Spring round of debates between Slovak and Serbian university students was held in Bratislava on 26 April, 2016 and in Banská Bystrica on 27 April, 2016. In Bratislava, teams of Novi Sad University and Comenius University met, and the following day students from Belgrade University travelled to Banská Bystrica to debate current hot issues with their peers from Matej Bel University.

Debates covered the topics such as expectations from NATO Warsaw Summit – what are the key challenges that NATO is facing today and what are the consequences if NATO fails to adopt an adaptation program; terrorism and how the EU would be able answer its threat; Russia – should the EU and NATO be ready for a prolonged confrontation, and what should be the EU’s policy; Serbia’s European agenda after recent parliamentary elections; and expectations from upcoming Slovakia’s EU Presidency.

Students indulged into vivid debates, often providing counter-arguments to each other. Discussion about NATO Warsaw summit and the challenges that NATO is facing today led to a debate about larger geopolitical context including Russia’s intervention in Syria, and to a debate on how to fight terrorism. Students agreed that Russia would not be more cooperative with EU and NATO, also because of its crippled economy and on-going Russian military engagements. Some students believe that Russia should care more about their GDP growth and improving life of its citizens, rather than geopolitical games.

Regarding elections in Serbia, students were of the opinion that Serbia needs more democratization and freedom, mostly in the area of media or human rights, as well as structural reforms. They opined that that Serbia will not become EU member within the next four years of the new Government mandate- first because Serbia does not meet the accession requirements, but also because of declaration of President of EC Juncker, who stressed that there would not be an EU accession during his current mandate. Speaking about the upcoming Slovak EU Presidency students wondered how Slovakia will bring about the consensus among EU countries in such important and big topics such as immigration, when the country filed a legal case against the European Commission on migration quota.

The aim of the project “Strengthening Debating Skills and Promoting Democratic Values Among Youth“ is to promote democratic values among university students and to strengthen their debating skills. Project is carried out by M.E.S.A.10 of Bratislava in cooperation with Centre for Euro-Atlantic Studies (CEAS) of Belgrade. Faculty of Philosophy of Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Political Sciences and International Relations of Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, Faculty of Political Sciences of Belgrade University and Faculty of Philosophy of Novi Sad University are taking part in the project.

Project „Strengthening Debating Skills and Promoting Democratic Values Among Youth“ is supported by National Endowment for Democracy.

Recorded debates can be seen here:

Bratislava – Novi Sad Students Debate, April 26, 2016

Banská Bystrica – Belgrade Students Debate, April 27, 2016

Gallery Bratislava – Novi Sad Students Debate, April 26, 2016

Gallery Banská Bystrica – Belgrade Students Debate, April 27, 2016