Today, the Deputy Head of EULEX Kosovo, Bernd Thran, gave a lecture on Germany’s European experiences at the University for Business and Technology (UBT) in Pristina.
 
Mr Thran, a senior German Police Officer, touched upon Germany’s post-World War 2 relations with its neighbours and the beginnings of the European Union, as well as his home country’s experiences with reunification.
 
He concluded that the key to improving relations between different peoples is that both sides make decisions for their futures themselves: “It will not be the EU or any other international presence in Kosovo that will take ownership of the friendship and partnership process among all citizens of Kosovo, that has to be you, you have to pave the way for this to happen.”
 
The President of the UBT, Prof. Dr. Edmond Hajrizi, gave a welcoming speech to EULEX Deputy Head of Mission at the beginning of the lecture and thanked him for taking the time to speak with the students.
 
The lecture was organised by the Office of the EU Special Representative as part of the EU Teach-a-Day initiative, which takes place each year around Schuman Day, where a series of lectures are given to students in Kosovo by senior EU representatives.