Members of the International Institutions Student Scientific Association visited Brussels

Members of the International Institutions Student Scientific Association visited Brussels, where they saw the most important institutions of the European Union, as well as Belgian ones.

During the trip, they visited the headquarters of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), where they could learn about the career of a European Union official, as well as the work of the Committee. They also went to the European Parliament, where they had the opportunity to listen to the ongoing plenery sitting, and also saw the most important European politicians such as Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel. The visit to the Parliament ended with a tour to the Parliamentarium.

However, the European Parliament was not the only institution they visited, as the students also went to the headquarters of the Council of the European Union and the European Council. Students also visited the European Commission, where they could learn about the EU education programs, as well as get to know the functioning of the two Councils and the Commission “from the inside”. KIM members also met with the youth organization Young European Federalists, with which they could exchange their views on the future of Europe, learn about the activities carried out by JEF and integrate.

For KIM members, the visit to the capital of Belgium was an opportunity to meet with MEPs: Robert Biedroń and Andrzej Halicki, from whom they could learn about the work of the MEP, as well as about the upcoming elections to the European Parliament, which will take place in June 2024. They also managed to meet Janina Ochojska. On that day, the Association also held a meeting with officials of the European External Action Service (EEAS) to deepen their knowledge about its functioning. The students also visited the House of European History, which was a moment for them to reflect on the common history of Poland and Europe, as well as European integration.

The culmination of the trip was a visit to the Federal Parliament of Belgium and a visit to museums: Musée Magritte, Musée des Beaux Arts, BELvue or other museums chosen by the students. The students were accompanied by dr hab. Vadym Zheltovsky in all events, who also helped to organise the trip itself.