First Baltic Sea Youth Dialogue: 25 Young Europeans Explore Borders and Identities in Narva (Estonia) and Ivangorod (Russian Federation)

From 10 to 17 September 2014, 25 young Europeans from 10 countries of the Baltic Sea region will meet in Tallinn, Narva and Ivangorod for the first »Baltic Sea Youth Dialogue«.

By invitation of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) and the Körber Foundation, they will discuss and explore the history and future of borders and identities. Tallinn and especially the twin cities of Narva in Estonia and Ivangorod in the Russian Federation set the scene for their venture.

The Estonian partner of the First Baltic Sea Youth Dialogue is Narva College, which is affiliated to Tartu University. Here, the students will look into the history and current situation in the Baltic Sea Region, discuss the future of Baltic Sea cooperation and investigate issues of shared borders, common cultures and mixed societies. The Baltic Sea Youth Dialogue includes lectures by and debates with:

·         Jevgeni Ossinovski, Minister of Education and Research of the Republic of Estonia
·         Eduardas Borisovas, Ambassador, Deputy Director General, CBSS Secretariat
·         Eduard East, Deputy Mayor of Narva
·         Tatjana Sharova, Deputy Mayor of Ivangorod
·         Galina Povazhnaja, Russian Consul General in Narva

Coming from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russian Federation and Sweden, as well as Belarus, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, all participants are alumni of either the Körber Foundation’s EUSTORY Network or youth networks affiliated to the CBSS. They have thus proven their potential to analyse historical material, assess questions of identity and transfer their findings to current events. The location for the Baltic Sea Youth Dialogue is one of the places in Europe which can be understood to be a microcosm of European history. The participants will foster their research through their encounters with witnesses and experts of previous and present regional development, excursions and discussions. The work of the young Europeans at the Baltic Sea Youth Dialogue will result in the virtual exhibition »Balticeye«, representing the past and future of the Baltic Sea Region and the questions of a regional Baltic identity. The exhibition will open online at www.balticeye.net on 1 October 2014.

Quote by someone representing the partner institution issuing the press release:

Gabriele Woidelko, responsible for European activities at the Körber Foundation, explains: »Current events in Europe raised awareness of how important dialogue and exchange across borders are. We need face questions of identity in multiethnic and multicultural societies of Europe. This is of particular importance in a regional framework such as the Baltic Sea Region that shares a common past, but nowadays, 25 years after the reunification of Europe faces new divisions and borders. By creating a space for transnational dialogue between the young generation, we want to involve those that will later shape the future of Europe in addressing these sensitive issues«.

Jan Lundin, Director General of the Council of the Baltic Sea States Secretariat: “At the CBSS we fully support intercultural dialogue between young Europeans, who will one day lead the future of the Baltic Sea Region. Our goal is an enriched knowledge and understanding of the diverse spectrum of cultures that make up our region.”

Additional information:
Inga Jaagus
International Relations Specialist
Inga.Jaagus@ut.ee
7401922