From Monday 19 May to Wednesday 21 May, the University of Andorra (UdA) hosted an educational initiative launched by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) aimed at promoting dialogue and diplomacy among European youth. The initiative, called the 2025 Model OSCE, involved a series of training sessions on diplomacy, parliamentarism, negotiation skills, and conflict resolution for 25 young participants from around the world. On the final day, participants took part in a simulation exercise, assuming the roles of diplomatic representatives and negotiating on various issues.

The sessions focused on the OSCE Youth and Security agenda, gender equality, the priorities of the current chairmanship (held by Finland), and practical exercises in negotiation and mediation. Participants also had the opportunity to learn from the experiences of young parliamentarians and diplomats.

Rector Juli Minoves, together with the Andorran Minister of Foreign Affairs, Imma Tor, and three OSCE representatives, welcomed the young participants on Monday morning. Of the 25 participants, 15 were from Andorra—including four UdA students—while the remainder came from the United States, Morocco, and Japan.

Rector Minoves emphasised that it was an honour to host and support an event of this scale, stating that as an academic institution, “we are fully committed to promoting spaces for dialogue, critical thinking, and international collaboration.” He also recalled a historical connection between Andorra and the OSCE, noting that he had presided over the Forum for Security and Co-operation (FSC) in 2004 as Andorra’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. He wished the participants a rewarding experience that would help them develop skills for today’s societal challenges.

Minister Imma Tor highlighted that Andorra, since becoming an OSCE member in 1996, is “particularly committed to peace,” and therefore “we strongly condemn the war in Ukraine and its impact, including on the most vulnerable groups.” She encouraged all participants to make the most of the opportunity to be part of this international initiative.

Gorica Atansova-Gjorevska, Senior External Cooperation Officer at the OSCE, noted the record number of applications received for this year’s third edition of the event. She also underlined the importance of the initiative, stating that for the OSCE “it is essential to involve young people in peace and security agendas in order to build more sustainable visions for the future and more resilient and peaceful societies.”

Date of publication: 19 May 2025
Last update: 21 May 2025