europe meets russia: a forum for young leaders brussels...

Europe Meets Russia: A Forum for Young Leaders Brussels, August 7th-10th, 2012

www.icd-emr.org 1

icd - institute for cultural diplomacy

Europe Meets Russia

A Forum for Young Leaders

Brussels, August 7th-10th, 2012

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www.icd-emr.org 2

WelcomeEurope Meets Russia: A Forum for Young Leaders (EMR) is a network of young individuals with an interest in

exploring the European-Russian relationship. Participants join the forum by taking part in an EMR Weeklong

Seminar, following which they are encouraged to conduct their own research and organize their own activity in

the field. The program has been developed in recognition of the importance of the relationship between Russia,

Europe, and the global political system.

The ultimate goal of the forum is to educate, enhance and sustain the Russian-European relationship by empow-

ering the next generation of young leaders from Europe and Russia. The forum organizes conferences, public

lectures, events and online activities throughout the year where we provide exclusive access to the members of

the forum.

In addition to looking in greater detail at the history and development of cultural diplomacy, the next EMR

Weeklong Seminar will focus in particular on the following main theme:

Bringing Russia and Europe closer through Cultural Diplomacy

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The EMR Weeklong Seminar is an international and

interdisciplinary gathering of young individuals from

across the world. The seminar provides an excellent

opportunity for young people to expand their knowl-

edge of current and future developments in these

fields, meet with current and former key players and

build sustainable networks with each other, and ex-

perience the rich and diverse cultural life of the city of

Brussels.

The program will consist of speeches, panel discus-

sions and seminars held by leading figures from the

fields of politics, economics, diplomacy, academia, civil

society, and the private sector. Speakers will offer a

range of perspectives on current and conceptual issues

within an international context, and the current and

future potential of the European-Russian relationship.

In addition to the academic components, participants

will take part in a range of social and cultural activi-

ties that will allow them to experience Brussel’s unique

cultural landscape. These activities will include group

dinners and drinks, trips to artistic performances, con-

certs, and literary readings, and visits to important cul-

tural and artistic landmarks.

Speakers · The speakers during the forum will include

leading figures from the fields of politics, diplomacy,

academia, civil society and representatives from the

private sector.

Participants · The participants will include students

and professionals with an active interest in European-

Russian relations from around the globe.

Lectures & Discussions · A range of lectures will be

held by experts from the fields of politics, economics, di-

plomacy, academia, civil society, and the private sector.

These components will inform the participants about

key perspectives related to the themes of the Weeklong

Seminar, raise their awareness of other salient issues in

Europe and Russia, and introduce them to the field of

cultural diplomacy. Each lecture will be followed by a

question and answer session with the speaker.

Certificate of Attendance · Upon completion of the

Weeklong Seminar, all participants will be awarded

with an official certificate detailing the activity of the

week and welcoming them to the ICD‘s Forum, which

assists them in furthering their academic and profes-

sional prospects by engaging in a network of like-

minded individuals around the world.

About the CDLA Weeklong Seminar

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Workshops & Role Play · The timetable of each

Weeklong Seminar will include interactive workshops

that offer participants the opportunity to take part

in structured discussions on subjects related to the

seminar themes. Workshops provide a valuable coun-

terbalance to lectures by providing an opportunity for

participants to express their own opinions and learn

from each other.

Round Table Discussions and Debates · These

discussions offer a more intimate setting for speakers

and participants to converse and debate openly. They

also allow the participants to interact more directly

with the speakers and their fellow participants in a

more neutral, equal, and interactive manner. Not only

are participants able to pose questions to the speak-

ers, but the speakers may also pose questions to the

participants, all while enjoying a more comfortable,

informal, and interactive setting.

Experience Brussels · During the program partici-

pants will have the chance to experience Brussels’

diverse cultural landscape and learn more about the

city’s remarkable history. The ICD will take the groups

to a number of important political and cultural lo-

cations across the cities and ensure they are able to

sample the city that never sleeps.

Leadership Initiatives · Leadership initiatives are

cultural exchange initiatives organized by members

of ICD Forums with the support of the ICD. These

initiatives are the foundation of the ICD’s work, be-

cause they allow the principles of cultural diplomacy

to be spread beyond the members of the forum. At

the beginning of the Weeklong Seminar participants

will be given guidance on how to plan, develop, and

execute leadership initiatives that have a constructive,

sustainable influence on intercultural relations. The

participants will then have the opportunity to present

their projects to the group at the end of the Week-

long Seminar. In addition, the ICD will outline how it

can help to support the realization of these initiatives

through its network and resources.

Networking, Social and Cultural Activities · Each

Weeklong Seminar will include social and cultural ac-

tivities for the participants. These components give

participants the opportunity to see a different side

to the city, help to provide a more informal environ-

ment for the participants to get to know each other,

and allow the participants to see cultural exchange

initiatives that are already being organized. The ICD

offers an expansive social agenda including: interac-

tive panel discussions, roundtable discussions, work-

shops, debates, parties, film nights, conference con-

certs, embassy receptions, group dinners, and visits to

cultural and historical sites.

Seminar ObjectivesCDLA Weeklong Seminars include the following components:

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The State of Relations between Russia & Europe

I strongly believe the full unity of our continent can never be achieved until Russia, as the largest European state, becomes an integral part of the European process. ... Today, building a sovereign democratic state, we share the values and principles of the vast majority of Europeans. ... A stable, prosperous and united Europe is in our interest. ... The development of multifaceted ties with the EU is Russia’s principled choice.

Vladimir Putin

Politics

Since the collapse of the USSR, Russia (its official title is now “the Russian Federation”) has increased its in-

dependence, joined a number of international organizations, and developed a strategic partnership with the

European Union. This partnership is based on four main policy areas, described as “common spaces”: freedom,

security, and justice; economic and environmental issues; external security; and research and education, which

includes close collaboration in the cultural sphere. Members from the European Union and Russia work to-

gether in organizations including the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Council

of Europe, and the United Nations, and both parties have benefited in the areas of respect and preservation of

fundamental rights, values of democracy, and rule of law. The Partnership and Cooperation agreement signed in

1994 indicates the reciprocal awareness between Europe and Russia with regards to the importance of working

together on key challenges.


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Economics

Russia is one of the largest trading partners of the European Union (EU), and is responsible for supplying Europe

with the majority of its gas and oil. Russia accounts for over 7% of all EU exports and 11% of EU imports. Since

the EU and Russia have agreed on the creation of a “Common Economic Space”, there have been 14 mutual

policies agreed upon as part of the “four spaces” agreement, covering essential sectors of the economy and

promoting legislative cooperation. The overall objective of this economic cooperation is to create an open,

well-integrated market system between the EU and Russia, and to generate mutual wealth, prosperity, and

sustainable development in diverse sectors: energy, transport, information, trade and investment, communica-

tion technologies, agriculture, space, research and development. This strengthening of economic cooperation is

based on the principles of non-discrimination, transparency, and competent management, and is a crucial step

toward boosting the overall market competitiveness of the EU and Russia.

Challenges in the Europe-Russian Relationship

The relationship between Europe and Russia is one that both parties acknowledge as important, both politically

and economically. There exist, however, a number of challenges between the two. The events in Kosovo and

Georgia have revealed that there are likely to be continuing disputes regarding the use of military force abroad,

the importance of territorial sovereignty, and the right to self-determination, in particular with relation to the

former satellite states of the Soviet Union. An equally troubling diversion concerns the level of democracy, as

perceived by Europe, in the Russian Federation. Russian politicians can justly point out that their elections are

free, fair and democratic, whilst some European commentators claim that they are worried about what is going

on behind a façade of democratic legitimacy.

The challenges above impact the Europe-Russian relationship at all levels, from the political to the general public.

If we focus on the grass roots, however, we can identify two further difficulties relating to public opinion. Some

commentators have claimed there is a “passive isolationism” emerging between Russia and Europe, whereby

the younger generations on each side have less interest in learning about the cultural values and heritage of

the other. With travel throughout Europe becoming increasingly affordable, and the general support from the

European university system of intra-European exchanges, there is less motivation for students and the younger

generation to grapple with a comparatively expensive and time-consuming visa application process.


www.icd-emr.org 7

Institute for Cultural Diplomacy

Ku’damm Karree, Kurfürstendamm 207-208, D-10719 Berlin

Tel.: +49 (0) 30 2360 768 0

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.culturaldiplomacy.org

icd

Europe Meets Russia

A Forum for Young Leaders

Brussels, August 7th-10th, 2012

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