Winner of “Come to Europe” quiz competition takes off for Brussels study trip

Arber Kuçi, a 22-year-old student from Prishtina/Prishtinë, won the Kosovo-wide finals of the roadshow’s European quiz competition. That is why he is now invited on a three-day study trip to Brussels—his first. Today he has been sent off by the EU-led presences in Kosovo (ICO/EUSR, EULEX, ECLO) in Pristina/Prishtinë.

During his study visit, Mr Kuçi will discuss Kosovo’s European perspective with experts in the European Council, the European Commission and the European Parliament (EP). Among others, Mr Kuçi will meet with Doris Pack, Member of the EP and with the spokespersons of Olli Rehn, Commissioner for Enlargement and Javier Solana, the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy. Kuci will follow the daily press briefing by the European Commission and visit the EU’s broadcasting service, Europe by Satellite.

The Heads of the EU-led presences said the following on the occassion of Arber Kuci’s award visit to Brussels:

Pieter Feith, EU Special Representative and ICR:
“I witnessed Arber Kuçi’s victory in the European quiz final and I am convinced he will be an excellent ambassador for Kosovo in his meetings with experts from the EU institutions in Brussels. Arber will return with even more understanding of the EU perspective of Kosovo as part of the region and I hope that he will share it with other young people. This understanding is precious capital for Kosovo’s society to manage the challenges ahead in European integration.”

Yves de Kermabon, Head of the EULEX rule of law mission:
“I wish all my best to Arber. He was a great contestant in the Come to Europe quiz and I hope he has a great time in Brussels learning more about the institutions of the EU and what they can offer to Kosovo. The European quiz during the roadshow has demonstrated that there is a real appetite among the young people of Kosovo for more knowledge about the EU.”

Renzo Daviddi, Head of the European Commission Liaison Office:
"The European Commission will continue to support the education of Kosovo youth. Educated young people of Kosovo are Kosovo's best asset in its EU integration path. Arber is an example of this. This young man's trip to Brussels will add to his understanding of the EU and enable him to share this knowledge and experience with his peers in Kosovo."

Background information

Short biography - Arber Kuci: 
Arber Kuci aims to become a European policy or media expert. He is currently a student of Journalism and International Relations at the American University in Bulgaria. In 2004, his interest in international relations brought him to North Carolina, USA, and to the ICTY in The Hague, NL, with “SEEYLI”, an exchange programme of the U.S. State Department.   Two years later, in 2006, he participated as (future) Kosovo representative in the 51th session of the European Youth Parliament in Paris. Also in 2006, Arber Kuci produced a documentary movie on youth activism. It was shown on Kosovo and Dutch TV, plus, at a regional debate competition in Berat, Albania. Arber Kuci’s mother tongue is Albanian. He is fluent in English and Serbian and has basic knowledge in Bulgarian and Spanish.

Background – “Come to Europe” roadshow and EU quiz competition:
The European quiz had been conducted live on stage in 20 places in Kosovo in May and June 2008, peaking in a Gala night with the Prime Minister and many VIPs. Competing against some 100 prodigies, Arber Kuci ploughed most successfully through a range of multiple choice question on EU integration, EU enlargement and EU institutions. The quiz was conducted with laptops on the roadshow stage in Albanian and Serbian languages, respectively. A sample of 50 questions can be found at www.cometoeuropeks.eu, the roadshow website.

The EU roadshow in Kosovo was a joint public information effort on the EU commitment to Kosovo in its new era. It was done jointly by the EU Special Representative/ ICR (Pieter Feith), EULEX (Yves de Kermabon) and the European Commission Liaison Office to Prishtina/Prishtinë (Renzo Daviddi). Many EU Member States participated bilaterally. The roadshow took the shape of a truck with a fold-out stage that toured 20 cities and villages with either Kosovo-Albanian or Kosovo-Serb majorities. In 2-3 hour open-air shows,  Kosovo people introduced their own European vision on stage via artistic and municipal presentations, while the EU-led presences explained their mandates and roles via stage appearances, the quiz and theatre on European values. See more on www.cometoeuropeks.eu

For further information on the EU roadshow, contact Verena Ringler + 377 44 507 594 or Julia Rueter  + 377 44 509 760, of the EU Special Representative/ International Civilian Office in Kosovo.