Study trip of the EU Economics Department to Ostend

On Tuesday the 12th of April, a student delegation of the European Economic Studies Department of our Bruges campus visited the Belgian coastal city Ostend in the framework of a departmental study trip. The ECO students of the Éliane Vogel-Polsky Promotion visited (the) Bluebridge, at Ostend Science Park and were very eager to learn more about the added value of European projects in the province of West Flanders.

Noémie WOUTERS, CEO of Bluebridge NV, and her colleague Ira LARDINOIS, Team Coordinator Blue Energy at POM West-Vlaanderen, explained the importance of Blue Economy and the leverage of EU financing for their respective organisations. "We appreciated the enthusiasm and interest of the College of Europe students", says Noémie WOUTERS. "It's clear that they are keen on making a difference and I am convinced they have bright future ahead." 

After visiting Bluebridge, the students had the pleasure to have lunch at the Circular Hub O.666. After the lunch, Kristof VERHOEST gave a brief explanation about two EU initiatives for the city of Ostend, the SMART-SPACE project. After hearing about these projects, the students went on a short walk to see some of the new infrastructure in place thanks of these projects.