EU*Connect is proud to launch its second edition and welcome almost 50 participants from Ukraine, Moldova, France and Germany!
The official opening session of EU*Connect 2023-2024 took place on 12 October 2023. The participants of the programme were introduced to the programme and the official partners. Mr. Herman Van Rompuy, President Emeritus of the European Council and President of CIFE warmly welcomed the participants in his opening speech, followed by Ms. Larysa Komakha, Director of the Institute of Public Administration and Civil Service of the Taras Shevchenko University in Kyiv as well as Jeremy Rossignol, representing the Franco-German Youth Office (OFAJ/DFJW).
Watch the recording of President Herman Van Rompuy's opening speech.
The online lectures will take place every Tuesday and Thursday from 17:00-20:00 (France/Germany Time Zone) / 18:00-21:00 (Time in Ukraine and Moldova), until the end of February 2024.
The first lecture on Thursday 19 October on “European integration as a response to the key problems of the 19th and 20th centuries” was given by CIFE Director General Matthias Waechter.
EU*Connect is CIFE's interactive platform for introducing today's and tomorrow's European citizens to EU issues and enabling the exchange of experiences between young professionals and students from Ukraine, Moldova, France and Germany.
A year ago, CIFE launched EU*Connect with a two-fold objective: To provide EU expertise for young Ukrainians, and to make French and German participants aware of the particular challenges of Ukraine in the context of war, its quest for EU accession and reconstruction. For this second edition of the programme, which will run from October 2023 to March 2024, we are also inviting young people from Moldova to participate in the project.
For EU*Connect, CIFE partners with the Institute for Public Administration and Civil Service (IPACS) of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and the Young European Federalists of JEF Sachsen Anhalt. The programme, funded by the Franco-German Youth Office, is 100% digital and free of charge.
CIFE has a long-standing experience in developing academic courses for international students and has trained hundreds of young citizens from accession and neighbourhood countries.
During the 5-months-long programme, participants will take part in lectures, training, and discussions. Key topics are the fundamentals of the European Union (institutions, decision-making, law), the role of the EU in current conflicts, the process of EU accession, and the specific challenges of Ukraine in the context of war and reconstruction. All classes will be held in English.
For questions and suggestions, feel free to contact us at euconnect@cife.eu.