The Organisation for European Programs and Cultural Relations (OEPCR), as Coordinator of the Anna Lindh Foundation’s Cyprus Network (ALF), actively participated in the Anna Lindh Forum 2025, which took place in Tirana, Albania, from June 17 to 20, 2025.
The Forum, organized by the Anna Lindh Foundation in cooperation with the Albanian Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, brought together more than 600 participants from 43 countries in the Euro-Mediterranean region with the aim of strengthening intercultural dialogue, cooperation, and social cohesion in the wider Mediterranean region.
As part of the Forum’s program, the OEPCR was responsible for organizing two panel sessions, which were well attended and attracted considerable interest. The first session, entitled “Creative Futures: Building Skills for EURO-MED,“ focused on strengthening young professionals in the cultural and creative industries in the Euro-Mediterranean region and featured speakers from Italy, Egypt, and Jordan. The second session, entitled ”Creative Europe: Fostering Cooperation, Innovation and Funding Opportunities,” presented the opportunities offered by the European Creative Europe program, with speakers from the European Commission (EACEA) and the National Contact Points of Cyprus, Italy, Portugal, Croatia, and Albania.
At the same time, members of the Anna Lindh Foundation’s Cyprus Network were invited to participate as speakers in thematic sessions and cultural activities covering a wide range of social and cultural issues. The Center for Social Innovation (CSI) was represented by Mr. Vaggelis Gettos at a session entitled “A Shared Heritage: Reconnecting Mediterranean Youth Through Culture.” The Association for Historical Dialogue and Research (AHDR), through Mr. Loizos Loukaidis, contributed to the discussion “Digital Waves: Youth and Digital Innovation Without Borders.” The representatives of YEU Cyprus, Ms. Nina Poulouzasvili and Mr. Christian Drewicke, presented the action “Each One Teach One – HipHop Culture as a Tool for Social Change.” Ms. Haris Charalambous from Conversation Café Cyprus participated in the session “Imagining Peace, Confronting Violence – Religion, Dialogue, and Social Cohesion“, while Ms. Fotini Sokratous from CARDET presented the organization’s contribution to the theme ”Challenging Gender Stereotypes: Women’s Empowerment in the Euro-Med Region.” In addition, the Humart team, consisting of Mr. Stavros Stavrou, Mr. Costas Silvestro, and Mr. Erdoğán Kavaz, took part in artistic activities that promoted art as a tool for peaceful coexistence.
After the Forum, the OEPCR participated in the Heads of Networks Meeting, which took place on June 20 and 21, 2025, at the International Hotel Tirana. During the meeting, the main conclusions of the Forum were reviewed, good practices were exchanged, and an extensive discussion was held on improving the Foundation’s governance mechanisms. The updated Network Engagement Scheme 2025–2026 was also presented, as well as the new Multiannual Work Program 2025–2028, which provides for targeted and coordinated actions at national and transnational level.
The active participation of the Anna Lindh Foundation’s Cyprus Network, both in the Forum and in the Coordinators’ meeting, aims to strengthen the outreach of civil society, to strengthen intercultural understanding, and to create networks for cooperation and peaceful coexistence in the wider region.
