EDS visited the seminar ”Europe Remembers: The price of freedom and democracy as seen from the historic point of view”, which took place in Tallinn and Tartu, Estonia between October 28-30. The seminar was organised by IRL Youth, a member of EDS, and was a second part in a series of seminars with the same title, the first taking place in August 2011. The seminar was attended by some 40 participants from Estonia and 12 other countries, the most remote guests hailing from China.
On the first night the seminar was opened by Tunne KELAM, MEP, who contemplated on the efforts of the European Union in promoting freedom in developing democracies, as well as Siim KABRITS, MP, who shared some stories from Estonian history on the the WWII era.
Saturday started with a visit to the Estonian Occupation museum, where Jüri ADAMS, former Estonian minister of Justice, explained the events which led to the end of the first Estonian Republic due to succeeding occupations by the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, resulting in eventual inclusion to the Soviet Union. 
Shortly afterwards, the Participants were transported to the university city of Tartu. In Tartu the participants got to learn insights on the democratisation process of the post-soviet Georgia from Archil CHOCHIA, and hear of the Students’ role in the resistance movement during the occupations from Art JOHANSON. After a guided tour to the university and a dinner, the participants were transferred back to Tallinn.
Sunday saw a visit to the Parliament of Estonia, where Kaupo SEMPELSON, a senior official from Ministry of Economics elaborated on the development of the Economy of the modern Estonian republic between 1991 and today. The seminar was then closed by Eero ELENURM from the Youth Science and Business Foundation, who first talked about the challenges of the future of Europe and then engaged the participants in an interactive workshop to discuss the topic.
EDS wishes to thank IRL Youth for a well-organised seminar and welcomes similar projects in future. EDS was represented in the Seminar by Secretary General Samuli Kauranne.
EDS is a member association of