LUISS Guido Carli University

Europe meets Russia: A Forum for Young Leaders is a newly launched network of young, dynamic and influential people from Russia and Europe who have a common interest in International relations and particularly in the close relationship between Russia and Europe.

There was a group of nearly 50 members, including some students from LUISS, that joined the Forum and took part to a Weeklong Seminar. During the seminar we all learned about the field of cultural diplomacy and the relationship between the European Union and Russia. 

We also took part in challenging group discussions on important issues while gaining insight into the evolution of Russian-European relations, discussing the role of cultural diplomacy in modern Russia and post-modern Europe, examining issues of European and Russian national identity, and how cross-cultural perceptions affect the Russian-European relationship.

It was a hard week but really important in order to understand how young people can debate and dialogue about hard topics; for example the recent situation in Georgia, energy and security issues, and the concept of democracy and the right of free press.

The workshops were generally lead by experts in a specific topic that was the essential focus of the Forum.  A wide variety of issues were brought to the table, which are currently objects for intensive debate amongst the two groups of participants, generally coming from Russia and former USSR countries or from the European Union.

This is the reason why we can state that the forum was a success.  The capacity to put together a group of young people, generally students, to discuss current and unsolved topics and political issues was a great accomplishment. This forum simulated an alternative way to face these political confrontations, which from a youth prospective, could be a great step to the future of the relationships between the EU and Russia.

The LUISS Participants:

Paola De Caro

Francesco Giasi

Ygor Scarcia

Lisa Sulis