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Vom 26. bis 28. September fand in Lauenburg und Lüneburg erneut der alljährliche Baltische Jugend- und Studentenkongress (BJSK)  statt. Unter dem Leitthema „Frieden“  diskutierten rund 40 Teilnehmende, was Frieden bedeutet, wie man inneren Frieden finden kann und auf welche Weise äußere Einflüsse ihn stören oder gar gefährden können. Der Kongress endete am Sonntagmittag im Fürstensaal des Lüneburger Rathauses mit einer feierlichen Abschlussveranstaltung gemeinsam mit den Gästen des Carl-Schirren-Tages . In diesem Rahmen hielt BJSK-Teilnehmer Judikael Croe  eine eindrucksvolle Rede, in der er seine Gedanken zum Frieden in Europa teilte: Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, verehrte Mitglieder der Carl-Schirren-Gesellschaft, liebe Gäste des Deutsch-Baltischen Jugend- und Studentenkongresses 2025 und des Deutsch-Baltischen Jugend und Studentenrings, es ist mir eine große Ehre, heute im Namen des Deutsch-Baltischen Jugend- und Studentenkongresses 2025 zu Ihnen sprechen zu dürfen. Die letzten Tage waren sehr intensiv und haben alle Teilnehmer*Innen zum Nachdenken über den Frieden in Europa gebracht. Der Kongress hat erneut gezeigt, wie der Austausch zwischen Jugendlichen aus dem Baltikum und Deutschland Brücken baut. Solche Brücken sind essentielle Grundpfeiler, um Frieden zu erhalten. Wenn wir über Frieden sprechen, dann sprechen wir über mehr als die Abwesenheit von Krieg. Frieden ist ein Zustand, der immer wieder neu erarbeitet und gesichert werden muss. Die Risiken, welche den Frieden bedrohen sind real. Der Krieg in unserer Nachbarschaft, die Gefährdung durch Desinformation, durch Spaltung und wachsenden Unsicherheiten zeigen uns, dass Europa verletzlich ist. Doch in dieser Verletzlichkeit liegt auch eine Chance: Resilienz. Resilienz bedeutet für uns, aus Krisen nicht geschwächt, sondern gestärkt hervorzugehen. Resilienz bedeutet Risiken frühzeitig zu erkennen, ohne sich von ihnen lähmen zu lassen. Sie bedeutet gemeinsam Lösungen zu finden, die tragfähig sind: Nicht nur für den Moment, sondern für Generationen. Die Deutschbaltische Zukunftsstiftung ist dafür ein entscheidendes Werkzeug. Es ist keine Lösung oder ein abgeschlossenes Werk, sondern ein Bau, an welchem wir unablässig arbeiten. Wir sind gefordert Risiken ernst zu nehmen, aber wir dürfen uns nicht von ihnen beherrschen lassen. Stattdessen müssen wir unsere Resilienz stärken: Durch Solidarität zwischen Staaten, durch Vertrauen zwischen Menschen und durch den festen Willen unsere Werte zu verteidigen. Frieden und Europa sind zwei Seiten der selben Medaille. Ohne Frieden verliert Europa seine Seele. Ohne Europa fehlt uns die Kraft Frieden und Resilienz gegen die Risiken unserer Zeit zu bewahren. Diesen Auftrag dürfen wir nicht auf andere verschieben. Er liegt in unseren Händen - Hier und Heute. Danke für ihre Aufmerksamkeit.

On Sunday, 14 December, the third Advent Sunday, the DBJW Brand Ambassadors had the pleasure of visiting the German Christmas Market hosted by our long-standing partner, the Tartu German Cultural Institute The German Cultural Institute in Tartu, located in a beautiful historic building, has for many years been a valued and trusted partner of DBJW. Its impressive old premises provide a unique and authentic setting for cultural exchange, making it a vibrant meeting place for language, culture, and dialogue. Our cooperation with the Institute has grown steadily over time and continues to be an important pillar of our activities in Tartu. This year’s DBJW Brand Ambassadors, Liisa Loreena Värton and Mari Johanna Ruut, visited the Christmas market and enjoyed a truly delightful experience. Surrounded by festive lights, German Christmas music, and a warm Advent atmosphere, they sampled traditional homemade bakery goods and sweets, as well as mulled wine (Glühwein). In addition to German specialties, the market also offered a charming selection of Estonian handcrafted items, such as knitted gloves, socks, and other traditional handmade goods, adding a special local touch to the festivities. As always, the Head of the Institute, Vaike Hint, proved to be an exceptional host, warmly welcoming the Brand Ambassadors and guiding them through the historic and impressive building while sharing insights into the Institute’s work and traditions. Beyond the festive celebrations, the visit also included inspiring conversations about future joint activities. Among the ideas discussed were German-language movie nights at the Institute, which the Brand Ambassadors are keen to organize for young people in Tartu, as well as other engaging cultural events that will further strengthen youth involvement and exchange. The visit offered a wonderful opportunity to learn more about German Christmas traditions, typical festive foods, and sweets, while enjoying meaningful connections in a relaxed and joyful setting. Liisa and Mari had a fabulous time, and the afternoon once again highlighted the value of strong partnerships, shared traditions, and the festive spirit of the Advent season. We look forward to continuing our close cooperation with the Tartu German Cultural Institute and to bringing many of these ideas to life in the coming year.

The German-Baltic Youth & Business Connect – Christmas Digi Breakfast, organized by the DBJW Estonian Country Office of the German-Baltic Future Foundation on 12 December 2025, brought together young professionals, businesses, and institutional partners at the German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce (AHK) office — a beautiful venue in Tallinn’s medieval Old Town. The Digi Breakfast served as an opportunity to reconnect with long-standing partners, welcome new ones, and introduce DBJW’s plans and key events for 2026. Set in a festive and warm pre-Christmas atmosphere, the gathering encouraged open exchange, personal connections, and a shared sense of purpose. We were delighted to be joined by a strong and diverse group of partners, including the German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce, Goethe-Institut , the German Embassy , Tartu Art School , Skytte Institute , FEJ, ZIS – Stiftung für Studienreisen , our DBJW Brand Ambassadors , as well as private companies Nordic Render and Thorsteel . We were also happy to welcome Ukrainian students from Tartu Art School, reaffirming DBJW Estonia’s continued support for Ukraine. At the core of the Digi Breakfast were new friendships, meaningful connections, and fresh cooperation opportunities. During a joint brainstorming session, participants developed a range of exciting ideas, including: private companies offering internships and job-shadowing opportunities, allowing young people to gain hands-on experience in new professional roles; young people contributing to marketing, design, and communication activities, bringing fresh perspectives while learning through practice; the organization of public lectures on foreign policy, security, and other highly relevant topics. People are a key strength of the DBJW Estonian Country Office. Our young members come from diverse cultural backgrounds, speak multiple languages, and contribute strong cultural understanding and multilingualism — essential assets for German-Baltic cooperation. We are proud to welcome the private sector as a new and growing partner and look forward to continuing our close cooperation with all partners in 2026, transforming shared ideas into sustainable action.

Each year, the German-Baltic Conference brings together committed students and young professionals to debate today’s most pressing geopolitical challenges - and to craft concrete policy solutions for tomorrow. Under the 2025 motto “Rethinking Security through Youth,” this year’s conference was structured around three thematic clusters: A) European Security and Defence Innovations B) European Security and International Cooperation C) European Security and Discourse The resulting policy papers, developed collaboratively by the participants, are available for download at the end of this article, and a full conference recap can be found here. Living up to the spirit of #EuropeShallHearYou, selected delegates from each cluster, together with representatives of the German-Baltic Future Foundation, traveled to Brussels from December 2-4 to present their ideas directly to key European and transatlantic institutions: the European Parliament, the European Commission, and NATO Headquarters. Hearing in the European Parliament Despite a highly intensive end-of-year phase in the European Parliament, the cluster delegates and foundation representatives were warmly welcomed by two members of the parliament: Rasa Juknevičienė, former Minister of Defence of Lithuania and current vice-chair women of the Delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly (DEPA) and Sabrina Repp, member of the Committee on Culture and Education. Over the course of two hours, the policy papers were presented and discussed with both MEPs, resulting in fruitful conversations and valuable feedback from the politicians. Both Ms. Juknevičienė and Ms. Repp praised the quality, ambition, and relevance of the proposals and emphasized the importance of transforming promising ideas into tangible policy impact. In particular, proposals such as strengthening the Erasmus+ infrastructure for resilience-building and security dialogue were highlighted as having strong potential for real-world implementation. Presentation in the European Commission Following the parliamentary hearing, the delegation continued to the Berlaymont Building, headquarters of the European Commission, where they were received by the Cabinet of Andrius Kubilius, Commissioner for Defence and Space. The youth representatives presented their findings to Jonas Urbanavičius (Policy Assistant) and Julius Meska (Trainee). The discussion offered valuable institutional insight into how the proposed recommendations resonate within the Commission’s current strategic priorities, providing the clusters with targeted feedback from a policy-execution perspective. Discourse with the delegations of Lithuania and Estonia at the NATO headquarters. The final stop of the Brussels visit led the delegation to NATO Headquarters, where they engaged in two separate meetings with the Lithuanian and Estonian delegations. The Lithuanian delegation was represented by Gediminas Kuras (Minister Counselor). Estonia’s delegation was represented by Jüri Luik (Ambassador) and Erik Eenlo (Representative of Political Section). Here, the clusters extended their European-focused policy insights to the broader transatlantic security context. While not all recommendations were a perfect fit for NATO’s institutional scope, both delegations expressed strong appreciation for the analytical depth and policy maturity of the proposals. Notably, Ambassador Luik emphasized his openness to continue the dialogue should the clusters choose to further develop their concepts. The German-Baltic Future Foundation is immensely proud of the achievements of all three clusters and the successful Brussels outreach. This experience once again demonstrated how youth-driven policy thinking can meaningfully contribute to Europe’s security debate when given the right platform. A special thank-you goes to Linus Kühl, Head of the German Country Office of the German-Baltic Future Foundation, and Frederike Kanschat, Cluster Coordinator of the German-Baltic Conference, whose outstanding dedication made this trip possible. We also extend our sincere gratitude to: MEPs Rasa Juknevičienė and Sabrina Repp, Jonas Urbanavičius and Julius Meska from the Cabinet of Commissioner Andrius Kubilius, Gediminas Kuras (Lithuania to NATO), and Jüri Luik and Erik Eenlo (Estonia to NATO), for their warm welcome, openness to dialogue, and continued support for youth-led policy engagement. The Policy Papers of Clusters A-C can be downloaded below:

By Anike Weisenburger. Young Journalist Anike Weisenburger, reporting from Germany, closely shadowed Cluster C: European Security and Discourse during the German-Baltic Conference 2025 in Riga. Her reflections and insights from inside the cluster’s work are captured in the article below. Security has a human face: Notes from Riga - Cluster C at the German Baltic Conference 2025 It has been two months since the German - Baltic Conference drew to a close, yet the conversations still ring in my ears. In Riga, young people from across Europe worked in three clusters to shape policy proposals that will now travel further towards the European Parliament. I shadowed Cluster C: European Security & Discourse. From the sidelines, I watched the process unfold - listening to how they defined security and seeing how they searched for solutions that could speak to a divided European public. The Conference, unfolding The German - Baltic Conference opened at the Latvian National Museum of History, where representatives and partner organisations set a clear security focus for the days ahead. A panel titled “Defending Freedom: Youth Engagement in National and Regional Security” moved the theme from abstract to practical and gave the clusters a common starting point. The lineup brought together policy professionals and practitioners, among them Dr. Benjamin Klasche, who summed up the new reality in “Everything is security, not only wars , ” which became a quiet refrain throughout the weekend. The evening closed with a vin   d’honneur   at   the   German  E mbassy. The next morning began with a keynote by former Ambassador Christoph Eichhorn before the clusters started with their first working sessions. After lunch, Session II continued the drafting. A highlight of the day was a session with Jānis Karlsbergs, Chairman of the Latvian Transatlantic Organisation and Senior Policy and Publications Lead at the NATO StratCom CO E. With more working sessions in the morning and afternoon, Saturday was the “hands-on”   day. Between coffee and quick walks outside, teams argued with care. A city scavenger hunt helped break the intensity and gave the groups space to return with fresh eyes ,  while the cultural dinner that evening restored the energy needed for the final edits. By Sunday, the work had solidified. The morning brought results presentations and an interactive debate during which each cluster laid out its proposals ,  and the audience challenged and refined their assumptions. The Young Journalists, myself included, shared reflections and impressions before the closing remarks and our final lunch together. Inside Cluster C: How a team found its language Cluster C had started their work already a few weeks before Riga. By the time I joined them on-site, they already shared a rhythm with references exchanged, tasks divided ,  and drafts under review. Bia, their team lead, gave the group its spirit. She brought a warm energy, encouraged everyone around her ,  and somehow always stayed one step ahead in planning. Around her, Pascal, Moritz, Camée, Marin, Lizi, Konstantina ,  and Daria brought different expertise and different maps of Europe. From their early “finding phase,” one note in my notebook kept resurfacing that words don’t always have the same meaning everywhere. In Central and Eastern Europe, terms like war, threat, and preparedness feel urgent and real ,  but in parts of Western Europe ,  the same words can sound abstract, distant ,  or impersonal. That gap in how we feel language becomes a gap in how we live policy and sits at the heart of Europe’s current struggle over security and unity. “Security must become personal” Their policy paper carries a plain, memorable motto that “Security must become personal.” It argues that a credible European approach must bridge the East–West perception gap, counter hybrid threats and disinformation ,  and invite citizens, especially the youth, into preparedness rather than speaking at them from afar. Watching their sessions from the sidelines, I saw this idea take shape in a few clear directions. One was the vision of a Europe-wide, multilingual storytelling network that  would be a trusted space for verified, engaging content shaped for the platforms young people actually use. Its purpose is to humani z e distant events, expose manipulation ,  and give solidarity a face.   Another was a central EU dashboard tracking hybrid attacks from sabotage to disinformation. It would help puncture the belief that “nothing is happening here” and build a shared understanding of the pressures on Europe’s information space. Alongside this, the group shaped what they called a more everyday kind of preparedness. Simple habits and clear guidance at the level of families, classrooms ,  and local communities make it harder to panic and manipulate  citizens because people  who feel grounded and informed are less likely to be thrown off balance by fear or misinformation. They also saw exchange as a form of security in itself. When Europeans actually meet through Erasmus+, town partnerships ,  or small community projects ,  they become less distant from  one another and therefore easier to understand and defend. Together, these ideas form the paper’s core message that security begins with people, not just policies. Stories against war fatigue A theme that returned in their work is that support for Ukraine remains high overall but has slipped since 2022 among some groups, especially where distance, economic strain ,  or a sense of endless conflict sets in. Their response is to bring people back into focus. When the war appears only as charts or casualty counts, empathy slips. When it comes through individual stories and faces, that empathy returns and with it, the willingness to back the measures that protect democracy.   West and East: same continent, different weather With family ties on both sides, I recogni z ed the tension they described. In many parts of Western Europe, Russia’s war can seem far away, something only encountered in news alerts. In Eastern Europe ,  it feels far closer. The fear is passed down in family stories and traced across old borders. These differences aren’t moral failures or divides, they come from distinct historical experiences. But if Europeans speak past one another, we risk failing together. Cluster C’s proposals read to me as tools for translation between languages and histories, so that Europe can act with enough shared conviction to deter aggression and resist manipulation.   Conversations that shaped the paper Part of the strength of Cluster C’s process lay in how they engaged beyond their own table. In the acknowledgements of the policy paper, they thank Frederike Kanschat for guidance, Sokol Zeneli for insights that fed into their arguments , and Prof. Dr. Volker Wittpahl and Trinity Brillinger for inputs that helped refine the proposals. In Riga, I saw it in practice. Side conversations after panels and targeted check-ins to stress-test claims that turn into a better paragraph an hour later.   What I’m taking with me From here, the policy papers will move into European fora, where parts of them may be piloted or debated further. But what stayed with me this week goes beyond proposals. It was the experience of watching Europeans explain their fears to one another, sometimes gently, sometimes with urgency ,  but always with the hope of being understood. Because I grew up between Western and Eastern Europe, I know that security is not experienced in the same way everywhere. Those differences don’t dissolve in a conference room ,  but they can be acknowledged, named ,  and worked with. The days in Riga reminded me that bridging this gap is not about reaching perfect agreement, it is more about refusing to look away from each other’s realities. It is slow work ,  made of listening more than declaring and of accepting that unity grows through recognition, not necessarily uniformity. And it reminded me why journalism matters here because it can sit in the spaces between perspectives, to translate rather than flatten , and to make sure that the people behind policies remain visible. When we keep stories human and close, distance stops turning into indifference ,  and Europe has a better chance of standing together when it matters. The Policy Paper of Cluster C and a visual representation can be downloaded below:  Graphic Artist: Dace Andersone

By Vadim Martschenko. Vadim is a Radio Host at Genlüd (Denmark) and with a background in Journalism. He currently pursues a Master's degree at Aarhus University in Journalism, Media, and Globalization. Vadim covered the German-Baltic Conference 2025 as a Young Journalist, following the work of Cluster B: International Cooperation & Security . Between the 16th and 19th of October 2025, the German-Baltic-Conference was hosted for the 7th time by the German Baltic Future Foundation (DBJW). From across Europe, young and politically engaged change-makers gathered in Riga as Youth Embassadors to discuss one of the most important topics in modern politics: Rethinking Security Through Youth. Riga could not be a better place to find ways to deal with this topic, as the threat to freedom, democracy, and peace is under constant threat because of its direct neighbors. Ever since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the European Union’s security policies have changed rapidly. A process that only accelerated with the new US foreign policy and its implications for NATO. Although these decisions significantly shape Europe’s future, the young people who will live with their consequences often do not have the opportunity to influence them. Focusing on International Cooperation & Security, Cluster B challenged this by developing a policy recommendation that centers Security Implications of Youth Brain Drain in the Baltics . This was researched in the weeks leading up to the conference under the supervision of the head of cluster, Lucie Soukalová . After thorough and rich discussions, the cluster decided to not only consider young people’s future in the policy recommendation but also one of the most vital regions concerning European security. “We cannot defend every inch of NATO territory if nobody lives there.” - Fausta Šimaitytė, Head of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Lithuania Yearly, thousands of young, educated people from the Baltic countries are leaving their homes to seek better financial and career opportunities elsewhere. Their destination? Most often, Western Europe. Inspired by the remark of one of the speakers of the opening Panel, Fausta Šimaitytė, Head of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Lithuania, Cluster B got to work to detect the motives that make young people leave, the consequences that this poses for security, and what solutions can be offered to increase return migration. In their first session, the Cluster was able to materialize their preliminary work and research into a complex problem analysis regarding the state of emigration from the Baltics. On the second day, former German ambassador to Bulgaria & Estonia, Christoph Eichhorn, urged the Youth Ambassadors to act now, not tomorrow. European security cannot wait any longer, and the European Union needs to be empowered by young, fresh perspectives. Putting these into practice, Cluster B discussed incentives for what drives young Balts back home: higher education, job opportunities, administrative support, innovation centers and welfare benefits. Christoph Eichhorn, former Ambassador from Germany to Bulgaria & Estonia during his Key Note Not everything went smoothly. There were moments were the Cluster thought about changing their whole topic and starting anew. But through collaboration, they found effective solutions and became even more concrete in their problem analysis and solutions. In the end, they developed three key proposals for the European Union to solve the problem of youth brain drain in the Baltics: Announcing Return Migration as Strategic Security Goal, forming a Baltic Alliance for Security and Innovation Studies to increase innovation through collaboration between universities, and developing of the “I Choose the Baltics” initiative that facilitates return migration. Presenting their work to the members of DBJW and the other Youth Ambassadors, Cluster B proved to have developed a well-rounded policy proposal for the presentation to the European Parliament. And in a way, their process reflected the world they were discussing: not everything is perfect right now. But if we act, if we cooperate, and if we dare, we can create something great. Beyond the policy work, what truly stood out to me was the spirit of the group. Over just a few days, Cluster B grew close, laughing at coffee breaks, joking around during long sessions, and yes, dancing through the streets of Riga at night. They managed to balance serious discussions with fun, and that balance is, for me personally, the best way to work together. The Policy Paper of Cluster B and a visual representation can be downloaded below: Graphic Artist: Dace Andersone

By Saara Mia Sarapuu. Saara is a materials science student with an interest in journalism, regional history, politics, and civic engagement. She enjoys exploring the intersections between science and sociopolitics, often taking creative side quests that connect the two fields. Based in Tartu, Estonia, she covered the German-Baltic Conference 2025 as a Young Journalist, following the work of Cluster A: European Security and Defence Innovation The German-Baltic Conference 2025, organized by the German-Baltic Future Foundation (DBJW) from 16-19 October, brought together Youth Ambassadors, representatives of the German-Baltic Youth Exchange Network (GBYEN) and security experts in Riga under the theme: “ Rethinking Security Through Youth”. Over four days, participants gathered at the University of Latvi a to explore how young people can contribute to Europe’s security and resilience. Wh ile the Youth Ambassadors (YAs) developed policy recommendations in three thematic clusters, GBYEN explored security from the perspective of youth organisations. As a Young Journalist, I had the opportunity to follow the work of Cluster A, which focused on defence innovation, while Clusters B and C explored international cooperation and discourse, respectively.   The conference opened in the historic building of the Latvian National Museum of History, located within Riga Castle. The ceremony featured keynote speeches by German and Latvian officials and an exciting panel discussion on “Defending Freedom: Youth Engagement in National and Regional Security”. High-ranking experts discussed how youth can contribute to national and regional security and resilience-building and engaged with participants’ questions. The evening continued at the German Embassy, where Ambassador Gudrun Masloch welcomed speakers and participants for a reception . With electronic devices left at the entrance, conversations developed naturally and many new connections were made as time flew by. Although the conference officially began in Riga, the preparation work in the clusters had already begun weeks prior to meeting in person. I first joined a preparatory video call with Cluster A about two weeks before the conference and was impressed by the depth of research that had already been done. Each Youth Ambassador presented their vision for the upcoming policy paper, and their ideas ranged from entrepreneurship and conscription to space and new technologies. Their proposals were grounded in studies and existing policies, which showed their expertise and commitment to the task. During the conference, these ideas evolved in cluster sessions through engaging discussions. At our very first meeting, the Head of Cluster, Giorgi Lazariashvili, told me he was proud of the team he had put together, and it was easy to see why. The seven Youth Ambassadors came from Germany, Latvia, Ukraine, and Moldova, bringing together expertise from fields as diverse as international relations, economics, and STEM. Several had experience in policy and defence, whether it be an internship at the Latvian Ministry of Defence or work in Brussels on EU affairs. Giorgi himself contributes to the Estonian Defence League and the Estonian Atlantic Treaty Association, and has a legal background. Outside of their CVs, all had a personal motivation for engaging with security, whether shaped by their home region, academic interests, or a desire to strengthen democracy. The diversity of ideas and perspectives proved to be both the group’s greatest strength and its biggest challenge, as they had to work out the most impactful recommendations to move forward with. Through discussion, the cluster decided to concentrate their policy paper on a pressing yet overlooked challenge: how to make national service attractive for the younger generation.  The Youth Ambassadors identified a major problem: Europe’s service models are fragmented and often outdated While defence budgets and technological innovation are growing fast, recruitment systems have not kept pace. Across Europe, states follow highly different approaches to conscription and civil service, and the lack of an EU-level framework limits cooperation in emerging fields such as cyber conscription and digital reserves. The Youth Ambassadors argued that sustainable defence readiness depends not only on equipment and funding, but also on the ability to attract diverse and skilled young people to contribute through modern and more flexible forms of service. Between the working sessions, participants had the opportunity to attend keynote speeches and network over a cup of coffee. Conversations during breaks often continued the debates started in the clusters, offering a space to exchange ideas with experts and participants from across the conference. These conversations emphasized why in-person gatherings matter : many of the most insightful conversations happen not during presentations, but outside of formal sessions. Riga itself  was a very fitting backdrop for the conference, as there are few places just as illustrative of the historical ties between the Baltics and Germany. A city game and a lively Latvian cultural evening brought participants closer to local history and traditions, leaving many with warm memories of the city and their colleagues.   As I reflect on my time in Riga , I am very grateful for the opportunity to participate in the conference as a Young Journalist. I met inspiring people, broadened my horizons, and left with increased curiosity and a motivation to get more involved.  I enjoyed reading the policy paper, which you can find below. I look forward to seeing the work of Cluster A presented in the European Parliament. The Policy Paper of Cluster A and a visual representation can be downloaded below:  Graphic Artist: Dace Andersone

By Anna Lauska From the 13 th  till the 17 th  of November the German War Graves Commission (Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e.V.) – one of the German-Baltic Future Foundation’s closest cooperation partners – organized an international conference dedicated to the challenges of disinformation. The Future Foundation and the German-Baltic Youth Exchange Network ( GBYEN ) were represented by Anna Lauska, deputy head of the country office Latvia.  Titled “From Memory to Action”  the conference took place in Berlin. Participants from various countries and many different organisations like Association "Education Builds BiH-Jovan DIvjak" (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Staffordshire Council of Voluntary Youth Services  (UK), Tavo Europa  (Lithuania), Walk of Peace in the Soča Region Foundation  (Slovenia), Home For Cooperation  (Croatia), and others gathered for a rich program of exchange, learning, and collaboration. After an initial welcome session and informal networking opportunities, the first workshop introduced the foundations of disinformation, its threats to democracy, and essential terminology. Through interactive sessions and international case analyses, participants explored strategies for critical and solidarity-based engagement in youth exchange. A second workshop, led by Ioan Bengel from the Krzyżowa Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe, focused on strengthening media and information literacy in youth work with practical tools and hands-on methods. Later, a keynote by Dr. Heike Winkel from the Federal Agency for Civic Education examined the role of propaganda and disinformation in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The following day, the program continued with an exchange of best practices, where participants presented effective approaches to addressing fake news in international youth projects, followed by a collaborative project lab to develop new initiatives. Anna Lauska in the Bundestag during the National Day of Mourning Ceremony The conference concluded with a strong focus on memory culture. Participants visited the German Bundestag for a themed tour and took part in the official National Day of Mourning (Volkstrauertag) ceremony, including the memorial service and subsequent reception. A joint final dinner and an memorial concert at Berlin Cathedral offered additional opportunities for reflection and exchange. The final wrap-up session brought together evaluations, follow-up planning, and ideas for future cooperation. We, the German-Baltic Future Foundation, are grateful to have been welcomed as a participant at this insightful and inspiring conference and to have been able to establish connections with potential new project partners. We are also pleased to announce that, together with Volksbund, we have begun developing a new joint project for summer 2026: Workcamp Latvia: from Kurland to the First Republica (working title) that combines historical learning, international exchange, and meaningful volunteer work. Similar as the previous years, this upcoming workcamp will explore Latvia’s World War I history, including the period of the German occupation, the emergence of the Latvian state, and the social consequences that followed. Participants will learn about key battles, refugee experiences, the multicultural heritage of the region, and the role of the Latvian riflemen, while also engaging with contemporary memory culture. Alongside these thematic activities, the group will carry out light maintenance work on German war cemeteries.  Stay tuned for more infos!  We thank Volksbund for the successful long-term cooperation and possibility to participate in the conference!

On 27.11, the German-Baltic Future Foundation organized a guest lecture at the University of Tartu together with the Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies .  f.l. Harald Krempchen (German Defence Attaché in Estonia) and Daniil Iarlykovskii (Brand Ambassador of the German-Baltic Future Foundation) The German Defence Attaché in Estonia Harald Krempchen presented Germany’s view on the security situation in the region and spoke about his country’s efforts to make Europe more safe and ready to deter aggression.  He covered Germany’s plans to strengthen its military through increased investments and procurements, spoke about the German-Estonian partnership in the security sphere, and described the plans to fortify NATO’s eastern border, highlighting the 45th German Armoured Brigade as an example of the growing German-Baltic partnership.  Following the presentation the participants were able to speak with the attaché and ask questions about the present and the future of European security.  The Foundation was represented by Katrin Deren, Deputy Head of the Country Office Estonia , Brand Ambassador Daniil Iarlykovskii, and Brand Ambassador Filipp Gavrilov.  The German-Baltic Foundation thanks the Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies and the German Embassy in Estonia for their invaluable cooperation.

On November 19th, interns from the AHK in Tallinn and the German Embassy - Anna, Julian and Antonia - visited German lessons at Tallinna Tehnikagümnaasium. Their visit transformed the regular classroom routine into an engaging and lively experience that sparked interest even among the quietest students.  The interns began by presenting Germany in a fresh and interactive way, different from what students were used to in their usual lessons. This was followed by a Kahoot quiz to test how well the students had listened—complete with small prizes for the winners. Afterwards, they led a short mini-lesson on how to order in a café in German, giving students the chance to practice their language skills with real native speakers.  Overall, the visit of these young interns brought new energy into the classroom, increased students’ motivation to learn German, and showed them the real-life value of the language—perhaps even inspiring some to visit Germany in the future.  The visit was organized by the DBJW Country Office Estonia .

The German-Baltic Future Foundation has recently hosted a meetup for this year’s Brand Ambassadors . The event took place from 14th to 16th of November in Kaulsdorf, a quarter of Berlin. Over the course of three days, ambassadors took part in various events ranging from brainstorming sessions to visiting the German Bundestag. These, combined with a range of presentations and lectures, provided a perfect balance between learning and putting skills to action. Besides the learning part, the participants had time to socialize, network, and explore the city. In today’s article, we asked several Brand Ambassadors to share their impressions about this year’s meetup in order to show what it was like to take part in the event: Patriks Strazds, Latvia Patriks Strazds At first I wasn’t sure if I even wanted to partake in this meeting, as that implied many unknown factors - I had never traveled alone via plane as I usually travel with my family in such a way. Also I wasn’t 100% sure of how the meeting was going to be held. In addition, I didn’t know 80% of the people that were supposed to attend. So I did the only logical thing - for the first time in my career I booked my own plane tickets. The journey to Berlin was awesome. At first I was planning on using a taxi to get from Berlin airport to the meeting place, but upon seeing the prices of taxi rides I switched up my plans and went all in to understand the wonders of the German engineered railway systems. With a little help of Google maps and happy to help officers I made it to the meeting spot. I even visited one of those shady kebab places that provides the ultimate meal for the best price - such a wonderful experience. Overall the meeting was a successful adventure where in the tight time graph I also managed to squeeze in a daily morning run and a little excursion across Berlin right after the meeting on Sunday, right before my flight back home. I can confidently say that this was a successful meeting where not only I got to meet many inspiring people, but also I felt motivated enough to think - what do I want to achieve with my life. I absolutely loved this and I highly recommend attending this! Daniil Iarlykovskii, Estonia This meeting marked my first time in Berlin and it was as good as a first trip can be. I arrived a little before the conference and had the opportunity to explore the city independently. Then, when the conference started we got an amazing cultural experience with a visit to a museum and a tour to the Reichstag dome. Daniil Iarlykovskii It was a great opportunity to connect with other Brand Ambassadors, thanks to which I have gotten several new ideas on what I can do in my capacity as an ambassador. The lectures and the workshops were interesting to take part in, as they aimed to give us inspiration and guide us on how we can become more active members of our communities. Though the event only lasted a few days, in my opinion it was a great experience that really gave a lot to the participants. We did every kind of activity imaginable, including but not limited to learning, brainstorming, discussing, and tourism. I was especially glad to practice my German and take some reading material home. The opportunity gave me some new ideas on how I can learn and motivated me to continue studying daily. Peter Pidopryhora, USA (currently in Germany) When joining this group, I didn’t really know what I could even do. I had some ideas, but nothing formalized or very well thought out. So when I saw a chance to go to Berlin, a city I had never visited before, and have a few days just talking and throwing around ideas with like-minded people, I made sure to have some free time in my schedule for it. Peter Pidopryhora We spent the weekend listening to several interesting presentations, talking about future projects and what each of us could do for others, building on our strengths and the connections we already had. Some of the talks were given by members of the foundation, showing and teaching us certain interesting ways we could start thinking and developing our projects and ideas. Some of the talks were given by the Brand Ambassadors themselves, including me, who presented my Ukrainian student group at my university, UniBonn.UA , and what we had done over the past few years. And some of the talks came from people who were invited to present, like the presentation done by DroneAid Berlin , which I found to be fascinating and very important under the circumstances. Thankfully we didn’t spend the entire time only listening, writing and thinking, as inspiring as it may be, but also got to explore the city itself, at least for a few hours. Seeing the Brandenburg Gate, seeing the German Bundestag and getting a tour inside, was absolutely thrilling. We also got to see one of the checkpoints from the eastern part of the city, how it looked before reunification. It was nice to learn more about how the city functioned when it was split in two, and how the people lived during that time. I definitely would want to come back and explore the city even more. Since we were mostly in the eastern part, it would be nice to see some of the west next time. All in all the brainstorming session helped me find some inspiration for a few possible projects, which was exactly what I needed. Met some great people that I hopefully will get to spend more time with on future endeavors. Gleb Konkin-von Serebrowski, Germany As a long-term participant, I am more than happy to represent the ever-evolving structure of the German-Baltic Future Foundation, where Ukraine is another +1. I am also very glad to participate alongside the youngsters and welcome them to this fruitful cooperation. During this meet-up, the programme was more than fulfilled and important knowledge was presented - I would like to express my sincere gratitude to DroneAid Berlin for taking the time to share their valuable insights on the critical issue of drone-conducted warfare. Gleb Konkin-von Serebrowski The chairman, Thomas von Lüpke, showcased the most important border points of the Cold War in Berlin, as well as the city centre and a visit to the Bundestag. The youngsters were very welcome to take part in extracurricular activities afterwards. Arguably, one the best way to get to “feel” a place is to spend some time in a local bar with the locals. I am sure it was a valuable experience for a new generation of young ambassadors and an important learning experience for younger/new participants. Overall, I am very happy to have been able to attend and organise this event, participate in it, and promote important insights.

Am 17. November 2025 fand im Litauischen Parlament die Jubiläumskonferenz des Litauisch-Deutschen Forums statt. Unter dem Motto „Zeit, Führung zu zeigen und mit einer Stimme zu sprechen“ diskutierten hochrangige Vertreterinnen und Vertreter aus Politik, Diplomatie, Wirtschaft, Kultur und Zivilgesellschaft über die Zukunft der bilateralen Zusammenarbeit und Europas Sicherheit. Besonders erfreulich war die Teilnahme der Deutsch-Baltischen Zukunftsstiftung (DBJW). Ihr Vorstandsvorsitzender Thomas von Lüpke, der Leiter des deutschen Landesbüros Linus Kūhl sowie der Leiter des litauischen Landesbüros Daumantas Katinas brachten wichtige Impulse aus der Jugend- und Austauschförderung ein – ein Bereich, der für Vertrauen und Resilienz zwischen den beiden Ländern zentral bleibt. Sicherheit und gemeinsame Verantwortung Im ersten Konferenzteil standen die Stationierung der deutschen Brigade in Litauen und die sicherheitspolitischen Herausforderungen Europas im Fokus. Beiträge u. a. von Außenminister Kęstutis Budrys, Sicherheitsberater des litauischen Staatspräsidenten Deividas Matulionis sowie deutschen Bundestagsmitgliedern machten deutlich, wie eng Deutschland und Litauen sicherheitspolitisch miteinander verflochten sind. Innovation und wirtschaftliche Zukunft Der zweite Teil widmete sich der Frage, wie Europa durch technologische Entwicklung und wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit widerstandsfähiger werden kann. Vertreterinnen und Vertreter aus Industrie, Verteidigungsforschung und Logistik diskutierten über neue Chancen für die deutsch-litauische Kooperation. Ein starkes Zeichen zum 20-jährigen Bestehen Die Abschlussworte des deutschen Botschafters Dr. Cornelius Zimmermann unterstrichen die Bedeutung eines kontinuierlichen, vertrauensvollen Dialogs. Die Jubiläumskonferenz zeigte eindrucksvoll, dass Litauen und Deutschland nicht nur Partner, sondern gemeinsame Gestalter eines sicheren und innovativen Europas sind – und dass Organisationen wie das DBJW dabei eine wichtige Brückenfunktion übernehmen.