18. 10. 2017 | PR
Balkan SAYS – Security Architecture Youth Seminar is a youth oriented international security seminar.
Its mission is to connect students and young professionals who will discuss important security topics with distinguished speakers and search for fresh views and new solutions to the most pressing issues of the Balkan region. While the Western Balkans is continuously coming closer to higher levels of cooperation and integration in the Euro-Atlantic region, some of the most fundamental security and structural questions remain unsolved. Parts of the Western Balkan region remain highly unstable, nationalism and extremism are once again gaining the momentum, there is still lack of a true reconciliation and peace building process is still to be concluded. While indeed we can observe commendable steps forward, towards a more prosperous future of the region, highly supported by international community and international organisations working in the region, many open questions remain unsolved. The lasting historic grievances and disputes of the region have most recently showcased due to the increased pressure of the migration crises in Europe.
The Balkan SAYS seminar is offering a platform for youth from the region and beyond to meet and exchange views and opinions, build a mutual trust and understanding, expand the knowledge on important security, political and economic topics of the region, promote the values of security, peace and democracy, and present new ways of tackling the discussed issues. It provides an opportunity for young professionals to openly discuss the security and stability in the region and collaborate with international colleagues in order to find creative and unique solutions based on research and analysis under the mentorship of reputable experts.
Meliha Muherina, Project Manager at CEP, moderated a round table on “Nationalism and religious fundamentalism as the source of extremism in the Western Balkans” with Matteo Pugliese, OSCE Special Representative of the Chairperson-in-Office on Youth and Security, Armina Mujanović from Democratization Policy Council and prof. dr. Mitja Žagar from University of Ljubljana as panelists.
In the Western Balkans, nationalism and religious fundamentalism remain a pervasive force, resulting in clashes over disputed territory. Ethno-religious nationalist identities “religisized” politics, thus portrayed social and political problems, but especially national differences in religious terms. Religion is frequently of intrinsic importance in the development and maintenance of the national identity as a false absolute, and consequently, may provide justification for extreme measures. While the region in general has made a tremendous progress in the past decade, it seems especially inflammatory discourse continues to divide nations and societies. Such discourse finds its way not only through political manifestations and provocations but also through other means, such as sport competitions. We can observe that many of the old wounds remain open. Nationalistic ideas often based also on religious divisions can be a powerful tool in a hand of populistic political leaders and can lead to extremism. This not only endangers the peace process achieved until now, but it also questions the future of the Western Balkans. Following questions were further on addressed through the debate:
- What can be done to reverse effect of the nationalist tendencies in the region and which threats are most urged to be addressed?
- How to engage young people to be actors of change? What is the role of the youth and how do they perceive nationalism and religious fundamentalism?
- What can international community do to help cure the nationalist agendas?
- Would economic development steer the conversation away from nationalist agendas?
17. 10. 2017 | PR, Serbia - Traineeships
In the framework of the CEP project “Professional Experience for Serbian Civil Servants”, CEP, in cooperation with the Ministry of the Economy and the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Slovenia, will implement professional practice for Serbian civil servants. Serbian civil servants will obtain their professional experience from
October to November 2017 in the fields of Free movement of capital, goods and labour, competition policies, consumer protection and health, science and research, free movement of labour and company law.
The project aims to strengthen the training of civil servants of the Serbian Ministry of European Integration and working groups on preparation of negotiations on Serbia’s accession to the European Union.
The project is part of the CEP program activities financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from the funds for international development cooperation.
Read this news in Slovene language.
13. 10. 2017 | European Digital Diplomacy Exchange, PR
Centre for European Perspective is joining forces with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and the United States Embassy in Slovenia in order to implement a new development project »Enhancing Digital Diplomacy Activities in the Western Balkan and Eastern European Countries” that will address public relations services of the ministries of foreign affairs from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia and Ukraine.
The project encompasses a digital diplomacy training course, advanced public relations training and further activities of the alumni network, supported by high-quality supporting materials. Bringing together digital engagement experts from the Department of State, academic or private sector as well as experts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, the programme will strengthen the capacities of the selected countries to plan, coordinate and prepare digital campaigns through various digital communication tools.
On digital diplomacy
Just like about five centuries ago printing press brought a vast rise in literacy, today’s digital information technologies are changing the way of collecting and transmitting data. We live in a time where hasty revolutionary innovations, rapid technological changes, ubiquitous connectivity, the availability to process the large amounts of data, algorithmic management and digital literacy, are becoming an inevitable reality.
Global mass communications and advances in new information and telecommunication technologies are presenting a new challenge to the traditional way of conducting international relations. Increased availability, accessibility and speed of the transmission of large quantities of information to the global audience in real time is causing more and more complex management of state affairs. The environment of diplomacy is importantly changing. As digital diplomacy information technologies influence the interconnection of international actors, they enable the possibility of bypassing traditional authorities in accessing the information and consequently impact the speed of decision-making processes. While the mode of conducting diplomacy is changing, it is forced to communicate with many new actors in the international stage through new means of communication. Confronted with a time pressure it still has to remain credible, responsive and transparent.
New challenges for the traditional institutions
Unlike traditional diplomacy, digital diplomacy allows anyone, everyone, anywhere, anytime to have a voice. Individuals are no longer just passive receivers of information, but can correspond directly and horizontally. They actively respond, comment, influence, and form public opinion. Since one-way communication no longer exists, their support is crucial in gaining support for the successful shaping and implementation of policies. In order to achieve the credibility of the implemented policies, the broadest segments of the population must be involved in the decision-making process.
Read the news in Slovene language here.
12. 10. 2017 | IECEU, PR
CEP representative Ivana Boštjančič Pulko joined Belgrade Security Forum, titled “Building a Common Future in the Age of Uncertainty”, held in Belgrade between October 11th and 13th, where more than 100 speakers have joined in various sessions, plenary panels, round tables and break out events to discuss how can we build a common future in an age characterized by uncertainty?
Ms Boštjančič Pulko participated as a speaker on a panel “The EU as a crisis management actor: CSDP in neighbourhood” that analyzed the EU missions in Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Somalia, and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in order to discuss the issues of local ownership in peacekeeping missions, planning capacity of CSDP missions, missing elements in the EU missions, as well as how the EU missions might aid and abet authoritarianism.
Ms Boštjančič Pulko focused her presentation on Evaluating Planning Capacity of CSDP Missions: the Case of EULEX Kosovo and EUFOR Althea, where she presented a catalogue of lessons learnt and identified best practices in CSDP planning process. The findings are based on interviews conducted in Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2016 in the framework of a H2020 project ‘Improving the Effectiveness of Capabilities in EU Conflict Prevention – IECEU’. The findings list that both missions suffer because CSDP is low on political agendas of EU member states, there are too many partial interests within EU member states hampering effective planning, decision making in CSDP is generally too long, ‘Brussels’ lacks proper situational awareness on the ground, clearly set goals and exit strategy are missing and the EU does not have an overall preferred strategy for both countries. There are at least four phases led by four different bodies in the case of EULEX planning process but there is a well elaborated analysis and lessons learned process, only the implementation of the findings on the operational level is rather weak. The planning capacity of EUFOR Althea profited greatly from the access to NATO planning assets, structures, and capabilities under Berlin Plus, along with infrastructure on the ground, provided by SFOR. In principle, a clear military command structure, a solid reporting system, and the availability of NATO assets provide a very good basis for real-time situational awareness.
Ms Boštjančič Pulko explained the reasons behind choosing to compare two missions in the Balkans.
“Personally I wanted to research EU’s engagement in the Balkans, also because it is part of a comprehensive approach with by the EU towards the region. As an initial thought you might think that a military and civilian mission are completely, or at least largely, incomparable but through research we actually came up with quite a lot of similarities, even though there are specific characteristics, belonging to each of them. Also, both missions were planned at a time where Balkan’s future mattered a lot to the EU, EU was somehow at its peak related to CSDP when planning the mission, very ambitious, very optimistic, both Balkans missions were somehow a testing ground for the EU, because of its proximity and what can they achieve through CSDP. With the latest EU missions, becoming smaller in size and relevance, it’s challenging to compare the two of the long lasting and most ambitions CSDP missions to date, also with an executive mandate. When comparing the CSDP model to the NATO and UN models, it is immediately clear that there is a much more extensive political approval process in CSDP.”
9. 10. 2017 | PR
Ivana Boštjančič Pulko, Centre for European Perspective – CEP; Johanna Suhonen and Kari Sainio, Finnish Defence Forces International Centre, have published an article in Contemporary Military Challenges, an interdisciplinary scientific and technical publication published by Slovenian Armed Forces.
Article, “Assessing the planning and implemention of EU mission and operation: Case Study of EUFOR Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina” focuses on Planning capacity, assessed from the perspective of EUFOR Althea’s initial mandate, namely the operational planning and capacity-building and training of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina and support to the BiH authorities in maintaining a safe and secure environment. Additionally, EUFOR Althea’s engagement in Security Sector Reform and defence reform is covered. Research on EUFOR Althea’s planning capacity strived to encompass strategic and operational planning and its implications for the management and implementation of the operation, the lessons learned and the operation’s situational awareness.
You can access the publication here.
9. 10. 2017 | Montenegro - finance, PR, Slovenian Development Assistance
In the framework of the project “Assistance to Montenegro in negotiations on accession to the EU-2016” CEP provides technical assistance to the Central bank of Montenegro. Two-day advisory workshop (17–18 October 2017) will be carried out in Podgorica by Slovenian experts of the Bank of Slovenia.
The workshop will focus on the banking supervision and regulation, in particular on the methodology for banking supervision and the instructions for the supervision bodies.
The project is part of the CEP program activities financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the scope of international development cooperation.
Read the news about it in Slovene language here.
