Europe Experience

36 students of the masters programmes Intercultural Communication and European Studies (ICEUS), Human Rights Studies in Politics, Law and Society (MAHRS) and Social Law and Social Economy travelled to Brussels to visit European Institutions and discuss current European politics with experts from these organisations.

Prof. Dr. Claudia Wiesner and Prof. Dr. Stamatia Devetzi prepared the students in their seminars and accompanied the field trip that included encounters with representatives of the Council of the EU, the European Parliament, the Representation of the Federal State of Hesse, the European Social Insurance Partners and the European Economic and Social Committee.

The presentations offered by the Institutions covered different areas of work and different policy fields. At the Council, the group could find out how the Communication Unit of the General Secretariat makes sure that the public can find information timely and in a digestible format. The students were impressed by the iconic lantern shape infrastructure of the so-called “beating heart of Europe” where member state ministers and heads of state gather.

Whereas at the Hessian Representation students could hear about the special role Hesse plays in terms of economic activities in Germany and Europe, the representatives of the European Commission offered insights into the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the EU’s Security and Defence Policy focusing on defence industrial aspects.

In the European Parliament, the students received a general introduction into the parliamentary procedures and visited the “hemicycle”, the central chamber for votings and debate sessions.

The speaker of the European Economic and Social Committee explained its role as a consultative body that provides a formal platform for representatives of Europe's different interest groups, e.g. from employers' associations, trade unions and civil society organisations, to express their views on EU legislative proposals.

ICEUS student Zoe Wong was surprised by the citizen-oriented approach of the Institutions: “As an international student, the accessibility of these power centers really impressed me, because they do not feel so distanced from the citizens. This trip truly helped me to understand the European political framework and the insights will definitely play a role in my future as a resident and graduate in Europe.”