digital communications, digital journalism, story-telling, strategic communications planning, video-editing, photography and design. On Tuesday morning, participants were addressed by the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Slovenia Brent R. Hartley and President of Executive Board of the Centre for European Perspective Špela Lajmiš.
Communications theory, digital crisis communications and digital journalism were on the agenda of the first day of the training, while the second day brought challenging tasks for the participants – photography training, infographic/design training and camera training for comms professionals took participants to unexpected spots around Bled. Another challenge for the participants is digital campaign development.
Misinformation and successful identification and response to them were addressed by Matt Jacobs from the US Department of State. As a representative of the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms Miriam Morgan presented the social media strategy during the UN Security Council Seat campaign.
Third day of the training offered an insight into development of press/public affairs products with Jared Caplan, U.S. Department of State, London Regional Media Hub and Instagram training with Dayna Geldwert of Instagram.
Last day, taking place in Ljubljana was devoted to group work, simulations and presentations where the participants had to show their best and use the knowledge and skills acquired during the training. The concluding session and certificate ceremony were joined by Ambassador Brent R. Hartley, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Slovenia and Dr Gorazd Justinek, director of the Centre for European Perspective.
The training, hosted by CEP, is second of its kind, following the Digital Diplomacy Bootcamp conducted in November 2017 and represents an upgrade of an established cooperation between CEP and the U.S. Embassy in Ljubljana.
9. 4. 2018 | LET4CAP, PR
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. Member 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, thePolish police force “Policja” and the in-house agency of the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance “Studiare Sviluppo”. The initiative aims at performing a “Mentoring, Monitoring & Advising (MMA”) course that will be held in Vicenza (Italy), within the premises of the Center of Excellence for Stability Police Units, from 9th to 13th July 2018.
Therefore, I have the pleasure to invite your Organization to take part in the session to be held in Italy. The application (deadline 30 April 2018) can be sent to [email protected].
Participation procedures and additional information can be obtained by the annexed flyer and on the LET4CAP site http://www.let4cap.eu/.
9. 4. 2018 | PR
Klub evropskih študentov je v ponedeljek, 9. aprila 2018 na Fakulteti za družbene vede organiziral okroglo mizo z naslovom: Zahodni Balkan v EU: Realnost ali utopija. Na okrogli mizi je na temo pomoči in podpore državam Zahodnega Balkana v reformnih procesih in pri prevzemanju standardov spregovoril tudi direktor Centra za evropsko prihodnost dr. Gorazd Justinek.
Na temo širitve Evropske unije, gospodarskega razvoja, vladavine prava in prihodnosti institucionalnega razvoja EU so spregovorili še Matej Marn, politični direktor Direktorata za skupno zunanjo in varnostno politiko MZZ RS, veleposlanik Miljan Majhen, bivši veleposlanik Republike Slovenije v Prištini ter dr. Ljubica Jelušič, profesorica s Katedre za obramboslovje na Fakulteti za družbene vede.
Dr. Gorazd Justinek je orisal delovanje CEP v državah Zahodnega Balkana ter poudaril področje demokratizacije, varnosti ter mladih. Poudaril je, da je Slovenija med državami, ki so trdne zagovornice širitve EU. Opozoril je na t.i. “postširitveno utrujenost”, skozi katero se je ob ostalih izzivih EU, kot so finančna kriza in kriza evro območja, migracije ter brexit, prihodnost širitve umaknila z dnevnega reda EU. Kot področje, na katerem je bila Slovenija kljub ohladitvi energije za širitev tudi skozi zadnje desetletje aktivna, pa je izpostavil mednarodno razvojno sodelovanje Republike Slovenije.
Medtem ko je veleposlanik Majhen opisal pretekli razvoj v odnosih med Srbijo in Kosovom ter dialog Beograd-Priština, se je dr. Jelušič osredotočila na varnostno in vojaško situacijo. Moč Zahoda vidi predvsem v nadzoru nad oborožitvenim sistemom držav, medtem ko šibkost zaznava na področju organiziranega kriminala ter korupcije.
Politični direktor Marn je poudaril, da Slovenija približevanje zagovarja s stališča celotne regije in vseh držav v regiji. Men pomembnimi iniciativami je izpostavil ministrsko zasedanje Procesa Brdo-Brijuni, ki je lansko leto na EU naslovilo tudi poziv k aktivnemu pristopu k razvoju Zahodnega Balkana.
Sogovorniki so se strinjali, da je pot v EU ključnega pomena za razvoj, gospodarsko rast, politično stabilizacijo in dobrobit ljudi na Zahodnem Balkanu.
