Brussels Experience – Looking behind the Scenes

The crowning finale of the EU Training Programme had been long awaited by JEF Steiermark and Europæisk Ungdom (JEF Denmark): a Brussels trip from 23^rd to 28^th April 2025 (six days). The EU Training Programme (‘Exchange, Engage & Connect’) included non-formal transfer of knowledge and skills about the EU and civil society engagement. In addition, meeting decision makers and fostering intercultural exchange have been core elements of this project. Since the previous module (module 3) took place in Graz (Austria) and Rømø (Denmark) separately because it focused on national peculiarities in the relationships to the EU, the whole group had not been together in a while and the participants were very much looking forward to seeing each other again.

After arrival in Brussels, the participants met at the accommodation (JAM Hotel) and had delicious pizza for dinner, before a short introduction to next day’s schedule was given. Asked about their favourite parts of the programme, participants uttered a strong interest in NATO, the European Commission and meeting Members of European Parliament. On the next days, a rich program was offered, including visits to the Permanent Representations of Denmark and Austria to the European Union, the Committee of Regions & European Economic and Social Committee, the Parlamentarium and the European House of History. Since these institutions and sights were less well-known to the participants before, they noted that they have learned a lot about the inner workings of the EU because they visited them. Long-awaited highlights like the European Commission and the European Parliament, where they met Austria’s MEPs Helmut Brandstätter (NEOS / Renew Europe) and Lena Schilling (Die Grünen / Group of the Greens), fascinated them and gave valuable insights into how individuals operating within EU institutions frame current challenges to the EU. For different reasons, the visit at the NATO Headquater on Thursday was one of the most memorable experiences for the participants, since in Austria as well as in Denmark NATO-related issues are hot topics on the political agenda right now. To spread the JEF spirit, also an exchange with JEF Netherlands and a keynote speech given by JEF Europe’s president Christelle Savall were organized. Overall, the success of the 4^th module as well as the EU Training Programme became visible at the end of the trip, when participants were eager to learn about follow-up activities and find ways to stay in touch with each other. JEF Steiermark and Europæisk Ungdom were very satisfied to see how much the participants have grown close to one another and on how many levels their knowledge, skills, and personalities have evolved in one year.