CRES SUMMER SCHOOL: Regaining new European and democratic momentum together, 14 – 19 September 2025, Cres, Croatia
Next Generation Europe
The “CRES Summer School”,organised on the island of Cres (Croatia), will focus on the
“Defending democracy in turbulent times: challenges and opportunities. The European perspective”
Programme
Sunday, 14 September:
Arrival
Monday, 15 September:
9.30 – 10.30 Opening session: Welcome by the organisers and introduction of the participants
10.30 – 10.45 Coffee break
10.45 – 12.30 Keynote address and open discussion with Evelyn Regner, Member of the European Parliament
“A new European momentum? How the present challenges change the future of Europe.”
Chaired by Vedran Džihić, Senior Researcher at the Austrian Institute for International Affairs – oiip and Paul Schmidt, Secretary General of the Austrian Society for European Politics (ÖGfE)
12.30 – 14.00 Lunch (Pizzeria i spaghetteria Luna Rossa, Palada ul. 4b)
14.00 – 15.30 Keynote address and open discussion with Ignacio Molina, Senior Fellow at the Elcano Royal Institute and Lecturer at the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM)
“Europe’s global role: security, economic strength, and strategic enlargement”
15.30 – 18.30 Free time
19.00 – 20.30 Evening inspiration: “Next Generation sharing experiences” with inputs by Summer School participants
20.30 Welcome dinner (Pizzeria Palada, Palada ul.) – offered by the French Embassy in Croatia
Tuesday, 16 September:
9:00 – 10:30 Keynote adresses and open discussion with H.E. José Ramón García Hernández, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to the Republic of Croatia and Fatih Akcal, Counsellor for political affairs at the Embassy of France to the Republic of Croatia
“The future of EU integration and enlargement – what is at stake? A view from Spain and France.”
Chaired by Ignacio Molina, Senior Fellow at the Elcano Royal Institute and Lecturer at the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM) and Paul Schmidt
10.30 – 11.00 Coffee break
12.30 – 14.00 Lunch (Pizzeria i spaghetteria Luna Rossa, Palada ul. 4b) – offered by the French Embassy in Croatia
“Democratic activism for Europe – ideas and actions to move the region towards new horizons” –
Part I
16.00 – 19.00 Free time
19.00 – 20.30 Evening inspiration: “Accountability in action: evidence, coalitions, and policy change.”, Tena Prelec, Assistant Professor in Politics and IR, University of Rijeka
20.30 Dinner (Pizzeria Palada, Palada ul.)
Wednesday, 17 September:
09.30 – 11.00 Keynote address and open discussion with Cengiz Günay, Director of the Austrian Institute for International Affairs – oiip
“Autocratisation vs. democracy – where do we stand?”
11.00 – 11.30 Coffee break
“Democratic activism for Europe – ideas and actions to move the region towards new horizons” –
Part II (Drafting a joint document)
13.00 – 14.30 Lunch (Pizzeria i spaghetteria Luna Rossa, Palada ul. 4b)
14.30 – 19.00 Video recording: “What are the three most important questions Europe should deal with and why?” – Free time
19.00 – 20.30 Evening inspiration: “From activism to politics and back” with Nebojša Zelić, Assistant Professor at the Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Head of the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Rijeka, University of Rijeka, and representative of Možemo!
20.30 Dinner (Pizzeria Palada, Palada ul.)
Thursday, 18 September:
09.30 – 11.00 Creative workshop – with coffee breaks – led by Senada Šelo-Šabić and Vedran Džihić:
“Democratic activism for Europe – ideas and actions to move the region towards new horizons” – Part III (Drafting a joint document)
11.00 – 11.30 Coffee break
11.30 – 13.00 Creative workshop – with coffee breaks – led by Senada Šelo-Šabić and Vedran Džihić:
“Democratic activism for Europe – Ideas and actions to move the region towards new horizons” – Part III (Drafting a joint document)
13.00 – 14.30 Lunch (Pizzeria i spaghetteria Luna Rossa, Palada ul. 4b)
14.30 – 15.30 Presentation of the final results – discussion – further steps – joint op-ed
15.30 – 19.00 Writing – video recording: “What are the three most important questions Europe should deal with and why?” – Free time – Free time
19.00 – 20.00 Guided tour in the town of Cres and in the Palace Moise with Andreja Malovoz, Head of the Programme Activities at the Palace Moise, University of Rijeka
20.00 Farewell dinner (Pizzeria Palada, Palada ul.)
Friday, 19 September:
Departure
Venue: Palace Moise, University of Rijeka, Zagrad 6, HR- 51557 Cres
Accommodation: Hotel Kimen, Melin I br. 16, HR-51557 Cres / Apartments Duomo, Melin V/11 – HR-51557 Cres
Contact & information: Susan Milford-Faber, susan.milford-faber@oegfe.at
Initiators:
Austrian Society for European Politics (ÖGfE), Vienna / Austrian Institute for International Affairs (oiip), Vienna / Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO), Zagreb / Royal Institute Elcano
With friendly support by our cooperation partners:
Austrian Foreign Ministry / Embassy of France in Croatia / Palace Moise, University of Rijeka
In cooperation with the WB2EU Network