I attended the 6th “Executive Seminar on EU Rapprochement and Integration” organised by the Federal Foreign Office of Germany as part of its programme “Diplomacy by Networking - Training for International Diplomats”.

Distinguished diplomats and officials from the enlargement countries Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye and Ukraine were gathered for this seminar. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to be one of them and to be included in the Diplomacy by Networking “bubble” in general.

Over the course of three weeks, the seminar offered us the opportunity to meet with almost forty exclusive speakers in Berlin, Brussels and Vilnius. These included officials and representatives from Germany, Lithuania, the European Parliament and the European Commission, NGOs and the media. I have come to realise that it is essential to interact with different professional groups - diplomats, politicians, bureaucrats, soldiers, journalists - in order to understand the political, economic, technical and humanitarian aspects of the issues being discussed.

Our deliberations were of high quality. We, the participants, were deeply engaged, by sharing personal experiences and examples from our countries. The dialogues were constructive, with contributions from speakers and participants, and helped us to understand each other's point of view. This experience allowed me to gain new perspectives, not only from the speakers but also from fellow participants, and gave me a well-rounded understanding of the importance of diplomacy and networking.

Prominent issues of European integration, accession, geopolitics, rule of law, media freedom, the economy, climate cooperation, gender equality, and disinformation were on the table. As expected, given recent developments, defence and security issues were at the forefront. We explored the approaches of Germany, Lithuania, the EU and our countries to all these issues. We also had the opportunity to express our sensitivities regarding the security of the European continent.

Throughout the process, we witnessed Germany's supportive and encouraging approach to enlargement. Our meetings with representatives of EU institutions underlined the dynamics of relations with the EU and the accession process, and we gained new perspectives from the speakers we met in Lithuania.

As well as holding discussions, we visited public buildings and museums, ran workshops and played games, met and networked with other diplomats, and made contact with people who are directly affected on a daily basis by the issues we explored. The inclusion of both theoretical discussions and practical experiences, added a wonderful dimension to our learning. These hands-on activities played a crucial role in making the seminar more impactful.
The programme also contributed to our personal development. We had training in mediation, public speaking and also reconciliation and dialogue. I am sure I will use what I have learned in my future professional life. We also attended various events such as city tours, concerts and shows. The design of the programme once again underlined the importance of getting to know each other in a cultural context, too.

At the end of the day, as well as business cards and memories, we took home with us lifelong connections and better prospects for the future.

The most important thing that this seminar taught me personally is that “rapprochement begins with people with intention”. For three weeks, as a large group, we were on the move every day, changing buildings, corridors, rooms, to continue the programme in different places. We spontaneously found the key to the next stage, the vital element of diplomacy, all together: We held the doors open for each other.

Bilgesu Aksongur