The fourth generation of participants of the “Southeast Europe and EU – Leadership Development Programme” met again in Bruges and Brussels for a final five day seminar from 24-28 April 2010.
Thirty young leaders from Southeast and wider Europe participated in the Programme and finished it successfully in three phases: (1) two week Summer Academy (August/September) which included topics related to the European Union and the development of its relations with Southeast Europe, as well as wider issues of international and economic relations, negotiations and project management trainings, (2) Group Activities (November – March) where participants worked together in small groups to develop and implement a joint event in Southeast Europe and (3) a final Five day Seminar in Bruges and Brussels (April).
The final seminar was held in Bruges and Brussels, where participants had a chance to visit the EU institutions, NATO in Brussels and campus of the College of Europe in Bruges. The first day of the seminar was dedicated to the participants who had an opportunity to present the results of their Group Activities and to evaluate the Programme in a creative way through the presentation “LDP – A Life Changing Experience – What happened after Berlin?”
Participants had an opportunity to hear various interesting presentations, prominent lecturers and to discuss SEE Progress Reports, the EU within the UN after Lisbon and finally, Theory and Practice of International Negotiations. Brussels part of the seminar offered the participants a chance to visit various EU institutions: European Commission, European Parliament and Council of the EU and to discuss the European Future for the Balkans, the European Parliament after the Lisbon Treaty and the Western Balkans and the EU. Participants also visited NATO and were introduced to NATO’s new political agenda.
Special event was organized at Belvue Museum in the form of a Reception with Ambassadors which was an excellent opportunity for participants to meet and talk with representatives of their own countries in Brussels.
The Seminar and the whole Programme were closed with Awarding of Certificates and a Farewell Dinner. The strong network created by the LDP participants will be supported by the European Fund for the Balkans through developing an EFB Alumni group. This Network will enable participants to stay connected, to work and cooperate between themselves and with other LDP participants from previous generations even after the completion of the Programme.
