From 19 to 23 May 2014, three young promising Canadian journalists took part in a study visit to the European Institutions, press agencies and NATO in Brussels organized by the College of Europe Development Office. The visit was part of their prize for winning the EU-Canada Young Journalist Award, organized yearly by the EU Delegation to Canada. On Friday they received their diplomas of accomplishment from the Canadian Ambassador to the European Union.
The EU Canada Young Journalist Award was created in December 2001 by the EU Delegation in Ottawa in order to recognize outstanding journalistic merit or potential among Canadian students. This competition aims to reinforce links between the people of the European Union and Canada, and to promote awareness of the European Union among a new generation of Canadian students and journalists. By writing or recording a story about the European Union or EU-Canada relations, each year graduates win a trip to Brussels where they take part in visits to the European institutions and other relevant agencies. This year unemployment in Croatia, difficulties of transferring credentials from the European Union to Canada, and seal hunting were the topics covered by the winning compositions.
The study trip included visits to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Commission, NATO, European media and lobbies. The three winners had the opportunity to meet and interview journalists, press officers, spokespersons, EU officials, diplomats and lobbyists working in EU affairs. As it was the week of the EP elections, these three talented journalists experienced a key week for Europe. A particular highlight during this year’s study trip was the attendance at the press conference with the President of the European Commission, Mr Barroso, and the Georgian Prime Minister, Mr Garibashvili, on Wednesday 21 of May.
Two of the winners wrote articles on their study trip experience also noting their impressions on the European Union – these you can find here:
M. ROBINSON on the EUCYJA 2014 Study Tour
M. CAMPBELL - Simplyfing the EU
For more information on the EU Canada Young Journalist Award 2014 and the winning articles since 2008 visit the website of the Delegation of the European Union to Canada.