EU*WeBalkansConnect Final Workshop in Nice
“When institutions communicate, the message often gets lost. When young people communicate, it’s clearer, and people connect with it more easily because it relates to their own lives.” Selena Tasic Stevanic, WeBalkans.eu.
With this conviction, CIFE launched 'EU*WeBalkansConnect' in cooperation with WeBalkans.eu and with the support of the European Commission and the Franco-German Youth Office.
Thirty young professionals working as journalists, social media creators, and in NGOs and civil society, from France, Germany, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, took part in a tailor-made programme in which EU experts introduced them to (among other topics):
- The history of EU integration
- Franco-German reconciliation
- Rule of law and democratic standards
- EU enlargement methodology and negotiation chapters
- Strategic communication, media and AI literacy
After five weeks of online courses, the participants met in person for the first time in Nice, where they took part in practical activities and intercultural exchanges:
- An EU policy simulation exercise, facilitated by Paul Culley, in which they negotiated Montenegro’s EU accession
- A communication challenge, in which participants conducted street interviews and produced informative and entertaining videos about EU enlargement
- A discussion with Stephan Steinlein, the German Ambassador to France, and Anita Ohl-Meyer, the German Consul in Marseille, organised by Europe Direct Nice Côte d'Azur.
Beyond knowledge transfer and content creation, the participants all agreed that the greatest benefit was the exchange of perspectives and the lasting friendships they built.
A big thank you to our partners at WeBalkans for the smooth cooperation and their unwavering support and enthusiasm for the project. Thank you also to the Franco-German Youth Office for believing in this programme and for funding it; to all the lecturers for their commitment and high-quality courses; to Tanja Elend for the all-round organisation; and to all the participants for their good spirits and their many great ideas on how to communicate (better) about enlargement and the EU adventure!