SEEDIG - South Eastern European Dialogue on Internet Governance

To understand the value of some things in your life, you need to see them in retrospective. This is exactly what I needed after the 10th Anniversary Meeting of SEEDIG - South Eastern European Dialogue on Internet Governance, which took place a month ago in Athens. Those three days passed just too quickly for me - I arrived, welcomed-hosted-applauded-learned-photographed-laughed-tasted-discovered-admired, and left. I have spent this full month in reflections to realise: - what a beautiful community we are creating around #InternetGovernance in South Eastern European region. Relaunching the Youth School in 2024 was a turning point. Yes, the organising process takes 3x (if not 5x) effort, but the feeling you get when you see how dozens of smart young people come to learn and bring so much energy and enthusiasm with them makes it all worth it. - how technological progress and "new" tools don't resolve "old" problems. We keep inventing stuff to improve our lives, but the agenda shows that all things new (such as generative AI, which everyone talks about) just become a new layer in the cake of world problems. Yes, you can generate beautiful and entertaining pictures and videos of any kind at almost no cost, but in the same way you can generate propaganda, revenge porn, disinformation, and hate speech. Much cheaper, much easier, and much faster. Global problems of food security, poverty, inequality, and discrimination get only amplified over time and it seems that we need to look for solutions not only through the technological lens but holistically. Open and honest dialogue and willingness to compromise are indispensable for this. - yet again, I can relate to Socrates. The more I learn and do, the more I see how much is out there to learn, to discover, to develop, to improve. During the two days, I left my behind-the-scenes comfort zone of an organiser and got on a stage as a host. I was making sure that the audience felt welcomed, the speakers had everything they needed, and we remained on track with the programme. This role reminded me of two golden truths - "preparation is key", especially when pronouncing Greek surnames, and "practice makes perfect", as I felt much more in my element on the second day. It might have been stressful at times, but I would definitely love to do it again. - finally, how lucky I am to have met Olga Kyryliuk at the #IGF in Ethiopia a few years ago. That serendipity allowed me to learn from a truly exceptional woman, meet so many people dedicated to a good cause, and stay connected to Ukraine as I continue my career path in Rome. I won't be able to tag all the names of people I draw inspiration from in the field of Internet Governance, but my heart is full of gratitude for each and every conversation we had and each meal/drink/laughter we shared. While there are many more thoughts I could share, I will stop here and just leave a few pictures from those beautiful days. Ευχαριστώ Ελλάδα, eις το επανιδείν!

Grateful to have been part of SEEDIG - South Eastern European Dialogue on Internet Governance 10th anniversary. It was an inspiring experience filled with thought-provoking panels and discussions on the future of digital era and our shared responsibility to build a more open, safe and democratic digital space. #SEEDIG10 #Digitalgovernance

Three weeks after SEEDIG 10th Anniversary meeting in Athens, I’m still processing how much those few days changed my thinking about internet governance. I went expecting to learn about digital policy frameworks. What I got was something more personal! The workshops and lectures pushed beyond theory into questions that actually matter: Who shapes the rules of our digital lives? How do we build systems that work fairly, not just technically? Leaving Greece, I gained a clearer practical sense of responsibility. Now I’m figuring out how to bring these conversations back to my own community and stay connected to the people I met. Thank you to the SEEDIG - South Eastern European Dialogue on Internet Governance team, Olga Kyryliuk, Kateryna Bovsunovska and everyone who made this possible. And to Anna Gumenyuk, Anhelina Kyrychuk, Fatima Hidayatova, Andrijana Paljušević, Lusine Mnatsakanyan, Ani Tutisani and all Youth School family — your perspectives stuck with me ❤️

🌐 Thrilled to share that I participated in the  SEEDIG - South Eastern European Dialogue on Internet Governance Youth School 2025 — a dynamic capacity-building initiative that brings together young professionals from 18 countries across the SEEDIG region to explore the key issues shaping our digital future! 🇪🇺💻 Over the past weeks, we’ve been taking part in an Internet Governance Course developed by the Internet Society, covering foundational topics such as: The history and principles of Internet Governance The multistakeholder model Digital infrastructure and regulatory frameworks Multilingualism and cybersecurity The developmental dimensions of the digital ecosystem 🌍 We met in Athens for a full-day agenda of expert talks, discussions, and workshops. We discussed: 🎙️ GenAI, 🌐 Internet Governance, 🧭 IP Management and Policy, the Future of Internet Governance, 💬 The Multistakeholder Approach, 🔤 Why Domains Matter, 🤖 Deepfakes and 🧑💻 the Council of Europe Digital Agenda. It was wonderful to exchange ideas with brilliant peers and experts from across the region, and to contribute to conversations about how we can shape a more open, inclusive, and secure internet for all. 🌍Huge thank you to Olga Kyryliuk, Bogdan Banjac, Dusan Stojicevic, Tamar Abzianidze, and Angela Saghatelyan for bringing the school to life, and to Herman Johansen, Alena Muravska, Regina Fuchsova, Feđa Kulenović, and Sofransky Octavian for the invaluable insights. ✨ #SEEDIG #YouthSchool #InternetGovernance #DigitalPolicy #Cybersecurity #AI #IGF #SEEDIG10 #InternetSociety #UNIGF

A decade of SEEDIG. Five years of my leadership in chairing its evolution. Building something that lasts requires both strategy and perseverance. SEEDIG 10 marked a decade of doing just that — turning individual partnerships, ideas, and conversations into a lasting regional dialogue. In a region as complex and diverse as South Eastern Europe, keeping such a process alive is never automatic. It takes coordination when there are no resources, optimism when there is fatigue, and a steady belief that regional cooperation matters — even when the incentives say otherwise. Leadership in such a setting rarely happens behind a desk. It means being all in, on every front. One day you’re shaping a program narrative and refining policy messages — the next you’re checking cables, adjusting the website code, or finalising logistics minutes before an opening session. It’s strategy and execution in equal measure — and it requires focus, adaptability, and calmness under pressure. Each year, changing host countries feels like starting from a blank page — new partners, new contexts, new dynamics. Yet that constant reinvention is what keeps SEEDIG relevant and connected, allowing new communities to join while strengthening a shared regional voice. Capacity development has always been part of SEEDIG’s DNA. Seeing a new generation from the Youth School confidently engaging in digital policy discussions is one of the most meaningful outcomes — a reminder that investing in people and ideas creates lasting impact. What I have valued most through this decade is the network that has emerged — a community that now speaks with its own voice, informed by trust and shared experience. I am deeply grateful to the partners and sponsors whose sustained collaboration made SEEDIG 10 possible and who continue to believe in the value of regional, multistakeholder dialogue. Your support goes far beyond funding — it reflects shared trust, professional respect, and, in many cases, friendship. Thank you to ICANN, Council of Europe, EURid, Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, RIPE NCC, Internet Society, Internet Society Foundation, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, EuroDIG - European Dialogue on Internet Governance, Internet Governance Forum Support Association (IGFSA), Регистар националног интернет домена Србије (РНИДС), Serbian Open eXchange, ISOC - Serbia Belgrade Chapter, Internet Governance Forum (IGF), Gransy s.r.o., Identity Digital Inc. and to individuals within these organisations whose personal engagement continues to strengthen SEEDIG’s mission Andrea B., Christopher Mondini, Chris Buckridge, Dimitra Tompros, Sofransky Octavian, Dan Cuciurianu, Paul Hugues Meyer, Marco Emanuele, Abdelouahab YAGOUBI, Alena Muravska, Hisham Ibrahim, David Frautschy Heredia, Nina Bendzko, Franziska Jakobs, Angela Saghatelyan, Sandra Hoferichter, Dejan Đukić, Dijana Milutinović, Desiree Miloshevic Evans, Zoran Perovic and many others #SEEDIG10

It’s time to share my personal experience volunteering as a SEEDIG Team Assistant for the SEEDIG 10 event in Athens, Greece, in 2025!🇬🇷 I first participated in SEEDIG in 2019, and after six years, I returned to Athens to join the core organising team. Over the past five months, I’ve had the pleasure of working with an amazing team of SEEDIG members Olga Kyryliuk , Kateryna Bovsunovska , Tetiana Kyryliuk , Bogdan Banjac and Dusan Stojicevic . Together, we worked to make SEEDIG on-site experience to share expertise on internet governance, digital rights, artificial intelligence, and related topics. Our goal was to facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogue and cooperation to address issues concerning the use, evolution, and governance of the internet and digital technologies, ultimately contributing to sustainable economic and social development in the SEE region and strengthening Europe as a whole. The event attracted over 200 participants, speakers, and members of the SEEDIG community for three days (9-11 October, 2025) in Athens, Greece. 🌟 SEEDIG is a place for representatives from leading European and international internet organisations, along with selected participants from South-Eastern Europe (SEE)🛜 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐲 1 𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐄𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐆 On the first day, we kicked off with an engaging icebreaker session that I facilitated. Participants from over 16 countries in the SEE region shared their top interests and concerns regarding the internet and digital technologies. They introduced their countries' main attractions and offered insights into their perspectives, hobbies, and stories. I found many parallels between our experiences, which helped establish connections right from the start and laid the groundwork for lasting relationships. Among the topics of interest, many participants were particularly focused on artificial intelligence and its implications for sustainability, privacy, digital rights, and ethics. I also noticed a significant number of creative individuals who enjoy spending time on creative writing and photography, especially in nature while hiking in the mountains. Cultural sightseeing reflected a strong connection to Christianity and religious sites, with representatives from countries like Georgia, Ukraine, Armenia, and Moldova expressing pride in their traditional cuisine. Following the icebreaker, we had a series of intriguing presentations from various speakers. We also had a great time at the pizza workshop, and I really enjoyed my pizza!🍕 I met amazing people, both speakers and participants, learned about their interests and expertise, and engaged in meaningful discussions. I realised that want to learn more about AI, cloud sustainability, and related policies. #SEEDIG #SEEDIG10 #Internet #AI #InternetGovernance #IGF #CoE #GIZ #RIPE #ICANN #EURid #DiploFoundation

🌐 Looking Back at SEEDIG 10 – A Decade of Dialogue & Cooperation | Athens, 10 October 2025 🌐 On 10 October 2025, in the heart of Athens, I joined an inspiring community at SEEDIG 10, a milestone event marking a decade of dialogue and cooperation in Internet governance. Ten years of discussions.
Ten years of ideas.
Ten years of building a more inclusive, secure, and open digital space. SEEDIG 10 wasn’t only about looking back, it was about shaping what comes next. Every exchange reminded me that Internet governance is ultimately about people — about trust, inclusion, and shared purpose. #SEEDIG10 #InternetGovernance #DigitalFuture #Athens2025 #Innovation