Bulgaria

I'm going to Bulgaria. Nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah.

While I was in Strasbourg, there was a lot of emphasis placed on the inclusion of the 10 latest countries (Czech Republic, Lithuania, et al.) I had a lovely course on EU mobility and issues affecting the newest member states.

There's a conference coming up on Balkan identity and EU enlargement. Unfortunately, you have to be an EU member to attend. And by attend, I mean to attend for free. I was super interested in going and asked my director if I could go. Turns out that as long as I pay for my travel, I can get free lodging and food.

Am I psyched? OH YEAH!

The objectives are:
To give youth leaders and NGO activists from Balkan region possibility to meet in order to enhance establishment of sustainable partnership and cooperation, to provoke discussions about young people’s problems and difficulties in NGO work as well as discussions about the situation and the undergoing processes on the Balkans as a part of European integration.

To try to come to a concept of regional identity as a part of the common European identity, to define the existing stereotypes and prejudices about the Balkan region, as well as discussions about the existing conflicts on the Balkans and their perception in the rest of Europe.

To define challenges and needs confronted by the young people in their voluntary work on the Balkans, to give them possibility to exchange information and ideas for future cooperation and to discuss about the youth policy development based on the needed changes in the Balkan countries because of their will to join European Union.

Kyustendil, here I come!

I'll leave Saturday morning (the 18th) and spend the whole day in Belgrade (and hopefuly see Jane and Rob in the process). Then I get a sleeper train to Bulgaria and end up in Sofia where I hope to see Rob. It's a quick train ride to Kyustendil after that.