CLIENT: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia •
CHALLENGE: Designing a relevant event format to foster structured dialogue between civil society and governments •
MY CONTRIBUTION: Managing a successful event and contributing to the adoption of key recommendations by the European Council.
The high-level international conference “New Paradigms, New Models – Culture in the EU External Relations” was held under the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2008. The conference focused on the pivotal role of cultural cooperation within EU foreign policy, an area that, at the time, had not been a central objective of EU external relations.
In collaboration with the European Commission, the European Cultural Foundation, European Union National Institutes for Culture, and other strategic partners, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia sought to initiate a structured dialogue on this emerging issue, engaging both civil society and governmental stakeholders. The goal was to actively involve participants from the EU’s neighboring countries, ensuring a truly inclusive discussion.
My role was to support the Ministry in drafting the conference concept, working closely with multiple stakeholders to ensure that the event format was both relevant and impactful. The event brought together 240 delegates from EU institutions, national governments, and civil society, spanning both the EU and its neighboring regions. I contributed to drafting the conference recommendations, which were adopted by the European Council and have since become one of the cornerstones in shaping EU external policies.