The European Legal Studies Department of the College of Europe organised its annual study trip to Luxembourg and Strasbourg from 4 until 7 February 2013. During these four days the students, accompanied by their permanent professor and the academic assistants, got the opportunity to visit the European institutions and to share what ought to be the "Bruges spirit' outside the walls of the medieval city.
In Strasbourg, the students discovered the European Parliament, its plenary session and benefited from a speech by Mr Guy VERHOFSTADT, Chairman of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe. The students were also introduced to the daily work of the European Ombudsman’s Office, with a very warm welcoming speech given by the European Ombusdman himself, Mr Nikiforos DIAMANDOUROS. The stay in Strasbourg culminated in the visit of the European Court of Human Rights, where the Law students could appreciate the speech of Mr Ledi BIANKU, Judge at the ECHR and Ancien of the College, on the intricacies of the EU accession to the European Convention on Human Rights.
Luxembourg was dedicated to the visit of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) as well as to the visit of the European Court of Auditors. At the CJEU, the Law students attended a very interesting hearing, followed by informal discussions and stimulating exchanges with prominent personalities such as Mr Koen LENAERTS, Vice President at the CJEU, Mr Guido BERARDIS, Judge at the General Court and an Ancien himself, Advocate General Mrs Eleanor SHARPSTON and legal secretaries. Last but not least, the Vaclav Havel Law students were welcomed at the European Court of Auditors by Mr Karel PINXTEN, Belgian Member and Dean of Chamber III, who provided them with detailed insight of the institution’s functioning and current open issues.
In addition to the above mentioned academic and institutional activities, the study trip was also the perfect occasion for informal events: dinners, musical performances bringing students and assistants together, and above all, ample opportunities for the students to network with alumni working at the institutions and with the référendaires of the CJEU at an informal gathering in Luxembourg organized by the academic assistants.
All in all, the study trip was a success, rounded up with vivid discussions between the guest speakers and the Law students, who proudly acted as true ambassadors of our College of Europe.