This year’s “European Peace Event” was characterised by peace, friendship and cheerfulness. Thirty students from Russia, Ukraine, Slovenia, Italy and Austria accepted EYFON’s invitation to come to Europaburg from 3 to 9 October and share their ideas for a common Europe worth living in across national borders, political attitudes and cultural differences in workshops, discussions and lectures. The participants were nominated by the Sochi Dialogue Forum, the University of Ternopil, the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Research on the Consequences of War, the Bolzano Chamber of Commerce and the Slovenian Embassy. Dr Albrecht Rothacher, former EU diplomat and specialist for Eastern Europe and East Asia, discussed the EU’s external relations with the students at the beginning of the seminar week. With EYFON President Dr Christoph Leitl, the young people exchanged views at length on the role of young people and the future challenges facing Europe and, together with Dr Claudia Weyringer from the EYFON team, contributed their ideas to the platform on the “Future of Europe’s Conference”. Dieter Bacher from the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Consequences of War shed light on the highlights of Russian-Austrian relations, while a workshop on intercultural competence with Prof. Dr Doris Kiendl from the FH Joanneum rounded off the specialist programme. The varied leisure programme was organised and accompanied by teamgeist and the Murau ambassadors. Kennel learning activities, archery, tape art and go-karting delighted the participants. To round off an eventful week, EYFON invited the students to the traditional chestnut festival in the castle courtyard and then to the “Intercultural Evening” in the Schwarzer Adler. With poetry slams, singing, culinary specialities, traditional costumes and pictures brought along, the participants gave an insight into their traditions and celebrated the successful conclusion of a seminar week in which many new friendships were forged.
