Political Academy – Module on EU Integration and Foreign and Security Policy

Once again, the fourth time this year, the participants of the Political Academy have come together. From the 17th to the 18th of October the young men and women spent their weekend discussing important political issues in terms of „EU Integration and EU Foreign and Security Policy“. Prof. Dr. Eckart D. Stratenschulte, director of the European Academy in Berlin, did the opening on Saturday: First various states interests (EU member states as well as Non-EU states) have been discussed in groups and then a final conference on the refugee crisis has been simulated. Afterwards,the group analysed the “State of the Union Address” held by Jean Claude Junker, President of the European Commission, pointing out the striking points and discussing the question “Where is Europe heading to?”. The second day lecturer BrigGen Mmag. Dr. Wolfgang Peischel, PhD, dedicated his program to security issues referring to NATO and its principles. He also talked about small states and their relations towards NATO and questions whether a NATO-membership is the driving factor in cases of security. Following discussions dealt with the development of the NATO-strategy, the “New Challenge: Russian challenge” and the current status of MAP-candidates and examples for cooperation areas. Finally, the participants elaborated state concepts, including different instruments to integrate into NATO-structures. With the concepts presentation the Seminar came to an end.