Delegations of Georgia and North Macedonia welcomed at Jable

Delegations of Georgia and North Macedonia welcomed at Jable

We’re always happy to welcome guests at our beautiful castle, and today we were able to host not only one but two delegations working towards the same goal – preparing their countries to join the European Union in the shortest and fastest manner.

Mr Zurab Khamashuridze, Director, Department of European Integration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was heading the delegation of the Parliament of Georgia, which is a national coordinating body for all activities related to the process of EU integration. The discussion evolved around CEP experiences with candidate countries and 12 priorities set by the European Commission to be addressed by Georgian authorities before being granted candidate status. Building on good past cooperation on the digital diplomacy program, it was agreed that we can upgrade our relationships and provide concrete support in priorities linked to the rule of law, anti-corruption measures, and involvement of civil society in decision-making processes, to name a few.

State Secretary from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia, Mr Filip Toseski, attended bilateral consultations with his Slovenian counterparts and paid a visit to CEP. As this was his first visit to Slovenia, we presented the four pillars that CEP is working on, and we were happy to learn that he has already heard about interesting and useful CEP training courses. Topics of concrete Slovenian support to North Macedonia were discussed, not forgetting to praise the already established good cooperation between the Specialized State Prosecution Office, the Financial Police and the Customs Administration from both countries in the framework of bilateral cooperation on financial investigations supported by Slovenian Aid.

It was agreed that Slovenia has valuable expertise that can be utilised by North Macedonian colleagues to accelerate their way towards full membership of the European Union.

 

Conclusion of the second edition of EUSAIR Communication Academy

Conclusion of the second edition of EUSAIR Communication Academy

Countries and regions face challenges that know no borders; hence to tackle them successfully, they need to be addressed collectively. The EU Macro-regional strategies identify common needs and challenges of the region, as well as regional cooperation potentials. They connect people across borders, sectors and governance levels and help to coordinate joint policies. The EU Macro-regional strategies are meaningful and make regions stronger, more resilient and attractive.

EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region directly influences 70 million people from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia. It contributes to further integration of the internal market, to the region’s stability, and to foster cooperation between EU and non-EU countries.

It is of utmost importance that great results of the EU Macro-regional strategies are presented to the public, which is often challenging as the issues are complex. For that reason, in the framework of EUSAIR, the EUSAIR Communication Academy was organised for EUSAIR key implementers, government communicators and journalists. While the first edition focused on the tools and techniques needed for effective digital communication, the second edition focused on transferring abstract issues simply, comprehensively and persuasively.

EUSAIR Communication Academy 2.0 occurred from July 5th to July 6th in Thessaloniki. Thirty participants from seven countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia) attended the Academy. Four speakers shared knowledge with us and answered two main questions: what to communicate and how to communicate it successfully. All the lectures were followed by practical and short presentations. Some great ideas sparked, and we had interesting discussions. Like always, the official programme of the EUSAIR Communication Academy was combined with a rich informal part aiming to foster an environment for experience sharing, creating new links and strengthening the old ones. 

 

EUSAIR Communication Academy 2.0

EUSAIR Communication Academy 2.0

EUSAIR Communication Academy 2.0

(5-6 July 2023)

This week a second edition of EUSAIR Communication Academy will be taking place in Thessaloniki in Greece.

The training is a continuation of EUSAIR Communication Academy, a three-part capacity-building program that took place in 2022. Whereby the first edition focused on the tools and techniques needed for effective digital communication, EUSAIR Communication Academy 2.0 will focus on explaining complex and abstract issues in a simple, comprehensible, and persuasive way. The participants will gain the critical skills and tools to support them in effectively communicating EUSAIR to the stakeholders and interested public. Participants attending the EUSAIR Communication Academy are EUSAIR key implementers, government communicators, and journalists.

During a two-day programme 30 participants from EUSAIR countries will attend communication workshops on the topics of simplifying messages and simplifying language, leveraging AI tools for communication purposes as well as effective communication with the media. The theory will be applied to practical tasks conntected to EUSAIR and its communication, such as developing EUSAIR key messages and writing press releases.

The official programme of the EUSAIR Communication Academy will be combined with a rich informal programme aiming to foster an environment for experience sharing among diverse participants.

[16 June] Transatlantic Economic Leadership in the 21st Century

[16 June] Transatlantic Economic Leadership in the 21st Century

The Centre for European Perspective (CEP) and INFOBALT invite you to an interactive roundtable discussion titled:

 

 Transatlantic Economic Leadership in the 21st Century

 

Friday, 16 June, 09:00 CET/10:00 EET

ROCKIT VILNIUS, Gyneju str. 14

Follow live here.

 

Russian aggression in Ukraine, China’s strive not only for economic but for political influence, and authoritarian regimes questioning international order may create a challenge to transatlantic economic leadership. On the one hand, the Russian war in Ukraine has established grounds for the further consolidation of the EU and NATO alliance, including moving to joint procurements, speeding up green financial packages, and reviewing regulations on economic dependencies on semiconductors, raw materials, and hydrocarbons (oil and gas) supplies. At the same time, the global economy is going through a technological shift with digitalization and the growth of the intangible economy, e.g., stock of patents, brands, R&D, and software, defining much of the productivity growth in modern economies. As Europe and the US remain the central sources for this shift, they are perfectly positioned to harness it and create a new wave of globalization.

Concurrently, a Europe that is not afraid to receive ideas, technologies, and people from the rest of the world, a Europe without fear of technological change and capable of taking risks to fight climate change and support social diversity and economic prosperity, would be a dynamic Europe that we need, confident in its capabilities and with public policies that promote exchange and competition.

All in all, if Europe and America can find the (common) ground for establishing the policies and rules that will guide new commerce and concretize their strategic partnership, they can increase their capacity to generate new prosperity and stand up against new aggressions by malevolent regimes.

 

  • What will the digital economy of the future look like?
  • Is the EU’s strategic autonomy the right answer to achieve its “long-term” industrial and technological ambitions?
  • What competitiveness policies should the EU pursue to ensure higher economic growth?
  • What should our next steps (future policies) be to ensure that our strategic partnership can reap the benefits of the emerging ideas-based economy, trade in services, and ideas?

 

Joining us to discuss these questions are:

Jovita Neliupšienė, Deputy Foreign Minister of Lithuania

Jaka Repanšek, Chair of the Strategic Committee on Digital Regulation and Environment of the Slovenian Digital Coalition

Marta Poslad, Head of Public Policy, Central and Eastern Europe, Google

Fredrik Erixon, Director of ECIPE

Moderated by: Dr Rolandas Kačinskas, Foreign Policy Advisor to the Speaker of the Seimas 

 

Join us for a discussion live or on social media, as the discussion will be streamed on INFOBALT’s and CEP’s Facebook profiles.

 

[Event] Slovenia and Latvia: Spacebound

[Event] Slovenia and Latvia: Spacebound

The Centre for European Perspective (CEP) and the Latvian Institute of International Affairs (LIIA) invite you to a high-level international discussion

Slovenia and Latvia: Spacebound

12 June 2023 at 13:00 (CET)

ALTUM hall, Domas laukums 4 & online

 

Europe and the world are going through a profound geopolitical realignment. Our digital future has thus become not only a question of economic growth and prosperity but also a geopolitical one. The war in Ukraine has shown, once again, how important it is for the EU and the US to take the lead in promoting certain shared values, which are based on human rights, democratic accountability, and respect for the rule of law.

The two-panel event will feature a discussion with the Former Presidents of Slovenia and Latvia and their reflections on current geopolitical developments, opportunities for strategic partnership – military cooperation, and the future role of the East and the United States in shaping security dynamics. The second panel will explore the digital dimension of the strategic partnership within the European Union and address the potential for collaboration in areas such as digital innovation and the development of emerging technologies and future digital transformation.

Please register to attend event in-person here.

 

Presidential Reflections: Future Geopolitical Realities

Speakers:

  • H.E. Borut Pahor, Former President and Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia
  • H.E. Vladis Zatlers, Former President of the Republic of Latvia

Moderator: Dr Karlis Bukovskis, Director, Latvian Institute of International Affairs 

 

Charting Prospects of the Digital Economy

Speakers:

  • Matevž Frangež, State Secretary, Ministry of Economic Development and Technology of Slovenia.
  • Juris Pūce, Chairperson of the Latvian Development, Former Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of Latvia
  • Ieva Siliņa, Advisor to the Minister of Economy on issues of innovation and digitization

Moderator: Morten Hansen, Head of Economics Department of Stockholm School of Economics

 

The entire agenda of the event can be found here.

 

The event will be streamed on CEP and LIIA Facebook profiles.

Invitation – Conference “Towards Knowledge-driven Society and Professions of the Future”

Invitation – Conference “Towards Knowledge-driven Society and Professions of the Future”

The green and digital transition has profoundly affected societies worldwide, moving them towards an ever-changing environment. The digital revolution and the move towards green transition have opened up new opportunities for individuals, organisations and countries, heavily impacting the labour market and transforming societies in the Danube region and broader.

But just what will be the role of knowledge in these societies of the future, how will the changes affect the cooperation in the Danube region, and how can our societies adapt?

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Slovenia is organising a two-day hybrid international conference titled “Towards Knowledge-driven Society and Professions of the Future”, which will take place at the Congress Centre Brdo at Brdo pri Kranju, Slovenia, on 17 and 18 May 2023.

This event, held within the scope of the Slovenian Presidency of the EU Strategy for the Danube region (EUSDR) and organised with the support of the Priority Area 7 of the EUSDR, will bring together experts, educational institutions, youth and policymakers from across Europe to explore the role of knowledge in society in our rapidly changing world.

The conference will focus on the expected transformation of the knowledge-driven society, the implications for the current and future needs of the labour market, and the effect of digital transformation. It will provide a platform for sharing ideas and experiences and identifying emerging trends while engaging strategic foresight perspectives. The event will also aim to foster international collaboration and policy synergies and significantly contribute to the 2023 Slovenian Presidency of the EUSDR.

The event is planned in a hybrid format, with some 100 participants attending in person and a broad audience of registered online participants.

You can register here until 12 May.

 

More information about the event can be found on the EUSDR website: https://danube-region.eu/danube-events/conference-on-knowledge-driven-society/.