From Civil Preparedness to Hybrid Threats: Berlin Hosted the Second CGYPP 2026 Seminar

Under the overarching theme of CGYPP 2026 “Strengthening Preparedness: A German-Czech Dialogue on European Security”, the second seminar of the program year was held last week in Berlin. The seminar focused on the question of how Germany and Czechia can jointly contribute to strengthening the security and resilience of Europe. Against the backdrop of current geopolitical developments, participants discussed key challenges in European security policy, ranging from societal preparedness and the protection of critical infrastructure to hybrid threats, disinformation, and civil-military dialogue.

Geopolitical Landscapes and Civil Resilience

The seminar started on the afternoon of Thursday, 28 May 2026, at the European Academy Berlin with an introduction to the program, a round of expectations, and a first reflection session on the topic of the seminar. The first external input came from Ronja Kempin from Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, who provided an overview of the changing geopolitical landscape in Europe, the current security policy situation, and the roles of Germany and Czechia in addressing challenges to the European security architecture.

On Friday morning, the participants visited the German Bundestag, where they discussed civil preparedness and societal resilience with Leon Eckert, Member of the Bundestag for Alliance 90/The Greens. The debate focused on the role of civil society, business, and public administration in preparing for crises and strengthening societal resilience. This was then followed by a visit to the European House and a conversation with Barbara Gessler, Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Germany, about current European challenges and the role of EU institutions. The day concluded with a reflection round on the insights gained and a joint dinner in Berlin.

Modern Threats, Disinformation, and Podcast Training

Saturday opened with a keynote and discussion with Carlos Kleiner, Major of the Bundeswehr, on the German Bundeswehr at the nexus of modern threats and societal defence capability. The session explored how dialogue between the military, policymakers, and civil society can contribute to greater security policy awareness and to strengthening societal resilience in Europe. This was followed by a workshop with freelance author, journalist, and disinformation expert Karolin Schwarz, who focused on recognising and preventing disinformation and fake news.

The seminar continued with a podcast training session led by Václav Bacovský, during which the participants worked on German-Czech perspectives and prepared further outputs of the program. In the afternoon, participants presented their insights and findings in Pecha Kucha session, creating space for exchange, reflection, and the development of shared perspectives on preparedness and resilience. The day ended with a barbecue evening at the European Academy Berlin.

Next Stop: Olomouc and Ostrava

The seminar concluded on Sunday with an evaluation workshop and a discussion on the main takeaways. Organizers also outlined the next steps for the CGYPP network and the upcoming opportunities for participants to stay connected. We are looking forward to the third workshop in Olomouc and Ostrava in October!