News & Events

Training programme "Public Service and Innovative HR Technologies"

The Development Office organised a tailor-made training programme on "Public Service and Innovative HR Technologies" for a group of senior civil servants of the Russian Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation (RAPA).

RAPA is the major training institution for professional training and retraining of Russian federal government employees.

The seminar took place at the College of Europe Verversdijk premises in Bruges, from 31 October to 8 November 2011, and counted with some field visits to various HR departments on Federal and Flemish level as well as to some EU institutions.

Find our new 2011 Training Programme leaflet online!

Interested in training yourself in EU affairs? Have a look at our new leaflet! It will give you a comprehensive overview of our EU professional trainings throughout the year. You will find all the necessary information to select the training that perfectly meets your needs and agenda!
(03/03/2011)

2011 Training on EU Affairs: now open for registration!

Save your seat for our popular training programmes for professionals working in European affairs. The programme includes our renowned Intensive Seminar on the EU in the summer 2011, an advanced course in EU negotiations and hands-on EU Fact Finding workshops. In addition, some new programmes and formulas are planned. More information will soon be published here.
More information
(03/11/2010)

European professionals practice their negotiations skills

In this year's 'EU Negotiation in Practice Advanced Training Course’, 29 officials and professionals will learn how to become strategic negotiators in the EU and international environment. They will participate in hands-on sessions in Bruges and apply their acquired skills during a simulation exercise in Brussels. The course is now fully booked but the next edition which is scheduled to take place on 21-25 November 2011 is now open for registration.
More information and registration
(03/11/2010)

40th academic journal published

The 40th edition of the the College of Europe's academic journal 'Collegium' is now available online. The publication is a summary of the 10th Colloquium on International Human Right Law from October 2009 entitled 'Armed Conflicts and Parties to Armed Conflicts under IHL: Confronting Legal Categories to Contemporary Realities'. It includes contributions from the Rector of the College of Europe, representatives from the International Committee of the Red Cross and other experts in Human Right Law. This edition has been edited by the Development Office of the College of Europe.
Download Collegium N°40
(12/10/2010)

11th Colloquium on International Human Rights Law

On 21-22 October the Development Office of the College of Europe and the International Committee of the Red Cross organise the 11th Colloquium on International Human Rights Law. The key question of this year’s Bruges Colloquium on International Humanitarian Law is 'What role do new technologies play in armed conflicts?'.
The Bruges Colloquium is a series of sessions designed to encourage an open exchange of views among experts and non-specialists interested in current developments in International Humanitarian Law.
It is open to invited participants only.
(12/10/2010)

Autumn Training Seminars: EU Fact Finding & EU Negotiations in Practice

This autumn we are back on track with two of our long-established training programmes on the European Union.
In the hands-on 'EU Fact Finding' workshop on 8 October 2010 participants learn how to quickly and efficiently find information about the EU online.The 'EU Negotiations in Practice' course on 22-26 November focuses on the theory and practice of EU negotiation processes including a simulation exercise. To find out more and to book one of the last remaining seats, please visit the following websites:
EU Negotiations in Practice
EU Fact Finding
(29/09/2010)

Inauguration of first centre on international and EU port law

Portius – the world's first law centre with focus on international and EU port law opened on 7 September at the Castle of the Counts in Ghent. Mr. Jan De Mondt, Director of Administration and Finance and Acting Director of the Development Office of the College of Europe, delivered a speech on ‘The College of Europe’s maritime partnerships’. Portius is conceived as an independent educational institution, focussing on EU and International Port Law and aiming to bring together a network of Port authorities, practicing lawyers and academics.
More information (07/09/2010)

First Executive Training for the European External Action Service

A new specialised training programme for national diplomats and European officials who are joining the European External Action Service (EEAS) will take place at the College of Europe premises in Bruges in the autumn. The one-week course covers the structure and main policy issues of the EEAS and features related, interactive workshops. In addition, participants will benefit from the opportunity to network, exchange experience and explore a new EEAS ‘esprit de corps’. The programme is organised by the College of Europe in cooperation with the Netherlands Institute of International Relations ‘Clingendael’, the Centre for Political and Diplomatic Studies in Oxford and the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna. The new registration deadline is Friday, 6 August 2010. We offer a 10% discount for groups of 3 or more participants from the same institution/Directorate General.
More information (02/08/2010)

ESI Summer Seminar

25 Russian students from the European Studies Institute (ESI) at the MGIMO-University have been selected for the 4th ESI Summer Seminar organised by the Development Office. The students will participate in sessions on EU negotiations, visit the European Institutions in Brussels and Luxembourg, as well as the NATO Headquarters in Brussels and meet the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the EU.
More information (02/08/2010)

17th Intensive Seminar on the EU

The 17th edition of our flagship programme will take place in the College of Europe Bruges campus in July. During one-, two- or three-week tailored programmes, participants will acquire in-depth knowledge and practical skills on EU decision-making and policies. The focus will be on latest developments at EU level including panel debates on the Lisbon Treaty, climate change and the new EU diplomacy. Lecturers from the College of Europe's network of experts and some 70 professionals from all over the world will benefit from this truly European learning experience in Bruges and Brussels.
More information (18/06/2010)

Advanced training course for Central American journalists

A group of 12 journalists sent by the Secretariat of Economic Integration of Central America (SIECA) will participate in a study visit on ‘Information and Communication in the European Union’ (Información y Comunicación en la Unión Europea) organised by the Development Office. The programme will be provided in Spanish.
The introductory courses taking place in Bruges will cover the European integration, the challenges of communicating the EU as well as journalistic training in various European countries. In the second part, participants will meet key communication actors in Brussels including representatives from the European Commission Spokesperson Service, the Audiovisual Services and Brussels-based journalists. Sessions by the Spanish Presidency, the Council of the EU and the Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Spanish Chamber of Commerce will round off the study trip. The programme is part of the ADAPCCA Programme to design and apply common Central American policies which is financed by the European Commission and coordinated and managed by SIECA.
More information (18/06/2010)

Enseigner l'Union européenne en français

Dans le cadre d'un projet Tempus (CD_JEP n° 26033-2005), le Service Développement organise un séminaire intensif "Enseigner l'Union européenne en français". Le séminaire est destiné à 21 professeurs de Français de l’Institut universitaire national des relations internationales de Moscou (MGIMO), de l’Université nationale de Saint-Pétersbourg et de l’Académie nationale de droit de Moscou. Le programme prévoit des cours sur le Traité de Lisbonne, le langage diplomatique et les outils de communication web 2.0, ainsi que des visites de travail aux principales institutions européennes.
Pour des plus amples informations (18/06/2010)

Training courses for Polish EU Presidency

The Development Office of the College of Europe in consortium with the Netherlands Institute of International Relations Clingendael and the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna has been successfully awarded the contract 'Specialized training on practical aspects of participation of Polish governmental administration in EU decision making process' to organise training courses for the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU. Until January 2011, key lecturers of the College of Europe’s network will train Polish civil servants on EU negotiation techniques, interpersonal skills and management strategies. The courses will take place at the College of Europe Natolin Campus and in Brussels. (10/05/2010)

2nd SIECA seminar on the European Customs Union

From 3 to 12 May, the Development Office organises a tailor-made training in Spanish targeted at 20 professionals from SIECA, the Secretariat of Economic Integration of Central America. During lectures and practical workshops at the College of Europe Bruges, the delegates will learn more about how customs work in the EU as well as the European Customs Union, integration, institutions, internal market and the European-Latin American relations.
In 2007, the Development Office organised a similar programme for SIECA with which it holds a long-term
cooperation partnership for training Centralamerican public administration officials in the field of taxation and customs. 
More information (19/04/2010)

Launch of the 5th Southeast Europe and the EU – Leadership Development Programme

Young people from Southeast Europe and other European countries are invited to apply for the 5th Southeast Europe and the EU – Leadership Development Programme. 30 candidates will be selected for this one-year experience including a summer academy in Austria and Slovakia, the development of joint projects and a five-day seminar in Brussels and Bruges in spring 2011. The programme is financed through the European Fund for the Balkans and is organised by the Development Office of the College of Europe in cooperation with the TRANSFUSE Association. The deadline for applications is 9 May 2010.
Download information leaflet
More information (15/03/2010)

‘Balkan beyond Borders’ short film contest

Young film producers interested in creatively expressing their ideas on regional cooperation in Southeast Europe are invited to participate in a short film contest ‘Balkan beyond Borders’. The winner of the competition will gain a price and will be invited to the final event in Belgrade on the 13 March 2010. The deadline for submissions is 1 March 2010.
The project is part of the Leadership Development Programme organised jointly by the Development Office of the College of Europe, the European Fund for the Balkans and the Transfuse Association.
More information (01/02/2010)

Vacancies at the Development Office

The Development Office is looking for a Project Manager and two Interns to support the EU affairs team. The deadline for applications is 26 February 2010.
More information (01/02/2010)

Introductory Seminar on International Humanitarian Law

The Development Office in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) organises a 2,5-day seminar for students. The course will take place in Bruges and is open to College of Europe and other students currently attending a postgraduate programme in European Law/Politics in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. Interested students are invited to register by 9 February 2010 on the ICRC website. (15/01/2010)

Seminar on EU Terminology

English teachers of the European Studies Institute at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) are invited to an in-depth linguistic and terminology training on the EU. The programme includes a visit to the EU interpretation office at the European Commission in Brussels. (14/01/2010)

Launch of the 2010 Training Programme on EU Affairs

Our 2010 professional training courses on EU affairs are now open for registration. Special discounts are available for early birds, groups of participants and College of Europe alumni.
More information. (04/01/2010)

Advanced Training Programme: ‘EU Telecommunication Policy and Media Harmonisation Process of Turkey’

The Development Office in cooperation with Kadir Has University will organise this three-day EU focused session for experts from top-level telecommunications companies. (10/12/2009)

LDP Joint Activity: ‘National Identities, Minority Rights and EU Integration’

Participants from six participating countries of the 2009/2010 Southeast Europea and the EU - Leadership Development Programme (LDP) will organise a one-day event on minority issues. LDP is organised jointly by the Development Office of the College of Europe, the European Fund for the Balkans and the Transfuse Association.
More information. (1/12/2009)
(download Article)

Europe Direct Specific Training Seminar

This year’s last training seminar for the Europe Direct Network will tackle ‘The EU's challenges ahead for 2010’. Around 100 Team Europe members and experts from EU institutions and organisations are expected. The seminar is part of the services offered by the Development Office under a framework contract for the European Commission, DG Communication. More information. (16/11/2009)

EU Negotiations in Practice

Participants of this five-day seminar learn how to negotiate strategically and effectively in the evolving legal and political structure of the EU. More information. (16/11/2009)

The 39th Collegium now available

The autumn edition of the academic journal titled ‘Transfers of Persons in Situations of Armed Conflict’ is a compact summary of the 2008 Colloquium on International Humanitarian Law by the International Committee of the Red Cross. Collegium is published by the Delegation of the ICRC in Brussels and has been edited by the Development Office.
Download Collegium. (19/10/2009)

10th Bruges Colloquium on International Human Rights Law (IHL)

‘Armed Conflicts and Parties to Armed conflicts under IHL: Confronting Legal Categories to Contemporary Realities’ is the title of this year’s Bruges Colloquium. The organisers are the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Development Office of the College of Europe. Participation is by invitation only. (19/10/2009)

Europe Direct Annual General Meeting II

The Development Office is organising an Annual General Meeting for the members of the Europe Direct Network. Some 200 participants from all over Europe will discuss ‘The EU’s Economic and Social Recovery’ and exchange best practices. The event is part of the services offered by the Development Office under a framework contract for the European Commission, DG Communication. More information. (06/10/2009)

New Acting Director for Development Office

Mr Jan De Mondt has been made Acting Director of the Development Office. He will take on this task in addition to his usual function of Director of Administration, Personnel and Finance of the College of Europe. (29/09/2009)

Europe Direct Annual General Meeting I

The Development Office is organising an Annual General Meeting for the members of the European Europe Direct Network titled ‘A Citizens’ Europe’. More than 200 participants from all over Europe are expected. The event is part of the services offered by the Development Office under a framework contract for the European Commission, DG Communication. More information. (28/09/2009)

In memoriam of Marc Vuijlsteke

The Development Office of the College of Europe has the profound regret to inform you that Dr Marc Vuijlsteke, our Director General, passed away on 11 July 2009.

He was sociable and kind in nature. Contacts with people from all over the world and building partnerships for future projects were a source of energy that kept Marc going long after the start of his recurring fights with cancer.

His stamina had become a trademark. Together with an undiluted lust for life, flair, fantastic optimism and openness to the world, it set the tone for the atmosphere here at the Office. Keen to explore every spark of a new idea, new plans and initiatives, he had a talent for gathering motivated people around him, in order to continuously aim and reach further.

In the different positions he took up at the College of Europe; in the library, in student selection committees and at the head of the Development Office which he established, he was a man of reputation. Above all he was a warm friend to many. (13/07/2009)