Call for Applications Open: Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT) of 2024

Call for Applications Open: Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT) of 2024

26. 3. 2024 | HEAT, POTC, PR

The Peace Operations Training Centre (POTC) is organising a Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT). The course will take place at the Gotenica Police Training Centre in Slovenia from Sunday, 2nd to Friday, 7th, June, 2024.

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HEAT’s purpose is to train professionals to deal effectively with risk-associated and emergency/critical situations while deployed in hostile environments abroad.

Up to 25 professionals with different backgrounds who work or aim to work with national or international (non)governmental organizations, the academic or private sector, are eligible to apply for participation in the training.

The participants will join an experienced group of Slovenian and foreign trainers for a five-day intensive course in the southwestern part of Slovenia. The training is designed to:

  • improve participants’ knowledge about multiple threats present in hostile field environments and learn how to deal with them in an effective manner.
  • rehearse and practice safety and security procedures according to specific threats,
  • and develop skills and behaviours to deal with different stressful situations.

Activities include lectures, guided discussions, role-playing, simulations, and a complex field training exercise. Trainees will be addressing deployment in hostile environments (threat awareness, management of various threats, etc.), medical help, orientation, communications, mobility, etc.

You can find all the information regarding the registration process and the training delivery here.

Apply to HEAT here: Application Form (open until May 5th – extension to May 15th)

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Improving EU’s competitiveness

Improving EU’s competitiveness

26. 3. 2024 | PR, Transformative Power of Digital

The Centre for European Perspective is launching a new publication, “Improving Europe’s Competitiveness: Role of Open Markets, Emerging Technologies, and Strategic Alliances,” which explores the critical role of AI and emerging technologies in bolstering the EU’s competitiveness.

The publication will be officially launched following a breakfast discussion organised in cooperation with the European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE).

The breakfast discussion will take place on Monday, 8th April 2024 at 09:00, at the Palace of the Academies, Rubens Hall. 

Registration for the breakfast discussion is now open. You are kindly invited to join us. Please register here.

The publication and the breakfast discussion explore how can the EU increase its competitiveness by taking advantage of emerging technologies, open markets and strategic alliances.

The COVID-19 pandemic served as a stark wake-up call, emphasising the urgent need for the EU to improve its resilience against crises. Two years later, with the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the focus of the EU shifted towards urgent improvements to EU’s security. Now, as we stand on the brink of a new era dominated by Artificial Intelligence, our focus is shifting towards enhancing the EU’s competitiveness.

AI and other emerging technologies have the power to accelerate economic growth and reshape industries in profound and unprecedented ways. If the EU is to be a global economic powerhouse, it will have to wholeheartedly embrace the vast potential of AI. The EU’s commitment to embracing AI and other emerging technologies will have to be reflected in substantial investments in research and development, a forward-thinking regulatory environment that fosters innovation while ensuring ethical standards as well as safe and trustworthy technology, and a robust infrastructure that supports the growth of AI technologies and their implementation.

At the discussion and in the event, we will tackle the following question: Is the EU prepared and capable of taking full advantage of the opportunities that the AI revolution is offering? What is holding the EU back, and what are its strengths that can be tapped into? What is the role of open markets in improving Europe’s competitiveness? Developing trustworthy and safe AI demands a collaborative global effort–how and when should the EU engage with international partners to maintain its competitive edge?

 

 

 

ESDC Cooperation on “A Comprehensive Approach to Gender in Operations” Training Comes to a Successful End at Jable Castle

ESDC Cooperation on “A Comprehensive Approach to Gender in Operations” Training Comes to a Successful End at Jable Castle

22. 3. 2024 | POTC, PR

Peace Operations Training Centre (POTC), in cooperation with the European Security and Defence College (ESDC), successfully delivered the training activity “A Comprehensive Approach to Gender in Operations.” It ran from March 19-21 at Jable Castle, with an extra day of self-paced eLearning. 

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During the course, participants learned about integrating a gender perspective into peace operations and understanding legal frameworks related to gender equality. The programme targeted civilian experts, police, and military personnel involved in international missions. The POTC Team was satisfied with enthusiastic and engaged participants, making the sessions lively and dynamic. The extracurricular activities in Ljubljana also provided valuable insights into the topic at hand.

In the end, 24 participants received a certificate for successfully completing the training. Special thanks go to the excellent trainers, with special appreciation to the ESDC Policy Officer/Training Manager, whose help was essential in making this training run smoothly.

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Mentorship visit to Idrija begins

Mentorship visit to Idrija begins

20. 3. 2024 | Decentralisation, PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance, U-LEAD: with Europe, Ukraine, Waste management

20 March 2024, Idrija – Today, we began the second three-week mentorship of 2024 in the municipality of Idrija under the auspices of the project ‘Post-conflict reconstruction in Ukraine’.

The event was opened by the Mayor of the Municipality of Idrija, Mr Tomaž Vencelj. He greeted the participants and expressed Idrija’s openness to cooperating with Pereschepinska municipality. He then presented Idrija through the video of the Idrija geopark and spoke of the possibilities for cooperation between the municipalities.

The following was the project presentation by Ms Jelka Klemenc, CEP’s project lead, who presented the project and its objectives.

On behalf of mentees from Pereschepinska, Mayor Tsvirkun presented the municipality, its challenges, possibilities, and expected outcomes of the mentorship visit.

The mentorship builds upon the needs expressed by Pereschepyne municipality, mainly the preservation of cultural heritage, waste management, and energy efficiency of public buildings, and will address topics crucial for the municipality’s further development, such as project management, project writing, and topics related to the EU enlargement process on the local level.

The Idrija municipality, with its rich heritage in cultural preservation, activities in the area of waste management, sustainability and zero waste, and the successful establishment of the Ljubevč waste collection centre, brings valuable experience that can be a boon to partners from Pereschepyne. Through presentations and site visits, mentees from Ukraine will gain insights into these practices and projects and explore project planning, preparation and management, and EU project funding.

 

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The ‘Post-conflict reconstruction in Ukraine’ project is funded by the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs through the Slovenian Aid and Partnerships and implemented in partnership with ‘U-LEAD with Europe’. U-LEAD with Europe programme is a partnership of the Ukrainian government and the European Union, and its member states Germany, Sweden, Poland and Slovenia to support the establishment of multi-level governance that is transparent, accountable and responsive to the needs of the population of Ukraine.

Reflecting on the »Gender Mainstreaming in Peace Operations and Missions« Training held in Mongolia

Reflecting on the »Gender Mainstreaming in Peace Operations and Missions« Training held in Mongolia

20. 3. 2024 | EUCTI, POTC, PR

Last week, the Gender Mainstreaming in Peace Operations and Missions training programme, held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from March 11-15, 2024, came to an end. Organised by the Peace Operations Training Centre (POTC) and supported by the European Union Civilian Training Initiative (EUCTI), the intensive programme aimed to enhance the effectiveness of peace missions with regard to the gender perspective.

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20 participants from Mongolia gained valuable insights into integrating gender perspectives into peacekeeping strategies, preventing conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence, and navigating international legal frameworks promoting gender equality.

The training programme concluded with a renewed commitment to building inclusive, effective, and sustainable peace efforts worldwide. Moving forward, continued investment in such initiatives is essential to ensuring that gender considerations remain at the forefront of peace operations, fostering a future of inclusive peace and security for all.

POTC would like to thank all involved: the Mongolian State personnel, EUCTI, and the trainers who helped make this training activity on the other side of the world a success.

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Announcing the second UA-SI mentorship visit of 2024 in Idrija

Announcing the second UA-SI mentorship visit of 2024 in Idrija

13. 3. 2024 | Decentralisation, PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance, U-LEAD: with Europe, Ukraine, Waste management

On 20 March, we will begin the second three-week mentorship of 2024 in the municipality of Idrija under the auspices of the project ‘Post-conflict reconstruction in Ukraine’.

The fourth mentorship visit of the project will focus on developing collaboration between Pereschepyne and Idrija and enhancing knowledge and cooperation across multiple topics.

The mentorship builds upon the needs expressed by Pereschepyne municipality, mainly the preservation of cultural heritage, waste management, and energy efficiency of public buildings, and will address topics crucial for the municipality’s further development, such as project management, project writing, and topics related to the EU enlargement process on the local level.

The Idrija municipality, with its rich heritage in cultural preservation, activities in the area of waste management, sustainability and zero waste, and the successful establishment of the Ljubevč waste collection centre, brings valuable experience that can be a boon to partners from Pereschepyne. Through presentations and site visits, mentees from Ukraine will gain insights into these practices and projects and explore project planning, preparation and management, and EU project funding.

 

The ‘Post-conflict reconstruction in Ukraine’ project is funded by the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs through the Slovenian Aid and Partnerships and implemented in partnership with ‘U-LEAD with Europe’. U-LEAD with Europe programme is a partnership of the Ukrainian government and the European Union, and its member states Germany, Sweden, Poland and Slovenia to support the establishment of multi-level governance that is transparent, accountable and responsive to the needs of the population of Ukraine.