Czech-German Young Professionals Program - CGYPP

Back in May, we gathered in Berlin for the second seminar of CGYPP 2026 under the theme “Strengthening Preparedness: A German-Czech Dialogue on European Security”. 🇨🇿🇩🇪

We tackled the questions that matter most for Europe’s future, from geopolitical landscapes and civil resilience to hybrid threats, disinformation, and civil-military dialogue.

Highlights included:
🏛️ A visit to the German Bundestag
🇪🇺 A conversation at the European House with the European Commission
🎙️ A keynote from the Bundeswehr on modern threats
📰 A workshop on recognising disinformation
🎧 Podcast training with German-Czech perspectives

Next stop: Olomouc & Ostrava! 🔜

From self-defense and VR first aid training to a geopolitical outlook on the Middle East and a tour of a real civil protection shelter. A strong close to a seminar built around preparedness, resilience and security. Next stop: Berlin. 🇨🇿🇩🇪✨

CGYPP is initiated and financed by the Czech-German Fund for the Future, with the Prague seminar organised in cooperation with Hanns Seidel Stiftung in Czechia.

👥 This year’s CGYPP kicked off in Prague with a full schedule! First two days focused on conversations about Czech defence policy, crisis communication and what it really takes to keep society functioning when things go wrong. We are very grateful to all the hosts and speakers - the German Embassy in Prague (), the Czech Red Cross (), Respekt (), T-Mobile, Endowment Fund for Ukraine/Gift for Putin () and many more. 🤝

Big thanks to everyone participating - we’re only just getting started! 🇨🇿🇩🇪

The heart of CGYPP? Our people. 🤝

Beyond the seminars and cross-border projects, the true value of the Czech-German Young Professionals Program lies in its vibrant network.

We are proud to have an alumni community of over 200 professionals who continue to shape Czech-German relations across all sectors. Our tradition of staying connected is strong—every year in early January when our alumni gather to share fresh ideas, keep the cross-border spirit alive and kick off the year together. This January was no exception!

Do you want to become part of this network?

✨ Apply for CGYPP 2026! ⏳ Deadline: March 3, 2026 📍 Check the profile bio for the application link and more details.

The program is initiated and financed by the Česko-německý fond budoucnosti/ Deutsch-Tschechischer Zukunftsfonds

🇨🇿🇩🇪 Do you want to gain new perspectives and become a part of a vibrant Czech-German Network? Are you interested in cross-border and cross-sector cooperation? Are you a young professional with at least three years of working experience and good English skills? Apply for the Czech-German Young Professionals Program 2025!

🗓️ The deadline for applications is March 3, 2026. Find the poster (with link for the application form) with more details in comments! 🔗

🙌 The program is initiated and financed by the Czech-German Fund for the Future.

The conclusion of our third CGYPP 2025 🇨🇿🇩🇪 seminar in Cheb region, themed “Empowering Democracy: Czech and German Answers,” was marked by deep analysis and an active search for paths forward!

First, we addressed a topic that resonates throughout the country: Russian influence in Czechia. Thanks to a great debate and a walk through the center of Karlovy Vary with Jiří Hynek, journalist from Odkryto, we uncovered the phenomenon named in the programme “The Russian Klondike in Karlovy Vary.”🕵️‍♀️

In the next part, our participants transformed into architects of change! During an internal workshop, we focused on generating concrete solutions for how to empower democratic life in remote regions. Many excellent and innovative ideas have emerged! 💡
We concluded the seminar with feedback and a wrap-up session, during which we explained the next steps within CGYPP, welcoming 15 new talented Czechs and Germans to the alumni community, which now has over 200 members!

Thank you to everyone who contributed to such an inspiring year! We look forward to the next gathering! 👋

Program is initiated and financed by Česko-německý fond budoucnosti/ Deutsch-Tschechischer Zukunftsfonds . Seminar in Cheb was organised in cooperation with Hanns Seidel Stiftung v České republice

Last week, the third CGYPP 2025 seminar took place. This time, as part of the theme of the year “Empowering Democracy: Czech and German Answers”, we visited Cheb, Karlovy Vary, Plesná, and Bad Brambach. On Thursday afternoon, thanks to Dominik Jandl, the participants got to know the region, its history, and current challenges, not only through discussion but also through a walk around the center. On Friday, we set off for nearby Plesná, where we met with Mayor Petr Schaller and discussed how the municipality is coping with the closure of textile factories and the history of Czech-German coexistence. After a walk to Bad Brambach, there was a screening of the film Change my Mind and a discussion with Adam Sybera and Bob Kartous, who participated in its creation.

🇨🇿🇩🇪 Program is initiated and financed by Česko-německý fond budoucnosti/ Deutsch-Tschechischer Zukunftsfonds . Seminar in Cheb was organised in cooperation with Hanns Seidel Stiftung v České republice.

🇨🇿🇩🇪Yesterday, CGYPP participants and alumni had the unique opportunity to meet with Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský - ministr zahraničí ČR and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul at the Czernin Palace – the seat of the Ministerstvo zahraničních věcí České republiky – in Prague.
💡The discussion focused on how German and Czech diplomacy can jointly strengthen democracy and the rule of law, especially in the face of the war in Ukraine, disinformation, and growing authoritarianism.
A meaningful exchange reminding us of the importance of cooperation and engagement in shaping Europe’s future.🌍
🤝🏻Program is initiated and funded by the Česko-německý fond budoucnosti/ Deutsch-Tschechischer Zukunftsfonds.
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Asociace pro mezinárodní otázky/Association for International Affairs Europäische Akademie Berlin

📍The second seminar of CGYPP 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣ began in Berlin, where we spent several days delving into topics such as democracy, history, civic education, and the societal impact of technology.

💡The programme of the first two days combined expert inputs, collaborative group work, and open discussions that fostered critical thinking and meaningful exchange. 🏢 A visit to the Berlin House of Representatives offered further insights into how democratic institutions function at the local level.

Program is initiated and funded by the Česko-německý fond budoucnosti/ Deutsch-Tschechischer Zukunftsfonds🤝🏻



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Asociace pro mezinárodní otázky/Association for International Affairs Europäische Akademie Berlin