Encounter Europe – European Summer Academy 2026

From August 8 to August 17, 2026, 29 young professionals and students from eight South-Eastern European Western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia) gathered in Otzenhausen to discuss the future of European integration, the current challenges facing the continent and the Balkans, and the best practices in the Franco-German border region.

On the first day, participants had the opportunity to get to know each other, completed a session dedicated to intercultural communication, and gained initial insights into European integration to prepare for the upcoming program. The following day, they discussed EU enlargement and its future in greater detail through an interactive simulation. In the evening, participants introduced culinary delicacies from their home countries.

The next few days were dedicated to excursions. The first destination was the picturesque town of Bad Honnef, where the group visited the former residence of Konrad Adenauer. They then continued to Trier, where a guided tour introduced them to the city's Roman heritage – another example of European cross-border culture.

Politics, particularly in a cross-border context, was the focus of the next day. The group first visited Saarbrücken, where they were invited to the Saarland State Chancellery to learn more about the role of this small yet strategically important federal state. Afterward, they traveled to Strasbourg and the border town of Kehl to visit the European Parliament and the cross-border Center for Consumer Protection in Europe. After observing the spectacular solar eclipse in the evening, the group returned to Otzenhausen.
Back at the European Academy, further lectures took place. Topics included EU-China and transatlantic relations, followed by an evening visit from former MEP Doris Pack, who shared her insights on current Balkan politics. Friday marked another excursion day: after a guided tour in the village of Schengen, the program continued in Luxembourg with a simulation game at the European Parliament and a city rally.

The final days focused on the German culture of remembrance, alongside a lecture and discussion on EU AI regulations. The group took a guided walk along the Höckerlinie in Otzenhausen, an anti-tank barrier built during the Nazi era. On the last day, a workshop was dedicated to this historical site: participants worked in small groups to present their vision for the future of Europe at the Höckerlinie, before receiving their certificates to mark the official conclusion of the European Summer Academy 2026.

The participants left Otzenhausen not only with certificates but also with new friendships, deeper knowledge, and a strong network across the Western Balkans.

Author: František Strnadel