Discovering the EU Bubble: EUGOV Students Complete the First-Ever Term in Brussels

The first-ever Brussels term for our students in the Master in Advanced European and International Studies - Applied European Policy and Governance Studies (EUGOV) programme started this January. The term offered many practical insights with workshops, expert briefings and visits to EU institutions. It was also a great opportunity to meet and exchange with CIFE Alumni, many of whom are working in Brussels with or for the European institutions.

The trimester began with a workshop on "European Strategic Autonomy" from multiple perspectives together with the Trans European Policy Studies Association, including a keynote speech by TEPSA Secretary-General Jim Cloos. Read more

Expert Briefings: The unique opportunity of living and studying in the Brussels Bubble has the advantage of connecting with experts and institutional insiders, including the following:

• David Daly, Former EU Ambassador to Thailand and Australia, now working at the EEAS Headquarters: "The Office of High Representative and the External Action Service"
• Lowri Evans, Former Director General of Commission DG GROW: "Where Should European Policy Go in 2026?"
• Samanta Fominova, Deputy Antici LT RP: "From COREPER to Presidency: Misconceptions Versus Realities in EU Decision-Making"
• Philipp Jauernik, Labour and Social Affairs Attaché at the Permanent Representation of Austria to the EU (CIFE Executive Master Alumnus): "Proposal for a Traineeships Directive"
• Laure Wagener, RP Luxembourg, currently on assignment at DG GROW, European Commission: "Have the 2020s Changed How the Council Views the Single Market?"
• Martin Westlake, Former Secretary General of the European Economic and Social Committee: "Erasmus Mundus: What the Story of this Programme Teaches Us about EU Policy-Making"

Institutional Visits: Being in the capital of the European institutions enabled the students to take part in regular visits to various organisations, such as:

• UNDP Office in Brussels: learning about the coordinating role of this UN institution regarding EU-UN cooperation, plus career opportunities;
• European External Action Service (EEAS): discussion on transatlantic relations and meeting with CIFE Alumna Luca Kadar, Head of Division of Global Communications;
• European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and Committee of the Regions (CoR): meeting with CIFE Alumnae Susannah Hallgren, Policy Officer at the EESC specialising in youth policy, and Camille Lauriol, Policy Officer at the CoR (Citizenship, Governance, Institutional and External Affairs);
• European Parliament: presentation about the workings of the Parliament and visit to the hemicycle;
• Council of the EU: briefing on general and institutional policies, strategic planning and president briefings with Athenais Cazalis de Fondouce, Political Administrator;
• European Commission: meeting with Werner Stengg, Tech Souvereignty, Security and Democracy European Commissioner.

In addition to these opportunities to network and visit institutions based in Brussels, the students also had a series of lectures and classes on various topics, such as the EU's strategic autonomy, political communication, transatlantic relations, lobbying, the rule of law and the Eastern Partnership.

Thank you to all those involved for contributing to such a rich programme of visits and briefings throughout the Brussels term! A special thanks also goes to CIFE Alumna Maria Casado-García Hirschfeld, Director of UNED, CIFE's official partner institution in Brussels - which hosted our students on its Brussels campus - who also taught a course on European law. A final thanks to Paul Culley, who helped with the organisation of several briefings and visits throughout the term!