The course welcomed 33 military secondary school students from across Europe, including Portugal, Romania, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, Latvia, and Ukraine.

The week began with an inspiring keynote from Portugal’s Secretary of State for National Defence and concluded with remarks from a Member of the European Parliament, setting the tone for a week rich in dialogue and learning. In between, students engaged with military and academic experts who brought valuable insights and real-world experience to the discussions.

International collaboration was a key element of the course. Students formed international teams and collaborated to produce short videos reflecting on the course’s key themes. These creative works captured their diverse perspectives and highlighted the importance of unity, democracy, and inclusion across Europe.

The warm integration of the two Ukrainian students was a powerful example of the solidarity and spirit that lie at the heart of the European project.

The week also included the 17th meeting of the European Union Military Secondary Schools Forum, where representatives gathered to review ongoing work and welcome the Kruty Heroes Lviv Lyceum of Ukraine as an Associate Member of the Forum.

We are deeply grateful to all the guest speakers, facilitators, and supporting staff who made this course such a success. A week filled with learning, creativity, and friendship — and a strong message from Lisbon about the power of youth in shaping Europe’s future.