Preparing the next generation of European diplomats
The future of the European project is inextricably linked to the Western Balkans.
As Johanna Mair, Director of the Florence School of Transnational Governance, remarked opening the fifth edition of this capacity-building programme for junior diplomats: “I doubt there is anyone in the room who would argue against the fact we cannot re-imagine Europe without the Western Balkans.” At the Florence STG, this belief underpins a commitment to long-term regional cooperation.
Funded since 2022 by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, this year's programme brought 16 young diplomats to Palazzo Buontalenti from 3 to 12 June 2026.
The training programme focused on four core pillars: EU foreign policy and enlargement, diplomatic skills, global security risks, and policy priorities in the Western Balkans.
Florence STG Executive Director Fabrizio Tassinari observed a "generational shift", noting that these cohorts approach foreign relations with a transnational focus that breaks traditional silos. “Churchill said thing that the Balkans produce much more history than they can consume”, Tassinari remarked, "but I think the goal of this project is to prove him wrong.”
Programme overview
Building on four previous editions, the programme has created a growing network of over 100 professionals across the region. Over ten days, including a special visit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Rome, participants engaged with key policymakers who have shaped the European project. Speakers included former Slovenian Prime Minister Marjan Šarec, former Albanian Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati, EEAS Head of Division for the Western Balkans Zuzana Sutiakova, and EU Special Representative Peter Sørensen.
Seminars covered EU fundamentals, the roles of the European Parliament and Council, European security, NATO, and US foreign policy. Interactive sessions also explored political communication, strategic foresight, negotiation, and AI. As a result, these frontrunners leave better equipped to navigate new global challenges and contribute to the EU's future.
However, professional success in these fields requires more than technical expertise. Armando Barucco, EUI Secretary General and former Italian Ambassador, emphasised that effective diplomacy demands "emotional intelligence" and "situational awareness", skills needed to read the room and state points while respecting others' sensitivities.
Networking events further enriched these soft skills, helping participants build connections that transcend national boundaries. "In a period of shifting diplomatic norms, those are the lasting bonds that propel your career and, I think, help make the world a better and more peaceful place, which is what we need right now”, concluded STG Director of Executive Education Kristin Fabbe.
Looking ahead
As this network of Western Balkans diplomats alumni grows, the STG remains dedicated to the regional partnership. Plans are already underway to support Western Balkan officials through a new high-level policy dialogue in Tirana this November.
These efforts ensure the region's future leaders are fully prepared to guide their countries toward EU integration.
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