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Brussels study trip 2024
27 February 2024
Claudia Sternberg and Uta Staiger took the students of their Practice Module for the MSc European Politics and Policy to Brussels to see EU policymaking and politics at work.
How does lobbying work in the EU? How do reporters get their scoops? What is the EU's approach to the war in Gaza, and how do UK diplomats engage with the EU after Brexit? How do I build a career in Brussels? These were some of the questions our students explored on three packed days of meetings in February 2024.
The trip is part of a module that complements the academic study of European politics and policy with practice-led learning. It is taught through a curated programme of moderated conversations with guest speakers who are senior practitioners in their fields, many of them as part of this study visit to Brussels. This year, we met with policymakers and think tank, advocacy and media professionals, as well as a fascinating selection of UCL alumni.
Our sessions
A policy advisor filled us in on Ukraine's accession, after we learned about the role of the European Commission.
A panel of UK diplomats at the UK Mission to the EU welcomed us to discuss their work post Brexit, and to network with UCL alumni working in Brussels over a croissant and a coffee.
The students tried their hands at lobbying an MEP's chef de cabinet on the AI Act, coached by three top-level lobbyists.
We visited the European Parliament and found about about its Research Service and the power of its committees.
A senior advisor considered the role of the European Ombudsman with us, and we discussed how this body can hold the EU’s institutions and agencies to account.
A senior think tank researcher and and advocacy leader shared their insights on the politics of the European Green Deal and their experiences of working in the climate and sustainability field.
A POLITOCO reporter told us how to build a profile as a journalist in Brussels, and we learned about the role of media in policymaking.
At the European External Action Service, we examined the EU's approach to Israel and Gaza, and the Service's strategic planning and foresight.
We rounded off the visit with a tour of the House of European History and its fascinating permanent exhibition on the history of Europe and integration.
A huge thank you to all those who made time in their busy schedules to meet with us and share their insights and experience with us:
- The staff at the UK Mission to the EU
- All the UCL alumni who attended our networking breakfast at the UK Residence
- Sabina Ciofu, Associate Director – International, techUK
- Nicolas Moës, Executive Director, The Future Society
- Olga Nowicka, EU Policy & Partnerships at OpenAI
- Dan-Flaviu Nechita, Head of Cabinet MEP Dragoș Tudorache
- Martin Porter, Executive Chair, Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
- Heather Grabbe, Senior Advisor, Open Society Foundations
- Carl Dolan, Senior Adviser in the Cabinet of the European Ombudsman
- Richard Freedman, European Parliament
- Alex Wilson, Parliamentary Administrator in the Secretariat of the European Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE)
- Sebastian Clapp, Policy Analyst, External Policies Unit, EPRS
- Joanna Apap, Strategic Liaison with Academia, Strategy and Innovation Unit, European Parliament Research Service
- Carlo Martuscelli, reporter covering health care in Europe, POLITICO
- Letizia Dessi, Talent Acquisition team, POLITICO
- Michael Mann, Head of Division for Relations with Israel, Occupied Palestinian Territories and the Middle East Peace Process, European External Action Service
- Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, Senior Policy Adviser, Policy Planning and Strategic Foresight Division
- Haydn Schofield, Directorate-General for Communication, European Commission
- Georg Ziegler, Policy Coordinator | Advisor, NEAR.E | Ukraine Service, Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations
If you would like to get involved with the European Institute in the future by hosting a talk or attending one of our networking events, please contact Claudia Sternberg.