German-Baltic Conference Riga 2025 - Cluster B from the Perspective of a Young Journalist
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By Vadim Martschenko. Vadim is a Radio Host at Genlüd (Denmark) and with a background in Journalism. He currently pursues a Master's degree at Aarhus University in Journalism, Media, and Globalization. Vadim covered the German-Baltic Conference 2025 as a Young Journalist, following the work of Cluster B: International Cooperation & Security .
Between the 16th and 19th of October 2025, the German-Baltic-Conference was hosted for the 7th time by the German Baltic Future Foundation (DBJW). From across Europe, young and politically engaged change-makers gathered in Riga as Youth Embassadors to discuss one of the most important topics in modern politics: Rethinking Security Through Youth. Riga could not be a better place to find ways to deal with this topic, as the threat to freedom, democracy, and peace is under constant threat because of its direct neighbors.
Ever since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the European Union’s security policies have changed rapidly. A process that only accelerated with the new US foreign policy and its implications for NATO. Although these decisions significantly shape Europe’s future, the young people who will live with their consequences often do not have the opportunity to influence them.
Focusing on International Cooperation & Security, Cluster B challenged this by developing a policy recommendation that centers Security Implications of Youth Brain Drain in the Baltics. This was researched in the weeks leading up to the conference under the supervision of the head of cluster, Lucie Soukalová. After thorough and rich discussions, the cluster decided to not only consider young people’s future in the policy recommendation but also one of the most vital regions concerning European security.
“We cannot defend every inch of NATO territory if nobody lives there.”
- Fausta Šimaitytė, Head of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Lithuania
Yearly, thousands of young, educated people from the Baltic countries are leaving their homes to seek better financial and career opportunities elsewhere. Their destination? Most often, Western Europe. Inspired by the remark of one of the speakers of the opening Panel, Fausta Šimaitytė, Head of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Lithuania, Cluster B got to work to detect the motives that make young people leave, the consequences that this poses for security, and what solutions can be offered to increase return migration. In their first session, the Cluster was able to materialize their preliminary work and research into a complex problem analysis regarding the state of emigration from the Baltics.
On the second day, former German ambassador to Bulgaria & Estonia, Christoph Eichhorn, urged the Youth Ambassadors to act now, not tomorrow. European security cannot wait any longer, and the European Union needs to be empowered by young, fresh perspectives. Putting these into practice, Cluster B discussed incentives for what drives young Balts back home: higher education, job opportunities, administrative support, innovation centers and welfare benefits.
Not everything went smoothly. There were moments were the Cluster thought about changing their whole topic and starting anew. But through collaboration, they found effective solutions and became even more concrete in their problem analysis and solutions. In the end, they developed three key proposals for the European Union to solve the problem of youth brain drain in the Baltics: Announcing Return Migration as Strategic Security Goal, forming a Baltic Alliance for Security and Innovation Studies to increase innovation through collaboration between universities, and developing of the “I Choose the Baltics” initiative that facilitates return migration.
Presenting their work to the members of DBJW and the other Youth Ambassadors, Cluster B proved to have developed a well-rounded policy proposal for the presentation to the European Parliament. And in a way, their process reflected the world they were discussing: not everything is perfect right now. But if we act, if we cooperate, and if we dare, we can create something great.
Beyond the policy work, what truly stood out to me was the spirit of the group. Over just a few days, Cluster B grew close, laughing at coffee breaks, joking around during long sessions, and yes, dancing through the streets of Riga at night. They managed to balance serious discussions with fun, and that balance is, for me personally, the best way to work together.
The Policy Paper of Cluster B and a visual representation can be downloaded below:
Graphic Artist: Dace Andersone
