CRES SUMMER SCHOOL: Regaining new European and democratic momentum together, 20–25 September 2026, Cres, Croatia

The Cres Summer School, organised on the island of Cres (Croatia), will focus on the topic 

“Democracy and Security in Europe: Building Resilience in Uncertain Times”

Programme

Sunday, 20 September:      

Arrival

Monday, 21 September:

9.30 – 10.30 Opening session: Welcome by the organisers and introduction of the participants

10.30 – 11.00 Coffee break

11.00 – 12.30 Keynote address and open discussion with Gordan Bosanac, Member of the European Parliament, Greens/European Free Alliance

“Europe at a Turning Point: Democracy, Security and the Future of the European Project”

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 Ulrike Hartmann, Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of Austria

“Europe’s Role in a Changing World: Enlargement and Security”

15.30 – 16.00 Coffee break

“The EIB as a Strategic Actor in Europe’s Evolving Global Role”

17.30 – 19.00 Free time

19.00 – 20.30 Evening inspiration: “Next Generation sharing experiences” with inputs by Summer School participants – “Democracy Under Pressure”

20.30 Welcome dinner (Pizzeria Palada, Palada ul.) – offered by the French Embassy in Croatia

Tuesday, 22 September:

09.30 – 11.30 Introduction and facilitation by with Paula Oliver Llorente, Research Assistant on European policy at the Elcano Royal Institute

“EU Budget Negotiation Simulation”

Chaired by Vedran Džihić and Paul Schmidt

11.30 – 12.00 Coffee break

12.00 – 13.30 Creative workshop led by Vedran Džihić and Senada Šelo Šabić

“Democratic activism for Europe – ideas and actions to move the region towards new horizons” –
Part I (Drafting a joint document)

13.30 – 15.00 Lunch (Pizzeria i spaghetteria Luna Rossa, Palada ul. 4b)

15.00 – 18.00 Free time

18.00 – 19.00 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

19.00 – 20.30 Evening inspiration: “Open future for those who dare…”  with Sanja Bojanić, Executive Director, Center for Advanced Studies Southeast Europe (CAS SEE), University of Rijeka

20.30 Dinner (Pizzeria Palada, Palada ul.)

Wednesday, 23 September:

09.30 – 11.00 Keynote address and open discussion with Antoine Michon, Policy officer on European Affairs, Centre for Analysis, Forecasting and Strategy (CAPS) and Jeronimo Fuentes Candau, Deputy Head of Mission of the Kingdom of Spain to the Republic of Croatia

11.00 – 11.30 Coffee break

11.30 – 13.00 Keynote address and open discussion with Cengiz Günay, Director of the Austrian Institute for International Affairs – oiip

“Democracy and Security in Europe: Navigating Geopolitical Uncertainty”

13.00 – 14.30 Lunch (Pizzeria i spaghetteria Luna Rossa, Palada ul. 4b)

14.30 – 19.00 Video recording: “What Should Europe Stand For?” – 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, University of Rijeka, founder and former Head of the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Rijeka, and representative of Možemo!

20.30 Dinner (Pizzeria Palada, Palada ul.)

Thursday, 24 September:

09.30 – 11.00 Creative workshop led by Senada Šelo-Šabić and Vedran Džihić: 

 “Democratic activism for Europe – ideas and actions to move the region towards new horizons” – Part II (Drafting a joint document)

11.00 – 11.30 Coffee break

11.30 – 13.00 Creative workshop 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 – 20.00 Writing – video recording: “What Should Europe Stand For?” – Free time

20.00 Farewell dinner (Pizzeria Palada, Palada ul.)

Friday, 25 September:

Departure