Invitation – Global starts Local on 2 July

Invitation – Global starts Local on 2 July

23. 6. 2025 | PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance, U-LEAD: with Europe, Ukraine

Hrastnik, 2 July 2025 – The Centre for European Perspective, in cooperation with the Municipality of Hrastnik, is organising an event titled “Global starts Local: Youth for Solidarity with Ukraine”, taking place on 2 July at 17:00. The event will take place during the official visit of a Ukrainian delegation from Drohobych Municipality and in the context of Hrastnik’s municipal holiday.

The event is aimed at young people from Hrastnik and the wider Zasavje region and will be held in English. It will focus on themes of solidarity, the importance of development cooperation, and the role of Slovenia and local communities in supporting Ukraine’s recovery after the war. Participants will hear insights into the current situation in Ukraine, discuss the role of youth in building a fairer and more resilient society and raise awareness about global issues in an accessible and interactive way. The programme will be enriched by the online participation of young people from the Drohobych Youth Centre, enabling direct peer-to-peer exchange between Ukrainian and Slovenian youth.

The event is part of a broader mentorship exchange programme between the municipalities of Hrastnik and Drohobych, taking place in Hrastnik from 30 June to 11 July 2025.

The ‘Recovery and Reconstruction in Ukraine’ programme is funded by the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs through the Slovenian Aid and Partnerships. In cooperation with ‘U-LEAD with Europe’.

 

Forum of Slovenian-Ukrainian Cooperation begins in Lviv

Forum of Slovenian-Ukrainian Cooperation begins in Lviv

29. 5. 2025 | PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance, U-LEAD: with Europe, Ukraine

Lviv, Ukraine, 28 May 2025 – Forum of Slovenian-Ukrainian Cooperation officially opened today in Lviv, bringing together over 80 participants from Ukraine, Slovenia, and wider for three days of dialogue, knowledge exchange, and cooperation. Organised by the Centre for European Perspective (CEP), with the support of U-LEAD with Europe programme and City of Lviv, the Forum is a cornerstone of the CEP Programme “Recovery and Reconstruction in Ukraine”, supporting local resilience through international municipal partnerships.

With Ukraine’s recovery and EU path deeply interconnected, the Forum serves as a platform for transforming solidarity into action, across topics such as housing, waste management, decentralised governance, and European integration.

The Forum began with addresses by Lviv’s Mayor Andriy Sadovyi, Deputy Minister Oleksii Riabykin, and Slovenia’s State Secretary Srečko Đurov. Oleksandr Korniienko, First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, delivered a keynote address underlining the central role of Ukrainian municipalities in recovery efforts.

During the opening part of the event, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and the German GIZ, confirming a strong framework for cooperation and support in Ukraine through CEP’s “Recovery and Reconstruction in Ukraine” programme. At the heart of the Forum are the International Municipal Partnerships, an initiative that connects municipalities like Kočevje, Hrastnik, Pereschepyne, and Drohobych to share policy expertise and implement locally led reforms.

In a dedicated panel, Slovenian and Ukrainian mayors exchanged experiences in tackling pressing local needs from housing strategies to rebuilding infrastructure and restoring citizen trust in public services.

Another key side event launched the pilot project “Establishing a Sustainable Waste Management System in Samar Raion” in Pereschepyne. The session with mayors of the Samar Raion explored both the local challenges (such as landfill overuse, lack of funding and war-induced waste) and lessons learned from Slovenia’s transformation into an EU waste management powerhouse.

The Forum also highlights Slovenia’s strategic role in supporting Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations, through a side panel titled “Ukraine’s Path Toward the EU”. Participants from the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, Slovenian Ministry for Cohesion, and the European Parliament shared insights on how Ukraine can build the institutional capacity to navigate complex EU processes.

On 30 May, the Forum will host a dedicated panel on housing policy with officials and experts from Lviv, CEDOS, Drohobych, and Hrastnik. The discussion will highlight how municipalities are addressing the housing crisis, including for internally displaced persons.

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Enter Change participants on a visit to the Slovenian Embassy in BiH

Enter Change participants on a visit to the Slovenian Embassy in BiH

15. 5. 2025 | Enter: Change, PR, Slovenian Development Assistance, Youth

On Wednesday, 14 May 2025, as part of the Enter Change project—led by the Centre for European Perspective (CEP) with the support of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and the Embassy of the United States of America in Slovenia—project participants visited the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Through an open dialogue, the participants learned about the functioning of the Slovenian Embassy in Sarajevo, diplomatic processes, as well as the challenges and opportunities in the relations between Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The young participants highlighted the importance of direct dialogue with diplomats, which provided valuable insight into the workings of institutions that shape international relations and contribute to regional stability.
 
A sincere thank you to H.E. Ambassador Damjan Sedar and his team for their exceptional hospitality, time, and willingness to engage with the participants’ many questions. The Enter Change project continues with activities that promote inclusive leadership, interethnic dialogue, and regional cooperation.
 

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Workshops in Skopje: Advancing Nursing and Midwifery Education in North Macedonia

Workshops in Skopje: Advancing Nursing and Midwifery Education in North Macedonia

28. 4. 2025 | North Macedonia - Nursing and Midwifery, PR, Slovenian Development Assistance

The second set of workshops within the project “Advancing nursing and midwifery education and establishing the system for the recognition of professional qualifications in the Republic of North Macedonia (2024–2025)” will take place from 27 to 28 May in Skopje. The workshops will bring together representatives from six faculties, healthcare professionals, and international experts to discuss the proposed national curriculum for nursing and midwifery, regulatory reforms, and the future of integrated primary healthcare.

Joining the workshops will be Slovenian experts from the Nurses and Midwives Association of Slovenia (Zbornica – Zveza) and the Angela Boškin Faculty of Health Care, who will share insights into curriculum development, the establishment of regulatory bodies, and the role of nurses in family medicine clinics.

The project is implemented with the support of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia [through the International Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid Programme] and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of North Macedonia, with technical support from WHO Office North Macedonia.

Journey of BiH’s Visionary Voices in 2024

Journey of BiH’s Visionary Voices in 2024

13. 1. 2025 | Enter: Change, PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance

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From December 8 to 13, 2024, the first forum titled “BiH’s Visionary Voices: Leading the Change” was held in Portorož as part of the development project Enter Change. The forum brought together future young leaders from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Through lectures, workshops, and discussions, the forum addressed key topics such as:
✔️ Leadership competencies and effective communication
✔️ Challenges and opportunities for the Western Balkans on the path to EU integration
✔️ Strategic communication and combating disinformation
✔️ Diversity in the business world, gender equality, and the role of women in politics
✔️ Youth engagement in driving social change

The event’s highlights included contributions from esteemed speakers such as Alexander Kasanof, Peter Grk, Dr. Danica Purg, and Borut Pahor and interactive workshops that enabled participants to develop concrete solutions for future challenges.

The forum was a significant step in empowering young future political leaders from BiH and fostering positive change in the region. It was organized by the Centre for European Perspective (CEP) with the support of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and the U.S. Embassy in Slovenia. In 2025, we will continue our work with future leaders and look forward to the second forum in Slovenia, scheduled for late August. This forum will be aligned with the framework of the Bled Strategic Forum.