September 21, 2011
Session with Hans Jäckel, DZ Bank
Excessive regulation will be a challenge for banks in the future, said Hans Jäckel, DZ Bank Chief Economist, in a meeting with journalists organized by Thomson Reuters Foundation and Robert Bosch Stiftung, in Frankfurt, on September 21.
"There is a flood of regulations coming from all sides over the banks, which is uncoordinated and which will probably weaken the banks and make them even less able to tidy up the balance sheets and to do their contribution to financing economic growth", he said. He talked the 15 Southeastern European reporters through the current situation of the Eurozone and debt crisis in Europe.
In his opinion, letting Greece out of the Eurozone and possibly out of the European Union is not really an option because it has very undesirable consequences for the Greeks and for the Germans as well. "It wouldn’t be a cheaper solution than what we are currently doing," Jäckel said. He sees the only realistic alternative for Greece to be a debt restructuring.
Hans Jäckel also stressed that, on the long run, Eurozone countries cannot have full control of their budgets; they have to accept some supervision and control.
Adina Ardeleanu from Romania
Economic and Political Reporting from Southeast Europe
To foster quality analysis and reporting on economic issues, enhance coverage on topics that are central to the region’s economic and political development and encourage regional networking among journalists, the Robert Bosch Stiftung and the Thomson Reuters Foundation initiated the Program "Economic and Political Reporting from Southeast Europe" in 2007.
Up to 16 journalists from the Balkans are competitively chosen to participate in the program. The program, run by experienced Thomson Reuters staff, includes two courses of two weeks each, in Germany and in the UK respectively. Participants also travel to Brussels and Frankfurt/Main to meet with policymakers, representatives from business, civil society and media.
Up to 16 journalists from the Balkans are competitively chosen to participate in the program. The program, run by experienced Thomson Reuters staff, includes two courses of two weeks each, in Germany and in the UK respectively. Participants also travel to Brussels and Frankfurt/Main to meet with policymakers, representatives from business, civil society and media.
Training I will take place in London and Brussels in May 2012. Training II will be in Frankfurt/Main and Berlin in September and October 2012.
Applications for the program year 2012 can be submitted until March 4, 2012 (11 pm GMT).
Picture Gallery
Training session in Frankfurt am Main
Participants in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin
Cornelia Abel
After the training session
The festive closing dinner
Reports by Course Participants
"How the friendships from Manchukistan can serve the Balkans"
"Making friends in Machukistan"
by Konstantin Nikolov, Capital Weekly, course participant 2010
by Konstantin Nikolov, Capital Weekly, course participant 2010
"Shock Therapy"
by Milica Milovanovic, Radio Belgrade, course participant 2009.
by Milica Milovanovic, Radio Belgrade, course participant 2009.
"Alice in Businessland"
Report by Nenad Militarevic, Radio Belgrade and 'Economic and Political Reporting from Southeast Europe' course participant 2008.
Report by Nenad Militarevic, Radio Belgrade and 'Economic and Political Reporting from Southeast Europe' course participant 2008.
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Application deadline for the 2012 program is March 4, 2012.
More Information
Training II in Frankfurt/Main and Berlin
From September 19-30, 2011, training II took place in Frankfurt/Main and Berlin. Apart from the journalistic training the participants met with interesting representatives from business, finance, polics, civil society, and the media.
Read impressions from this journey:
From September 19-30, 2011, training II took place in Frankfurt/Main and Berlin. Apart from the journalistic training the participants met with interesting representatives from business, finance, polics, civil society, and the media.
Read impressions from this journey:
A flood of regulations may be a challenge for banks
Pens, notebooks and forbidden quotes
September 22, 2011
Session with Eszter Miltenyi, Thierry Bracke, and Frigyes Heinz, European Central Bank
We were just starting to get used to our daily "read in, country profile, exercise, training, pub" routine, when they took us to the first official meeting in Frankfurt.
The security check wasn't as scary as our trainers Keith and Richard told us it would be. In about half an hour, once the guards with the white gloves searched us (it was not as bad as it sounds), we started meetings with the "ECB people".
We had a three-hour session with Eszter Miltenyi, Senior Press Officer of the European Central Bank (ECB), Thierry Bracke, Deputy Head of the EU Neighboring Regions Division and Frigyes Heinz, Senior Economist. They were talking about the role and organization of the ECB, relations with the neighbouring regions and future euro area enlargement.
But right after the welcoming speech, it began - nothing.
I mean not literally nothing, we heard a lot of useful information about our countries, but nothing that can leave that big, shiny room. As we were told at the beginning of the session, and on the bottom of the schedule that they printed for us, all the discussions were "off the record".
"Please note that all sessions are strictly on background basis, no quotes of any kind are permitted", is what was written on our programme. I hope that this doesn’t qualify as a quote.
At the end, it was ok. We learned a lot about ECB, the advantages and risks of euro adoption, and stuff we can use in interviewing politicians from our countries. Also, they offered us coffee and cookies, but I am not at liberty to discuss it further.
And why shouldn't I respect their request? After all, I took their pen and notebook - which became a hot topic for debate in our group after a discussion about what "freebies" are acceptable for journalists.
Merima Husejnovic from Bosnia and Herzegovina
Session with Eszter Miltenyi, Thierry Bracke, and Frigyes Heinz, European Central Bank
We were just starting to get used to our daily "read in, country profile, exercise, training, pub" routine, when they took us to the first official meeting in Frankfurt.
The security check wasn't as scary as our trainers Keith and Richard told us it would be. In about half an hour, once the guards with the white gloves searched us (it was not as bad as it sounds), we started meetings with the "ECB people".
We had a three-hour session with Eszter Miltenyi, Senior Press Officer of the European Central Bank (ECB), Thierry Bracke, Deputy Head of the EU Neighboring Regions Division and Frigyes Heinz, Senior Economist. They were talking about the role and organization of the ECB, relations with the neighbouring regions and future euro area enlargement.
But right after the welcoming speech, it began - nothing.
I mean not literally nothing, we heard a lot of useful information about our countries, but nothing that can leave that big, shiny room. As we were told at the beginning of the session, and on the bottom of the schedule that they printed for us, all the discussions were "off the record".
"Please note that all sessions are strictly on background basis, no quotes of any kind are permitted", is what was written on our programme. I hope that this doesn’t qualify as a quote.
At the end, it was ok. We learned a lot about ECB, the advantages and risks of euro adoption, and stuff we can use in interviewing politicians from our countries. Also, they offered us coffee and cookies, but I am not at liberty to discuss it further.
And why shouldn't I respect their request? After all, I took their pen and notebook - which became a hot topic for debate in our group after a discussion about what "freebies" are acceptable for journalists.
Merima Husejnovic from Bosnia and Herzegovina
Monday flu
September 26, 2011
Session with Helge Tolksdorf, Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology
Monday morning was always my favourite. After a great weekend in a great city with even greater new friends, we had to do some work. First on our agenda was the visit to the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. Well, the conversation was completely off the record, so I am going to tell you a little bit about the gremlin in the Berlin air.
First it came from Romania. Then it got the youngest of us at the training from Bosnia and Herzegovina. I have to say in the beginning the bug had a really tricky time catching Croatia but Serbia yielded very easily. Macedonia provided medicines for all, but the gremlin got her anyway. Bulgaria was an easy target too and Kosovo finally succumbed.
But the flu bug - unexpected in the lovely Indian summer weather - revealed how much we loved each other and how tough we were. I realised this when we all shared Aspirins, Strepsils and handkerchiefs. Anyway, it was a funny thing since nobody missed a minute of classes or visiting parts of Berlin. It was a rough monster but we were stronger. The U-bahn was probably the place where we spread the bug around and passed it to the German folks!
Elvira Jukic from Bosnia and Herzegovina
Session with Helge Tolksdorf, Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology
Monday morning was always my favourite. After a great weekend in a great city with even greater new friends, we had to do some work. First on our agenda was the visit to the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. Well, the conversation was completely off the record, so I am going to tell you a little bit about the gremlin in the Berlin air.
First it came from Romania. Then it got the youngest of us at the training from Bosnia and Herzegovina. I have to say in the beginning the bug had a really tricky time catching Croatia but Serbia yielded very easily. Macedonia provided medicines for all, but the gremlin got her anyway. Bulgaria was an easy target too and Kosovo finally succumbed.
But the flu bug - unexpected in the lovely Indian summer weather - revealed how much we loved each other and how tough we were. I realised this when we all shared Aspirins, Strepsils and handkerchiefs. Anyway, it was a funny thing since nobody missed a minute of classes or visiting parts of Berlin. It was a rough monster but we were stronger. The U-bahn was probably the place where we spread the bug around and passed it to the German folks!
Elvira Jukic from Bosnia and Herzegovina
A visit to Transparency International’s office in Berlin
September 26, 2011
Session with Cornelia Abel, Transparency International
Our meeting at Transparency International Berlin’s office started with an invitation that we could interrupt and ask questions at any time during the presentation, which I think was a good thing.
The discussion with Cornelia Abel, the non-governmental organization’s programme coordinator for Southeast Europe, went well and was interesting but didn’t include any facts about specific cases of corruption in the region.
Abel talked about the future projects of the organization, which every year measures levels of corruption around the world.
Though there were in my view no exciting highlights in the overview of the organisation’s daily work, the most interesting part was that she announced that there would be a new strategy for Transparency International activities which in the next years will provide a stronger approach of the organization and stronger anticorruption solutions. The discussion lasted for an hour in their very nice office.
Aleksandar Momirovski from Macedonia
Session with Cornelia Abel, Transparency International
Our meeting at Transparency International Berlin’s office started with an invitation that we could interrupt and ask questions at any time during the presentation, which I think was a good thing.
The discussion with Cornelia Abel, the non-governmental organization’s programme coordinator for Southeast Europe, went well and was interesting but didn’t include any facts about specific cases of corruption in the region.
Abel talked about the future projects of the organization, which every year measures levels of corruption around the world.
Though there were in my view no exciting highlights in the overview of the organisation’s daily work, the most interesting part was that she announced that there would be a new strategy for Transparency International activities which in the next years will provide a stronger approach of the organization and stronger anticorruption solutions. The discussion lasted for an hour in their very nice office.
Aleksandar Momirovski from Macedonia
The heritage of a good man, Robert Bosch
September 26, 2011
Session with Sandra Breka, Robert Bosch Stiftung
In a week when the 150th anniversary of Robert Bosch’s birth day was celebrated, participants on our course visited the Berlin Office of his foundation. We had the opportunity to get more information about how the foundation works.
"We believe it is important to establish dialogue," said Sandra Breka, the Head of the Berlin Office. Journalists from Balkan countries were briefed about the foundation’s programmes in public health-care, science, education and especially in international relations. The foundation has 800 projects every year on which it can spend around 65 million euros. Money for the foundation comes from the Bosch company. In choosing projects the foundation follows the interests of Robert Bosch, establisher of the business empire.
At the beginning of the last century, he wrote a letter to a friend: "I would rather give 10 million marks then see war in the Balkans." That is a guiding light for foundation in projects dealing with the Balkans.
"We are establishing a network to spread this goal and that is our aim at the Robert Bosch Stiftung," Sandra Breka said at the end.
Josip Fiolić from Croatia
Session with Sandra Breka, Robert Bosch Stiftung
In a week when the 150th anniversary of Robert Bosch’s birth day was celebrated, participants on our course visited the Berlin Office of his foundation. We had the opportunity to get more information about how the foundation works.
"We believe it is important to establish dialogue," said Sandra Breka, the Head of the Berlin Office. Journalists from Balkan countries were briefed about the foundation’s programmes in public health-care, science, education and especially in international relations. The foundation has 800 projects every year on which it can spend around 65 million euros. Money for the foundation comes from the Bosch company. In choosing projects the foundation follows the interests of Robert Bosch, establisher of the business empire.
At the beginning of the last century, he wrote a letter to a friend: "I would rather give 10 million marks then see war in the Balkans." That is a guiding light for foundation in projects dealing with the Balkans.
"We are establishing a network to spread this goal and that is our aim at the Robert Bosch Stiftung," Sandra Breka said at the end.
Josip Fiolić from Croatia
Fewer babies, population shrinks in Old Continent
September 26, 2011
Session with Dr. Reiner Klingholz, Berlin Institute for Population and Development
No more baby-booms in Europe. Reiner Klingholz, director of the Berlin Institute for Population and Development, jumped up to room 107 of the Robert Bosch Foundation from the building next door to say the countries that make up today’s EU would lose around 50 million people by the year 2050.
He explained the shrinking number of young population with many green-coloured graphics in a scenario which predicts, in 30-40 years from now, more over 65-year-olds than 20-year-olds in Europe.
"If the working population declines rapidly compared to the number of pensioners, if gross domestic product shrinks, Europe will be doomed to fall behind in relation to the rest of the world," Klingholz said in his presentation. Despite this trend, he was quite optimistic for the future of Europe.
Mr. Klingholz said that politics had to face growing imbalances in Europe. "They have to take steps to upgrade family policy, pensions schemes and to better integrate immigrants," said the director of the Berlin Institute for Population and Development.
Aleksandra Bogdani from Albania
Session with Dr. Reiner Klingholz, Berlin Institute for Population and Development
No more baby-booms in Europe. Reiner Klingholz, director of the Berlin Institute for Population and Development, jumped up to room 107 of the Robert Bosch Foundation from the building next door to say the countries that make up today’s EU would lose around 50 million people by the year 2050.
He explained the shrinking number of young population with many green-coloured graphics in a scenario which predicts, in 30-40 years from now, more over 65-year-olds than 20-year-olds in Europe.
"If the working population declines rapidly compared to the number of pensioners, if gross domestic product shrinks, Europe will be doomed to fall behind in relation to the rest of the world," Klingholz said in his presentation. Despite this trend, he was quite optimistic for the future of Europe.
Mr. Klingholz said that politics had to face growing imbalances in Europe. "They have to take steps to upgrade family policy, pensions schemes and to better integrate immigrants," said the director of the Berlin Institute for Population and Development.
Aleksandra Bogdani from Albania
A German company in Southeastern Europe
September 26, 2011
Session with Claudia Charrabé, beton & rohrbau
Claudia Charrabé gave a speech on "Company ties to Southeastern Europe" to the 15 journalists from this part of Europe on our course, outlining investments the company makes in Southeastern Europe.
The company is involved at the moment in projects in many countries, in civil engineering for the public sector as well as in water and sewage systems.
We talked about the Balkans, why some projects succeed and others not, about the legal frameworks and the challenge of corruption and how to cope with it.
The company has some approximately 400 staff and an annual turnover of about 100 million euros.
Most of its business is in its home market and as well as Berlin it has offices in Halle, Leipzig, Magdeburg, Potsdam, Dessau, Rostock, Regensburg and Dresden. In the last five years it has expanded abroad and has worked in Albania, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and other countries.
Afet Bela from Kosovo
Session with Claudia Charrabé, beton & rohrbau
Claudia Charrabé gave a speech on "Company ties to Southeastern Europe" to the 15 journalists from this part of Europe on our course, outlining investments the company makes in Southeastern Europe.
The company is involved at the moment in projects in many countries, in civil engineering for the public sector as well as in water and sewage systems.
We talked about the Balkans, why some projects succeed and others not, about the legal frameworks and the challenge of corruption and how to cope with it.
The company has some approximately 400 staff and an annual turnover of about 100 million euros.
Most of its business is in its home market and as well as Berlin it has offices in Halle, Leipzig, Magdeburg, Potsdam, Dessau, Rostock, Regensburg and Dresden. In the last five years it has expanded abroad and has worked in Albania, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and other countries.
Afet Bela from Kosovo
German perspective of Balkan affairs
September 27, 2011
Session with Elisabeth Müller, Federal Foreign Office
One of the most interesting discussions in this year’s journalism program was the one with Elisabeth Müller, Deputy Head of Division "Western Balkans" in Germany’s Federal Foreign Office.
Talking about "The Balkans in Germany’s Foreign Policy" she emphasized that the region will stay as one of the top priorities and that Germany will support efforts of all countries to become members of the European Union.
"Balkan focus", Müller said "should be regional cooperation and reconciliation". In that sense, referring to individual countries, she stressed that violent tensions between Serbia and Kosovo must be ended, and replaced with constructive dialogue.
For Bosnia, said Müller, the European perspective is possible only without ethnic divides, for Macedonia, the solution of the name issue with Greece is crucial on the EU path.
Müller welcomed the Croatian membership in the Union, and praised Montenegro as "important player in regional stability" who still needs to provide rule of law and essential freedoms, the same goes for Albania which has to work harder in order to fulfill the EU criteria.
For us, the 15 Southeastern Europe journalists, the discussion about the future of the region through the prism of the strongest European country was very inspiring, especially in light of current Eurozone crisis, and, as some claim, "enlargement process fatigue".
Session with Elisabeth Müller, Federal Foreign Office
One of the most interesting discussions in this year’s journalism program was the one with Elisabeth Müller, Deputy Head of Division "Western Balkans" in Germany’s Federal Foreign Office.
Talking about "The Balkans in Germany’s Foreign Policy" she emphasized that the region will stay as one of the top priorities and that Germany will support efforts of all countries to become members of the European Union.
"Balkan focus", Müller said "should be regional cooperation and reconciliation". In that sense, referring to individual countries, she stressed that violent tensions between Serbia and Kosovo must be ended, and replaced with constructive dialogue.
For Bosnia, said Müller, the European perspective is possible only without ethnic divides, for Macedonia, the solution of the name issue with Greece is crucial on the EU path.
Müller welcomed the Croatian membership in the Union, and praised Montenegro as "important player in regional stability" who still needs to provide rule of law and essential freedoms, the same goes for Albania which has to work harder in order to fulfill the EU criteria.
For us, the 15 Southeastern Europe journalists, the discussion about the future of the region through the prism of the strongest European country was very inspiring, especially in light of current Eurozone crisis, and, as some claim, "enlargement process fatigue".
Milica Marinovic from Montenegro
Insights on personal finance journalism in Germany
September 27, 2011
Session with Hermann-Josef Tenhagen, Finanztest
Personal finance journalism has been a success story in Germany, Hermann-Josef Tenhagen, chief editor of Finanztest magazine, told a group of South-European journalists at a briefing. Finanztest has become a factor for decision makers in the German financial sector and is a benchmark for citizens’ trust in financial companies.
Tenhagen encouraged Balkan journalists to look into similar projects in their own countries, which could help limit collusion among banks and insurance companies and increase the transparency of the sector.
He presented one of his projects to compare interest rates on current accounts in German banks. The project attracted a lot of public interest as Finanztest put the 30 banks, which charged the highest interest rates, on the map of Germany.
The comparison achieved its aim in increasing the transparency and publicity of the banking system and also forced decision makers to judge from the consumer’s perspective as well.
Slavi Manalov from Bulgaria
Session with Hermann-Josef Tenhagen, Finanztest
Personal finance journalism has been a success story in Germany, Hermann-Josef Tenhagen, chief editor of Finanztest magazine, told a group of South-European journalists at a briefing. Finanztest has become a factor for decision makers in the German financial sector and is a benchmark for citizens’ trust in financial companies.
Tenhagen encouraged Balkan journalists to look into similar projects in their own countries, which could help limit collusion among banks and insurance companies and increase the transparency of the sector.
He presented one of his projects to compare interest rates on current accounts in German banks. The project attracted a lot of public interest as Finanztest put the 30 banks, which charged the highest interest rates, on the map of Germany.
The comparison achieved its aim in increasing the transparency and publicity of the banking system and also forced decision makers to judge from the consumer’s perspective as well.
Slavi Manalov from Bulgaria
Dem Deutschen Volke - zu Balkan-Studenten
September 27, 2011
Visit of the Reichstag in Berlin
This year’s participants in the Robert Bosch Stiftung - Thomson Reuters Foundation programme "Economic and Political Reporting from Southeast Europe" had a unique opportunity to visit the Reichstag building at a very special moment.
From the large glass dome in the building where the German Parliament, or Bundestag, sits, we could glimpse the process of deciding whether German parliamentarians would approve a Greek bailout or not.
On a lovely Indian summer day, we got a quick impression of the transparent ceiling of parliament’s chamber, symbolizing the democratic way of the decision-making process. For some of us, it was interesting to feel we were able to participate - from above - in a historical moment that may shape the future of the whole European Union.
Otherwise, if we had come some other day to visit the Reichstag, the highlight would probably have been a 360-degree view from the dome of the surrounding Berlin cityscape. And it would probably have been a cloudy day in early autumn.
Snezana Krivokapic from Serbia
Visit of the Reichstag in Berlin
This year’s participants in the Robert Bosch Stiftung - Thomson Reuters Foundation programme "Economic and Political Reporting from Southeast Europe" had a unique opportunity to visit the Reichstag building at a very special moment.
From the large glass dome in the building where the German Parliament, or Bundestag, sits, we could glimpse the process of deciding whether German parliamentarians would approve a Greek bailout or not.
On a lovely Indian summer day, we got a quick impression of the transparent ceiling of parliament’s chamber, symbolizing the democratic way of the decision-making process. For some of us, it was interesting to feel we were able to participate - from above - in a historical moment that may shape the future of the whole European Union.
Otherwise, if we had come some other day to visit the Reichstag, the highlight would probably have been a 360-degree view from the dome of the surrounding Berlin cityscape. And it would probably have been a cloudy day in early autumn.
Snezana Krivokapic from Serbia
Newspapers should go online
September 27, 2011
Session with Moritz Döbler, Tagesspiegel
During our one-week visit to Berlin the 15 of us met the Head of the economics section of the Berlin daily Tagesspiegel to discuss how Germany is facing the economic crisis. But Döbler’s speech headed in a different direction due to many questions from journalists about the future of print journalism.
Döbler explained that we must find a new business model to sell words to readers and sell readers to advertisers. He said that we need more loyal readers and less agency news copy in newspapers.
"Before Apple everybody ripped music for free, but now almost everyone is paying for the same music because they are paying for brand, for iTunes", he said.
Döbler was trying to explain that the future of print media is to go online as a brand.
"We need quality journalism, a new model to make readers pay for our work. For example, when I use the phone I am paying a lot but I cannot see them, but if I have to use a credit card to pay for the news I am not going to pay", he added.
Sonja Jovanova from Macedonia
Session with Moritz Döbler, Tagesspiegel
During our one-week visit to Berlin the 15 of us met the Head of the economics section of the Berlin daily Tagesspiegel to discuss how Germany is facing the economic crisis. But Döbler’s speech headed in a different direction due to many questions from journalists about the future of print journalism.
Döbler explained that we must find a new business model to sell words to readers and sell readers to advertisers. He said that we need more loyal readers and less agency news copy in newspapers.
"Before Apple everybody ripped music for free, but now almost everyone is paying for the same music because they are paying for brand, for iTunes", he said.
Döbler was trying to explain that the future of print media is to go online as a brand.
"We need quality journalism, a new model to make readers pay for our work. For example, when I use the phone I am paying a lot but I cannot see them, but if I have to use a credit card to pay for the news I am not going to pay", he added.
Sonja Jovanova from Macedonia
Climate change, still a hot topic
September 27, 2011
Session with Dr. Brigitte Knopf, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
Climate change is still one of the hottest topics when we are talking about globalization and the future of humankind. In Potsdam, a small city near Berlin, senior researcher Dr. Brigitte Knopf convinced us why the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research is growing in importance and has become one of the top recognized bodies in its field in the world.
Located in an isolated area, in the middle of the nature, the institute is in a perfect suitable setting for climate change researchers. Knopf told us in a meeting that countries should accelerate the reduction of carbon emissions in order to be at sustainable levels by 2050, but challenges still remain.
Marius Radu from Romania
Session with Dr. Brigitte Knopf, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
Climate change is still one of the hottest topics when we are talking about globalization and the future of humankind. In Potsdam, a small city near Berlin, senior researcher Dr. Brigitte Knopf convinced us why the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research is growing in importance and has become one of the top recognized bodies in its field in the world.
Located in an isolated area, in the middle of the nature, the institute is in a perfect suitable setting for climate change researchers. Knopf told us in a meeting that countries should accelerate the reduction of carbon emissions in order to be at sustainable levels by 2050, but challenges still remain.
Marius Radu from Romania
Visit to Brussels, London, and Oxford
From April 10-12, 2011, 15 selected journalists from Southeastern Europe visited Brussels, London, and Oxford to discuss current topics with representatives of the European Parliament and the European Commission. Moreover, they met analysts, lobbyists and journalists in the EU capital Brussels. On April 13 the participating journalists met with experts at Oxford, and on April 14 they visited the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Read impressions from this journey:
From April 10-12, 2011, 15 selected journalists from Southeastern Europe visited Brussels, London, and Oxford to discuss current topics with representatives of the European Parliament and the European Commission. Moreover, they met analysts, lobbyists and journalists in the EU capital Brussels. On April 13 the participating journalists met with experts at Oxford, and on April 14 they visited the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Read impressions from this journey:
Strategies to strengthen the euro
April 11, 2011
Session with Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, European Parliament
The parliament has excellent security checks and is well organised. Visiting this institution was a good experience. Lambsdorff’s speech, and talking to him afterwards, was more than useful for journalists who come from countries which are candidates for entering the EU.
Mr Lambsdorff had precise, direct and educational observations for the current euro crisis. He reserved a lot of time to provide us with insights into the EU financial system and current challenges and strategies.
After the meeting we asked each other if all EU representatives were always so cautious when they speak to journalists.
We took photos in front of all the national flags of member countries in the hall of the EU Parliament, hoping that one day we will see ours among them.
(Snezana Krivokapic from Serbia, Aleksandar Momirovski from Macedonia)
Session with Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, European Parliament
The parliament has excellent security checks and is well organised. Visiting this institution was a good experience. Lambsdorff’s speech, and talking to him afterwards, was more than useful for journalists who come from countries which are candidates for entering the EU.
Mr Lambsdorff had precise, direct and educational observations for the current euro crisis. He reserved a lot of time to provide us with insights into the EU financial system and current challenges and strategies.
After the meeting we asked each other if all EU representatives were always so cautious when they speak to journalists.
We took photos in front of all the national flags of member countries in the hall of the EU Parliament, hoping that one day we will see ours among them.
(Snezana Krivokapic from Serbia, Aleksandar Momirovski from Macedonia)
Enlargement for Southeastern Europe and the Yeti
April 11, 2011
Session with Natasha Butler, European Commission
European Union enlargement fatigue is like a Yeti - everybody talks about it but nobody has actually seen it, said Natasha Butler, spokesperson for Stefan Fuele, European Commissioner for enlargement and neighborhood policy.
She spoke to our group of 15 journalists from Southeastern Europe about the bids of Macedonia, Croatia and Serbia to join the EU. She noted that the Western Balkan countries have made progress but still needed to work on improving fundamental rights, such as freedom of speech and democracy.
(Sonja Jovanova from Macedonia, Marius Radu from Romania)
Session with Natasha Butler, European Commission
European Union enlargement fatigue is like a Yeti - everybody talks about it but nobody has actually seen it, said Natasha Butler, spokesperson for Stefan Fuele, European Commissioner for enlargement and neighborhood policy.
She spoke to our group of 15 journalists from Southeastern Europe about the bids of Macedonia, Croatia and Serbia to join the EU. She noted that the Western Balkan countries have made progress but still needed to work on improving fundamental rights, such as freedom of speech and democracy.
(Sonja Jovanova from Macedonia, Marius Radu from Romania)
Assessment of the EU’s visa liberalisation policies
April 11, 2011
Lunch with Alexandra Stiglmayer, European Stability Initiative (ESI)
Alexandra Stiglmayer is a senior analyst at the European Stability Initiative (ESI) who met us for lunch in a nice Brussels restaurant, and spoke about EU visa liberalisation policies for Southeastern Europe. She warned that the European Commission could suspend the new visa-free regime which benefits Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.
“Serbia and Macedonia have to be worried. There is a big chance that liberalisation could be frozen for both countries” she said. Albania and Bosnia were causing less of a problem. The Commission is expected to assess the results of liberalisation after June 2011 and may well suspend it. Too many people came to Western Europe and stayed to seek work as illegal immigrants, she said. Shelter and healthcare for asylum seekers also cost host countries a great deal”, she said.
Her presentation was followed by a lot of questions, tasty food and delicious ice-cream.
(Stefan Antonov from Bulgaria, Alexandra Bogdani from Albania)
Lunch with Alexandra Stiglmayer, European Stability Initiative (ESI)
Alexandra Stiglmayer is a senior analyst at the European Stability Initiative (ESI) who met us for lunch in a nice Brussels restaurant, and spoke about EU visa liberalisation policies for Southeastern Europe. She warned that the European Commission could suspend the new visa-free regime which benefits Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.
“Serbia and Macedonia have to be worried. There is a big chance that liberalisation could be frozen for both countries” she said. Albania and Bosnia were causing less of a problem. The Commission is expected to assess the results of liberalisation after June 2011 and may well suspend it. Too many people came to Western Europe and stayed to seek work as illegal immigrants, she said. Shelter and healthcare for asylum seekers also cost host countries a great deal”, she said.
Her presentation was followed by a lot of questions, tasty food and delicious ice-cream.
(Stefan Antonov from Bulgaria, Alexandra Bogdani from Albania)
NATO in Times of Changing Security Policies
April 11, 2011
Session with Dr. Jamie Patrick Shea, NATO
NATO invaded Reuters. Ha-ha!
Watch his job title: Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges Division at the headquarters of NATO. That’s Dr. Jamie Patrick Shea. Most of the students of Economic and Political Reporting from Southeast Europe remember him as a spokesman of NATO during alliance’s bombardment of Serbia in 1999. This guy was on TV every day.
He gave a speech on changing security politics and what is NATO’s role here. Mr Shea gave students a lot to think about what war is nowadays. Is hacking into someone’s nuclear plant an act of war? Should you respond with military force? This is pretty cool stuff. Maybe it’s time to update Geneva Convention?
Jamie Shea is a kind of speaker that won’t let you get bored with his adventures. Don’t understand “ha-ha” in the headline? Wait till you hear Jamie Shea talking.
(Afet Bela from Kosovo, Rok Pikon from Slovenia)
Session with Dr. Jamie Patrick Shea, NATO
NATO invaded Reuters. Ha-ha!
Watch his job title: Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges Division at the headquarters of NATO. That’s Dr. Jamie Patrick Shea. Most of the students of Economic and Political Reporting from Southeast Europe remember him as a spokesman of NATO during alliance’s bombardment of Serbia in 1999. This guy was on TV every day.
He gave a speech on changing security politics and what is NATO’s role here. Mr Shea gave students a lot to think about what war is nowadays. Is hacking into someone’s nuclear plant an act of war? Should you respond with military force? This is pretty cool stuff. Maybe it’s time to update Geneva Convention?
Jamie Shea is a kind of speaker that won’t let you get bored with his adventures. Don’t understand “ha-ha” in the headline? Wait till you hear Jamie Shea talking.
(Afet Bela from Kosovo, Rok Pikon from Slovenia)
Transatlantic Relations in Politics and Economics
April 11, 2011
Session with Peter H. Chase, The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) and U.S. Chamber of Commerce
In Brussels on Monday April 11 we met former U.S. foreign policy official Peter Chase to discuss relations between the United States and European Union. He started with a short presentation on the historical ties between the two blocks and this was followed by a lively discussion.
Chase emphasised that trade was key in EU-US relations as the two blocs are each other’s largest trading partner. However, some trade barriers are still in place and a free trade agreement is hard to negotiate due to the sheer size of the two economies. Immigration was another interesting point in the discussion. Both sides agreed that the EU needs to increase immigration thresholds in order to ensure sustainable growth in the bloc.
Immigration in the EU should increase five times in order to ensure the retirees-to-labour force ratio stays at its current level. The US benefits from positive population growth, while the EU population is aging and declining.
(Elvira Jukic from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slavi Manalov from Bulgaria)
Session with Peter H. Chase, The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) and U.S. Chamber of Commerce
In Brussels on Monday April 11 we met former U.S. foreign policy official Peter Chase to discuss relations between the United States and European Union. He started with a short presentation on the historical ties between the two blocks and this was followed by a lively discussion.
Chase emphasised that trade was key in EU-US relations as the two blocs are each other’s largest trading partner. However, some trade barriers are still in place and a free trade agreement is hard to negotiate due to the sheer size of the two economies. Immigration was another interesting point in the discussion. Both sides agreed that the EU needs to increase immigration thresholds in order to ensure sustainable growth in the bloc.
Immigration in the EU should increase five times in order to ensure the retirees-to-labour force ratio stays at its current level. The US benefits from positive population growth, while the EU population is aging and declining.
(Elvira Jukic from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slavi Manalov from Bulgaria)
Turkey, the EU and business
April 12, 2011
Session with Dr. Bahadir Kaleagasi, TUSIAD
In Brussels we met a representative of the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TUSIAD) to discuss political consulting for enterprises in the European Union.
Dr. Bahadir Kaleagasi, International Coordinator of TUSIAD, which he said was the main voice of Turkish business, said joining the EU was important for his country.
He said the inefficiency of EU institutions was one big worry but that this and other problems did not prevent Turkey from still believing the EU was attractive to them. “It is up to EU to remain attractive, and it is up to Turkey to be ready,” Kaleagasi said.
Turkey applied to join the European Union in 1987, and was officially recognised as a candidate for full membership in 1999. Negotiations started six years later.
(Josip Fiolic from Croatia, Merima Husejnovic from Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Session with Dr. Bahadir Kaleagasi, TUSIAD
In Brussels we met a representative of the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TUSIAD) to discuss political consulting for enterprises in the European Union.
Dr. Bahadir Kaleagasi, International Coordinator of TUSIAD, which he said was the main voice of Turkish business, said joining the EU was important for his country.
He said the inefficiency of EU institutions was one big worry but that this and other problems did not prevent Turkey from still believing the EU was attractive to them. “It is up to EU to remain attractive, and it is up to Turkey to be ready,” Kaleagasi said.
Turkey applied to join the European Union in 1987, and was officially recognised as a candidate for full membership in 1999. Negotiations started six years later.
(Josip Fiolic from Croatia, Merima Husejnovic from Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Advocacy Strategies of Daimler in Brussels
April 12, 2011
Session with Markus Ring, Daimler
Our meeting started with the usual “name-song” which we became really good at (my name is xy, I work for xy….). It was held at Daimler’s Brussels office on April 12 (the second day of our Brussels field trip) and it was off the record. It seems that when one visits Brussels, the inevitable talking point is - lobbying.
Most major firms try to run an office in the EU capital, although the cost of doing it is high. The logic of the decision is that Brussels is the hub of the EU legislation, as Markus Ring, Daimler’s senior manager for legal and economic policy, explained to our group.
Apparently, there is a heated lobbying debate in Brussels, prompted by the recent 'cash for laws' scandal involving some European parliament members who fell into an undercover journalists’ trap (London Sunday Times reporters posing as lobbyists offered them money to introduce certain amendments in the legislation).
Parliament is negotiating with the European Commission to improve lobbying legislation. Some NGOs have complained that the current procedure is insufficient because registering is voluntary and does not include enough important information.
(Adina Ardeleanu from Romania, Barbara Peranic from Croatia)
Session with Markus Ring, Daimler
Our meeting started with the usual “name-song” which we became really good at (my name is xy, I work for xy….). It was held at Daimler’s Brussels office on April 12 (the second day of our Brussels field trip) and it was off the record. It seems that when one visits Brussels, the inevitable talking point is - lobbying.
Most major firms try to run an office in the EU capital, although the cost of doing it is high. The logic of the decision is that Brussels is the hub of the EU legislation, as Markus Ring, Daimler’s senior manager for legal and economic policy, explained to our group.
Apparently, there is a heated lobbying debate in Brussels, prompted by the recent 'cash for laws' scandal involving some European parliament members who fell into an undercover journalists’ trap (London Sunday Times reporters posing as lobbyists offered them money to introduce certain amendments in the legislation).
Parliament is negotiating with the European Commission to improve lobbying legislation. Some NGOs have complained that the current procedure is insufficient because registering is voluntary and does not include enough important information.
(Adina Ardeleanu from Romania, Barbara Peranic from Croatia)
Financial Reporting in the European Union
April 12, 2011
Lunch with Jan Strupczewski, Thomson Reuters
Lunch with our fellow journalist Jan Strupczewski in Brussels was our last meeting during our three-day stay in Brussels and one of the most interesting. Jan, who has worked for Thomson Reuters for five years in the European Union “capital”, explained how journalists can succeed or fail in Brussels.
He said they must have plenty of sources if they want to be good at the job here and that gathering enough sources takes at least a year. Strupczewski said every journalist needed sources in the most important departments of European institutions and also a lot of knowledge about regulatory law and economic issues if he wants to be taken seriously.
The most interesting part of his speech on financial reporting in the European Union was when he said that you must be sure of your sources and double-check the information because sometimes it may be wrong or not quite true.
Hearing Jan’s experience working in Brussels was very useful and educational and for sure, it took our attention away from the excellent food that we were served during our lunch together.
(Snezana Krivokapic from Serbia, Aleksandar Momirovski from Macedonia)
Lunch with Jan Strupczewski, Thomson Reuters
Lunch with our fellow journalist Jan Strupczewski in Brussels was our last meeting during our three-day stay in Brussels and one of the most interesting. Jan, who has worked for Thomson Reuters for five years in the European Union “capital”, explained how journalists can succeed or fail in Brussels.
He said they must have plenty of sources if they want to be good at the job here and that gathering enough sources takes at least a year. Strupczewski said every journalist needed sources in the most important departments of European institutions and also a lot of knowledge about regulatory law and economic issues if he wants to be taken seriously.
The most interesting part of his speech on financial reporting in the European Union was when he said that you must be sure of your sources and double-check the information because sometimes it may be wrong or not quite true.
Hearing Jan’s experience working in Brussels was very useful and educational and for sure, it took our attention away from the excellent food that we were served during our lunch together.
(Snezana Krivokapic from Serbia, Aleksandar Momirovski from Macedonia)
Visit to Oxford
April 13, 2011
Sessions with Henrik Ornebring, Vaclav Stetka and Robert Picard, Reuters Institute at University of Oxford
On our one-day visit to the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism in Oxford, we heard about the troublesome and poorly understood relationship between democracy and the media in Central and Eastern Europe.
Henrik Ornebring, a senior research fellow at the University of Oxford, and his colleague Vaclav Stetka showed the relationships between media politics and business in these countries are very strong and that these days’ journalists, young on average, were seeing their job just as a stepping stone to another career.
Answering questions, the speakers said that even though the study was based on research of Central and Eastern European countries that joined the EU since 2004, things were no different in the Western Balkans from where most of the journalists present come from. After a useful debate at the Institute, and a presentation on media trends by Prof. Robert Picard, a tour guide took us through the heart of the historic city, illustrating the story of Oxford and its university, describing the architecture and traditions of its most famous buildings and institutions.
(Sonja Jovanova from Macedonia, Milica Marinovic from Montenegro)
Sessions with Henrik Ornebring, Vaclav Stetka and Robert Picard, Reuters Institute at University of Oxford
On our one-day visit to the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism in Oxford, we heard about the troublesome and poorly understood relationship between democracy and the media in Central and Eastern Europe.
Henrik Ornebring, a senior research fellow at the University of Oxford, and his colleague Vaclav Stetka showed the relationships between media politics and business in these countries are very strong and that these days’ journalists, young on average, were seeing their job just as a stepping stone to another career.
Answering questions, the speakers said that even though the study was based on research of Central and Eastern European countries that joined the EU since 2004, things were no different in the Western Balkans from where most of the journalists present come from. After a useful debate at the Institute, and a presentation on media trends by Prof. Robert Picard, a tour guide took us through the heart of the historic city, illustrating the story of Oxford and its university, describing the architecture and traditions of its most famous buildings and institutions.
(Sonja Jovanova from Macedonia, Milica Marinovic from Montenegro)
Visit of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
April 14, 2011
Session with Peter Sanfey and Varel Freeman, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
A group of journalists from South-east Europe met with EBRD Lead Economist Peter Sanfey and EBRD Vice-President Varel Freeman on Thursday, April 14 to discuss the bank’s economic support to the region.
The EBRD officials emphasized that the bank will maintain its current levels of investment in the region despite that high chance that it will commence operation in Egypt. The Western Balkans still remains a priority area for the EBRD and additional efforts will be directed to supporting energy efficiency and food security in the region. The EBRD is the largest institutional investor in the region with a total investment of 2.5 billion euro.
Freeman said the EBRD is ready to start lending to Bulgaria in case the EU cuts financing from cohesion funds. The bank also supports better governance in Bosnia and Herzegovina via various projects.
As regards Romania, he said markets were impressed with the current government’s efforts to remain in its chair after having adopted tough measures during the crisis. In the future, the best thing for the country would be to stick to the agreement with the IMF, he noted. Freeman also confirmed the EBRD is willing to take a larger role together with other international financial institutions to support the EU banking system.
(Marius Radu from Romania, Slavi Manalov from Bulgaria)
Session with Peter Sanfey and Varel Freeman, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
A group of journalists from South-east Europe met with EBRD Lead Economist Peter Sanfey and EBRD Vice-President Varel Freeman on Thursday, April 14 to discuss the bank’s economic support to the region.
The EBRD officials emphasized that the bank will maintain its current levels of investment in the region despite that high chance that it will commence operation in Egypt. The Western Balkans still remains a priority area for the EBRD and additional efforts will be directed to supporting energy efficiency and food security in the region. The EBRD is the largest institutional investor in the region with a total investment of 2.5 billion euro.
Freeman said the EBRD is ready to start lending to Bulgaria in case the EU cuts financing from cohesion funds. The bank also supports better governance in Bosnia and Herzegovina via various projects.
As regards Romania, he said markets were impressed with the current government’s efforts to remain in its chair after having adopted tough measures during the crisis. In the future, the best thing for the country would be to stick to the agreement with the IMF, he noted. Freeman also confirmed the EBRD is willing to take a larger role together with other international financial institutions to support the EU banking system.
(Marius Radu from Romania, Slavi Manalov from Bulgaria)
Picture Gallery
Bucharest - What connects the close to 40 people that met up in Bucharest on a sunny weekend in July of this year? Four weeks. They’re from eleven different countries in Southeast Europe, and they work for different magazines, newspapers, TV networks, and radio stations, mostly for business media companies. They speak a variety of languages and live in different cultures. But for a period of four weeks, groups of twelve traveled together to London, Brussels, Berlin, and Frankfurt. They participated in the “Economic and Political Reporting from Southeast Europe” support program, visited seminars, and met with politicians and economic experts.
First alumni get-together
The program is currently in its fourth year, and the first alumni get-together was held this year in Bucharest from July 16 to 18. In 2007, the Robert Bosch Stiftung launched the “Economic and Political Reporting from Southeast Europe” program together with the Thomson Reuters Foundation. The goal of the program: expertise, exchange, experiences, opinions. The idea was to give these journalists the opportunity to get up close and personal with the things they report on every day: the European Central Bank, the European Parliament, the London Stock Exchange. The participants spent a total of four weeks traveling around West Europe to these various places. For many of them - like Valentina Nesic, one of the program’s participants from the first year in 2007 - this was their first trip to the continent’s economic and political centers.
The 35-year-old Serbian journalist can clearly remember the trip she went on three years ago with eleven colleagues as a part of the program, which was jam-packed and full of events. “We did so many things every day; I literally fell into bed each night exhausted. But I came back with new perspectives, contacts, and friends,” she said. Many of which she hasn’t seen since then.
So naturally everyone was extremely excited to see each other again at the alumni get-together. On the first day, hugs and tears of joy could be seen throughout the lobby of the Ramada Majestic Hotel in Bucharest. They shared the latest news with one another in English, often the sole mutual language spoken throughout the group.
Exchanging information and swapping stories was on the agenda
The items on the conference’s agenda over the weekend were also held in English. Valentin Lazea, from the Romanian National Bank, spoke about the efforts and problems his country faced during their long path towards the Euro, much of it “off the record,” which is the term used by journalists to describe internal information which cannot be quoted directly. Journalist Ioana Avadani spoke about freedom of the press, and the Romanian alumni themselves discussed how the economic crisis changed the media landscape in their country. Exchanging information and swapping stories was on the agenda, and everyone contributed and played their part, whether during the day in the conference room or at night in the club over a bottle of Ursus, one of Romania’s best-selling beers.
So what’s up next? While this get-together in Bucharest was organized and funded by the Robert Bosch Stiftung and the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the alumni will have to take care of future meetings themselves. So on the last day, they spent some time gathering ideas. Small groups came up with suggestions, most of them concrete, such as already holding the next alumni get-together in 2011 in Split, Croatia, which will see guest speakers discuss the relationship between business and science. So will it continue? There isn’t a doubt in anybody’s mind. By now, the group has grown to include enough dedicated former participants. And the desire to keep the program alive is as clear as the nose on everyone’s face. The program has grown up.
(Christian Heinrich, August 2010)
First alumni get-together
The program is currently in its fourth year, and the first alumni get-together was held this year in Bucharest from July 16 to 18. In 2007, the Robert Bosch Stiftung launched the “Economic and Political Reporting from Southeast Europe” program together with the Thomson Reuters Foundation. The goal of the program: expertise, exchange, experiences, opinions. The idea was to give these journalists the opportunity to get up close and personal with the things they report on every day: the European Central Bank, the European Parliament, the London Stock Exchange. The participants spent a total of four weeks traveling around West Europe to these various places. For many of them - like Valentina Nesic, one of the program’s participants from the first year in 2007 - this was their first trip to the continent’s economic and political centers.
The 35-year-old Serbian journalist can clearly remember the trip she went on three years ago with eleven colleagues as a part of the program, which was jam-packed and full of events. “We did so many things every day; I literally fell into bed each night exhausted. But I came back with new perspectives, contacts, and friends,” she said. Many of which she hasn’t seen since then.
So naturally everyone was extremely excited to see each other again at the alumni get-together. On the first day, hugs and tears of joy could be seen throughout the lobby of the Ramada Majestic Hotel in Bucharest. They shared the latest news with one another in English, often the sole mutual language spoken throughout the group.
Exchanging information and swapping stories was on the agenda
The items on the conference’s agenda over the weekend were also held in English. Valentin Lazea, from the Romanian National Bank, spoke about the efforts and problems his country faced during their long path towards the Euro, much of it “off the record,” which is the term used by journalists to describe internal information which cannot be quoted directly. Journalist Ioana Avadani spoke about freedom of the press, and the Romanian alumni themselves discussed how the economic crisis changed the media landscape in their country. Exchanging information and swapping stories was on the agenda, and everyone contributed and played their part, whether during the day in the conference room or at night in the club over a bottle of Ursus, one of Romania’s best-selling beers.
So what’s up next? While this get-together in Bucharest was organized and funded by the Robert Bosch Stiftung and the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the alumni will have to take care of future meetings themselves. So on the last day, they spent some time gathering ideas. Small groups came up with suggestions, most of them concrete, such as already holding the next alumni get-together in 2011 in Split, Croatia, which will see guest speakers discuss the relationship between business and science. So will it continue? There isn’t a doubt in anybody’s mind. By now, the group has grown to include enough dedicated former participants. And the desire to keep the program alive is as clear as the nose on everyone’s face. The program has grown up.
(Christian Heinrich, August 2010)