Development Office Newsletter: Issue N°1 2012

Call for Applications: SEE & EU – Leadership Development Programme

The seventh edition of the “Southeast Europe and the EU – Leadership Development Programme” is now launched! Deadline for online applications: 24 April 2012 at 23h59 C.E.T.

The College of Europe, the European Fund for the Balkans and the TRANSFUSE Association are joining forces again, looking for 30 young professionals and post-graduate students from the Western Balkans, Turkey and the EU. Running over a 10-month period, the programme aims to transmit knowledge about the EU and its relation to Southeast Europe, to stimulate leadership and professional skills and to encourage the exchange of views amongst the participants.

The successful candidates, identified after a three-round selection process, will have the opportunity to take part in a two-week Summer Academy in Austria and Slovakia (September 2012), prepare and implement a group project in one of the Western Balkans countries (a couple of days, October 2012 – March 2013), and attend a five-day Spring Seminar in Brussels and Bruges (April 2013).

More information and online application form: www.seeyoungleaders.org.

Tailored training for UNDP High Level Officials

From 5 to 7 March, the Development Office of the College of Europe organises a three-day training on “EU accession challenges and the EU acquis”. Resident Representatives and Deputy Resident Representatives from the UNDP Country Offices in the Western Balkans and Turkey, as well as from the UNDP Brussels Office and Headquarters in New York are taking part in this tailored course.

The training aims at bringing further knowledge of the EU enlargement process and of a few selected EU Acquis Chapters, for the participants to reflect how UNDP and other international organizations may support this process. Jacques Rupnik will present the enlargement challenges and analyse the current thinking on the enlargement policy, and his session will be followed by a workshop on the current economic/financial crisis in Europe and its possible implications on enlargement. This first training day will be rounded-off with a discussion on Croatia’s experience with accession.

As of the second day, participants will be focussing on the following five chapters of the “acquis communautaire”, to better understand the points under discussion when it comes to the Western Balkans and Turkey on their way to the EU:

• Chapter 11 – Agriculture & Rural Development;
• Chapter 19 – Social & Employment Policy;
• Chapter 22 – Regional Policy & Coordination of Structural Instruments;
• Chapter 23 – Rule of Law;
• Chapter 27 – Environment.

Three College of Europe Alumni are among the participants, namely Mr. Alessandro Fracassetti from Walter Hallstein promotion (1995-1996), Mr Thomas Dedeurwaerdere from the Hendrik Brugmans promotion (1997-1998), and Ms Claire Medina from the Simon Stevin promotion (2001-2002), and they kindly offered to informally meet the current students interested in career opportunities (on Tuesday 6 March from 7pm).

FWC Commission 2011 - Lot 2: Communication and Training

As part of a consortium led by JCP srl in the framework of the FWC Commission 2011, Lot 2, the Development Office has been awarded 2 short-term projects in the field of education and governance: Education Fairs in Russia and Training and Guidance Documents within the area of Justice and Rule of Law for DG DEVCO.

The first project is about the organisation of Education Fairs and Information Sessions for EU funded education programmes in three regions in Russia, namely Kazan, Rostov-on-Don and Novosibirsk. The fairs will take place in 2012 between March and September. In close cooperation with the EU Delegation of Moscow, the Development Office is responsible for the organisation, implementation and follow up of these events.

Through a second project awarded in the framework of this contract, the College of Europe will provide Training and Guidance Documents in the area of Justice and Rule of Law for officials working in the EU Delegations. The Guidance Documents will compile findings and recommendations to improve the overall understanding of the challenges in supporting justice and security sector reforms. The accompanying Training Module will provide the participants with the tools to better understand the policy framework, good practices and recommendations within the area of Justice and Rule of Law.