28 May – "Dr. Ali Sokoli" medical high school Gjilan

“You are the young Europeans with a massive contribution to make to Europe.”

Remembering how boring guest lecturers in high schools can be from his own experience, British Ambassador Andy Sparkes decided to engage the students of “Dr. Ali Sokoli” medical high school right from the start. The forty 16 and 17 year old students in their white doctors’ overalls were ready to answer his questions at the beginning just as he answered their questions at the end.

“When did the European Union begin?” One student in the front row rises to answer quickly and directly: “9 May 1951”. “And why was the European Union created?” The same student jumps up again: “First to have an economic cooperation, but then also to have a union of people.”

Later it was Ambassador Sparkes’ turn to answer questions. The discussion addressed topics as diverse as the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, Kosovo’s EU perspective, opportunities to study abroad, visa liberalization and the EU’s actions again swine flu and the global financial crisis.

In between Ambassador Sparkes explained how the Commission works with the Parliament and what the future of the Union might look like: just a trading deal or the United States of Europe? He also congratulated the students for choosing the medical profession as a career with a bright future: both Kosovo and the EU will need good doctors.

After more than one and a half hours an end of the flow of questions was not in sight. As the students had to move on to their next class, Ambassador Sparkes wrapped up the discussion about the EU and ended with the words: “That is the organization that wants you to join together with all neighbours.”