German-Baltic Conference Riga 2025 - Cluster A from the Perspective of a Young Journalist

By Saara Mia Sarapuu. Saara is a materials science student with an interest in journalism, regional history, politics, and civic engagement. She enjoys exploring the intersections between science and sociopolitics, often taking creative side quests that connect the two fields. Based in Tartu, Estonia, she covered the German-Baltic Conference 2025 as a Young Journalist, following the work of Cluster A: European Security and Defence Innovation

The German-Baltic Conference 2025, organized by the German-Baltic Future Foundation (DBJW) from 16-19 October, brought together Youth Ambassadors, representatives of the German-Baltic Youth Exchange Network (GBYEN) and security experts in Riga under the theme: “Rethinking Security Through Youth”. Over four days, participants gathered at the University of Latvia to explore how young people can contribute to Europe’s security and resilience. While the Youth Ambassadors (YAs) developed policy recommendations in three thematic clusters, GBYEN explored security from the perspective of youth organisations. As a Young Journalist, I had the opportunity to follow the work of Cluster A, which focused on defence innovation, while Clusters B and C explored international cooperation and discourse, respectively.

The conference opened in the historic building of the Latvian National Museum of History, located within Riga Castle. The ceremony featured keynote speeches by German and Latvian officials and an exciting panel discussion on “Defending Freedom: Youth Engagement in National and Regional Security”. High-ranking experts discussed how youth can contribute to national and regional security and resilience-building and engaged with participants’ questions. The evening continued at the German Embassy, where Ambassador Gudrun Masloch welcomed speakers and participants for a reception. With electronic devices left at the entrance, conversations developed naturally and many new connections were made as time flew by.

Although the conference officially began in Riga, the preparation work in the clusters had already begun weeks prior to meeting in person. I first joined a preparatory video call with Cluster A about two weeks before the conference and was impressed by the depth of research that had already been done. Each Youth Ambassador presented their vision for the upcoming policy paper, and their ideas ranged from entrepreneurship and conscription to space and new technologies. Their proposals were grounded in studies and existing policies, which showed their expertise and commitment to the task.

During the conference, these ideas evolved in cluster sessions through engaging discussions. At our very first meeting, the Head of Cluster, Giorgi Lazariashvili, told me he was proud of the team he had put together, and it was easy to see why. The seven Youth Ambassadors came from Germany, Latvia, Ukraine, and Moldova, bringing together expertise from fields as diverse as international relations, economics, and STEM. Several had experience in policy and defence, whether it be an internship at the Latvian Ministry of Defence or work in Brussels on EU affairs. Giorgi himself contributes to the Estonian Defence League and the Estonian Atlantic Treaty Association, and has a legal background. Outside of their CVs, all had a personal motivation for engaging with security, whether shaped by their home region, academic interests, or a desire to strengthen democracy.

The diversity of ideas and perspectives proved to be both the group’s greatest strength and its biggest challenge, as they had to work out the most impactful recommendations to move forward with. Through discussion, the cluster decided to concentrate their policy paper on a pressing yet overlooked challenge: how to make national service attractive for the younger generation. The Youth Ambassadors identified a major problem:

Europe’s service models are fragmented and often outdated

While defence budgets and technological innovation are growing fast, recruitment systems have not kept pace. Across Europe, states follow highly different approaches to conscription and civil service, and the lack of an EU-level framework limits cooperation in emerging fields such as cyber conscription and digital reserves. The Youth Ambassadors argued that sustainable defence readiness depends not only on equipment and funding, but also on the ability to attract diverse and skilled young people to contribute through modern and more flexible forms of service.

Between the working sessions, participants had the opportunity to attend keynote speeches and network over a cup of coffee. Conversations during breaks often continued the debates started in the clusters, offering a space to exchange ideas with experts and participants from across the conference. These conversations emphasized why in-person gatherings matter: many of the most insightful conversations happen not during presentations, but outside of formal sessions. Riga itself was a very fitting backdrop for the conference, as there are few places just as illustrative of the historical ties between the Baltics and Germany. A city game and a lively Latvian cultural evening brought participants closer to local history and traditions, leaving many with warm memories of the city and their colleagues.

As I reflect on my time in Riga, I am very grateful for the opportunity to participate in the conference as a Young Journalist. I met inspiring people, broadened my horizons, and left with increased curiosity and a motivation to get more involved. I enjoyed reading the policy paper, which you can find below. I look forward to seeing the work of Cluster A presented in the European Parliament.

The Policy Paper of Cluster A and a visual representation can be downloaded below:

Cluster A Policy Paper 2025.pdf

PDF herunterladen • 7.66MB

 Graphic Artist: Dace Andersone