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Training for border police commanders and border customs offices chiefs began on 2 July in Macedonia on fostering goals in the area of smuggling and illegal migrations.

From 2 to 4 of July 2014 training for customs administration and border police of the Republic of Slovenia will be taking place in Macedonia in the area of monitoring and improving results in detection of smuggling and illegal migrations. The training is developed for the heads of customs offices and commanders of the border police stations at the main border crossings in Macedonia. The training will be practical in nature and will be taking place in focused exchange of experience between colleagues from Slovenia and Macedonia, resulting in directly applicable solutions.

Serbian criminal police leadership was on a study visit to Slovenia from 26 to 29 June 2014. Exchange of experience with colleagues from Slovenian criminal police leadership was conducted on all main areas in fight against organized crime. This significant bilateral activity is a first of this kind between both police.

Today (26.6.2014) marked the start of the three-day study visit of Serbian criminal police leadership to Slovenia. The study visit is a continuation of years of highly successful cooperation of the Ministry of internal affairs of Republic of Serbia and Slovenian partner institutions that are implementing Slovenia's support for Serbia's EU accession process.

Spring issue of the scientific journal European Perspectives, Vol. 6, No 1 (10)
Special section – Active Citizenship

Table of Content

SPECIAL SECTION: ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP
Slovenian National Independence in Public Education: In Quest for National Identity among the Slovenian Youth
Janja Vuga, Vladimir Prebilič
Antagonistic Political Communities within State Borders as National Security Issue: The Case of Montenegro
Uroš Svete
Religion, Patriotism and Nationalism: The War in Bosnia and Herzegovina 1992-1995
Jelena Juvan, Vladimir Prebilič
Patriotism as a State Strategy for National Survival: A Case Study of Israel
Rok Zupančič, Vladimir Prebilič

In the framework of the Slovenian official development cooperation, the management of the Serbian criminal police is coming to Slovenia next week on a study visit. The delegation Criminal Police of Republic of Serbia will exchange experiences in managing changes in criminal police. In three-day programme from 26 to 29 June 2014 the activities will take place in General Police Directorate, National Investigation Biro, Police Directorate Koper, Police Directorate Novo mesto, and Police Directorate Maribor. Main emphasis will be directed at the optimisation of work in fight against organised crime.

A presentation of a book 'Prestolonaslednikova smrt', in translation Franz Ferdinand's death, written by an associate professor Dr Andrej Rahten, a member of the Executive board of the CEP was held at Jable castle. The book talks about assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo on 28 June 1914, which led to the start of the First World War. The event, which is in many respects investigated, is at the same time still hidden by the veil of ambiguities and doubts about whether all happened in the way as it looks today, or has had a deeper and wider conspiracy roots. As pointed out in the presentation by the author, the book provides an overview of Slovenian writing about the assassination, and adds a new look on Franz Ferdinand, which in his opinion had some affection towards the Slovenians and the Slovenian identity, although it was shown contrary throughout the history. This perception derives from numerous sources and historical literature which author explored in Slovene and Austrian (mainly Vienna's) archives.

Yesterday, the Centre for European Perspective organised a roundtable debate titled "The Future of EU – Russia Relations".

The Centre for European Perspective (CEP) is launching a series of round tables aimed at enhancing the public discussion on strategic issues of importance to Slovenia as well as the EU as a whole. As important events in Ukraine unfold, EU and Russian relations are hitting a new dimension. However EU countries and Russia remain intertwined in terms of trade, investment and energy. First roundtable will therefore be dedicated to "The Future of EU – Russia Relations" and will explore ways in which EU should approach relations with Russia at this point and in the future, issues of security, economy and energy policy as well as any consequences for transatlantic relations.

The Faculty of Social Sciences of University of Ljubljana hosted the 25th Political Science Days between the 29 and 30 of May. Within the conference, Executive Director of the Centre for European Perspectives (CEP) Dr Gorazd Justinek moderated the panel discussion on the topic of "International Development Assistance of Slovenia – Past Challenges and Future Opportunities" with the following panellists – H.E. Mitja Štrukelj, Director General for International Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Assistance at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Irena Lukač, Project Centre at Excellence in Finance and Dr Boštjan Udovič, Assistant Professor of International Relations.