Days of Europe in Murmansk

From May 28th to May 30th the ‘EU Days’ were conducted in Murmansk State Technical University within the framework of the project ‘Establishing of the EU Centre in the Barents Region of Russia’.
The ‘EU Days’ started in Murmansk with a roundtable on the topic ‘Youth Politics of Russia and EU: trends and international practices’.
The roundtable was opened by Moiseenko Elena Alekseevna - manager of the project ‘Establishing of the EU Centre in the Barents Region of Russia.’ Elena mentioned the main objectives of the project and events planned. The project is being implemented with the financial support of the European Commission. The project is designed for 3 years. The target audience of the project includes students, postgraduate students, professors and lecturers, municipal and regional authorities, civil society institutions, business-associations and the general public of the Barents region that are eager to receive information, education, conduct research, as well as study and get involved into project activities with the EU countries
Within the framework of the project MSTU lecturers will develop training courses in English on the EU issues. Moreover they will also undergo training in Central European University in Budapest (Hungary), which is one of the main aspects, - says Elena, in terms with the fact that Russia joined common European educational space in the field of higher education.
Within the framework of the project the following training workshops will be held: Integrated course on the EU, Principles and Basics of International Cooperation, seminar of European donor-organisations. Elena told us about events held this year within the ‘EU Days’ and shared hope that current events like all the upcoming ones will facilitate strengthening of mutual interest between the North of Russia and the EU countries.
Representatives of Murmansk Department of the Consulate General of Finland in Saint-Petersburg, Directorate for International Cooperation of the Government of Murmansk Region, Committee on social support and cooperation with public organizations and youth affairs of the city of Murmansk, Murmansk regional public foundation ‘House of the Youth’, Murmansk regional public organization ‘Twin Cities Murmansk – Groningen’, Office for Promotion of Youth Cooperation in the Barents Region, Murmansk State Student Council within the administration of the city of Murmansk, Youth Government of the Murmansk region, IYPO ‘Humanistic Youth Movement’ and other public organizations participated in the roundtable.
Professors and lecturers, students and postgraduate students of MSTU, MSHU and IIBE also took part in the seminar.

Alexander Mikhailovich Ershov, rector of MSTU, greeted the participants of the roundtable:
- I am pleased to welcome you on this event, - said rector. The main aim of the establishment of the EU Centre in the Barents Region of Russia is to ensure that the youth of the Kola Peninsula and the youth of the EU establish more contacts. The more contacts we have - the more trust we gain. Young people have a lot in common. At the same time Ershov mentioned that there is mutual interest in educational sphere, in the field of employment, and level of social security.
Talking to the participants of the roundtable Martti Ruokokoski, Consul of the Murmansk Department of the Consulate General of Finland in Saint-Petersburg, spoke about political activity of the youth in Finland.
- Eight political parties are represented in the National Parliament of Finland. There are youth organizations within every party, - said the Consul. Participation of the youth in politics is important due to the fact that the more people we will have in power, the more youngsters will affect politics and society. This is what we call democracy, when a citizen personally affects decision-making process. For students, according to Martti Ruokokoski, politics is one of the ways to organize their free time.
Reports on the following topics were presented at the seminar: ‘Global Trend of the Development of the Youth politics on the Example of the EU countries’, ‘Implementation of the Youth Politics in Murmansk’, ‘Youth Politics as a Response to the Challenges and Risks of the Era in Context of Regional Identity’, ‘Youth Politics of the Northern Countries’, ‘European Russian Youth Forum 2012’, ‘EU and Russia: Current Trends in the Dialogue’, ‘Alternative Youth Politics on the example of ‘House of the Youth Mister Pink’, ‘International Movement ‘THINK Mental Fashion’: Proper Channels of Communication as a Key to Success’, ‘Organization of Interaction of Students of Murmansk’.

During the roundtable experts and students discussed possible ways of solution of the existing problems concerning not only the youth, but all the population of European countries and Russia, and the importance of taking practical measures and comprehensive approach in addressing issues of the youth policy. Students of three leading universities MSTU, MSHU, IIBE, as well as the representatives of youth associations, took active part in discussion, and proved their points of view argumentatively.
Some particularly urgent problems, the society is dealing with now, caused hot debates on the following issues: immigration politics and interaction of Western and Eastern cultures, family status as a social institute at the beginning of the ХХI century, attitude towards the authorities and public bodies in contemporary Russia.

At the end of the roundtable guests took part in a master class by Irish dance school ‘Shiamsa’, and learned moves typical for this dancing tradition. Moreover guests had a chance to view a presentation about the history of the Irish dance.