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CEP’S MONTHLY DIGEST
A monthly newsletter with updates about the activities of the Centre for European Perspective.
June 2026
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Hello Reader,
welcome to the June edition of the CEP monthly newsletter!
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Opportunities for students at the Bled Strategic Forum 2026!
The team behind the Bled Strategic Forum (BSF), co-organized by the Centre for European Perspective (CEP), is looking for student reinforcements for this year's edition!
This is an excellent career opportunity for students to gain invaluable, behind-the-scenes insight into international politics and experience organizing the largest foreign policy event in Slovenia.
- 💼 Areas of Work: Media center, delegation hospitality, logistics, and support during discussions and at event venues.
- 💰 Compensation: €7.73 net/hour (transportation and meals are also provided).
- 📝 Benefits: Possibility of counting towards mandatory student internship requirements and obtaining a letter of recommendation.
The call is open to all students with a valid student status (in Slovenia) until the end of September. Applications, including your CV, are being accepted only until Sunday, June 7, 2026.
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The Bled Strategic Forum Conversation with Ambassador (ret) Michael R. Carpenter
(9 June at 17:00, Center Rog)
BSF in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia and Trivelis Institute is organizing a BSF conversation on the future of transatlantic relations in a rapidly changing world.
Europe and the United States remain deeply interconnected through security, trade, technology, and shared political interests - yet growing strategic differences are raising new questions about the future direction of the transatlantic relationship. Europe has found itself in a precarious situation which calls for a greater strategic autonomy, especially when it comes to security and military capabilities.
Registration required.
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CEP's upcoming activities
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Continuing with the Cluster visit from Ukraine on Economic Development
📅 1-5 June 2026 📍Koroška and Štajerska Regions
In the second half of the visit, the Ukrainian delegation will engage with regional development agencies, municipalities, and business support institutions across Koroška, Podravje, and Ljubljana. They will explore how national policies are implemented locally, examine cross-border cooperation projects, and visit innovation and entrepreneurship support infrastructures. The programme will also include exchanges on circular economy, SME support tools, and startup development, alongside discussions on practical approaches to strengthening regional resilience and local economic development.
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POTC: The 3rd Edition of Personal Security Training for Diplomatic Personnel
📅 June 3 2026 📍Jable Castle, Slovenia
POTC will once again deliver a Personal Security Training for diplomatic personnel. The whole-day training will prepare participants to handle security-related matters in their respective posts on an essential level. Upon successful completion of the training, participants will be able to identify various security threats, understand the basics of security procedures and protocols in diplomatic missions, and apply measures to reduce security risks, as well as methods to reduce stress in high-stress situations.
The team is looking forward to this essential training, which will undoubtedly be highly valuable to the target audience.
More about the training can be found here.
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Global starts Local: Workshops about raising awareness on international development cooperation
📅 3 June 2026 📍Idrija, Slovenia
📅 12 June 2026 📍Lenart, Slovenia
CEP, in cooperation with Zavod Povod, is organising interactive workshops for 9th-grade primary school students aimed at raising awareness about the importance of international development cooperation and global solidarity.
Through practical examples and group activities, students will learn about Slovenia’s role in supporting Ukraine and the importance of active citizenship. The first workshops will take place at Spodnja Idrija Primary School and Lenart Primary School.
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Regional Roundtable on UN Peace Operations
📅 9 June 2026 📍Grad Jable, Slovenia
At the 'First Central, Eastern Europe and the Balkans Roundtable on UN Peace Operations: Regional Perspectives on Strengthening Support and Advancing the Role of Training Centres' the atendees will discuss future regional engagement in UN peace operations, the evolving role and sustainability of regional peacekeeping training centres, and opportunities for strengthened regional cooperation and coordinated support beyond personnel contributions. The event will bring together representatives of participating Member States, regional training centres, United Nations entities, and partner institutions.
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European Digital Diplomacy Exchange Training: Centering Citizens in a Secure Digital Society
📅 9–12 June 2026 📍 Albania
The European Digital Diplomacy Exchange training will focus on centering citizens in a secure digital society by strengthening trust in government communications. The programme will highlight the role of digital public affairs, public diplomacy and strategic communications in resilient democratic societies, while addressing information security, democratic participation, understanding different public needs, policy storytelling and the responsible use of emerging technologies.
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ABOUT LAST MONTH
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European Digital Diplomacy Exchange: AI-driven diplomacy
📅 12 May 2026 📍online
Ilan Manor, PhD, diplomatic technologist, explored how artificial intelligence could transform diplomatic communication and global cooperation. The lecture presented three possible scenarios for AI adoption in diplomacy and opened a timely discussion on whether government communicators should be at the forefront of this shift. Participants reflected on the opportunities, risks and changing nature of diplomacy in an AI-driven era.
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Mentorship visit of Horodenka Municipality (UA) to Beltinci Municipality (SI)
📅 13-27 May 2026 📍Beltinci, Slovenia
The representatives of the Ukrainian municipality of Horodenka participated in the development of project proposals focused on waste management and the planning of a rehabilitation area next to a hospital. The visit included professional presentations, study visits of good practices, and an introduction to the work of local institutions, companies, and municipal infrastructure. The participants also gained insight into project management, funding opportunities, and local development initiatives.
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Webinar on Social Entrepreneurship as a Local Development Tool
📅 19 May 2026 📍online
CEP and the Regional Development Agency of the Kyiv Region organised an international webinar on social entrepreneurship as a tool for local development. Slovenian experience highlighted reuse and circular economy practices supporting social inclusion and green jobs, while Ukrainian experts focused on legal frameworks, funding opportunities, and community-led initiatives. The event showcased how municipalities can foster sustainable local development through targeted support and partnerships.
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EUTI Training: Team & Conflict Management
📅 19–22 May 2026 📍EULEX Mission, Pristina, Kosovo
Mid-level managers and team leaders from EULEX Kosovo attended a EUTI training held by the Center for International Peace Operations (ZIF) to strengthen internal collaboration and resilient leadership. Key sessions focused on managing interpersonal conflicts, fostering psychological safety in multicultural teams, and building a supportive work environment to enhance the mission's overall performance and mandate implementation.
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POTC: Disruptive Military Technologies and Practices Seminar
📅 26 May 2026 📍Jable Castle
POTC delivered the 5th edition of its seminar on Disruptive Military Technologies and Practices, with the main topic of discussion being humanoid robots in the armed forces. The seminar featured 5 expert speakers who illuminated the participants on the current state of humanoid robot development, discussed with them the reasons for their use in armed forces, familiarised them with the technical challenges of their development, and also addressed ethical issues related to their future use.
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Beginning of the cluster visit from Ukraine on Economic Development
📅 28-31 May 2026 📍Ljubljana
The cluster visit began with an opening event at Jable Castle, bringing together representatives from different Slovenian institutions, the Embassy of Ukraine, and development organisations, focusing on cooperation and regional development frameworks.
In this first half of the visit, participants explored Slovenia’s national system for cohesion, entrepreneurship support, and business development through a series of presentations by government experts and agencies. The programme also included exchanges on Ukraine’s institutional context and priorities, alongside visits to key innovation and support institutions.
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As Europe faces an increasingly complex security environment shaped by geopolitical instability and hybrid threats, Trivelis Institute continues to advance strategic reflection on resilience, defense and societal preparedness.
In the latest Trivelis Podcast episode, former Commander of the Estonian Defense Forces, General Martin Herem, discusses the future of European security, defense readiness and societal resilience in an era of hybrid threats and geopolitical instability. Drawing on lessons from Ukraine and decades of military leadership, he highlights the urgency of faster strategic response and stronger European preparedness. Available in English.
The newly published expert report, “Foundations of Credible Deterrence and Defense of Small States” by Dr Igor Kotnik, explores how small states can build adaptive and credible defense systems, while the article “Defense of Europe: Alliances, Threats and the New Security Reality” examines the importance of strategic responsiveness, societal resilience and Europe’s evolving security architecture.
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