"Building Bridges – European Conflict Areas" – international conference for peace and stability in Europe

"Building Bridges - European Conflict Areas" is an international conference that will take place between 28th and 30th of April in Lodz, Poland. It is organized by the European Students’ Forum AEGEE: AEGEE-Lodz local and International Politics Working Group of AEGEE-Europe with support of the Lodz City Office, University of Lodz, European Institute, American Embassy and Expressis Verbis Association. This event is perceived as a huge step in innovative approach to education about peace and stability process.

"The Old Continent" faced many conflicts. The costs of those conflicts in human, economic, material, ecological, and other terms are enormous. Nowadays, there are 38 conflicts going on in Europe. A glance at the poor results of international efforts to prevent escalation of these conflicts makes it obvious that far more energy and finance should be devoted, in the first place, to prevention. But in order to be effective, preventive policy demands a broad approach, integrating as many actors as possible. NGOs, like AEGEE, can play a significant role in preventing or de-escalating conflicts. Young people, the future of united Europe, will have huge influence on peace and stability. Gathering and encouraging them to common discussion about roots of conflicts, possible solutions, cultural differences can be the best way to common understanding and preventing future conflicts.

During three days diplomats, students, journalists and academics will focus on Central and Eastern Europe conflict areas and their influence on the future of Europe. Debates will highlight the problem of Ukrainian elections, situation in Caucasus area and Balkans region, influence of Israeli-Palestinian relations on European countries’ policy and the role of the Russian Fedaration in international and diplomatic relations, without which a security on "Old Continent" is hard to imagine. All the issues will be presented by highly experienced speakers. The special guests of conference will present inovative ideas for peaceful Europe: H.E. Mr. David Peleg - Ambassador of Israel, Cameron Munter – Deputy Chief of Mission American Embassy, Jacek Saryusz-Wolski – Vice-president of European Parliament, Ukrainian journalists and academics.

For many years, Poland had witnessed a daunting history. Today, thanks to courage attitude of citizens and the Solidarity Movement, a new member of European Union plays a role of mediator in European and international conflicts. This is a city where four different cultures have worked together for many years to overcome cultural prejudices so that live in commonwealth, which makes this city the perfect venue for the conference. Therefore, the next step in "building bridges" (conference about peace and stability process) will come out from the center of Europe – Lodz.

Virag Szabo

Director for Public Relations, AEGEE-Europe

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European Students' Forum (AEGEE)

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AEGEE is one of Europe's largest interdisciplinary and voluntary student associations, operating without being linked to any political party, promoting a unified Europe,

cross-border co-operation, communication and integration in academic environment, and at the same time striving to create an open and tolerant society by involving

students and young graduates in valuable projects and discussions over the topics of importance for the communities they live in. It is represented in 260 university

cities, in 42 countries all around Europe and has about 17000 members.