7. Study trip to Brussels for the Winners of the Public Competition

Due to the fact, that most of the winners were students, the trip to Brussels could not take place in June 2003 as foreseen in the project application to the Commission. It had to be forwarded to the month of July 2003 in order to give all the winners the opportunity to join the trip. 

The trip was organised from the 10th until the 13th of July 2003. With this trip the winners of the Public Competition visited Brussels should get an idea of the working procedures of the EU-Institutions.

program of the Study Visit to Brussels 10 – 13. July 2003

Date              Morning                                           Afternoon               Evening

The stay in Brussels began with an invitation to the European Parliament. The offices of the Mr. Ozan Ceyhun, German MEP of the SPD/SPE-Group and Mr. Hannes Swoboda, Austrian MEP of the SPÖ/SPE-Group had invited them.

In the official speeches the experts explained the exciting day- to day work in the office of an MEP and the complicating procedures in the working methods of such an international place. After that the group was shown around in the Parliament. The winners of the competition were offered the opportunity to see the facilities of the EP, rooms for the parliamentary-meetings, plenary-sessions, the parliamentary-groups, the committee-meetings, and the offices of the MEP. At the coffee-break in one of the many coffee-bars in the EP building, the group could ask questions on the EU. They showed the highest interest in the working procedures of the EU-Institutions and in the opportunities to get a job within the Institutions. Most of the winners have the strong wish to find a position within the heart of Europe one day. 

On Friday, the group was invited to the premises of the Special-Coordinator of the Stability-Pact for South Eastern Europe, Dr. Erhard Busek.

The Stability-Pact is the first promising attempt by the international community to set up a long-term conflict prevention strategy in South Eastern Europe and the replace the former intervention policy.

This item on the agenda was, above all, very much appreciated by the group. Mainly, because most of the winners themselves come from countries which not long ago had similar problems to those benefiting from the stability-pact-programme right now. 

Gregor Kössler, Head of Cabinet, held a speech on the work of the office in a very nice and private atmosphere. He gave a comprehensive report on his former duties, among others on his experience in Kosovo, before relocating to Brussels.

After a short visit to the Brussels-office of the Vienna Business-Agency at the “Wien Haus”, the group was invited at the cabinet of the EU-Commissioner for Enlargement, Günter Verheugen. Mr. Christian Danielsson, Deputy Head of Cabinet held the speech. This visit as every one before showed the winners’ enthusiasm and interest in Europe by asking many questions and full concentration during the lectures. 

On Saturday the tight schedule gave way to a lighter programme, “tour de ville” in the morning and a short trip to the chocolate-factory in the afternoon. Every one in this group got on with each other very well and fell very sad when the few days in Brussels ended. Most of them exchanged their addresses and promised to stay in touch and call on each other whenever possible. 

Finally, it has to be said, that the main goals of the project were met. It proved to be a meeting-point for young people and a chance to tear down personal and national boundaries.-The Future of Europe.