Brussels Trip 2011
‘It was thoroughly enjoyable and greatly interesting for all of the students. We came away with a better knowledge of the workings of the EU and the lobbying and negotiations that take place.’ (James A.)
‘I applied to go on the Brussels trip because I wanted to achieve a greater understanding of how the European Union worked and how other institutions interacted with it. Following the trip, I believe that I do understand the EU better and I also gained valuable experience whilst enjoying my time. Overall, I had a really good time on the PHIR trip to Brussels; I experienced the EU first hand and my knowledge of the workings of the EU improved. I enjoyed the visit so much that I am considering applying for a job there after I graduate!’ (Olivia)
‘The trip to Brussels was thoroughly enjoyable and I am glad to have been one of the lucky ones who were selected to participate. The outstanding factor of the trip was the sheer amount - and diversity of - the institutions we visited. Although some of the meetings were more enjoyable than others (Such as the Council and the EP), the overall range helped me grasp the ‘wider perspective’ and gain knowledge of the institutions (Such as COMECE, the CBI, and US mission) which have an indirect but equally important input into the European Union. A personal thank you for all your hard work and a very memorable trip!’ (Emily)
‘I thought the trip was well organised. There was a good balance of activities during the three days we had visits and talks, i.e. a good combination of seeing the EU institutions and lobbyists. There was also a balance achieved in hearing arguments from different view points, i.e. very enthusiastic pro-Europe talk at the Parliament and a lecture/Q&A session with a UKIP MEP. I was pleased with the visit and felt it reinforced some of my existing knowledge gained on the EU module here at Loughborough.’ (Olivier)
‘The PHIR Department trip to Brussels in my opinion was educational, interesting and fun. It was a great opportunity to meet so many important people and listen to them talk about their jobs and how their organizations worked. Most of the visits were very informative and I learned a lot more about how the European Union works by visiting the institutions. It was interesting to see first-hand how the institutions looked like on the inside and how things were run. Visiting the European Parliament and the European Commission were my favourite amongst all the other visits we did because we weren’t just sat down and talked to, we were showed around the place and perhaps you could say experience what it would be like to work for either of the institutions. At the European Parliament, we were even allowed to sit in and watch a parliamentary debate going on, … , it was an experience to just be there and witness it.’ (Maryanne)
‘The PHIR Department Trip to Brussels was a great experience. I wanted to take part in this trip ever since I found out about it, … Every day’s meetings were well planned, most of them finishing by 5-6pm, so the evenings were left free for us to explore Brussels. On the whole, the trip was a great opportunity to feel the atmosphere of what was actually happening at the centre of EU policy making and of course to enjoy Brussels’ atmosphere as well.’ (Paulina)
‘The trip was very well organised and was, in my opinion, the perfect insight into the workings of the EU for anyone with a keen interest in European affairs. Along with having developed my knowledge of the EU institutions, lobbyists and EU politics in general, I also found that the trip was very enriching for discovering the various career opportunities available in Brussels. … The variety of institutions and organisations that we visited offered me a very good insight into the workings of the EU. In particular, I found the visit to the European Parliament a highlight, with having the rare opportunity to watch a plenary session discussing Western Balkans accession prospects. As this is specifically related to my main study area of Central and Eastern European politics and society, I was extremely pleased to have had the chance to watch this session. Another particular highlight of the trip was having the chance to discuss global issues with a US Ambassador at the U.S mission to the EU… Overall, I am exceptionally pleased and thankful to have had the opportunity to take part in the trip to Brussels, and would recommend it to anyone with a curiosity in European politics and affairs.’ (James C.)
