EFB Alumni Fellows participated in the European Forum Alpbach, 29-31 August 2010

3 members of the EFB Alumni Network participated in the prestigious European Forum Alpbach “Construction and Reality”. They had a chance to be part of the Alpbach Political Symposium 2010 and analyse the relationship between political constructions and plans on the one hand and the resulting realities on the other. Under the motto "Construction and Reality", this year’s Political Symposium tackled some of the most important global political constructions of the recent past and of the present. What became of the dreams and visions of 1989, and where is the global interplay of powers headed today? Can the United Nations fulfil their mandate? How will the EU of the 27 evolve in the wake of the Lisbon Treaty? Where do recognised and potential membership candidates like Turkey and Serbia stand today? These questions and more were discussed by high-ranking international politicians and thinkers. Our Fellows had a chance to meet Erhard Busek, president of the European Forum Alpbach who opened the Forum. They also met Johannes Hahn, European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Gerald Knaus, Chairman, ESI – European Stability Initiative, Istanbul, Valentin Inzko, EU Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo, Ivo Sanader, Former Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Zagreb, Ahmet Shala, Minister of Finance and Economy, Prishtina and others.

The programme was followed by an exhibition - “Europe: In Between Document and Fiction”, by Erich Lessing, Photographer and Member of Magnum Photos, Vienna. Special guest of Alpbach cultural programme was Rambo Amadeus.

EFB Alumni is inviting all members to join our online Network! Welcome!

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Vesna Paunkoska, EFB Alumni Network: "If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas." - George Bernard Shaw

Alpbach Political Symposium is definitely the right place for exchanging ideas! Participation on this event provides a chance for exchange and development of political ideas on global and local level. It opens your mind to expand your horizons of thinking.

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Shqipe Mjekiqi, EFB Alumni Network:

“It's been great to attend the political symposium in Alpbach. Having been interested myself particularly in EU matters and issues relating to the Balkan region, I think Alpbach has provided a great venue for diverse observations and discussions on the current state of affairs involving the two. The forum has also been a great place for networking - everyone has been easily approachable.”

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Dejan Radic, EFB Alumni Network:

“This year's Alpbach Political Symposium was a great success. Highly skilled speakers and variety of important topics add up to an excellent event and are the perfect match to Alpbach's vibrant and friendly atmosphere.”