Another year of the European diplomatic program (EDP) was held on 23^rd – 24t^h October 2014 under the baton of the Italian presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The EDP is a four-module project, within which the junior diplomats of EU member states learn about a concrete topic related to problems of the European Union and the position of selected member states to this problem. They also have an opportunity to participate in a negotiation simulation in the European Union institutions.

The main topic of the project this year is “Emerging challenges and global issues in current diplomacy”.

The Czech Republic traditionally participates in the program, with the attendants mostly fresh graduates of junior diplomatic training.

Along with the first module of EDP the regular meeting of directors of diplomatic institutions responsible for educating diplomats in the EU took place in Rome. The director of Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Dr. Věra Jeřábková, brought from Rome new ideas for academic activities: “We spend a lot of time negotiating the issues of preparation of ambassadors and heads of general consulates and consulates. I had been especially impressed by the Swedish experience of a program “My first 100 days in function”. It is a one-week preparation project for heads of offices, who are preparing for their first mission as leaders. The educational program should prepare them for everything that is important, what and who they will meet at the beginning of their foreign mission, what is important and what they should avoid. A similar course does not exist at our ministry and I’m convinced that we can draw inspiration from the Swedish example.”