Stage & the City: The secret diary of a blue book stagiaire VI

The closing chapter

I have a friend that does not want to marry her boyfriend. I think that is a bit strange, but being 24 there are still a lot of things to do in life. But in the past few weeks everything now seems so clear to me. I do know what I want. I know that I will marry, have children and grow old with the man I love. Right now I can’t wait to finish my work in Brussels, at the moment I really do not care about interservice consultations, legislative proposals, meetings with Member States and stakeholders. Every minute I think about moving away from here to be with my future husband in Spain. This will be the beginning of the next chapter of my life. I will never have to worry about the future, which I have constantly done for the past year. 

Stage & the City: The secret diary of a blue book stagiaire V

Spanish passion

The first long weekend of June me and a friend decided to go to Antwerp. We had found a hostel and planned to explore the city for two days. As usual the weather was great. We started off with some shopping. Then we headed for the boardwalk where a lot of people were watching the river and a few boats. We walked a bit up north and came to MAS, the new museum that tells the story of the city, the river and the port. After several escalators we finally reached the top floor and could enjoy the panoramic view of the city. Once we had come back down we decided to have a drink and sat down at the nearest bar and ordered two Kriek. After a minute one lonely guy came along and looked for somewhere to sit. As all the other tables were full we offered him a seat with us. Of course we didn’t mind since he was gorgeous.

All you need to know about the European Quarter in Brussels II

Part Two: Brussels, European Capital?

The capital of the Burgundian empire
Philipp the Good’s accession to the throne in 1430 brought Brabant into the Burgundian empire, which now stretched from the north of the Netherlands to Switzerland. From now on, Brussels' inhabitants had the task of persuading him to make the city his political centre in the principalities of the Netherlands. Located on today’s Place Royale, renovation and transformation of the ducal palace of Coudenberg required significant financial sacrifices from the city and the Brabant states and it lasted 29 years.

The Solidarité Cycling Tour

11 volunteer bikers and 1 driver completed the 140 km bike tour challenge on the weekend of 22-24 July, 2011. The rainy weather forecast had scared away a few others but our little group remained determined and our enthusiasm brought us a completely dry weekend, just perfect for cycling. There was not a single drop of rain and some of us even got a little burnt by the sun.

Download the European Stagiaire Journal now!

You can now download an electronic copy of the European Stagiaire Journal here: http://www.sendspace.com/file/6qzxst

And if you still haven't collected your free printed copy of the magazine, don't forget to drop by the Stage Committee office in Madou and pick one up!

Thanks again to all of those who contributed to the journal and we hope you will enjoy it!

The ESJ Team

All you need to know about the European Quarter in Brussels

Everyone in Brussels knows the Berlaymont (sometimes called the Berlaymonster by its critics). But how many of you know the history of what we now call the European Quarter? Have you ever studied the history of Brussels? Can't remember your courses? Here is a quick summary of ‘Europe in Brussels’, published in 2007 by the Publications Office.

Stage & the City: The secret diary of a blue book stagiaire IV

Yoga one on one

To focus on something other than my boss and my misfortune here in Brussels I started intensively exercising. Every other day I was running in the Parc du Cinquantenaire. A friend of mine had told me that she goes for yoga every week and I decided to go on a Thursday before Place Lux. Perhaps this could give me some other kind of focus than running.

And yes, I did focus on something else. This time it was the yoga instructor.

Last chance to swim…

If the concrete jungle of Brussels is getting to you, if you're tired of noise and traffic, or if you just want to do something out of the ordinary, then there's still time to check out the Belgian coast before the end of the stage!

A fairytale Euroball: fancy dresses, delicious dinner and a great time!

On the day of the Euroball, you could either hear people getting overly excited (“I have the perfect dress!” or "Wait 'til you see my shoes!") or complaining about their work, the tiring week and their lack of motivation (and a 10am fire alarm in the Berlaymont didn't help!).

Stage & the City: The secret diary of a blue book stagiaire III

Mission possible

I know most stagiaires don’t get to go on missions, so I guess I should consider myself lucky to have been sent on a mission. But to be honest I wasn’t that eager to go because my boss is quite arrogant and Iceland is such an isolated place.

The meeting with stakeholders did not turn out the way I was expecting and I was very disappointed. The one good thing was the hotel, which was nice. After returning to my room after a boring dinner with boring stakeholders I got a bit lonely and started thinking about my ex-boyfriend and the happy times we shared when we were in love. I wished he was there with me, comforting me. But reality struck and instead of going to bed I decided to go to the nice hotel bar, which I had noticed when I arrived, to get rid of all those crazy thoughts...

The monks' gift to Belgium and mankind

What's the best thing about Belgium? Not the multitude of tourist attractions for sure, or the endless shopping opportunities. Definitely not the ever so friendly customer service.

Biking in Brussels

Until recently Belgium was in fierce competition with Cambodia and Iraq to win the least-desired title on Earth: the world record for the number of days without a national government. After winning this title - which many Belgians would have preferred to concede to the runner-up - the country's attention is now on the south. Running from Saturday 2nd July to Sunday 24th July, the Tour de France will bring a lot of Belgian fans to the roadside, and all are hoping to see their new hero Philippe Gilbert win several stages and catch the ‘maillot jaune’.

Euroball – this Friday!

This Friday, 8th July, the Euroball will take place at the beautiful Palais des Colonies at Tervuren. By now a legendary event among stagiaires in Brussels, this year promises to be no exception.

Waterloo Trip

When I saw the notice about the re-enactment of the Waterloo battle in the Stage Committee newsletter, I knew immediately that I would spend my hard-earned €25 to go there! Given my interest in all things Napoleonic, there was no other choice.

Bigger, Better, Balkan!

The stagiaires of DG Enlargement once more have the pleasure to invite you to another epic night out. We'll paint the town golden! Come join the madness in the very heart of Brussels and dance the night away to the finest selection of electro and Balkan swing. It's gonna be a blast, nuff said!

New package on economic governance: a risk for the European social model?

Following the financial and economic crisis, broad consensus emerged on the need for reform and better governance of the global economy. Tightening financial supervision in the private sector and tackling dangerous imbalances in EU economies (growth of debt and deficits) seemed to be a priority for all. In April 2011, the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee of the European Parliament adopted six new legislative proposals on economic governance, also known as the 'six-pack'.

On Thursday 23rd June, the European Parliament adopted its position on this economic governance package during a plenary session. This text will now serve as the backbone of the talks between MEPs and Member States which will continue until a final agreement can be reached. With this vote the views of the Parliament and the 27 Member States on economic governance are becoming closer but some obstacles remain, especially when it comes to sanctions on countries which don't comply with the rules.

Stage & the City: The secret diary of a blue book stagiaire II

Hard work at night

Being a stagiaire means so much and there are so many things to do: meeting new people, drinks every other day, freshening up on your school French, and subcommittee activities on top of trying to do a good job...

Kraków day by day

After the advert in the Stage Committee newsletter, I was the first to buy a ticket for the Poland trip and the first to arrive at the bus that would take us to Charleroi, afraid of being stuck in the metro (as actually happened to some others). How could I have ignored this opportunity to go to the country of the upcoming presidency? Kraków here we come!

Stage & the City: The secret diary of a blue book stagiaire I

Arriving in Brussels

So here I am. Standing in front of this big glass building called the Berlaymont that I had previously only seen in pictures. One year ago I would never have imagined that I would be here in Brussels today for a five month internship at the European Commission... 

What do the Irish miss most in Brussels?

Brussels has long been a popular destination for Irish expats, with plenty of jobs on offer for native English speakers, a more international setting than Dublin could offer and (many of you may be shocked) an ever so slightly better climate than our fair isle.

Ask any Irish expat in Brussels what they miss most about home and you'll hear a range of answers from ‘proper’ tea (none of this Lipton's nonsense) to Tayto crisps.

But when it comes down to it, the things we really miss are far more basic...

Sunday is for soccer!

The ECS football tournament will soon reach its half way point. In total, some 150 stagiaires are playing in this legendary tournament which will rank DGs according to their football skills. The fun is not only reserved for the players, but also for supporters who come to cheer their DG teams to success on Sunday evenings! 

What do Italians miss most in Brussels?

I'm from Sicily, an island in the south of Italy which is pretty different from the rest of the country because of its past and its culture. Excuse this preamble, but I must tell you this because I'm sure that people from Padova don't miss the same things...

What I miss most from this sunny and sour land is the wild and windy sea that lets me feel so far from everywhere and yet so close to another continent; crazy and warm people who start talking with me, just for the pleasure of talking, looking into my eyes and expressing their thoughts with just a gesture of the hands, all feeling part of the same human mess; the slow way of life; a less stressful rhythm, taking the time to go for a slow walk on the beach and not seeming invisible to others.

Sandra Incorvaia,
DG JRC

Dear diary, I’m in love!

European triangle trip: Brussels – Luxembourg – Strasbourg



The group in Strasbourg



It all started on May 7th 2011 at 10am in front of the Justus Lipsius building in Brussels, the first corner of the European triangle. I met with about eight other participants of the trip to discover the European institutions in Brussels. However, even with such a small group it was difficult not to lose each other in the overcrowded buildings. I definitely liked the Council best as we had a great tour and I got a nice 'petite poche' for my mobile; the Berlaymont was more like a huge playground for children; the EESC and Committee of the Regions at least had some punch to offer but way too many small stands; and I was simply too tired at the end of the day for the Parliament. First day summary: What the hell am I going to do with all of these flyers and pens?!

Free Will Vs. Determinism

Following the train of thought from our previous meeting on religion, last Friday at the Science Café the topic for debate was determinism vs. free will. The person in charge of waking up our sleepy Friday afternoon brains was Mantas with an introduction to the main positions on this issue (hard and soft determinism, libertarianism, fatalism) and their implications for rationality and moral responsibility.

Nothing in this world that’s worth having comes easy*: Finding the enchanted forest of Hallerbos

Actually, we had been searching for Sumo Wrestlers. Majestic bronze statues that used to stand on the Place Guy d'Arezzo, with green parrots fluttering around their enormous bodies. But they had vanished. All that was left were the nests of the parrots in the trees.

The Schuman Trophy: blood, sweat and tears

On 7-9th and 14-15th May, the 15^th annual Schuman Trophy took place - the ultimate, world famous football tournament of the European institutions. This year the event brought together 26 teams, representing Directorates General and services of the European Commission, as well as the Council, the European Parliament, the stagiaires, the UN and other international organisations, all locked in a fierce battle to become number one.

Speak Up! Conference: Take a hard look in the mirror

The Speak Up Conference 'Freedom of expression and media in the Western Balkans and Turkey', organised by DG Enlargement on Friday May 6th, was an impressive conference. Impressive in the number of people who participated, impressive in the seriousness with which the topic was approached and impressive because of the dark picture it presented of media freedom, not only in the Western Balkans and in Turkey but also in EU member states.

Brit bashes Brussels shocker

Brussels is hardly at the top of any self-respecting Brit's holiday wish list, for work or pleasure. And even for me, convinced Europhile and fluent French and Flemish speaker that I am, to hear its name whispered on the wind hardly gets me excited to the point of consciousness. And, as I think my incessant perusal of the Daily Mail online and my ownership of a Maggie Thatcher nutcracker prove, I am pretty much as representative of an ordinary Brit as you are going to find. Deal with it.

A day in the life… of a stagiaire in the rain

Today is not one of those days when you wake up early, have a leisurely shower and choose your clothes with time and care before having a nice breakfast and still making it to work before nine o’clock. No, today you hit snooze on the alarm clock for the third time at 8:30am and need to run to catch your bus after a five-minute shower.

Let's get this summer stage started!

- LaTiNo party -

 

 

Want to work those salsa hips? Come along to El Barrio on the 13th of May and get your FREE SALSA lesson! Or maybe you prefer to soak up the scene while sipping your DOUBLE RUM cocktail? Oh, and did I mention that there will be a LIVE BRAZILIAN PERCUSSIONIST to accompany one of the HOTTEST resident DJs in town??  

 

What do Germans miss most in Brussels?

Pain gris?! German bread is the best in the world!

You don't believe me? Then you have never been to a German bakery and smelled the amazing scent of freshly baked bread in all kinds of shapes and sizes. And yes, they actually contain cereals!

Taking a break from the 21st century

Moving to Belgium one would expect to be moving into civilization, not out of it. Little did I know how medieval my experience here would be...

Debating divinity

A question in the mind of every individual in every culture around the world, which satisfies an inner need for truth and consolation? An institution designed to control the masses and disseminate its particular political and ethical belief system throughout the population? Faith and religion, myth vs. reality – this was the topic of the latest Science Café meeting on April 29th in the Madou Auditorium.

  

More precious than gold

We have all heard the saying "Water is more precious than gold".

Well, here at the Commission environmental issues are taken seriously. After this year's World Water Day a new hotline was set up for a different kind of emergency from the ones we usually think of.

"Freeze for Europe" - The first ever European FREEZE MOB!

We have a challenge for you:

I. Would you dare to do something crazy in the middle of the European Commission's Headquarters?

II. Are you able to freeze without moving, talking or making any facial expressions for 3 minutes, while outsiders stare at you, take pictures and film you?

III. Can you keep a secret? Whisper about the FREEZE MOB to your friends and invite as many as you can to join us. But don’t forget we will have a maximum reaction if outsiders are caught by surprise.

Traineeship Tunes I: Pop songs to not freak out about the future

This three-part series tells you what pop songs have to say about traineeships - one part for each working language of the European Commission. Today, we start with part one: German Gems.

Swirl, sniff, swirl – wine tasting for dummies

Ever been to a wine tasting? If not, you should definitely give it a try! If you have been to one before though, you will understand the need for a wine tasting survival guide!

 

It takes two to tandem

There are few things in life I dislike more than riding a bike: the wind in my superbly-coiffed hair, flies in my face, and the fact it undeniably gives the impression I want to help combat climate change (which I, of course, would, were it actually happening*).

Poo-like dessert and other Easter traditions

From egg-hiding, -breaking and -eating to something that looks like it already went through your digestive system – Easter traditions from around Europe come in a delightfully broad variety.

A whistlestop tour of medieval Brussels

Mention Brussels and you'll often be met with groans or remarks about what a boring city it is... and I have to say, as excited as I was at the prospect of doing a traineeship at the European Commission, the thought of moving to Brussels didn’t exactly fill me with enthusiasm. But over the last few weeks I’ve grown quite fond of the Belgian capital, and a tour of its most important medieval landmarks convinced me that it is anything but boring.

DG Enlargement strikes back!

It’s now becoming a real tradition for DG Enlargement's stagiaires: every semester they organise a trip to candidate (or potential candidate) countries. This year the destination is Skopje and Enlargement’s stagiaires have promised to organise different activities for you, to introduce you to the region.

On keeping a low profile in Brussels

Working for 18 months in international organisations taught me one lesson: to survive in a huge politically driven machine it's advisable to wear the most boring, identity-masking suit possible, switch off your common sense and freeze your facial expression in a diplomatic smile. I hadn't been very good at sticking to these lessons so far but when I changed organisation, I vowed to suppress my remaining personality and happily become completely nondescript.

What better place to do this, I thought to myself, than the European Commission; an organisation that evokes images of grey-haired bureaucrats in grey suits doing grey things (despite churning out green and white papers).

European Institutions to tackle issue of ageing population

BRUSSELS – In order to urgently address the pressing problem of an ageing and declining European population which places an undue strain on European productivity and the pension system, the Commission, after consulting with the European Parliament and the Council, has come up with a revolutionary proposal to tackle this problem at once.

Population growth and decline in Europe

 According to reliable sources within the Commission, the three major European Institutions (Commission, Parliament and Council) are to make it a condition of their stage offer for all new stagiaires to conceive at least one healthy offspring per heterosexual couple during the period of their stage.

Gypsy mobsters, dirty deals and shotgun weddings - this could be the start of a beautiful friendship… miaow!

What is the connection between the most famous line in Casablanca (and probably all movie history) and the mysterious world of Balkan gangsters? This week's CineClub screening on April 12th gave us the answer:

Big Bang in a Brussels landmark

Sunny days are meant for things like these: exploring a new city, relaxing in the park… and discussing the nature of the universe. On Saturday April 2nd nearly 40 stagiaires met beneath a cloudless sky for a double whammy event: a tour of the Atomium and a Science Café discussion on the origins of the universe.

The Atomium is a massive replica of an iron crystal’s structure that was built for the World’s Fair 1958 Expo. It is over 100 metres tall and has become a Brussels landmark. As the stagiaires waited beneath its giant glistening spheres it was clear different people wanted different things from the day; some were there just for the view from the Atomium rather than views on the universe.

Born in the 80s: party people!!

Bright neon colours - Madonna's 'Like a prayer' - shoulder pads - vibrant disco -light sparkles - 'Grease lightning' - wild hair - King of Pop's 'Thriller' - GLITTER - leopard look - Prince's 'Kiss' - Claridge - Brussels - 26th of March 2011! What?! This is not the first thing that comes to mind? In that case you definitely missed the marvellous, not to say groovy, 80s party that the outgoing liaison/stage committee organised.

Amorous singles and a future Barroso - meet your new Stage Committee!

From stealing the spotlight to detecting fraud to maybe even meeting that special someone – a wide range of incentives for getting involved emerged when we met with our new Stage Committee and Court of Auditors.

But all nine of this cosmopolitan and multilingual bunch are keen to get as many of you as possible involved in stagiaire life. They're full of enthusiasm and new ideas and are itching to take over from the Liaison Committee and get started. We found out about their plans and priorities for the coming four months and what makes them tick…

How to spend your first pay cheque...

Bulgaria: Got your first pay cheque? Great! But remember: in order to have a prosperous career you need to do something really simple. Tradition says that after receiving your first pay cheque from your new job, you have to go out and buy some nougat or Turkish delight and give it to your friends and colleagues. The sticky sweets will ensure that your salary will stretch indefinitely and that your work is sweet.

Martina Marinova,
DG COMM

Going crazy in Antwerp

While we had all expected to just have a quick scenic tour of Antwerp, within minutes of our arrival we found ourselves racking our brains, trying to figure out what the hell "Zot van A" was supposed to mean. What made things even more confusing was that all the locals we asked seemed to be giving different answers.

The day had started at Brussels Central Station at 10.20 with a 45-minute train ride to Antwerp. Upon arrival at Antwerp-Berchem, the outgoing Stage Committee, consisting of Anna, Milos and Christos, handed us quizzes with architectural and cultural questions on the Cogels-Osylei district. So our group of about 40 people split up into teams and the competition began.