During the Summer Academy, five groups composed of six participants from different countries will be created. Each group will develop a project on topics like ‘Regional cooperation in South-east Europe’ or ‘Effectiveness of the EU towards Balkan countries’. The groups are trained in project management and intercultural teamwork during the Summer Academy. Back in their own countries, the participants continue planning their joint activities. Then, the team members meet again for the presentation of their event in the countries of Southeast Europe in February or March 2010. Monitored and funded by the Programme partners, these joint activities aim at transmitting the knowledge acquired during the first part of the Programme to a wider public and at laying the groundwork for sustainable cooperation in the region.

Examples

LDP 2006/2007: Project ‘European Path’, Trebinje, Bosnia & Herzegovina, March 2007

The group, composed of LDP participants from Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Germany, Macedonia and Denmark, produced a brochure presenting different views on European integration. The participants interviewed policy-makers and NGO representatives in their countries about the integration of their respective countries into the EU. The printed brochure was presented in a one-day conference in Trebinje on ‘The Economy of the EU’ to students and NGO representatives.
Brochure EU Path | Poster Conference

LDP 2007/2008: Project ‘Kosoview’, Pristina, Kosovo, March 2008

This group sought to raise awareness of the EU and its actions after the declaration of independence of Kosovo by producing a documentary film, creating a website and organising a conference on the ‘EU Mission in Kosovo - Views from inside and outside’. For the film, the group members interviewed young people in their countries (United States, Turkey, Austria, Kosovo and Belgium) about their views on Kosovo and the EU. By combining these views from the film with the official views of the high-level speakers on the discussion panel, like Pieter Feith, EU Special Representative for Kosovo, the event attracted crowds of people and was covered by almost all Kosovan media.
Agenda of the Panel Discussion | Film: Kosoview

LDP 2007/2008: Project ‘Serbia and the EU – Challenges and Opportunities’, Belgrade, Serbia, March 2008

This group organised a panel discussion and networking event in Belgrade that brought together about 50 young professionals, NGO and student representatives, government officials and academic experts on the ‘Challenges and Opportunities’ Serbia faces on its path to the European Union. The timing of the event – in midst of a tense political situation in Serbia – certainly contributed to the large number of participants, the intensity of the discussions and the media coverage.
Agenda of the Panel Discussion | Picture