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 of this year’s Intensive Seminar on the EU?
There have been so many interesting lectures and activities, so let me mention three: the session on the European policy-making process, the practical negotiations exercise and, of course, the working visit to Brussels … besides all the interesting discussions with colleagues.

Most participants stay here on the campus. In terms of the social experience, is this Seminar different from other training programmes that finish at the end of the business day?
Yes. Here, you get the chance to explore your own limits in terms of respecting other people and their opinions. This is definitely an additional learning benefit. There is a great interaction between the participants. It’s like being here in a small Europe, and then you also have the chance to meet people from non-EU countries!

You are an Adjunct Advisor at the Province of West Flanders. In how far do you work on European issues?
I don’t work on European issues directly, but I support my colleagues who work on EU projects. And also I have a personal interest in European affairs.

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?
For the province, the College of Europe is a centre of knowledge. In a broader sense, I think that the College is also important for Belgium and even the whole EU. It’s a unique institution that 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.