Report on the Brussels Excursion in June 2023
From June 26-30, 2023, an excursion to Brussels took place as part of the seminar "The European Commission put to the test" under the direction of Prof. Dr. Gabriele Abels. This offered the MADRE students the opportunity to talk and discuss with representatives from the "Brussels Bubble". This included employees from the EU institutions (Council, European Parliament, Commission and Committee of the Regions) as well as from a think tank or consulting firm and an NGO. A journalist was also among the interviewees. Many of the twelve discussions focused on the evaluation of the Commission under President von der Leyen. Not least on her policy of a "Union of Equality" and on whether she will run for office again in 2024.
In a relaxed atmosphere over dinner and Belgian beer, the students were able to exchange ideas with former students who now work in the EU institutions or are involved in EU politics in other capacities. All in all, the excursion offered the opportunity to gain insights into the workings of the "Brussels Bubble".
Testimonial
The field trip was a great way to get a real insight into EU politics on the ground. The different perspectives on and assessments of the work of the EU Commission under von der Leyen were very enlightening, partly contradicting the initial academic analyses.
In addition, it was very exciting to gain an insight into everyday work through the exchange with Tübingen alumni. It was very helpful to learn what skills are needed and how professional careers can develop in Brussels. Maybe one day I will also want to work in Brussels and for the idea of European unification.
Report on the Brussels Excursion "Future Conference" in June 2022
After a two-year break due to the pandemic, an excursion to Brussels took place again from 20 to 24 June 2022. It was connected to the seminar "The Conference on the Future of the EU". During the excursion, the MADRE students, led by Prof. Dr. Gabriele Abels, had the opportunity to talk to representatives or staff of the European Policy Centre, the European Commission, the European Youth Forum, the Baden-Württemberg State Representation, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation and the European Committee of the Regions. The excursion ended with a visit to the European Parliament. Here the students were able to talk to two MEPs as well as to Prof. Dr. Udo Zolleis, who is Honorary Professor at the Institute of Political Science and also Head of "Strategic Planning" of the EPP Group in the EP, about the course and progress of the conference on the future of Europe. Over dinner, the group was able to informally exchange work and internship experiences with IfP students who were doing an internship in one of the EU institutions and an employee of a consulting firm.
Overall, the excursion offered the students the opportunity to gain insights into the workings of the EU institutions on site and to gain new knowledge, which they were able to put into a broader context with the help of the content learned in the seminar on the Future Conference of the EU.
Testimonial 1
"I enjoyed the excursion to Brussels, I am glad that it could take place in person. I found it very enriching to get different perspectives on the conference on the future of Europe. It was also important for me to gain an insight into the everyday working lives of other graduates or interns. I can only recommend taking part in an excursion to Brussels if it is offered."
Testimonial 2
"In my eyes, the excursion is a useful addition to the profile of the Master's programme. Through the discussions with a wide variety of practitioners on site, different perspectives on the project of European integration became clear. These insights are hardly possible through pure study from a distance. I found the linking of the excursion with a specific seminar particularly helpful. This allowed us to discuss specialised issues on site. Furthermore, with regard to career orientation, the excursion helped me to gain insights into and an impression of possible occupational fields."
