On 25 March 2026, Elena Sokova, Executive Director, and Federica Dall’Arche, Senior Research Associate, joined Marsela Sako, Lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the University of Tirana in a dedicated event to engage students and young scholars and raise their awareness about arms control, non-proliferation, and disarmament issues.
The event was organized within the framework of the Young Women and Next Generation Initiative (YWNGI) of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC), made possible thanks to the generous support of the European Union.
Welcome remarks were delivered by Prof. Blendi Ceka, Head of the Department of Political Science.
Titled "The Nuclear Order Under Strain: Non-Proliferation and Disarmament in an Era of Strategic Competition,” the event provided participants with an introduction to the arms control, non-proliferation, and disarmament regimes, with particular attention dedicated to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). This introduction set the stage for a broader discussion of the treaty’s continued relevance and the challenges it and the nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regimes face. Building on this foundation, the conversation turned to the current geostrategic environment and today’s proliferation trends and concerns, including debates in both Asia and Europe over the potential pursuit of independent nuclear deterrents amid uncertainties regarding the United States security commitments. The event also examined renewed nuclear rhetoric by major nuclear powers, including references to the possible resumption of nuclear testing, the deployment of nuclear weapons in third countries, as well as the erosion of arms control frameworks and its broader implications for regional and global security.
The event included an overview of the work of the EUNPDC and presented opportunities for students and young professionals to engage in arms control, non-proliferation, and disarmament fields. This included information on fellowships, internships, networking, and job opportunities, including those offered through the YWNGI.
The event was attended by 49 students and generated a high level of interest, with participants asking questions and demonstrating a genuine desire to learn more.
More information about the agenda of the event can be found below:
The VCDNP thanks the University of Tirana for hosting the event and the EU for sponsoring it.
