Krista Mulenok
Secretary General
Estonian Atlantic Treaty Association
Estonia
info@eata.ee
In a rapidly evolving world where global security challenges seem to multiply by the day, involving young people in discussions related to foreign and security policy has taken on a new level of importance. Recognizing the potential of youth to contribute fresh ideas, perspectives, and energy to address these challenges, Estonian Atlantic Treaty together with NATO PDD and Friedrich Ebert Foundation started a groundbreaking initiative – the NATO-EU Roundtable on engaging young people with foreign and security policy.
NATO-EU Roundtable is a multi-disciplinary annual conference focused on active participation of emerging leaders and young professionals from all over the world. Plurality of ideas is what leads to great discussions and solutions in the world. This is the main point of NATO-EU Roundtable - bringing together students and experts from all over the world with differing opinions within different age groups, ethnicities and genders. Historically, the Roundtable has enjoyed the presence of participants from 28 different nations, not all of them are NATO members. We have had all age groups represented from 17-70.
This year, the event took place for the eleventh time, being framed up by the same objective to enhance the knowledge of young people in the field of foreign and security policy by discussing the working principles of NATO as well as important current topics related to the framework of positive interrelations between NATO and the EU.
Since 2013 our aim has been to bring together students interested in international politics and security experts to continue the dialogue between decision-makers and the future generation. We wanted to facilitate an event where young people could learn more about the workings of NATO and the EU. The effect of this would be to keep them engaged throughout the event. Asking questions, proposing solutions and making connections to solve the complicated problems we face. When we put together 2023 agenda, we wanted to engage young people on the NATO 2030 Initiative, the EU Strategic Compass, the war in Ukraine and the emergence of China on the world stage.
The goal of the conference is to improve the dialogue between different regions in the course of which the young professionals have the opportunity to share their ideas and knowledge about the topics. In our view, it is necessary that young people from various countries have the opportunity to form new relationships with others and to have an efficient communication between themselves.
In the previous years, the event has annually been bringing together more than 100 young professionals. In 2023 the event was a great success, the conference was opened by President Alar Karis. In 2022 the event came at difficult time for Europe as Russia’s inhumane war against Ukraine had begun just over a month ago. The engagement and interest in the event was inspiring - Estonia’s Prime minister Kaja Kallas opening the event and the following speeches and panels solidifying the understanding that Ukraine is not alone and Europe is united with NATO to combat the ever growing threat of Russia. This showed to the event’s attendees (students, university tutors, officials and young professionals) that they need to get engaged in myriads of different debates, which are happening during the event by the presence of leading decision-shapers and –makers. The holistic approach of the event by having panel discussions on the first day and following it up with a North-Atlantic Council simulation on the evening of the first and continuing on the second day creates an atmosphere where dialogue can be substantially increased, leading towards creating a range of broad networks and discussing nouvelle ideas on solidifying existing security-focused mechanisms.
The NATO-EU Roundtable has also highlighted the role of youth in addressing pressing global challenges, such as climate change, cybersecurity, and terrorism. Young people are passionate about these issues and often at the forefront of grassroots movements advocating for change. The roundtable emphasized the importance of harnessing this passion and channeling it into constructive policy initiatives that tackle these challenges head-on.
The NATO-EU Roundtable on engaging young people with foreign and security policy serves as a beacon of hope in an increasingly complex world. It recognizes that the involvement of young people is not just a desirable option, but an absolute necessity for organizations like NATO and the EU to remain relevant and effective. By acknowledging the importance of digital diplomacy, promoting education and awareness, actively involving young individuals in decision-making processes, and addressing global challenges, these organizations are taking significant steps toward creating a more inclusive, innovative, and sustainable approach to foreign and security policy. In an era of unprecedented interconnectedness, the voices and ideas of young people may well hold the key to a safer and more prosperous future for all.