The project “Dialogue Across Borders: Overcoming Borders through European Integration” is an innovative format of an intercultural laboratorium to work foster an understanding of dialogue, to enable participants to conceptualise dialogue process and to practice and experiment inclusive methods of outreach and communication.

Despite increasing and unprecedented mobility and communication across borders in Europe since the beginning of the 21st century, “dialogue” remains an essential element and basic objective for allowing groups inside and across countries to establish common ground for interaction and exchange. The Danish Youth Council (DUF) uses the following definition in a youth context in their 2012 Dialogue Handbook:

“Dialogue is a special form of communication, in which participants seek to actively create greater mutual understanding and deeper insight.”

The project will address the basic principles and values on which dialogue has to be built: trust, openness, honesty and equality. They are intertwined and related to each other. Through them dialogue becomes possible and at the same time they are strengthened by dialogue. Dialogue does also not happen in a vacuum. Europe is seeing the (re-)emergence of ethnic and economic nationalism, a proliferation of “post-factual” politics promoting prejudice and mistrust across borders and the scenario of European dis-integration. More specifically, the European Union is facilitating a dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia with the aim of helping to normalize their relationship. A first agreement was reached in April 2013, the implementation of which is not advancing as planned. These issues form the common background for the participants and organisers of the project. These issues will also be elements for a common reflection of the importance of media and communication which are inseparably part of any dialogue situation.

A series of three workshops for young people from France, Germany, Kosovo and Serbia interested or already engaged in dialogue, information and communication projects or working with and in the media on issues regarding dialogue in and between communities they are living, cross-border and European cooperation.

The workshops took place in Berlin, Germany and Nice, France, the third phase has taken place in Kosovo and Serbia from 4 March until 12 March. The interactive programme consisted of joint reflection and analysis of intercultural challenges, inputs from participants and experts, visits and exchange organisations and institutions.

The project has been developed by the Centre international de formation européenne (CIFE), Community Building Mitrovica (CBM), the Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR), Association Altea France with the support of the Office franco-allemand pour la jeunesse (OFAJ) and active participation of Frank Morawietz, Special Adviser.

During the third meeting in Belgrade and Prishtine in March 2017, the participants had the opportunity to immerse into the specific context of the European dialogue fostered between Kosovo and Serbia and to develop and joint understanding of the issues at stake and the dynamics of dialogue in a situation of contested and unclear statehood.?