Development Office Newsletter: Issue N°1 2011

Development Office trains Russian professors on EU Terminology

Since 2007, the Development Office of the College of Europe has been organising a yearly training seminar focusing on EU Terminology in English, targeted to professors and language teachers of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO). From 27 January to 5 February 2011, 25 participants attended this year’s edition in Bruges.

On this occasion, the programme counted with some distinctive elements: MGIMO professors received methodological support on how to set up a simulation exercise in negotiations and practised political language for negotiations, in addition to updating their knowledge update in EU Terminology. The seminar was rounded off with one-day visit to the EU institutions in Brussels.

This seminar is part of the activities offered by the College of Europe to the European Studies Institute (ESI) at MGIMO, within the framework of the ESI-College partnership for the “Support to the Development of the European Studies Institute at MGIMO”, an agreement signed between the EU and the Russian Federation for the period 2010-2013. Following the success of the past years, the College has renewed its support to this project by being again the Partner of MGIMO for the Action.

More information: www.eurocollege.ru (mainly in Russian)

Macedonian civil servants discover the world of EU Negotiations

From 24 to 26 January 2011, the Development Office organised in Skopje, a 3- day training seminar on EU Negotiations, in the framework of the USAID – World Learning Programme. In this hands-on workshop, Macedonian civil servants learnt the principles and practice of EU decision-making.

The goal of this tailor-made training was to enhance participants’ negotiation and communication skills as well as to prepare Public Procurement Bureau top management for all challenges that they will face when bilateral and multilateral negotiations for EU accession of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia will begin. Nine public administration officials from the Macedonian Public Bureau received an intensive 3-day workshop on EU negotiations skills.

The programme included hands-on sessions examining theoretical and practical aspects of negotiations and the specificities of the EU decision-making process. Workshops on negotiations skills, communication techniques and strategies, as well as a simulation exercise of the working in the Council of the EU were the core activities of this interactive training.

For any training request tailored to your needs and your organisation, please do not hesitate to contact the Development Office: info.development@coleurope.eu

IHL - Introductory Seminar on International Humanitarian Law

The Development Office and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) organised an introductory seminar on International Humanitarian Law. The event took place from 21 till 23 February at the College of Europe in its Bruges campus.

The programme focused on the implementation of International Humanitarian Law by the European Union and was targeted at European Studies candidates from the Benelux countries, Germany, France and the United Kingdom.

On this occasion, the College was honoured to welcome several legal and EU practitioners to give an introduction to the topic, such as Professor Yves Sandoz from the University of Geneva, Mr Paul Berman from the UK’s Cabinet Office, Mr Gert-Jan van Hegelsom from the  EU External Action Service and Mr Stéphane Kolanowski from the ICRC Brussels delegation.

The sessions and debates explored various aspects of International Humanitarian Law – starting with a general historical overview to more concrete aspects like the protection of victims of the war, the conduction of hostilities, the EU framework and future perspectives. All 65 participants who followed the seminar received a certificate of attendance.

The next activity on International Humanitarian Law will be the annual ICRC Colloquium taking place in Bruges on 20-21 October 2011.

The Polish Government flies towards a successful EU Presidency

After nine months of dedicated work, the project ‘Specialised training on practical aspects of participation of Polish governmental administration in the EU decision making process’ co-financed by the European Social Fund has successfully come to an end. More than 1000 Polish officials have been trained to play an active role in the EU Polish Presidency which is to take place in the second semester of 2011.

Under the direction of the Development Office, highly reputable experts provided advanced training in three different fields of expertise: Module 1 - Practical aspects of participation in and chairing the EU Council Working Groups; Module 2 - Developing negotiation techniques in the European environment and interpersonal skills; and Module 3 - Managing the EU presidency at home.

Through an interactive training programme including detailed case studies and project simulations, future chairmen of the EU Council working groups, as well as national delegates and organizational coordinators in ministries and central institutions, have been trained to face the difficulties of an EU Presidency and have been tested facing the most challenging situations.

The Development Office is proud of the positive feedback received both from the participants and from the Polish authorities, and of the overall success of the project. From the 1st of June the triumph of the EU Polish Presidency will be only in their hands. We wish them all the best.