12. 9. 2022 | EUPCST, POTC, PR
The Centre for European Perspective and the Slovenian Peace Operations Training Centre (POTC) are with the support of the European Police and Civilian Services Training organizing a Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT). The course will take place at Gotenica Police Training Centre in Slovenia from Sunday 18th to Friday 23rd September 2022.
The objective of the Hostile Environment Awareness Training is to train professionals to deal effectively with risk-associated and emergency/critical situations while deployed in hostile environments abroad.
TARGET GROUP
Up to 20 professionals with different backgrounds, working or aiming to work with national or international (non)governmental organizations, academic or private sector will join an experienced group of Slovenian and foreign trainers for this five-day intensive course in the southwestern part of Slovenia. The training is expected to align participants’ understanding of the minimum required behavioral field requirements when confronted as an individual or a team member staff of an international field operation whatever his/her professional background could be.
The course 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 accordingly to the specific threat
- develop skills and behaviors to deal with different stressful situations
- trigger group dynamics when dealing with multiple stressful situations
TRAINING METHODOLOGY
Training is composed of five modules, each focusing on an important aspect of mission life in a hostile environment. Activities include lectures, guided discussions, role plays, simulations, and a complex field training exercise. Trainees will be talking about the deployment in hostile environments (threat awareness, management of various threats, etc.), medical help, orientation, communications, and off-road vehicle driving. Additionally, two modules will be dedicated to practicing newly gained skills.
11. 9. 2022 | European Digital Diplomacy Exchange, PR
Klikni tukaj za branje prispevka v slovenskem jeziku. 
Between 5 and 7 September 2022, the Centre for European Perspective (CEP) in the scope of the project European Digital Diplomacy Exchange (EDDE) conducted training in Kosovo, aimed at bolstering capacities of strategic government communication capacities. The training brought together government communicators, coming from different state institutions. Fully packed agenda aimed at strengthening their skills to be better prepared for the fast-paced and ever-changing digital communication environment.
In the theoretical part, participants took a closer look at the digital future, digital campaigns, message development and storytelling, identifying disinformation, and social media analytics. EDDE network enabled them to learn about the best practices of digital campaigns from their neighboring country North Macedonia. The practical part allowed them to enhance their photography, videography, graphic design, and rhetorical skills. On the top, they got to learn about the best-case examples of how governments and international organizations use social media.
The project is a result of joint cooperation between the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Embassy in Ljubljana, and the Centre for European Perspective.
The project is partially financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia in the scope of the program activities of international development cooperation.
8. 9. 2022 | POTC, PR
Klikni tukaj za branje prispevka v slovenskem jeziku.
Between the 12th and 15th of May 2022, the Peace Operations Training Centre (POTC) will deliver the second module on EU project management in Prijedor, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Improved capacities for project proposal preparation will help Bosnia and Herzegovina to work more closely with EU partners and secure more EU funding for BiH’s development.
23 local government officials and NGO representatives from municipalities surrounding Prijedor participated in a four-day training program delivered by Slovenian experts Gorazd Jenko and Slavka Zupan in June. Now, the same participants will attend the second 4-day module where they will further develop their project proposals.
The project was carried out with the support of the Slovenian Ministry of Defence and the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
7. 9. 2022 | PR, Serbia - management of patrols
Klikni tukaj za več o projektu v slovenščini.
From 29 August to 4 September 2022 a third field visit took place in Serbia in support of the new patrol management system, which enables border, general, and traffic police units to work more easily, efficiently, and, above all, more safely in the field.
In the establishment, development, and deployment of an effective patrol management system, the Serbian police are cooperating with the Slovenian police within the framework of Slovenia’s international development assistance since 2019. So far, 10 of the 27 police directorates have joined the system, and 4 more are expected to join shortly.
This field visit was carried out in 25 Serbian Police units in the areas of police directorates: Vranje, Leskovac, Novi Pazar, Kragujevac, Jagodina, Užice, Šabac, Pančevo, Smederevo in Sremska Mitrovica. It provided an overview of the use and operation of the system, as well as on-site consultancy for existing users and preparation for the introduction of the system to the new users.
The findings of the field visit are very encouraging, as the units that manage patrols under the new system expressed satisfaction and confirmed that their work is more efficient. Work organization is more effortless and responsiveness to tasks faster, and police officers in the field feel safer. Due to the lack of personnel, as well as other resource constraints, which, unfortunately, the Serbian police face, as we do, they are being allocated more rationally and efficiently. Coordination between units belonging to different police directorates has also been improved and facilitated which also enables a more effective fight against organized crime and illegal migration.
The purpose of the field visit was, among other things, to detect and identify possible deficiencies and errors in the application, remedy them, and exchange views on the possibilities for complementing and upgrading the IT solution.
The positive experience of the new patrol management system has already reached the organizational units of the police directorates that are not yet part of it, and they were eager to hear first-hand information.
During the field visit, prospective users had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the IT solution, see a demonstration of operation and see for themselves the benefits of coordinated working between organizational units.
By the end of the year, 14 police administrations of the Republic of Serbia are expected to be integrated into the new patrol management system.
With Slovenian development assistance, the capabilities of managing patrols in Serbia and the efficiency of the Serbian police as a whole are undoubtedly being strengthened, in accordance with the standards that also apply in the EU.
The project is part of the program activities of international development cooperation, financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior and the Police of the Republic of Slovenia.
Further information:
Andreja Dolničar Jeraj
Programme Director
Centre for European Perspective
2. 9. 2022 | European Digital Diplomacy Exchange, PR
Klikni tukaj za več o projektu v slovenščini
In the framework of the European Digital Diplomacy Exchange (EDDE) project, we will organize training for Kosovar government communicators. It will take place in person in Pristina, Kosovo from 5 September to 7 September 2022.
The training, which focuses on the topic of digital communication, will enhance both theoretical knowledge as well as practical skills of government communicators through several interactive sessions and workshops.
In the theoretical part, we will take a closer look at the digital media information landscape, digital policy discourse, digital campaigns, message development, identifying disinformation, storytelling, and social media analytics. While in the practical part we will be enhancing photography, videography, graphic design and rhetorical skills. Last but not least, we will look at different tools and approaches on how to identify disinformation and at the best-case examples of how governments and international organizations use social media.
The project is a result of joint cooperation between the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Embassy in Ljubljana and the Centre for European Perspective.
The project is partially financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia in the scope of the program activities of international development cooperation.
25. 8. 2022 | Bled Strategic Forum, PR, Young BSF, Youth
11th edition of the Young Bled Strategic Forum, held between 26 and 28 August entitled ‘Democracy fit for the new age’, will focus on the discussions regarding challenges our democracies face in response to the transformation of our societies.
Thirty-six young people from 20 different countries participating in this year’s conference will be joined by 20 speakers, panellists and workshop facilitators.
As every year, the conference has a particular leitmotif – this time it is covered by the title ‘Democracy fit for the new age’. Democracy is not a static term or a form of governance – it evolves to correspond with the transformations of our societies, our understanding of what it means to be democratic, and in response to the changing environments. There has been no shortage of societal disruption in recent years – from the Covid-19 pandemic, the return of war in Europe, and pervasive technological developments to a growing polarisation within our societies.
Are our democracies catching up with these changes? Are we capable of providing answers to the challenges we are facing within our current systems of governance? Are they fit for the new age? These are just some of the questions that the participants will address through the prism of four content pillars, which will focus on 1) the search for joint international solutions to international challenges (transnational cooperation), 2) prosperity through diversity, 3) the advantages and disadvantages of democracies; and 4) the role of the media and disinformation.
The three-day conference will begin on Friday, 26 August with the visit of the National Assembly of the Republic where the President of the National Assembly, mag. Urška Klakočar Zupančič will open Young BSF 2022 and join an interactive discussion on the topic of challenges and opportunities of democracies, with speakers Ms Katja Geršak, Executive Director of Centre for European Perspective, Ms Lucija Karnelutti, EU UN Youth Delegate 2022/23 and Ms Dolores Kores, Director Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Youth.
The following two days will explore democracies through the prism of four thematic pillars: I) Media literacy and information society; II) Prosperity through diversity; III) Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?; IV): Joint solutions for joint challenges; with participants engaging in discussions and a diverse evening programme.
Young BSF is made possible with the contribution of the Interreg ADRION Programme and the EUSAIR Facility point, supported by the European Union and cooperating within the European Union Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian region; Danube Transnational Programme and Priority Area 10 ´Institutional capacity and cooperation´ Supported by the European Union, that are engaged within the European Union Strategy for the Danube Region; Central European Initiative (CEI) and Triglav d.d.
