Cooperation with Europe

The countries of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe have undergone fundamental changes over the past two decades. A number of countries joined the European Union (EU) at the end of the Cold War, and additional candidates are currently preparing to become members of this political alliance. Inwent numbers among those working to encourage this process by promoting development in the countries in the region. We also address other issues, such as economic processes of reform, promoting foreign trade relations, the integration of rural areas, strengthening democracy and rule of law, developing vocational education systems to meet the current need, and HIV/AIDS prevention.

It is not only the future of these young democracies that depends on their successful development: The stability and security of Europe is also at stake. Inwent is dedicated to filling the need for advanced training and promotes the development of free market structures. We qualify those executives, for example, who are privatising the public infrastructure or transforming centralised institutions into democratic authorities and offices. Inwent also promotes the vocational training in these countries to encourage foreign trade in our partner countries in Eastern Europe. Our work is commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi), the Federal Foreign Office (AA), the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the federal states, the business sector and multilateral organisations. Inwent also organises projects on a variety of topics in Central and Southeastern Europe on behalf of the EU. Inwent’s Coordinating Centre for International Organisations (LIO) manages these activities and serves as a direct contact for those cooperating in additional EU projects.

The central issues facing the Russian Federation and Ukraine are promoting foreign trade, developing international education systems, and advancing good governance. Inwent communicates western management techniques to young Russian managers, for example, to help them in restructuring their firms to prepare these for the world market. Inwent is supporting the Russian Ministry for Economic Development and Trade in modernising and unifying government contracting. Effective and transparent award procedures can help limit or even prevent corruption.

On our path towards encouraging a unified European approach to education, cooperation in education has become an important component of European integration. The EU domestic market and international competition place new demands on the qualifications and mobility of trainees and trainers alike, in turn requiring a more European and international approach in national educational systems. This especially applies to Germany as a centre of education and training, located as it is at the heart of Europe. Commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Inwent is currently organising a bilateral exchange programme in vocational training with the Netherlands, Great Britain and Norway.