Brussels Field Trip 2024

The 2024 edition of the Brussels Field Trip takes place on November 25-26, 2024. The event is organized for 1st-year students and EPS obligatory classes are canceled in the days of November 25-27.

During the first semester of the study period, a two-day trip to Brussels offers students the chance to get in contact with stakeholders in the core of EU decision-making and to better understand the day-to-day operations of the “EU capital”. During the event, students meet experts from EU institutions, think tanks, NGOs, and consultancies including EPS Alumni based in Brussels.

Programme outline: 

25.11 

  • 09:45 – 12:00 – Ms Lora Verheecke, The “Dark Side of the EU” Tour – this is an outdoor tour focused on lobbying in the EU, so please dress accordingly. In case of the rainfall, please avoid umbrellas, rather use waterproof jackets. 

The meeting point is TBA, but surely in the proximity of the European Parliament building. 

  • 12:15 – 13:15 – Lunch break at the European Commission’s canteen 
  • 13:30 – 17:00 – The European Commission 
  • 13:30    Communication and Institutional Affairs – PETR MOOZ  
  • 14:45    Break 
  • 15:00    EU Enlargement (speaker TBA) 
  • 16:00    EU Agricultural policy or environmental and energy policy (speaker TBA)   
  • 17:00    End of the information visit in the European Commission 
  • 18:00-19:30 – meeting with the EPS alumni working in Brussels – Covadonga  Solares, Lennart Paetz, Beatrice Giovannoni, Sander Prins, Joseph Slattery,  Ariadna Lungulescu (Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to the EU, rue du Trone 130) + drinks after (venue TBC) 

26.11 

  • 9:30 – 12:00 – European External Action Service, Rdpt Robert Schuman 9 
  • 09.30 Arrival and security check 
  • 10.00 The role and political priorities of the EEAS, the EU’s diplomatic service 
  • 11.00 Thematic presentation (speaker TBC) 
  • 12.00 End of the study visit 
  • 12:00 – 13:30   Lunch break and/or free time 
  • 13:30 – 15:00 – Permanent Representation of the Republic of Poland to the European Union, Rue Stevin 139. 
  • Mr Filip Ślęzak (II Secretary) and Mr Michał Mazur (II Secretary) – preparations for the Polish Presidency in the Council and specificity of the Polish PERMREP 
  • 15:30 –17:00 – Permanent Representation of Czech Republic to the European Union, rue du Trone 130. 
  • Speaker TBC – Public diplomacy during the Czech Presidency in the Council