11 alumni who graduated from the academic master programme in European integration of the Faculty of Law of the University of Belgrade visited several European institutions in Brussels from 5-8 November.
They seized a unique chance to learn more about EU institutions and the way they work and talk to representatives of Brussels’ leading research organisations about current European integration-related issues Serbia is tackling as well as EU’s own future.
They began their study visit with a meeting at the European Commission where they learned more about the available EU-related research funding and discussed the lobbying system of the EU Parliament with representatives of European parties.
They discussed next steps in the EU-Serbia negotiating process with delegates of the Directorate General for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations and continued the discussion at the Mission of the Republic of Serbia to the EU: they were brought closer to achievements in previous four years through analysis of negotiating chapters and positions.
Given the intricacy of the accession negotiation process, they were familiarised with the way it is being communicated at the Western Balkans and Turkey communication department of the European External Action Service.
The alumni also visited the Committee of Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee where they had an opportunity to learn more about cooperation between the EU and candidate countries in the area of regional and socio-economic development of the EU.
The alumni also met with representatives of the Centre for European Policy and talked about Brexit and its influence on EU’s future.
As part of their visit to the DG for Justice, the visitors discussed the state of play in the area of human rights and challenges the EU faces in its effort to protect and promote them in both the EU and Serbia.
The study visit was organised within an EU-supported project titled “Visits to EU institutions and Member States.”
