DO Newsletter: July/August Issue 2009

Stijn Lombaert, Adjunct Advisor, Province of West Flanders

We met Stijn at the 16th Intensive Seminar on the EU organised by the Development Office from 29 June till 17 July 2009.

“It’s like being in a small Europe’’

What has been your personal highlight in the first two weeks of this year’s Intensive Seminar on the EU?

That’s a tough choice, because there have been so many interesting lectures and activities. Let me mention three highlights: I found the session on the European policy-making process very interesting as I am working in a related field. Then, I also liked the negotiations lecture, which was very practice-oriented and, of course, the working visit to Brussels … besides all the great discussions with colleagues from EU and non-EU countries – it’s a very refreshing experience!

Unlike the other participants that are staying in the College’s residences, you live in Bruges. But you are still participating in all of the evening activities. In terms of the social experience, is this Seminar different from other training programmes that finish at the end of the business day?

Yes, that’s true. Being social is part of your professional and personal life. Here, you get the chance to explore your own limits in terms of respecting other people and their opinions. It depends on your character, of course, but I see this as a personal advantage. And it is definitely also an additional learning benefit.

This year there are some 60 participants from EU and non-EU countries. How would you describe the atmosphere here?

There is a great exchange between the participants, also thanks to the interactive lectures. It’s like being here in a small Europe – with all the different nationalities and cultures – and you also have the chance to meet people from non-EU countries!

Why is this diversity so important in your opinion?

Well, if you work with others, it often happens that at some point you assume that everyone shares the same vision. At that point, you stop thinking critically. But talking to people from other countries and in different situations can really make you reconsider why you do things the way you do. And this ‘why’ question is very important.

Why did you choose the ‘classic’ three-week programme?

I think the three-week programme gives you the chance to deepen your knowledge on basic EU issues in the first week so that you are prepared for the two following weeks. I learned about the EU some years ago, but I wanted an update on how things have changed and evolved in order to get the maximum out of the lectures on current hot topics, like climate change and enlargement.

You work at the Province of West Flanders. What does the Province do exactly?

We are a decentralised government body. On the one hand, we supervise the municipalities and their decisions, and on the other, we have some responsibilities for the people living in West Flanders regarding for example culture, sports or welfare. We also support other government bodies; we cooperate with cities, and for some policy areas, we are the coordinating platform for the different actors. And, of course, we also participate in European regional projects like INTERREG.

In how far do you work on European issues?

I don’t work on European issues directly, but I support my colleagues who work in this field. I am an Adjunct Advisor to the Head of Administration, and I am especially advising on policy processes and on issues of the internal organisation as well as performance management of the whole organisation. For some European projects, a specific evaluation is required, so I have to know what kind of projects we are managing and what has to be done. And also I have a personal interest in European affairs.

What kind of skills do you hope to acquire in the Intensive Seminar that could be useful for your job?

Well, first of all, the EU knowledge is very important. In terms of skills, the negotiation exercise was very useful as we also often have negotiations at management level. If you want to avoid the same person always making the decisions, you have to negotiate in a different way. The communication workshop was also very interesting because, although we try to communicate well, we often miss our goal. And, as I said before, the Seminar was also an excellent social exercise for being open-minded when meeting new people and building a network.

The Province of West Flanders is an important partner and sponsor of the College of Europe. What role does the College in your opinion play for the province and the region?

For the province, the College of Europe is a centre of knowledge. Some professors contribute by lecturing at the province’s schools. The College has an amazing library which is accessible, so that’s also a benefit. In a broader sense, I think that the College is not only important for the province, but also for Belgium and even the whole EU. No matter what, it’s a unique institution that you can’t compare to any other college or university, and it has an outstanding reputation. So having been born and living in Bruges, I am personally very proud to have the College here in my city.

Thank you.

The interview was held by Cordula Singer on 9 July 2009.