Concerned by the continuing crisis in Ukraine, The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, in cooperation with Mr. Ian Kearns from the European Leadership Network (ELN), Mr. Jim Collins from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Mr. Wolfgang Ischinger from Munich Security Conference (MSC) and Mr. Igor Ivanov from the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) established an initiative of younger generation representatives from Ukraine, Russia, Europe and the United States, to engage in a dialogue on a broad spectrum of issues regarding the future of Ukraine as a short-term objective, and the future of Euro-Atlantic security as a long-term goal.

The event was titled “First Meeting of the Younger Generation Task Force for Ukraine and Euro-Atlantic Security” and took place in Sofia, from 28 – 29 October 2014.

The participants were from Russia, Ukraine, the US, the UK, Latvia, Turkey, France, Germany and Poland. The schedule of the event featured a one-and-a-half-day workshop devoted to the worsening international crisis in Ukraine.

The general issues for discussion included practical steps to end conflict concerning Ukraine and emphasized on several ideas and processes that might help governments find a solution conflict.

The participants also brainstormed, discussed and recommended to governments various measures that addressed political and diplomatic challenges, including constitutional and government reform, national security and crisis management, economics, trade and energy, ethnic, linguistic, cultural and religious issues, among others.

The format for the meeting allowed for a free flow of ideas covering the already mentioned broad spectrum of issues. The meeting included a mix of plenary sessions, as well as technical working group meetings.