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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.