Vitalii Suprun, a new generation empowered by the EU4Youth Natolin Fellowship Programme
While his country is confronting the existential challenge of war, Vitalii Suprun, a young professional from Ukraine, has chosen to study strategic regional cooperation as a key driver for enhancing security and accelerating integration. Vitalii is a beneficiary of the EU4Youth Natolin Fellowship Programme at the College of Europe in Natolin, Poland, funded by the European Union.
Working since 2023 as an expert within the European Commission’s Working Group on Science Diplomacy, Vitalii saw the fellowship as an opportunity to deepen his engagement and broaden his European perspective, a key step in refining his research and policy development skills, with a strong focus on supporting the EU’s engagement in Eastern Europe and advancing Ukraine’s European integration.
“As a young professional dedicated to public policy and international cooperation, I see this Fellowship as a strategic platform to deepen my understanding of European governance, enhance my expert capacity and develop research and policy development skills, which are crucial in the process of European integration,” Vitalii said.
“My research was grounded in a comparative analysis of the experiences and best practices of established regional cooperation formats, such as the Visegrad Group, the Weimar Triangle, and the NORDEFCO. I chose this topic because I am convinced that, in the current geopolitical landscape, regional cooperation and ‘minilateralism’ play a critical role in enhancing security, fostering political dialogue, and accelerating integration processes,” said Vitalii.
For Ukraine, which now stands at a historic crossroads on its path toward the EU and NATO, such formats provide platforms for aligning reform agendas, enhancing security and defence cooperation, and strengthening Ukraine’s position within a broader, more resilient European security architecture.
“By drawing from the institutional and operational lessons of these formats, my research offers actionable insights that can support Ukraine’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration while fostering cooperation with partner states that share historical, cultural and security ties,” he stressed.
The EU4Youth Fellowship provided Vitalii with a full immersion in an excellence-driven research and mentoring setting at the College of Europe in Natolin, where he refined his research focus and expanded his knowledge of the European Union’s Neighborhood Policy.
Internship at the European Neighbourhood Chair
As part of the Fellowship Programme, Vitalii worked as an intern at the Department of European Neighbourhood Policy at the College of Europe in Natolin. He conducted research and provided academic support, helped organise events, and participated in ongoing initiatives related to the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP). This role gave him the opportunity to work closely with professors, visiting scholars, and stakeholders engaged in research on the European Union’s foreign policy and neighbourhood strategy, particularly with regard to Ukraine and the Eastern Partnership countries.
“A major highlight of my internship was the opportunity to engage directly in cutting-edge research and policy discussions related to the EU’s neighborhood strategies. I conducted research, synthesised policy materials and provided analytical input for publications. This experience sharpened my analytical thinking, research methodology, intercultural communication and project coordination skills – all in a high-level academic and diplomatic setting,” Vitalii said.
Vitalii Suprun’s internship supported his long-term goal of training as a researcher and expert in European security and integration. The experience allowed him to connect theory with practice, deepen his understanding of the European Union’s external actions, and build a valuable network of academic and policy professionals.
“Working alongside brilliant and determined colleagues from Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia was a deeply enriching experience. It reminded me that despite the different paths our countries have taken, we share a common struggle, a common hope and a common mission. Our discussions went beyond public policy – we spoke about identity, sovereignty, justice and what it truly means to be European. These exchanges helped me to understand regional cooperation not just as an intellectual challenge but as a moral imperative. Together, we didn’t just analyse the region – we imagined the future and started to build the networks that will one day make it a reality,” Vitalii said.
For Vitalii, the Natolin Fellowship Programme transformed his perspective on EU integration from a technical process to a strategic, human mission based on values such as democracy, solidarity, and resilience. He realised that integration means more than aligning with the Union’s standards; it also means sharing a common destiny with fellow Europeans. In a context of war, hybrid threats, and global uncertainty, regional cooperation has emerged as an essential tool for building collective strength.
Personal and professional transformation
Vitalii recently defended his doctoral thesis on the security and defence policy of Ukraine to gain his PhD in political science. Participating in the Natolin Fellowship Programme provided him with a framework and a new direction in his professional path. It strengthened his understanding of the European vision as a dynamic political reality that requires active, competent, and visionary contributions from the region. He believes this fellowship has given him and other fellows the knowledge, networks, and confidence to assume the role of a new generation of experts in the European integration process.
“Like post-war Europe in the 1950s, Ukraine today stands at a defining historical juncture,” Vitalii said. “It seeks new foundations for lasting peace and integration within the European community. My goal is to make a meaningful contribution to this process – to pursue a career at the intersection of foreign policy, security and European affairs and to work directly for Ukraine’s full integration into the EU, while promoting deeper solidarity and cooperation across Europe.”
On a personal level, Vitalii reaffirmed his belief in the transformative power of education, research, solidarity, and shared European values, all at a time when his country is facing existential challenges. The Fellowship provided him with the opportunity to think critically, forge connections, and contemplate the essence of responsible and visionary leadership.
“The Fellowship was a bridge between academic work and real-world policy engagement. It gave me not just access to institutions, but also to ideas and individuals who sharpened my focus and broadened my horizons. It reminded me that the role of Eastern Europe is constantly growing – and that being from Eastern Europe carries the responsibility to connect, collaborate, and actively contribute to building our united and peaceful Europe,” Vitalii concluded.
The Natolin Fellowship Programme is part of the EU4Youth Phase III: Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship programme, funded by the European Union and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, is implemented by the Central Project Management Agency (CPVA) in the Eastern Partnership. The programme aims to provide technical assistance to governmental and non-governmental organisations to tackle youth unemployment and improve employability.
MOST READ
[popular_posts columns_xl=”4″ columns_l=”4″ columns_m=”3″]
