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Ahead of the 7th EU–Canada Business Summit on 23 November, EUReflect Media looks at the organisation that stages it and at the man who founded it and still leads it.
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Public support for young people’s international experience must be purposeful, Elene Metreveli says: it should help individuals succeed independently, contribute to their communities and create opportunities for others. Interviewed by: Olha Pashchenko Interviewee: Elene Metreveli, Policy Adviser to a Member of the European Parliament (EPP Group)
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Elene Metreveli argues that young people’s international experience is not an expense but a public investment, building the ability to understand other societies, work across backgrounds and see beyond the national perspective. Interviewed by: Olha Pashchenko Interviewee: Elene Metreveli, Policy Adviser to a Member of the European Parliament (EPP Group)
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The way diplomats communicate is changing, but respect, professionalism and mutual understanding remain the same, says Elene Metreveli. In online negotiations, even the tone of an email or the speed of a reply can shape a relationship. Interviewed by: Olha Pashchenko Interviewee: Elene Metreveli, Policy Adviser to a Member of the European Parliament (EPP Group)
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Technology has made diplomacy faster, but trust still takes patience, cultural awareness and the ability to listen. Elene Metreveli says digital diplomacy needs traditional values adapted to new tools, not entirely new rules. Interviewed by: Olha Pashchenko Interviewee: Elene Metreveli, Policy Adviser to a Member of the European Parliament (EPP Group)
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International opportunities should not depend on money or personal connections, says Elene Metreveli, pointing to paid traineeships, professional exchanges and partnerships between universities, businesses and public institutions. Interviewed by: Olha Pashchenko Interviewee: Elene Metreveli, Policy Adviser to a Member of the European Parliament (EPP Group)
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Awad, founder of EuroGulf Consulting in Brussels, argues that joint ventures, technology transfers and regional hubs keep producing value long after a signed deal would have been forgotten.
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A platform that concentrates its effort does not simply connect parties; it shapes the ecosystem, says Chamas Awad, who advises permanent links with embassies, ministries, investment funds and chambers of commerce. Interviewed by: Olha Pashchenko Interviewee: Chamas Awad, Founder & CEO, EuroGulf Consulting (Brussels)
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Emerging markets run on implicit codes and complex power dynamics, says Chamas Awad. Business diplomats decode them, anticipate regulatory shifts and give investors the security they need. Interviewed by: Olha Pashchenko Interviewee: Chamas Awad, Founder & CEO, EuroGulf Consulting (Brussels)
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Dispersion equals weakness, whereas density equals influence, says Chamas Awad. He advises Business Diplomat to concentrate on two or three strategic corridors and then expand through a hub-and-spoke model. Interviewed by: Olha Pashchenko Interviewee: Chamas Awad, Founder & CEO, EuroGulf Consulting (Brussels)
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Excerpt: Product excellence and competitive pricing are no longer enough, says Chamas Awad. Trained business diplomats act as a power multiplier on exports and investment through three levers: risk, access and partnership. Interviewed by: Olha Pashchenko Interviewee: Chamas Awad, Founder & CEO, EuroGulf Consulting (Brussels)
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Excerpt: What can be shared on screen, who is copied and whether a meeting is recorded are now questions of diplomatic etiquette, says Lana Jalagonia. Interviewed by: Olha Pashchenko Interviewee: Lana Jalagonia, Diplomat; Second Secretary, EU Assistance Coordination and Sectorial Integration Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
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Excerpt: Online, a short chat reply, a delayed email or a single sentence can be read more strongly than intended, says Lana Jalagonia, who calls for greater clarity and care in written communication. Interviewed by: Olha Pashchenko Interviewee: Lana Jalagonia, Diplomat; Second Secretary, EU Assistance Coordination and Sectorial Integration Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
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Excerpt: The objective of a negotiation is not necessarily for one side to win but to find an outcome that makes continued cooperation possible, says Lana Jalagonia. Interviewed by: Olha Pashchenko Interviewee: Lana Jalagonia, Diplomat; Second Secretary, EU Assistance Coordination and Sectorial Integration Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Negotiation is often pictured as a contest. In this part of its interview series, Business Diplomat presents Lana Jalagonia’s view from diplomatic practice.
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Digital diplomacy creates a parallel layer of etiquette, says Lana Jalagonia: punctuality, speaking turns, written tone and confidentiality now carry the respect once expressed through physical protocol. Interviewed by: Olha Pashchenko Interviewee: Lana Jalagonia, Diplomat; Second Secretary, EU Assistance Coordination and Sectorial Integration Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
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Excerpt: Negotiation, relationship-building and strategic representation: these are the first things that come to mind at the name Business Diplomat, says Lana Jalagonia. The objective is not for one side to win but to make continued cooperation possible. Interviewed by: Olha Pashchenko Interviewee: Lana Jalagonia, Diplomat; Second Secretary, EU Assistance Coordination and Sectorial Integration Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
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Excerpt: Clear social media policies, approval procedures for high-risk statements and rapid-response mechanisms: Spyros Kapralos sets out the instruments that protect a business from an impulsive post. Interviewed by: Olha Pashchenko Interviewee: Spyros Kapralos, Political Analyst, European and International Affairs; researcher in EU and Political Communication
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Excerpt: Diplomacy should become a habit that guides both internal and external interactions, says Spyros Kapralos, who calls for training combined with continuous reflection, ethical leadership and accountability. Interviewed by: Olha Pashchenko Interviewee: Spyros Kapralos, Political Analyst, European and International Affairs; researcher in EU and Political Communication
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Excerpt: In an interconnected business environment, the ability to manage disagreement constructively is as important as technical expertise, says Spyros Kapralos. Interviewed by: Olha Pashchenko Interviewee: Spyros Kapralos, Political Analyst, European and International Affairs; researcher in EU and Political Communication
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Excerpt: Every public post can influence partners, customers, investors and even international relations, says Spyros Kapralos. Digital reputation, he argues, belongs in corporate governance and not in the public-relations office. Interviewed by: Olha Pashchenko Interviewee: Spyros Kapralos, Political Analyst, European and International Affairs; researcher in EU and Political Communication
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Excerpt: Diplomatic discipline should be a core organizational value, not a set of communication techniques, says Spyros Kapralos. It should become a habit that guides both internal and external interactions. Interviewed by: Olha Pashchenko Interviewee: Spyros Kapralos, Political Analyst, European and International Affairs; researcher in EU and Political Communication
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Excerpt: Young business diplomats should do real work between meetings: researching markets, preparing briefings, moderating discussions and following up with partners. António Buscardini says a platform’s lasting value comes from what its members accomplish between events. Interviewed by: Olha Pashchenko Interviewee: António Buscardini, Founder & CEO; President, Press Club Brussels Europe
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A platform’s impact is built through regular workshops and roundtables, with one annual summit for visibility, says António Buscardini. Smaller meetings give people room to question, challenge and find shared priorities. Interviewed by: Olha Pashchenko Interviewee: António Buscardini, Founder & CEO; President, Press Club Brussels Europe
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For young business diplomats, understanding the audience is as important as mastering the platform, says António Buscardini. And in the end, he adds, a strong digital reputation rests on credible behaviour, not on communication alone. Interviewed by: Olha Pashchenko Interviewee: António Buscardini, Founder & CEO; President, Press Club Brussels Europe
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People who gain international experience now can become tomorrow’s diplomats, policymakers, business leaders and journalists, says Evelin Hornyák. Treating it as an investment, she argues, prepares a country to represent its interests. Interviewed by: Olha Pashchenko Interviewee: Evelin Hornyák, Interim Head of Office and Advisor to a Member of the European Parliament; specialist in Migration, Inclusion and Communication
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Support for young people’s international experience should not stop at academic exchanges, says Evelin Hornyák. She calls for fellowships, professional exchanges, internships and early-career programmes, open to those without money or connections. Interviewed by: Olha Pashchenko Interviewee: Evelin Hornyák, Interim Head of Office and Advisor to a Member of the European Parliament; specialist in Migration, Inclusion and Communication
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International experience is a way for a country to invest in its people, says Evelin Hornyák. Young people abroad learn how other institutions work, build networks and see their own country from the outside. Interviewed by: Olha Pashchenko Interviewee: Evelin Hornyák, Interim Head of Office and Advisor to a Member of the European Parliament; specialist in Migration, Inclusion and Communication
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You can know how to address an ambassador and still not know how to negotiate a point over coffee, says Evelin Hornyák. She argues that young people need early access to international environments and mentoring from senior staff. Interviewed by: Olha Pashchenko Interviewee: Evelin Hornyák, Interim Head of Office and Advisor to a Member of the European Parliament; specialist in Migration, Inclusion and Communication
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Much of diplomacy is never written down, says Evelin Hornyák. It is passed from senior colleagues to juniors and learnt on the job: who should be in the room, when to stay silent, and when the relationship matters more than the result. Interviewed by: Olha Pashchenko Interviewee: Evelin Hornyák, Interim Head of Office and Advisor to a Member of the European Parliament; specialist in Migration, Inclusion and Communication
conferences events festivals
