Development Office Newsletter: Issue N°4 2010

Column

Summer in Bruges –
an intensive experience

In the first three weeks of July, the Development Office organised its renowned summer training programme, the ‘Intensive Seminar on the EU’. We asked three participants from Denmark, the Netherlands and Serbia about their experiences – and heard some interesting responses.
It’s summer time in Bruges – the academic year is over and the Venice of the North is packed with tourists cruising on the canals or sitting on one of the numerous terraces. But also all around the College of Europe campus, you can hear the buzz of people chatting animatedly in various languages. These are not students, however, but the participants from the 17th Intensive Seminar on the EU enjoying a farewell drink in the evening sun.
This year, some 80 participants from 26 countries joined one of the Intensive Seminar Programmes, lasting between one and three weeks. Hectic days of learning, networking and fun lie behind them: from the early sessions on the EU and the Lisbon Treaty, to hands-on workshops on the EU in practice and working visits to the institutions in Brussels. Has it been a worthwhile experience?
“I’m doing my Masters on the EU, so I had some knowledge before I came here, but I learned a lot of new things…
» Read the full article

ACTIVITIES

Successful pilot training for EEAS diplomats

The first specialised training programme for national diplomats and EU officials who are joining the European External Action Service (EEAS) took place at the College of Europe’s Bruges campus from 30 August to 3 September.

Summer Seminar for Russian students

25 students from the European Studies Institute (ESI) of MGIMO-University in Moscow have been selected for the 2010 ESI Summer Seminar.

Inauguration of first centre on
international and EU port law

‘ Portius – the world's first law centre with focus on international and EU port law opened on 7 September at the Castle of the Counts in Ghent.

Open Registrations

» EU Fact Finding

Brussels, 8 October 2010
A half-day fact finding mission to guide you through the ‘labyrinth’ of EU-related websites.
- Register by 13 September to benefit from a 10% discount!
- Registration open till 27 September 2010.

» EU Negotiations in Practice

Bruges & Brussels, 22-26 November 2010
The principles and practice of EU decision-making including a two-day simulation exercise.
- Register by 27 September to benefit from a 10% discount!
- Registration open till 5 November 2010.

Announcements

The economic benefits of e-Inclusion

A research project on the benefits of e-Inclusion draws to a close with a workshop on 9 September organised at the European Commission’s DG Information Society and Media in Brussels.

Assessing competition rules
within the European Union

The Development Office in partnership with the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) has successfully been awarded a European Commission service contract on EU competition law.  
» Read the full article

Lectures on the EU in West Flanders

During the Academic Year 2010-2011, the Development Office will again organise lectures on EU policy for students of High Schools in West Flanders and the Vormingplus centres for adult education.

How to run a Council Presidency?

This autumn, the Development Office will train some 1,000 Polish officials involved in their country’s EU Presidency on practical aspects of the EU decision-making process. The civil servants will learn how to plan, prepare and chair meetings and acquire negotiation and interpersonal skills.

What role do new technologies
play in armed conflicts?

This is one of the questions which will be addressed in this year’s Bruges Colloquium on International Humanitarian Law organised on 21-22 October by the Development Office and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The Development Office
welcomes new staff

In June, two Project Managers joined the Development Office team in Bruges. The Development Office welcomes the new team members on board and wishes them a very good start and cooperation with our partners!